Wine, BBQ and Sushi tour in Monticello, Virginia

Welcome to Central Virginia, one of the most unknown culinary and wine destinations in the country. Home of world class wines, produce, farms and artisans you never knew existed. Join Heathen Wine Tours for 4 days/3 nights of food and thirst quenching fun, in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

We'll start our visit with our great friends at Stinson Vineyards. We'll learn from proprietor Ms. Rachel Vrooman, how a second generation farmer learned to make some of the best wines in the country. Her husband, Mr. Nathan Vrooman and his parents own Ankida Ridge Winery, which boasts some of the best Pinot Noir and Sparkling wines as well. Together, this dream team produces world class wines in a remodeled car garage. 

Would we really be enjoying the best that Virginia has to offer if we did not have some BBQ on the trip? Our great friend, Chef Ken Hess from County Smoak, will join us for a morning session of BBQ 101 and smoked meats. A classically trained Chef, who fell in love with BBQ, Ken has been on teams that won World Championships of BBQ. We're not saying you'll leave a pit master, but we're not saying you won't! (This will be a fun, 2 hour starter course while at Stinson Vineyards with lunch. This is NOT considered a true BBQ class). We will enjoy fantastic wines with BBQ, what could be better?

Did you know there's world class sake being made in Virginia? That's right, in the middle of Charlottesville at Northern American Sake, we'll taste with brewer Mr. Andrew Centofante. And since we are going to start our morning with sake, it's only appropriate that we pair that with some fresh rolled sushi. We'll head over to Culinary Concepts to see Chef Antwon Brinson and make our own sushi. Culinary Concepts is a cooking and life school, dedicated to teaching more than just cooking skills. Chef Antwon leads classes for the underprivileged, ex-convicts, local high schools, prisons and more. One of his star pupils is also the best sushi Chef in town. She will lead us through making our own lunch in the Culinary Concepts kitchen. See more about Chef Antwon on our blog page, "Wearing an apron in prison". 

https://www.heathenwine.com/post/wearing-an-apron-in-prison

Our final day will be filled with luxury, as we head to Barboursville Winery to meet our friend Mr. Luca Paschina. Originally from Piedmont, Italy he is the most awarded winemaker in the states, and has made wine at Barboursville for 31 vintages. This estate paved the way for wine in the East Coast, and has historical lineage dating back to Thomas Jefferson. After a morning tour/tasting, we'll lunch in the famed Palladio restaurant to enjoy food sourced from local farms.

We'll spend our days exploring the back roads of central Virginia, and find some of the coolest people running the top spots. Wineries and other quaffing visits include Barboursville Vineyards, Stinson, Ankida Ridge, Wisdom Oaks, Gabrielle Rausse, Albemarle Cider Works and Northern American Sake.

Our home for our time in Charlottesville will be the historic South Street Inn, located walking distance from the famous downtown mall full of restaurants, bars, shopping, art and more. This authentic Bed and Breakfast was built in the mid 1800's and is the perfect location for all of our culinary and wine fun.

Agenda includes

Dinner at Crush Pad Wines on Charlottesville's famed downtown mall

Tasting and tour at Wisdom Oaks Winery with owners Jason and Laura Lavallee

BBQ class and lunch with award winning pit master Chef Ken Hess

Sushi making class and lunch with Chef Antwon Brinson

Sake brewery tour and tasting with brewer Andrew Centofante

Tasting and tour at Gabrielle Rausse Winery with second generation winemaker Tim Rausse

Tasting and tour with Stinson Vineyards/ Ankida Ridge and winemakers Rachel Stinson Vrooman and Nathan Vrooman

Lunch, tasting and tour with Luca Paschina winemaker Barboursville Winery

$2100 for single rooms (all inclusive other than airfare and free time)

$1750 for double rooms (all inclusive other than airfare and free time)

50% down payment due April 1st

Final payment due June 1st

(For all credit card payments an additional charge of 3% will be added, we apologize in advance for this)

The tour will begin Sunday, June 5th at 2PM from South Street Inn in Charlottesville, VA and will end at the same location Wednesday, June 8th at 2PM. We will have a private bus/driver for our ground transportation daily. Accommodations, tastings, breakfasts, lunches and 2 dinners included as well.