The wineries of the Monticello appellation fulfill a vision of Thomas Jefferson, whose aim was to produce exceptional quality wines like those he had tasted on his travels to Europe. Today, 500 acres of vitis vinifera vineyards surround Jefferson's historic Monticello estate. In just over two decades, the wine industry in the Charlottesville area has flourished, achieving national and international acclaim.

The City of Charlottesville lies within the borders of the Monticello Viticultural Area and has been declared "The Wine Capital of Virginia" by the City Council. Within the boundaries of this federally designated area are twenty-one farm wineries, the largest concentration of such in Virginia.

The wineries vary from the largest, producing over thirty thousand cases to smaller operations of several thousand cases. They all have their own grape plantings, although many also lease vineyards in order to increase their production.

Most of the wineries and their Tasting Rooms are open to the public and you will find hours of operation for each winery as you visit the individual web pages at this web site. Please visit our Trails page to plan your trip to our wineries. Follow the Monticello Wine Trail and discover your favorite Monticello area winery. Enjoy breathtaking views, sample award-winning wines, and meet the people who today are producing world-class wines in the heart of Virginia. Please visit our Trails page to plan your trip to our wineries