Since Willowcroft Farm Vineyards bottled Loudoun’s first wine in 1984, the local wine scene has grown exponentially. Forty years on there are now more than 50 wineries and tasting rooms in Loudoun, with new ones opening every year. While many of these are well-established and even nationally or internationally known, who are the new kids on the block?
Here we give you a sampling of five of the new wineries in DC’s Wine Country®.
Good Spirit Farm Winery
Located on the slopes of the Blue Ridge on scenic Snickersville Turnpike near Bluemont, Good Spirit Farm Winery opened in late 2023. Its name comes from the translation into English of the last name of adventurous owners and Loudoun newcomers Mike and Luanne Gutermuth. Visitors can soak up the good spirit vibes in the modern tasting room, windows all around, or on an expansive deck with stunning views of the surrounding vines, hills and mountains. Most of the grapes (Bordeaux varietals but also Albariño and Pinot Blanc) were planted by the family in 2021 so it will be a few years before they produce estate wine, but until then they offer an excellent selection of reds and whites including a bold well-structured 2020 Petit Verdot from Virginia-grown fruit.
Old Farm Winery at Hartland
This 35-acre family-owned farm winery in Aldie comes from the same team behind the Winery at Bull Run in Fairfax. Located on one of the oldest farms in Loudoun, dating back to the 1700s, it features a charming, restored farmhouse used for weddings and events and a rustic tasting barn with great views of vines and rolling fields from an al fresco porch. The winery’s flagship white blend is named Tally Ho in tribute to the foxhunting history of Loudoun, but we recommend the classy 2020 Meritage – a rich Bordeaux blend with smoky elements and notes of cherry and plum.
Kalero Vineyard
This serene 130-acre farm on the slopes of Short Hill Mountain just outside Purcellville has been a popular wedding venue for years. In 2023 owner Ann Fortin unveiled a beautifully renovated 19th Century stone and timber barn on the property as a tasting room, open to the public Fridays and Sundays if there are no events. There are 14 acres of vines on the grounds producing six grape varietals including a delectable, delicate Viognier. The heart-shaped logo on the bottles is sure to lure romantic couples as is the Heartstone Barn – the name of the tasting room.
October One Vineyard Wine Tasting Shop
Bob and Loree Rupy’s 30-acre October One Vineyard on the slopes of the Blue Ridge is not new to Loudoun, but you can’t visit or taste their wines at the site. Instead, in 2023 they opened this classy, minimalist tasting room in historic downtown Leesburg to show off their wares. And what wares! Acclaimed for single vineyard, single varietal vintages made in artisanal style in limited quantities, the Viognier and Albariño are out of this world and a ripe, peppery full-bodied Cabernet Franc has Old-world qualities but a smooth, elegant Loudoun finish. The 2022 Albariño was one of the top 12 wines in Virginia, landing in the 2024 Governor’s Case.
Bluemont Station Brewery & Winery
One of the new kids on Loudoun’s wine (and beer) block, Bluemont Station Brewery & Winery opened in Spring 2022 on the handsome 50-acre property that used to be Celebration Farm, a wedding and event venue. The name is a tribute to the long-since defunct Southern Railway line that had its western terminus in Bluemont and ran through the farm. The wine comes from the estate’s own vines and includes a bold and rustic Cabernet Franc Estate Reserve and a lively Vidal Blanc with notes of peach and apple. Winery co-owner David Weinschel is an avid art collector and occasionally displays a couple of Picassos he owns on the walls. The labels on the bottles are works of art, too.
