Aug 1stVilla Appalaccia Winery & Vineyard

We discovered Villa Appalaccia a few years ago and return to Southwestern Virginia to visit as often as we can. Like Bent Mountain Lodge where we always stay, Villa Appalaccia is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. In fact, the winery is between mile markers 170 and 171, bordering the Rocky Knob recreation area on a gravel road. We return for the wine and the atmosphere.

Though located in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Villa Appalaccia seems like it would be more at home in Tuscany. From the building, to the décor of the tasting room, to the landscaping, to the bocce court, visiting the winery is a wonderful experience. We enjoy the afternoon with a bottle of wine and their special offerings of bread, cheese, olives, and meats.

Susanne and Stephen welcome visitors to their vineyards and winery that they began in 1989. The winery is located at 3500 feet, but much of their vineyard is at about 1500 feet and takes advantage of soil with shale to produce their excellent grapes. While every one of their wines are good, we really prefer the reds. The wines are produced in an Italian style, with Italian grapes. For instance, their Toscanello, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, and Primitivo is especially good. One of their best wines is the Aglianico, a red grape with a history of over 3000 years. It is considered one of the premier grapes of Italy. Another wine I would recommend is their Corvina, made with grapes native to the Valpolicella region of Italy. It  is made by Susanne and Stephen by blending dried and fresh grapes to bring out the intense flavors.

Spending an afternoon at Villa Appalaccia is the perfect way to end our trip to Virginia.