Nelson 151

Nelson County – More breweries than traffic lights

Nelson County is home to seven wineries, three micro-breweries and only one traffic light, which means the ratio of breweries to traffic lights is three to one.  Does life get any better?

And of course, it’s home to some of the best wineries in the Commonwealth, including Veritas, Cardinal Point, Afton Mountain and Wintergreen.  And Route 151 has some of the most beautiful mountain views you’ll ever see.  For the whole story, check out Nelson 151.  For my thoughts, read on.

Depending upon what time of the day you hit 151, you might want to consider lunch at Blue Mountain Brewery.  If you’re coming from Northern Virginia, through Charlottesville, you can have a leisurely drive and arrive by 11 or so, the perfect time to fortify yourself for the tastings to come.  Blue Mountain’s beer list changes on a regular basis, but I can still remember sitting down one evening and having a Belgian Tripel and thinking it was the best ale I had ever had.  Honest to God, I think it was.

From Blue Mountain, it’s a short hop to any one of a number of wineries: Veritas Vineyard and Winery, Afton Mountain VineyardsPollak Vineyards, Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery, Flying Fox Vineyard, Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery, and Wintergreen Winery.

There are a number of other wineries I like that that are close by, but not part of Nelson 151 or, in some cases, not part of Nelson County.  Among them: King Family Vineyards, Lovingston Winery, White Hall Vineyards, Stinson Vineyards, and Pippen Hill Farm and Vineyards.

And if you’re still thirsty for beer and ale, there are two other wonderful microbreweries in Nelson County that are well worth a visit: Devils Backbone Brewing Company, and the newest brewery in Nelson County, Wild Wolf Brewing Company.