Small Town Travel Series: The Best Things to do in Gordonsville VA

Small Town Travel Series: The Best Things to do in Gordonsville VA

Gordonsville is an adorable small town located just north of Charlottesville, VA. It is another small town that is heavily concentrated with excellent wineries! They also have an adorable downtown with unique shops and pop-ins.

Gordonsville is also home to the Fried Chicken Festival, which I attended in May. The town is world-famous for their fried chicken, and it can only be found at this festival held on the 3rd Saturday of May each year. Back in the day, people could get off the train that passes through town just to get a piece of Gordonsville Fried Chicken.

My Itinerary

Day 1:

• Lunch at BBQ Exchange
• Well Hung Vineyards
• Explore Downtown
• Check-in at Uphill House B&B
• Tasting at Barboursville Vineyard’s Library 1821
• Dinner at Palladio (located at Barboursville)

Day 2:

• Breakfast at Uphill House B&B
• Get picked up by Central VA Wine Tours at 12 pm at B&B
• Keswick Vineyards
• Reynard Florence Vineyards
• Chestnut Oak Vineyards 
• Dinner at Fabio’s Italian Restaurant

Day 3:

• Breakfast at Uphill House B&B
• Explore at leisure
• Check-out

Uphill House B&B

Uphill House B&B got its name because you quite literally drive up a pretty dramatic hill to get to it. But don’t worry, it’s really not that bad. And once you get to the top… it’s all worth it!  The B&B is family-owned, and the entire family is the absolute sweetest!

There are 5 rooms in the B&B. Each one is clean and modern, while also being cozy and inviting. Also, the freshly made breakfast each morning is something that you will be excited to wake up for! They have several gorgeous seating areas on the deck outside. There are several fire pits available for use and smores’ packages are available for purchase!

BBQ Exchange

If you like BBQ, then the BBQ Exchange itself is enough reason to make your way to Gordonsville. The BBQ Exchange is like no other BBQ joint that I’ve ever been to. Not only is their BBQ the best that I’ve ever had, but their service and the owner’s vision to create this place is extraordinary. They offer a variety of platters and sandwiches, plus – five INCREDIBLE house-made sauces.

Well Hung Vineyards

Well Hung Vineyards is an adorable urban winery located on the main street in downtown Gordonsville. It is a great addition to the downtown area! In addition to excellent wine, they also have small plates and are technically considered a restaurant. Take a peep at their logo and you will instantly fall in love with their clever humor. Plus, they make two different wine slushies… do I really need to say more? 🙂

Barboursville Vineyard

Barboursville Vineyard is a stunning vineyard and winery with views worth swooning over. If you plan on doing a tasting here, I recommend making reservations at their Library 1821. This allows you to sit at an intimate table inside or you can choose to sit outside overlooking the vines on the gorgeous hillside. Every wine that we tried was unbeatable and the hospitality that they showed us was unmatched. 

Palladio

Palladio Restaurant is located within Barboursville Vineyards. This is definitely a white tablecloth dining experience. With fine dining at its peak, paired with the best wine imaginable – you won’t want to leave. My favorite dishes were the Pear Salad, Gnocchi, and the Grilled Beef! And you must absolutely try their flagship red wine, Octagon. It is made from their estate-grown Bordeaux varietals, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.

Menu:

• Lonzino di Maiale con Radicchio, Pere e Formaggio Feta
  Barboursville Raised Pork Lonzino
  Roasted Pears, Radicchio, Feta, Almonds & Sherry Vinaigrette
• Bietole, Caprino e Rucola
  Red and Yellow Beets
  Goat Cheese, Orange Zest, Baby Arugula & Thyme Vinaigrette
• Tortelli di Zucca
  Butternut Squash Ravioli
  Brown Butter, Sage & Pumpkin Seeds
• Gnocchi alla Romana con Cavoletti di Bruxelles, Speck e Noci
  Roman Style Semolina Gnocchi
  Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Winter Squash, Speck, Walnuts & Parmigiano Reggiano
• Salsiccia di Agnello con Fagioli Bianchi e Cavoletti di Bruxelles
  Grilled Lamb Sausage
  Stewed White Beans, Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Red Pepper Relish
• Bistecca di Manzo alla Griglia con Budino di Pane e Fontina*
  Grilled Beef Strip Loin
  Rosemary-Fontina Bread Pudding, Braised Kale & Octagon Demi
• Tiramisù in Due Modi
  A Duet of Tiramisù:
  Traditional & Pumpkin

Central VA Wine Tours

Central VA Wine Tours is a local family-owned driving company! They offer customizable wine tours, airport transfers, wedding services, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and pretty much anything else that you can think of! They have been constantly growing for the past eight years. Central VA Wine Tours prides itself on being more than just a taxi service, but a personable and customizable driving service that will meet your wants and needs to the absolute best of their ability. They serve the entire Charlottesville area, plus surrounding communities. I couldn’t recommend them more.

Keswick Vineyards

The best part about Keswick Vineyards is their outside patio! They have plenty of room to enjoy an afternoon with friends and family. In addition to the main tasting bar located inside, they also have an intimate tasting bar outside. Keswick Vineyards offers a variety of dry whites and reds. My personal favorite was their 2017 Chardonnay Reserve. Keswick would make the person spot for a picnic or group gathering.

Reynard Florence Vineyards

Reynard Florence Vineyards was a unique find because it is a much smaller operation when compared to others in the area. However, that’s what made it one of my absolute favorites. The winery is family-owned and operated by an adorable woman named Dee, who lives just beside the tasting room with her husband and dog, Ti Rey! Dee is a retired French teacher, and she has let her love for the language and French culture be her inspiration in her wines! I highly recommend a stop by Reynard Florence during your visit to Gordonsville!

Chestnut Oak Vineyards 

Chestnut Oak Vineyards has a beautiful tasting room with gorgeous art throughout the area. But most importantly, they have incredible wines! They also offer delicious cheese trays for you to enjoy with a glass or a bottle on site. During our visit, we enjoyed a bottle of Merlot and a cheese tray while sitting outside admiring the views! Chestnut Oak offers a fun, yet intimate setting for anyone who visits!

Fabio’s Italian Restaurant

Fabio’s Italian Restaurant is a hole-in-the-wall, family-owned restaurant located in a shopping mall. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much… but the owners put their heart and soul into their dishes and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the kindness and hospitality that they showed us! The chef made us several dishes and talked with us for a long time. I promise that anything you order will be outstanding! 

Conclusions:

While Gordonsville might be an extremely small town, there is literally SO much to see and do! The scenery is gorgeous and everyone we met was so kind! Gordonsville is truly a great weekend getaway destination. It would be great for couples or groups of friends! If you have any questions, comment below or message me on Facebook and/or Instagram. I love interacting with you guys and I couldn’t do this without your support.

Until next time,

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