Southern Loop Starting Point – Visitor Center, Luray, VA
Printable Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop Map (pdf)
- From route 211 at Luray take Route 340 South across the Main Street intersection in the historic town of Luray.
- Cross main street and as you drive up the hill (50 yards after the Main Street intersection) you will see the beautifully restored historic Luray Train Station which is the town’s visitors center. This is worth a shortstop to see the nicely restored structure and to gather a wealth of travel information on places to go and stay in the Shenandoah Valley and the region. This is the Southern start point for the Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine loop.
Historic Restored Train Depot in Luray / Visitors Center
- From the Luray Visitor’s Center go South on Route 340 until you see the Hawksbill Diner on your left (a classic and tasty traditional country diner dining experience is highly recommended by Discover Shenandoah ).
- Make a left on Hawksbill road just before the diner and follow for less than a mile until you intersect with Marksville Road.
- Go left on Marksville Road for ¼ mile where you will see an old white farm house on the right side with “Wisteria Farm and Vineyard” sign out front.
- Pull into the winery parking lot and follow the signs for the short walk onto the small deck with trellis and into the charming tasting room.
Featured Stop #1 – Wisteria Winery & Vineyard
Sue & Moussa-Wisteria Farm & Vineyard
Wisteria Winery is an adorable small family run farm/vineyard. You will likely appreciate a unique and charming family farm environment and a personal tasting session with the wine maker and/or his wife. The owners are delightful people who provide a warm and casual tasting experience.
The wine maker comes from a foreign lineage of small town winemakers and his “personal touch” in the wine making process ensures flavorful wines and he often produces very nice variations of typical regional wines. Considering the scale of Wisteria’s operation, the winery sells a surprising variety of wines to include a delicious dessert wine named “Daisy”.
Don’t hesitate to ask the vintner for a tour of his production facility or for an update on his recent experiments with organic processes. Other than wines grown and produced on site, the small farm raises chickens and sheep which guests are welcome to visit. Wisteria also sells their hand made wool, eggs when available, and offers cheeses and sausage upon request. The winery holds monthly special events with local music that are worth attending.
- Depart Wisteria for the next stop.
- Make a right out of the parking area on Marksville Road and continue East.
- You will see the intersection with Ida Road on the left.
- Follow Ida Road to Valleyburg Road on the right.
- Make the right on Valleyburg Road.
- Follow for mile until it intersects with Lake Arrowhead Road.
- Make a right on Lake Arrowhead Road.
- Travel 2.5 miles to the intersection with Jewell Hollow Road and Jewell Hollow Access Road.
- As a way marker, to the right of this intersection you will see the Shadow Mountain Escape Timber Frame Cabin rental compound – the only authentic timber frame cabins rentals in Virginia.
- Make a left up Jewell Hollow Access Road (a gravel National Park Road)
- Follow it for ¾ mile until it intersects with the Route 211.
- Be very careful as you make a right on Route 211 and then follow Route 211 East as it winds up and down over the mountain through Thornton’s Gap and the main entrance of the Shenandoah National Park.
- As you come down the mountain you will enter the very small, quaint and historic town of Sperryville (worth a stop to walk through the small town and visit the unique shops including arts, antiques, and eateries).
Recommended Dining – Thornton River Grill
Thornton River Grill - Sperryville VA
Recommended Side Trip from this Location
Bonus Excursion
Featured Partners Sharp Rock & DuCard Vineyards
- From Sperryville central intersection follow Route 522 East for less than a mile.
- At the Intersection of Route 522 and Route 231, turn right onto Route 231 South.
- Proceed on Route 231 until you see signs for Sharp Rock Vineyard on the right.
- Visit Sharp Rock at the base of Old Rag Mountain and try their delicious Rose wines.
Sharp Rock Vineyards
Sharp Rock Vineyard
Sharp Rock Vineyards is located in a historic farm located at the base of Old Rag Mountain – one of Virginia’s top mountain hiking locations. The tasting room and surrounding buildings are filled with historic charm and, located next to a large mountain stream, the surrounding landscape is magnificent. The Vineyard offers a wide variety of excellent artisan wines and offers a sausage, cheese, and bread plate for the hungry wine enthusiast.
- Return to Route 231.
- Make a right to continue south for a few more minutes to Route 643 at the crossroads at Etlan, VA.
- Turn west on 643 and go 2.5 miles to DuCard Vineyards on the right.
DuCard Vineyards
View from the Vineyard at DuCard
Follow to DuCard. DuCard Vineyards is another of the region’s magnificent locations that offers an unforgettable tasting room with an adjacent patio located next to a charming mountain stream. The picturesque Vineyard produces a variety of high quality wines. Unique to DuCard Vineyard is a stunning Port wine. DuCard Vineyard also provides some cold food (cheeses, chocolate, etc.) and a fun little wine related gift shop. Interesting in a wedding location? Be sure to check-out DuCard!
- Depart DuCard and return to route 211 in Sperryville to return to the Whiskey Wine Loop Route
- From Sperryville, continue on Route 211 East through Sperryville for about a quarter of a mile.
- Make a right at the signs for the Copper Fox Antique Warehouse (a great stop for antique enthusiasts) and Cooper Fox Whiskey Distillery.
- Follow the signs to the Distillery.
Featured Stop #2 – Copper Fox Whiskey Distillery
Copper Fox Distillery
The Copper Fox Whiskey Distillery is an extremely interesting and enjoyable experience for visitors – whether you drink whiskey or not.
The Facility is located in an old wooden apple processing facility which creates a wonderfully rustic and practical environment for the whiskey distilling process. Take the tour which is a very informative and entertaining experience. Visit the small shop where you can buy the unique and tasty Virginia distilled whiskey products to include Rye whiskey.
The Copper Fox Distillery even offers a popular small personal oak barrel which allows the whiskey lover to bring home his own whiskey barrel and oak age it to personal taste and color.
- Depart The Copper Fox Distillery.
- Get back on Route 211 East (make a right on 211).
- Within a minute you will see the sign for Gadino Cellars.
- Make the right off of Route 211.
- Follow the signs for several minutes to Gadino Cellars Winery and Vineyard.
- Road turns to gravel for the last half mile.
Featured Stop #3 – Gadino Cellars Winery & Vineyard
Gadino Cellars near Sperryville VA
After entering along a simple gravel road, the Gadino Cellars’ neat vineyards and tasting room with a large sun deck strikes the visitor at first greeting as a very pleasant and nicely groomed surprise. With its Italian flare, visitors will likely find Gadino Cellars as a unique treat relative to many other Virginia Wineries – as the vintner and his family strive to stay true to their Italian Wine making roots. The Winery provides an impressive variety of consistently tasty wines. They produce a popular Pinot Grigio and a fantastic Viognier. Numerous fine red varieties are also available as well as a dessert wine.
Gadino Cellars offers an generous selection of bread, meat, cheese, and other items for the hungry wine tasters. It would be hard to imagine a more pleasurable afternoon than lounging on Gadino Cellars sun deck on a bright day with a cool freshly poured white wine; or, sitting in front of the fire place in the large tasting room with a spicy Gadino red during the cooler seasons.
- Depart Gadino Cellars.
- Return to Route 211.
- Continue East to Route 522 toward Flint Hill.
- Make the left off of Route 211 onto Route 522.
- Travel North through beautiful rolling landscape into Flint Hill, VA.
Recommended Dining – Griffin Tavern, Flint Hill, VA
Griffin Restaurant & Tavern
- Continue through Flint Hill, VA.
- Travel along Route 522 North, until you see the Rappahannock Winery signs.
- Follow the signs to the right turn.
- Drive just a short distance to Rappahannock Winery.
Featured Stop #4 – Rappahannock Cellars
Rappahannock Cellars
Rappahannock Cellars is one of the regions larger vineyards with an impressive tasting and sitting area. The winery also provides a well stocked and fun shop for those interested in buying virtually any wine related items. Rappahannock produces many varieties of delicious red and white wines.
Don’t miss one of the winery’s numerous seasonal events or holiday events which usually include local live music or other special attractions. Rappahannock Cellars’ daily wine tasting schedule and generous open seating makes for a delightful experience on any day.
- Depart Rappahannock Cellars.
- Turn right on Route 522 heading North.
- Drive approximately 2.5 miles towards the ridge
- You see the entrance for Chester Gap Cellars on the right.
- Take the right turn and follow to the tasting room parking area.
Featured Stop #5 – Chester Gap Cellars
Chester Gap Cellars is a small family winery in a lovely location. The winery offers generous varieties of both red and white wine. The Vintner’s central European heritage is detectable in a glass of his delicious Viognier Reserve or in his sweeter Cuvee’ Manseng. The wine maker’s admirable focus on creating unique artisan wines ensures a delightful tasting experience for all wine lovers. A large sun deck sits adjacent to the tasting room – a perfect sampling location on a warm sunny day. Chester Gap makes for a pleasant stop as you crest the Blue Ridge into the Shenandoah Valley.
Chester Gap Cellars
- Return to Route 522 and continue into Front Royal.
- Pick up Route 340 South towards Luray, VA.
- Soon after heading south on Route 340 you will see a stop light at intersection with Route 649.
- Make that left on Route 649 towards Browntown.
- Follow for 5-10 minutes until you see the entrance sign on the left side for Glen Manor Vineyard.
- Follow the entrance drive up the hill to the tasting room.
Featured Stop #6 – Glen Manor Vineyard
The family owned Glen Manor Vineyard sits on a relatively high altitude farm just below the Shenandoah National park boundary and the Skyline Drive. The views and the large open family farm make for a fantastic experience; add in the delicious aroma and taste of the wines from the meticulously managed vineyard and you may choose to stay here all day.
Glen Manor Vineyards
The tasting experience here is a pure pleasure – service comes with many smiles and is very informative and engaging. The result is often an unforgettable product with wonderfully unique aroma and flavor. The Sauvignon Blanc, with a distinct aroma of apricot and heavy touch of grapefruit on the pallet, is not to be missed.
- Depart Glen Manor on the same route on which you entered.
- Return back to Route 340.
- Go south for 30 minutes to the main intersection with Main Street (Route 211 Business ) in Luray.
- On the main intersection of Route 340 and Route 211, you will see the Artisan’s Grill on the corner.
- The Visitor’s Center is just up the hill – a good place to find many other places to go and things to do in Shenandoah Valley area.
Recommended Dining – Artisan’s Grill, Luray, VA
Artisans Grill in Luray VA
End Point – Visitors Center, Luray VA
