This weekend marked the beginning of spring, and while covid-19 remains a very real problem, the thought of enjoying wineries without freezing outdoors is nice. This weekend, we went in a different direction when thinking of Virginia wineries and visited Lazy Days Winery and Mountain Cove Vineyards. Lazy Days is located in Amherst, Virginia, and Mountain Cove is located in Lovingston, VA.

First, let’s talk about Lazy Days. This was our original destination because they have sangria and wine mimosas on alternating weekends. This weekend, there was sangria. The sangria was awesome and really, the rest of the wines we tried were too. We got flights for $12. The pours were large and the wines I tried were all great. If you’re looking for a grand, fancy experience, Lazy Days may not be fore you. But if you’re looking for a relaxed, kitschy environment with a great hostess and fun wine, Lazy Days is for you. There is limited indoor seating and an abundance of outdoor seating and open space. It’s also a plus that outside food is permitted.

Next, we decided to visit Mountain Cove Vineyards. It was on the way home, so we decided to give it a try. Mountain Cove’s claim to fame is that is is “Virginia’s oldest winery,” though a quick Google search reveals that Wilowcroft Farm Vineyards in Leesburg also garners that title.

Mountain Cove is a small operation completely off the beaten path. It’s remote (i.e. in the middle of nowhere) even for a Virginia winery. However, with $5 tastings, you can’t go too bad. The owner, Al Weed, greeted us upon arrival and seated us outside right away. He was nice and helpful the entire time and it’s obvious he loves Mountain Cove and embraces all who come visit it. There was only one other group of visitors there when we were. As with Lazy Days, Mountain Cove allows outside food. It also has space for RVs and campers, which I am sure many take advantage of during the summer. I have to admit, the wine wasn’t bad. The chardonnay was actually REALLY good. Not sure this would make my list for a girls day or date, but if you’re seeking solitude and the great outdoors, this could be your spot.

Even though the pandemic rages on, many wineries are still working hard to give supporters a safe, get-away-from-reality experience. Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg is one. I visited Stone Tower for the first time in January.

If you know Leesburg, you know this winery is one that people constantly rave about. I understand why. With beautiful views and a more modern feel than some wineries, Stone Tower boasts “real” food (offerings beyond bread and cheese) and honestly, good wine. It is spacious, has decent parking, and you can tell that staff cares about your entire experience from start to finish.

One of the best parts about Stone Tower is that it is 21 and up. Yes, you heard that right, no kids allowed. While some people see winery visits as a chance to get away with kids, I honestly do not and would actually like to see more 21+ wineries. As the parent of a 4-year-old, I enjoy winery visits as an adults only activity. And unless they are set up to welcome kids, most wineries just aren’t really built for it.

I reserved the cottage just a short distance from the winery for a night, so they set up an outdoor winery reservation for me when I reserved the cottage. This was great because on weekends the Tower View Tasting Room is open to members only. The other venue, Harvest Barn, is open for walk-in guests and flight reservations. You can learn all about visiting here. The safety precautions taken were top-notch and I liked that while I was there, there were no large groups present. My friend and I had a bottle of riesling, the charcuterie board, truffle fries and a crabcake sandwich. All of the food was wonderful and the charcuterie board included some unique offerings. The bottle of wine we had was fantastic. If you’re looking for a multitasking winery that is great for a girls day or a date with your significant other, Stone Tower is a good choice.