On my numerous trips to Charlottesville, Virginia from 2014 - 2017, I would make time to visit local wineries and breweries. On this trip in March 2015, it was a picture perfect spring week in Charlottesville, Virginia. The views at King Family Vineyards in Crozet, Virginia made for breathtaking scenery with the Blue Ridge mountains as a back drop along with sunshine, crystal blue skies and puffy white clouds.

With their expansive property, vineyards, beautiful rustic large tasting room, indoor and outdoor patio seating, polo fields and special events center, it is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon and “enjoy the view”. In addition, Polo matches are held in the adjacent polo fields every Sunday afternoon from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October and are free to watch.

I have made several trips to King Family Vineyards and included their wines in “Escape to Charlottesville” packages I have put together for non profits and school auctions in Hampton Roads as their wines are one of my favorite from that region.

The Cabernet Franc and Viognier are two of my favorites. Since their establishment in 1998, this family owned vineyard has grown tremendously in size. From their website: “From the original eight acres we planted in 1998, our vineyards have expanded to cover nearly 30 acres. Located between 780 and 820 feet above sea level, the distinctive dyke-loam soils found in this part of Albemarle County, combined with a favorable aspect, help us grow exceptional fruit for distinctive wines.”

Their website has fantastic educational information on farming, soils and Monticello AVA on https://kingfamilyvineyards.com/vineyards/ . That region of Virginia, called the Piedmont region, is known for its red clay soil. It is fascinating to learn how it applies to their grape growing. From their website: “The specific type of soil found on our farm, called dyke-loam, has a thin surface layer of granular loam (composed of sand, silt, and clay) covering a deep bed of dense, iron-rich clay. These soils encourage downward root growth and retain enough water to avoid the need for irrigation in all but the driest of years. This water retention also maintains cool temperatures in the summer heat, helping to moderate the vineyard’s mesoclimate and to slow ripening in particularly hot vintages.”

On your next trip to the Charlottesville region, make time to visit King Family Vineyards. I hope you have enjoyed a few of my photos from #LisasPointofView. For more information on King Family Vineyards, visit their website: http://www.kingfamilyvineyards.com/