Hi!  My name is Erica and I blog over at Caught On A Whim.  In my blog I share my adventures in puppy raising, crafting, travels, recipes and more.  Here is one of our recent adventures in Virginia…

My husband and I decided to spend some of our time off this year on a staycation at home.  Maybe that doesn’t sound too exciting offhand, but a staycation doesn’t have to be a ‘bore’cation.  You just have to spice it up by being creative.  We decided to be local tourists by visiting local attractions, trying new restaurants and seeing Virginia with fresh new eyes.  One of our favorite day trips was to the Chateau Morrisette Winery.

The winery itself is a magnificent building which was built completely from reclaimed wood.  The architecture is stunning.
The views are nothing short of ahhhmazing!  Who doesn’t love the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains?  We also ate at the winery’s restaurant, which has tasty gourmet food and even more breathtaking views on the expansive patio.  Plus, there is no shortage events and festivals to attend throughout the year.
Now, this is where the magic (aka wine tasting) happens.  It was fun to have the chance to taste multiple wines in a row.  I never get to do that on my own, because opening 10 bottles of wine at home is just a wee bit too expensive.
It was also fun to take a tour the winery.  On the tour we got a chance to learn the history and to also see how the wine was made.  Who doesn’t love a good wine with a paw print stamp of approval?
And of course, don’t go home empty handed.  Be sure to take home a few of your favorite bottles of wine from the tasting and check out the gift shop for fun trinkets like this buzzy wine stopper that I couldn’t resist bringing home.

Even the ride out to the winery is worth the trip.  All you have to do to get there is go for a little joyride on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  You might even make it to the winery eventually, after you are able to pull yourself away from the views you’ll encounter on the drive to get there…

Have you guys been to Chateau Morrisette? Care to share any other wineries in Virginia (or beyond) you’ve enjoyed visiting?