Is Early Mountain on the Monticello Wine Trail?

Early Mountain isn't on the Trail itself, and it sits just north of the Monticello AVA — in the Blue Ridge foothills of Madison, 30 miles from Charlottesville. It's a must-visit for anyone exploring the Monticello Wine Trail, and best planned as the anchor of your Virginia wine weekend rather than a quick stop.

How far is Early Mountain from Charlottesville and Washington, D.C.?

About 30 miles (a scenic ~40-minute drive up Route 231) from Charlottesville, and roughly 1.5 hours from Washington, D.C., or Richmond.

Where should I stay for a Charlottesville-area wine weekend?

Early Mountain has an onsite Guest Cottage and partners with nearby inns and hotels, including The Inn at Willow Grove, Keswick Hall, Boar's Head Resort, and Kimpton The Forum Hotel; Wine Club members get exclusive rates. Charlottesville also offers a wide range of lodging.

Can you taste other Virginia wineries' wines at Early Mountain?

Yes. The Taste of Virginia Selections flight pours top Virginia producers — Paradise Springs, Linden, RdV Vineyards Lost Mountain, Gabriele Rausse, Jake Busching, Slater Run, Hark, and Yapita — alongside Early Mountain's own.

What is Early Mountain best known for?

Being voted the #1 tasting room in the U.S. by USA TODAY, its benchmark wines led by Rise and its award-winning Petit Manseng, and its role in introducing visitors to the best of Virginia wine.