On our way to Charlottesville in October of 2024, we stopped at Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards. Pippin Hill is located south of Charlottesville, which worked well for us as we were heading north from Raleigh, and in need of lunch. Fortunately that is something Pippin Hill could easily accomodate. When you arrive, you approach the large winery building and restaurant with breathtaking views of the valley and hillsides beyond. Outside are tables at which you can order food and wine. Other alternatives are a covered veranda as well as the interior dining room. We opted to go inside as we were planning to do a wine tasting, and the day was getting a bit warm.
The inside space is very pleasant, with a number of tables and a tasting bar in the back. There is also a retail store.
Restaurant and tasting bar
We settled in at a table, ordered four dishes from the menu, and also started the wine experience. It is a tapas style, sharing plate menu here, so don’t be afraid to order a number
Butternut squash toast
of dishes. We sampled the beef sliders, brussel sprouts, sweet potato fries and butternut squash toast. In summary, the food was amazing. Everything was tasty, seasoned to perfection and the surprise of the day. We devoured most of it while we starting to taste through our wines. If you’re in the area or driving by and hungry, then this is defintely worth the stop, just for the food. We’ll definitely come back the next time we head to Charlottesville.
Once most of the fabuous food was gone we turned our attention to the wine. This is a winery as well after all, and there is a wide range of varietals and styles to try. They cultivate five acres around the restaurant and tasting facility, as wel as another 16 acres slightly to the west. That is supplemented with purchased grapes. All of the actual production occurs at a third site. Along with the more traditional varietals they mix in some hybrids, including Chambourcin and Vidal Blanc. The reds tend to be blends of several grapes.
We started with two sparklers. The Blanc de Blanc was a slightly greenish yellow in color and had amazing bubbles which
led me to beleive it was a traditional method wine, but not so. This is made using the tank, or Charmat method. It was a veritable bubble fountain though and was even better in the mouth, with bright fruit. It makes a great aperitif. At $50 it’s a bit pricey, but it is absolutely delicious.
The second sparkler is made in the traditional method, where the second fermentation of the wine happens in the bottle. The 2018 Costa Vino was a light straw in color and had a more classic Champagne style nose. It was the same on the palate, with an elegant profile and a touch of toast as well as some fennel. The length was good and it finishes very clean. This is a high quality wine.
Here’s a review of the rest of the wines we tried here:
2022 Chardonnay Reserve – This sees oak, and is a light golden yellow in color. Honeysuckle, lemon, fennel and
ginger are featured in a very complex profile. The palate is consistent. The wine finishes very long and is obviously well made. If you like a little oak on your Chard then you’ll like this. $42
2018 Bundoran Blue – Here we have a blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It is quite floral. Blueberry and spice come across the medium+ bodied wine. The fruit is rich and lasts. It is very long and we really enjoyed it. $50
2022 Red Pump – A blend of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Chambourcin and Merlot, this is a medium ruby in color with a nose of red fruit, blueberry and pepper. It is a really pleasant wine overall, with medium tannins and body. $35
2022 Cannon Red – Overall very similar to the wine above along with some Tannat added. The addition of Tannat adds some raspberry fruit to the profile. There is also some sweeter fruit on the nose, like dates and fig. It has good length, medium body and is another pleasant wine. $35
2022 Cabernet Franc – This has a little Tannat and Malbec in the blend, is a light red in color and has some definite character. A little wood accentuates raspberry, cherry and tobacco on the nose. Body is medium and it has good
mength. Cherry dominates the palate. This is a little richer than the previous wines. $42
2021 Petit Verdot – This has a touch of Merlot and Tannat in the blend and is darker in color. A complex profile includes spice, herbs, raspberry and red currant. It is medium+ in body as well as in tannins. Balance is good, with enough acid to keep things fresh. For us this is clearly the best wine of the bunch. $60
2018 Wild Acre – A blend of Tannat, Merlot and Petit Verdot. the wine has a little sourness or vinegar on the nose. There is a lot of fruit on the palate, almost leaning towards a port, with medium+ tannins. It’s a lot, and I wouldn’t want to drink a full glass of this. It is interesting, and for me more of a dessert wine. $75
Overall we had a great experience at Pippin Hill. The food is worth the trip alone, and the wines are quite good, notably the sparkling wine which surprised us with its extremely high quality. Plan to spend a few hours, stroll the grounds with a glass in your hand and do not plan to leave hungry.
You can learn more about Pippin Hill on the website at https://www.pippinhillfarm.com/.
A votre santé!
Leave a Reply