Just a few miles south of Middleburg on The Plains road is the enchantingly beautiful Piedmont Vineyards. Owner Gerhard von Fincke bought the business in February 1998 from Elizabeth Furness who had converted the former dairy farm to a vineyard back in 1973. You can't miss it–pull in when you see rows of grapevines arch over graceful hills and valleys.

"Wine grapes are picky about where they grow best," says John Fitter, Piedmont's winemaker, "and Burgundy grapes grow very well here." Each year's harvest has yielded 5 varieties of Chardonnay–Hunt Country (2001, Lot 02, and Vintage 2002), plus a Native Yeast 2002, and Special Reserve 2001. For reds, Piedmont offers a Merlot 2002 and a Little River Merlot 2003. Each has a distinct flavor imparted by Fitter's skill in choosing stainless steel vats, and/or oak barrels.

If you're over 21 years of age (and you can prove it–remember to bring your ID), you can sample each variety to find your favorite. Hard to believe it's so close to the city, people come to sit on the patio that Washingtonian Magazine called in October 2003, the area's "prettiest picnic spot."

von Fincke is bullish on Virginia as a good place to make wine. "There are some people who have never tasted a Virginia wine, and I invite them to come here to see for themselves that our products are as good as those from California or Europe." In fact, in 1999, a Piedmont Chardonnay was awarded a Gold Medal in the International Wine Challenge in London, the largest wine competition in the world. In addition, the company has won two Silver, two Bronze and two Special Mentions in that same competition. Ask for Piedmont's wines in local stores and fine restaurants.

The Winery has a comfortable tasting room with a cozy fireplace for sampling wines on chilly winter days, and a retail area filled with wine-related gifts and decorations. Tours of the winemaking process are mainly on weekends.

So, if you love wine, do yourself a favor and head to Piedmont Vineyards where you can spend a pleasant time with friends sampling great wine and enjoying the beautiful countryside.

Piedmont is open all year, closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.