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Chris Militzer/Miliman 2 Photography
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Chris Militzer/Miliman 2 Photography
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Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
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Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
The holidays have come and gone, so what can you do for a quick getaway to recharge? With just an hour’s drive west of Alexandria, you can be in Virginia’s wine country, surrounded by mountain views, horse farms, relaxation, and... well, wine.
Historic Loudoun County is the home to all of this with its idyllic towns such as Waterford, Purcellville and Hillsboro, and its more than 40 wineries and 30 craft breweries offer many opportunities for a relaxing, indulgent time of tastings and food pairings.
Lodging in Loudoun County
There are any number of B&Bs, inns and resorts such as Lansdowne Resort and Spa and Salamander Resort & Spa in Loudoun County. Looking for peace and quiet, I chose to stay at Wheatland Spring (wheatlandspring.com) in Waterford. Wheatland Spring’s Cottage B&B is a wonderfully restored 1832 property, located on a rolling 30-acre parcel of land complete with outdoor pool (for the warmer months) and outdoor fireplace to relax by after a full day of activities.
The cottage also contains a deep-sleep inducing bed, 1.5 baths, and a washer and dryer. The full kitchen includes oven, stove, microwave, full-size refrigerator, dishwasher and cookware. In the morning, breakfast was delivered containing fresh baked muffins, jams, cheeses and sausage with each item being listed by the local farm it had come from. When I realized the cottage was stocked with farm-fresh milk and eggs as well, I almost expected to see the names of the chicken and cow that made my breakfast complete!
No detail had been overlooked in this well-loved and maintained home away from home. From the L.L. Bean textiles throughout, to the giant TV ready for your evening Netflix binges, the owner’s love for this place shines through.
Wine
With more than 40 wineries in the county, Loudoun County has created a wine trail guide to help you navigate all of the picturesque locations, by organizing them into geographic clusters. You might be tempted to try each of these locations in the name of “research,” however, the purpose of this trip is to slow down, relax and enjoy each one for all of their individual strengths.
8 Chains North Winery, Waterford (8chainsnorth.com)
Owner Ben Renshaw has to be one of my favorite people I’ve ever had the chance to interview. His approachable, laid back, every-man attitude immediately puts you at ease, before he drops a life-time of scientific knowledge about wine making in Virginia, mixed in with a little bit of the art that it has become. Ben takes the time to talk to everyone, both the regulars and the newcomers and even leads a tour of the vines on the property. No small task especially in the middle of the harvest. As a dog lover, Ben realized that many guests would enjoy sampling his wines along with their faithful companion and so 8 Chains North has a dedicated dog park area where your pup can enjoy their own socializing while you imbibe. The tasting room is located in a rustic barn, complete with a fireplace for those cold winter visits. It’s a casual, relaxed place to enjoy a tasting and maybe a chocolate pairing while listening to live music as you lose the stress of the city.
North Gate Vineyard, Purcellville (northgatevineyard.mobi)
Recently purchased by the Walsh Family wine team, this vine-yard is one of the premier wine-growing operations in Northern Virginia. Managing both onsite vineyards, as well as others across the county, their focus is on providing top-notch grapes for wine-making. I visited during the harvest, and was lucky enough to witness the hard work and care that goes into their products. The LEED-certified tasting room has a large fireplace to warm you up while you sample the products, and maybe even enjoy a crepe or two if you’re lucky enough to visit while La Petite LouLou is there with their cart.
Craft Beer
Not to be outdone by its reputation as being Virginia and DC’s wine region, Loudoun County has also developed quite the robust and diverse craft beer portfolio as well. In fact, with more that 30 breweries in the county, they have developed LoCo Ale Trail to help discover these hoppy havens, located in industrial parks, farms and mountainsides all over the area. Whatever style you’re looking for — IPAs, Stouts, or even a Gose — Loudoun has you covered.
Old 690 Brewing Company, Purcellville (old690.com)
Old 690 Brewing Company was one of the first farm/craft breweries to open in Virginia. They have a creative and ever-changing menu of beers, that include a Peach Pie Blonde that as a bitter, hoppy, IPA-loving guy, I was surprised to like so much. Old 690 even uses crops grown on their 10-acre property for a truly farm-fresh beer experience. Also of note, the brew system uses some of the oldest tanks on the East Coast. I loved seeing these old 50s/60s UK-built tanks, they definitely fit in with the laid back old-school atmosphere. Don’t be discouraged while trying to find this place down an easy-to-miss gravel road, as they say... hard to find, harder to leave! Pro tip: Check out the new Harpers Ferry Brewing by the owners of Old 690. With a new brewing system, amazing views and lodge feel, this looks to be a winner!
Adroit Theory, Purcellville (adroit-theory.com)
An extremely small brewery that says they sometimes only make one or two kegs at a time, Adroit Theory is located in a more industrial park area. The brewery has a cool, modern, mechanical feel to it. Many of their brews are barrel-aged, using vessels such as Maple Rye Whiskey Barrels from Catoctin Creek Distillery, another Loudoun resident, which gives a unique flavor to them. Despite being small, they typically have at least 20 beers on tap at any given time including a Red Wine/Rye Whiskey Porter.
Dining
West End Wine Bar and Pub, Purcellville (westendwinebarpub.com)
The 100-year old building with exposed brick and stone walls and working fireplaces adds to the warmth and charm of this Purcellville restaurant. Farm-to-table entrees really take advantage of the local produce and beef, while the seasonal menu also has an international spin. In fact, one of my favorites was the smoked pork belly steamed buns, not what I expected to find in Purcellville. The Fall Fettuccine with butternut squash, mushrooms, caramel-ized onion, blue cheese, marsala cream sauce and the Spring House Farm Beef Burger with duck fries were also amazing.
Monks BBQ, Purcellville (monksq.com)
The one consistent question I got at pretty much every spot was “Have you been to Monks yet?” You can tell that folks in just about every area of Loudoun love their BBQ, and love their Monks. Walking up, you get that sweet smoky smell that lets you know you’re in for a treat. All of the standards are here like juicy ribs and brisket, but definitely try the bacon on a stick and my favorite, smoked chicken wings with Alabama white sauce!
Loudoun County is one of those places where everyone seems to know each other, and they are friendly enough to welcome you in and introduce you to folks if you’re new. It’s an excellent spot to visit for a day trip or a weekend if you have the time, and there is no shortage of delicious food, beer or wine, depending on your preference. Sadly, I haven’t even touched on the numerous other outdoor activities that are available when the weather is a little warmer. Luckily, we are close enough that I will be back!
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2019 print edition of Alexandria Living Magazine. To subscribe, click here.
