Grayhaven Winery — Attraction in Virginia

My wife & I were on a “off the beaten path” roadtrip when we stumbled on to Grayhaven Winery. It is definitely off the beaten path. The farm is a mix of the buildings related to the winery and the residence. The winery building are well worn and probably in perpetual remodel mode. It’s a small, independent winery not at all to be confused with the mega-billion-dollar California like industry. And if you are particular about that type of environment then you should probably avoid this place. But the owners more than make up for any short-comings related to the structures. Max is exceedingly knowledgeable on the Virginia wine culture, the challenges of maintaining a vineyard in an environment like Virginia and wine in general, but in particular, the wines from both their vineyards and wines from South Africa, where Deon is from. We were the only ones onsite the day of our visit, so we had the opportunity to really visit with Max, which ended up being a wonderful, well spent 3 hours. We were treated to some very enjoyable wines, stories about the Virginia wine culture and some of the history of the farm. While my wife is far more educated and experienced about wine, in the end, we like what we like and what we don’t like. Some of the wines we didn’t care for but others had to be added to our collection. I can’t give it a 5-star rating simply because the winery itself isn’t a 5-star facility. But the owners are every bit 5-star and if you enjoy a great conversation with folks that are intelligent, personable and a decent wine, then you’ll...

I visited Grayhaven for the first time last weekend… and I’m obsessed! The vibe was rustic and relaxed, which made for the perfect afternoon. A sunshiny patio - sweet horses at the fence (that you’re able to pet/ interact with) next to the tasting room - lots of green space with a pond and grapes growing in the back field. Are you kiddin me?! 🫠 We were greeted by the owner upon arrival and warmly welcomed. They’re currently renovating the original tasting room, so they have transformed the former barn/stable into a tasting room and small event space (with beautiful stained glass windows). The tasting itself was great - it was a mix of South African and Grayhaven wines. I especially loved the South African whites! But what you should be really excited for is their SANGRIA and PORT! Again, 🫠!!! We also ordered the small cheese board - it was the perfect amount for 2 to share and a great selection of cheeses, olives, and crackers. I went home with two bottles of the Terre Brulee (Chenin Blanc), and my mom and I both got bottles of fresh Sangria to go! Honestly, I can’t wait to go back to Grayhaven - especially for the South African Food and Wine...

I am confused by the rating here. For us, it was a complete miss. Not one of the wines was enjoyable or something we would willingly consume unfortunately. More of a concern is the dilapidated building that you go into for the restroom. I think I read they are “renovating” it? That was not at all the impression. It was incredibly dirty and not presentable. There is a hole in the roof with a terrible leak, excessive visual mold, dirt and dust (not from construction, from complete neglect), general mess of broken and old items, the floors are so slanted that this would never accommodate anyone with a handicap. This made me think - if they think this is ok, where is the food and drinks prepared? And under what conditions? We did not get any info on where they process and bottle the wines - if it is onsite, that would be concerning as well. We have never been in any winery in the world that was so dirty and falling apart. Go at your own risk. I have 2 stars because the...