I really fall more in love with Virginia all the time, and this weekend in Virginia Wine Country sure didn’t hurt. Will and I took advantage of the long weekend to get away to The Farmhouse at Veritas, a gorgeous bed and breakfast on the grounds of a lovely winery owned by the same family. I tend to have high expectations for how I hope these weekends will turn out, and this was everything we could have hoped and more. The staff treated us like family, the location was as serene as can be, the food and wine was incredible, and we even had a great time getting to know the other guests.
We had been to Charlottesville last fall and knew that we wanted to spend more time at the wineries and hiking in the surrounding area. Well, as forecasted, the weather was perfect (sunny and 70), and we toured Monticello, took two great hikes, and enjoyed two nearby wineries and breweries. But I’ll save our activities for another day, and today just give you a peek at this lovely farmhouse, because we would have been perfectly happy to spend the whole weekend right there.
The Grounds
The Farmhouse is situated right at the base of the Blue Ridge mountains, 8 minutes from the entrances to both Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, making it an ideal place to stay if you want to make either of those drives, hike the many trails they house, or spend time at all the local wineries. The location is very peaceful, with a field full of sheep, surrounded by vineyards, and tucked away from (but very close to) the Veritas Vineyards tasting room.
We snuck down to the rocking chairs on the porch to watch the sun rise over the vineyard one morning.
This yard and pagoda in the back would also be really nice for hanging out with a glass of wine and dining al fresco in the warmer months.
The Farmhouse
The inside of the Farmhouse was definitely just as charming as the sheep outside! We enjoyed chatting with the other guests at their nightly wine and appetizers hour at 5:30. (Almost all were couples around our age from DC!) The decor is elegant but relaxed, so you feel pampered but at home at the same time. It has a very English feel, which makes sense very quickly when you are greeted by the English woman who runs the inn!
The upstairs common area had a cozy library and plenty of coffee and tea set out, plus rocking chairs on the upstairs screened-in porch from which to gaze out at the scenery.
Incredible food is a big focus here, so there are two formal dining rooms, a sunroom for breakfast, and the outdoor pagoda for dining.
The kitchen is right in the middle of everything in case you need a freshly-baked cookie or beverage.
The Food
Y’all, I’m not the world’s biggest foodie, but this weekend may have just made me a convert. We had some of the best meals here. Each morning starts with fresh-squeezed OJ, fruit, a warm croissant with specialty butter (I loved the apple and banana butter), sparkling wine, coffee or tea, and your choice of an amazing sweet or savory entree. The only downside is the difficulty getting going for a hike after all that food!
We also enjoyed the four course Farmhouse Dinner on Saturday night, which was so enjoyable from the appetizer hour and glass of bubbly through to dessert. It was an intimate dining experience where we spent a lot of time chatting with the guests sitting near us, but also one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The chef takes a great deal of pride in being part of the meal with you, announcing the courses and coming by to see what you think. I only got photos of two of the courses, but aren’t they beautiful?
Our Room
Last but not least, here is our room! All the rooms are named after places in England, and we had the Cornwall. We were greeted with a complimentary bottle of wine and just loved our serene, elegant space!
What did you do for the long weekend?
