THE WINE DOWN
WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?
53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD
A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock
Virginia wineries have increasingly participated in West Coast competitions, with the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle recently announcing impressive results for several of them, including numerous Gold and Silver awards. You can find the full list on their website. Notably, our 2021 Rock Ridge received a Double Gold award. This wine, aged for 20 months in French and American oak, is a blend of 65% Petit Verdot, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. It offers a well-balanced profile with moderate acidity, tannins, and flavors of black cherry, blackberries, and a touch of minerality. It can be enjoyed now or aged for up to five more years. Bottled in June 2023, we produced 220 cases, and about half of that has already been sold.
We invite you to visit our serene, meadowlike location in rural Louisa County. We pride ourselves on being genuine and approachable, eager to share our passion for wine without any scripted lines or memorized facts—just a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Over the coming months, we’ll host several special tasting events. For more details, please check our website at www.53rdwinery.com or call us at 540894-1536. We look forward to welcoming you to the winery, and we truly appreciate your business and support.
Upcoming events:
Feb. 9th - Join us for our popular “Sweetheart Sips and Small Bites” wine and food pairing event. Visit our website for reservations. Only a few tickets left.
Feb 15th - Enjoy food from the Smashed Life (Burgers) Food Truck.
Feb. 22nd - Experience “Taste the Future” with Winegrower and Owner Dave Drillock during a red wine barrel tasting event. Tickets are available on our website.
March 1st - Attend our first “Taste Unreleased Wine Event” to be among the first to sample our newly bottled Rosés, Albariño, and Chardonel wines, which will also be available for purchase. Tickets can be obtained through our website..
Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 5 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm 13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com
tasting room and online.
We are open 7 days a week throughout the month of January, with live music every weekend! Make sure to keep an eye on our website and social media pages for the most up to date listings of our upcoming artists.
Fridays - Friday Night Out! Every Friday night through the summer we feature half price wine flights, live music, food for sale, and grills available for use until 8:00pm.
Weekends - Live music all weekend long! Check out our lineup on our website!
Feb 16th – Valentine’s Day Sunday
Brunch: Enjoy a lovely Valentine’s
Sunday Brunch catered by Chef
Mark Gresge of l’etoile Catering of Charlottesville and featuring the beautiful Harp music of Vicky Lee. Each of the four courses will be paired with DuCard wines. Advanced reservations required, (11:30 – 1pm)
Open daily Mon-Thurs. 12-5 pm Fri. 12-9 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm
40 Gibson Hollow Ln Etlan, VA 22719 (540) 923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com
EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY
Valentine’s & Galentine’s At The Winery
Looking for Valentine’s Day plans or a Galentine’s celebration with friends? We have a great lineup for you. Just 5 miles from the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, enjoy award-winning wines, on tap beers and ciders, and delicious lunch and dinner menus all week, including our new warm crab dip and chocolate fondue! We will also be releasing the long-awaited Sparkling Rosé this month. Open year-round, seven days a week.
Upcoming at the Winery:
Low-Country Shrimp Boil Fridays In February & March
Get ready for a delicious, flavor-packed Shrimp Boil Feast Friday nights this winter!
We’re bringing the best of Southern tradition right to your plate with succulent shrimp, juicy sausage, tender corn on the cob, and perfectly seasoned potatoes – all served hot and ready to enjoy in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm on the stage in our tasting room.
Galentine’s Markets | Sunday, February 9 & Sunday, February 16
Join us for our Galentine’s Markets on Sunday, February 9 & Sunday, February 16!
Valentine’s Day Long Weekend | Friday, February 14 - Monday, February 17
Friday, February 14: Valentine’s Day with Pop-Up Free Tastings of New 2024 Rosé, Live Music by Heidi Riddell & Friday Night Shrimp Boil
Saturday, February 15: Live Music All Day! Jim O’Ferrell from 12:30-3:30PM and Cake Fight from 5-8PM
Sunday, February 16: Maker’s Market with Craft Cville and Live Music by John Benjamin from 1-4PM
Monday, February 17: President’s Day Open 12-5PM
Chef Tasting Series | Wednesday, February 26
Join us at Eastwood for an opportunity to participate in an intimate wine tasting and food pairing event. You will be greeted with a glass of our gold medalwinning Blanc de Blancs. Once everyone is seated, Athena Eastwood and Chef Andrew Partridge will guide guests through a tasting of four of our wines each paired with small plates curated by Chef Andrew and our culinary team. We hope you will join us for this fun and educational experience. This is a ticketed event and seating is limited. Reserve your spot on our website!
The Front Porch presents BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet | Thursday, February 27
For the past 50 years, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet has been making some of the most potent and popular Cajun music on the planet. Born out of the rich Acadian ancestry of its members, and created and driven by bandleader Michael Doucet’s spellbinding fiddle playing and soulful vocals, BeauSoleil is notorious for bringing even the most staid audience to its feet. BeauSoleil’s distinctive sound derives from the distilled spirits of New Orleans jazz, blues rock, folk, swamp pop, Zydeco, country and bluegrass, captivating listeners from the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, to Carnegie Hall, then all the way across the pond to Richard Thompson’s Meltdown Festival in England. This is a ticketed concert. Reserve your spot on our website!
2022 Veni, Vini, Vino! With aromas of pear and white flower followed by brightness and minerality, this white wine blend exhibits structure and a firm acidity. Pairs well with light cheese, seafood, and nothing at all. This wine is a Double Gold Winner in the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and is available in our
We look forward to welcoming you to our cozy tasting room for festive days at the winery. There will be a great lineup of local makers from Craft Cville. Enjoy making your own s’mores around our fire pits with a mug of hot mulled wine. Or, stay inside and
details.
Every Thursday: Live Music 5-8PM or Music Bingo 6-8PM
Thursday “Thank You” Community Day at Eastwood—$5 Taps (Beer & Cider)
Every Friday: Live Music 5-8PM
Low-Country Shrimp Boil 5-8PM
Every Saturday: Live Music 12:303:30PM + Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8PM
Every Sunday: Music Bingo, Paint & Sip, Maker’s Market or Live Music (See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.)
What about the kids?
Kids can share in the experience with their own juice tasting flights and cheese boards!
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Winery Hours: Sunday-Wednesday (12-5 PM); Thursday-Saturday (12-8 PM)
We look forward to welcoming you to our cozy tasting room, seven days a week. Join us for award-winning wines, beer, and cider, as well as a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Andrew Partridge that is perfect for lunch or dinner. Delight in lounging on our enclosed & heated veranda with a glass of our gold medal 2022 Meritage Reserve. Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a seasonal toasty flatbread or our scrumptious Cast
Iron Baked Brie. Escape to Virginia Wine Country, only five miles from Downtown Charlottesville. Open year-round, seven days a week.
Pet friendly and large groups are welcome. Ample indoor and outdoor seating.
Rt 20 near the intersection with Avon Extended (5 mi from Downtown Mall) Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727 www.eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
KESWICK VINEYARDS
Keswick Vineyards is excited to announce the opening of its new tasting room, designed to elevate your winetasting experience to new heights. This state-of-the-art space features a retractable roof and glass walls that can be fully retracted, seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor environments.
Imagine sipping your favorite vintage surrounded by panoramic views of the vineyard and rolling countryside, all while enjoying the perfect balance of fresh air and comfort.
Whether you’re a connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, Keswick Vineyards offers a range of tasting options to suit your preferences. You can enjoy wine by the glass, bottle, or explore a curated flight of their finest selections. The traditional guided tastings are available Monday through Friday, allowing you to experience their diverse portfolio of wines in a relaxed setting.
MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!
Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights from 5-8pm (in addition to our more mellow Saturday afternoon music program). Eastwood also hosts a range of live performances by talented local and regional musicians every Thursday and Friday night. See the Winery Calendar on our website for
Weekends - Live Music from 12-4 pm
(check out our website for the schedule!)
Feb. 8th – Cookie Decorating Class with Brittney’s Kitchen (advanced ticket purchase required)
Feb. 14th Be mine with Wine- a Wine and Dessert Pairing
Hours: Monday- Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm 1575 Keswick Winery Drive Keswick, Virginia 22947
Tasting Room: (434) 244-3341 ext 105 tastingroom@keswickvineyards.com www.keswickvineyards.com
PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS
Petit Verdot
During the month of February celebrate with Prince Michel’s Petit Verdot! During the month of February, celebrate with Prince Michel’s Petit Verdot!
This bold and expressive red wine boasts deep intensity, rich dark fruit flavors, and elegant layers of violet, black pepper, and vanilla. Perfectly paired with hearty dishes like grilled ribeye, smoked sausages, and even a decadent dark chocolate tart.
Discover Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery, an iconic East Coast estate. Family and pet-friendly, it’s one of the oldest and largest wineries in the Commonwealth. Also, home to Tap 29 Brewery & Pub, serving local craft brews and delicious pub-style food seven days a week.
Located in the heart of Virginia Wine Country, our elegant winery on Route 29 between Charlottesville and Washington DC offers wine tastings, tours, shopping, and scenic picnic spots daily from 11am.
February Savings! 20% OFF for Club Members 15% OFF for Non-Members Discount available February 1-28
At Prince Michel Indulge in a spectrum of wines, from luxurious craft picks such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Manseng, to distinctive options like our crowd-favorite Decadence Chocolate or a refreshing wine slushie for a delightful twist. We have something to offer for every palate!
2022 Village This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and Merlot is vivacious with lots of Cabernet Sauvignon character. Red fruit is predominate on the nose with aromas of ripe raspberry and plum. Leather and green pepper show up followed by tobacco, fennel, black pepper, and camphor as you linger with the wine. This elegant ripe red-fruit wine highlights round, soft and gentle tannins, and has a delightful fruity and salty finish.
February Hours: Friday noon to Sunset; Saturday
Enjoy live music every Saturday from 12-4 PM, the perfect soundtrack to a relaxing afternoon in the vineyards. Come experience the innovation and charm of Keswick Vineyards’ new tasting room—a place where tradition meets modern luxury, and every visit feels like a special occasion.
Wednesdays - Wine Down Wednesdays 5:30-8:30pm
Sign up today for our Valentine’s Dinner Pairing on Friday February 14th!
Live Music every Friday – Sunday! (Music lineup on our website) Friday 5-8 p.m.
Saturday 1-4 & 5-8
Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Open 7 days a Week at 11 a.m.
154 Winery Lane, Leon, VA 22725 (540) 547-3707 www.princemichel.com A Woman-Owned Business
