 | | Smith Mountain Lake is a quiet community nestled deep into the Blue Ridge mountains of Southwestern Virginia. The 23,000 acre man-made lake attracts a growing number of boaters, fishermen, nature seekers, and wine lovers every year.
Travellers can sit on their porches and watch the boats glide across the relaxing waterways, attend local musical and cultural events, and even enjoy an ariel view of the lake while parasailing. Many people visit and then return to buy the valuable property still for sale around Smith Mountain Lake. |
| | The state of Virginia boasts the existence over 100 wineries within the commonwealth. Here at Smith Mountain Lake, a wide selection of wineries share the rich farmland used for harvesting fruit for generations. Visitors can travel to a variety of local wineries that are within 40 mile radius of the each other making what is called the Bedford Wine Trail. Even better, wine lovers can taste an even larger selection of wines at local events like the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival, held every September at Bernards Landing.
Peaks of Otter Winery
This multi-generation family owned winery starts its legacy even before the founding of the town of Bedford. The award winning wine recipes combine a variety of fruits such as apples, peaches, grapes, blueberries, blackberries and chili peppers producing about 30 different varieties of wine. Visit the farm and take a tour, join the wine club, or simply just enjoy the delicious tastes of their famous fruit wines.
Hickory Hills Vineyards and Winery
This splendid family owned winery planted its roots in 2002 and have matured into a must see spot in Moneta, Virginia. While relaxing in the wineries' tasting room, visitors can enjoy blissful country views of the farm and vineyard. Visit for a tour and wine tasting or even join the Harvesters Club to earn discounts and an exclusive invite to a harvest celebration hosted by the winery.
Savory-Lee Winery
This is a growing family owned winery located in Huddleston, VA. The winery offers tours and the tasting of six wines in its tasting room including Chardonnay, Viognier, White Merlot, Caberney Franc, Echo Forest Red, and Merlot. |
| 1. In 1979, only 6 wineries existed in the State of VA. Today approximately 100 wineries operate in the commonwealth. | | 2. October is Virginia Wine Month. | | 3. In 1989, The Manor at Taylor's Store B&B Country Inn near Burnt Chimney hosted and financed the first Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival with the help of friends and family. | | 4. Grape cluster highway signs are posted within a ten-mile radius of each winery that will help you understand how many miles you have left to reach the winery. | | 5. Thomas Jefferson, a native virginia and the father of American wine, only allowed the consumption of Virginia wine at this table. |
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Bedford Wine Trail - This site offers an exceptional explanation of the Bedford Wine Community.
Virginia Wines - Everything from tasting tips, wine varieties in Virginia, food & wine combinations, and a history of Virginia wine - includes media materials.
Virginia Wine Association - The Virginia Vineyards Association, incorporated in March 1983, originated in 1979/80 as a joint effort for information exchange and cooperation among viticulturists, wineries, and VPI & SU.
Food Wine Travel History - This is a great site offering wine reviews around the world. |
  | Wandering Through Virginia's Vineyards
There is a gold rush underway in Virginia. But the treasure under pursuit is not a precious metal. Rather, it is the grape. From Leesburg in the north down to Roanoke in the south, dot-com millionaires, celebrities, retired civil servants, and apple farmers are turning fallow pastures and orchards into row after row of European fine wine grapes. |
  | Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2007
Almost one million subscribers heartily agree: there’s always something delicious going on in Food & Wine. And it’s all here in the annual cookbook, which includes every recipe published in the magazine during 2006—more than 500 dishes accompanied by scrumptious-looking photographs. The contributors remain absolutely stellar—cuisine’s finest—including such cookbook authors, chefs and food luminaries as Jacques Pepin, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Paula Wolfert, and Eric Ripert. |
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