Pearmund Cellars — Attraction in Warrenton

My husband and I have visited numerous Virginia wineries in the 5 years we lived here and always maintain memberships at a couple. We visit a winery an average of twice per month. Since my sister was in town, we decided to try a new winery together. We chose Pearmund because of the great reviews. First off, the pizza vendor was leaving early as we arrived; that was disappointing but we didn't let it bother us. We just got some crackers, meat, and cheese to have some sustenance before our wine tastings and began our visit in good spirits. Soon after the snack, we went to the tasting bar to begin tastings. We decided to start with the regular tasting, then move to the reserve tasting--since the reserve tasting featured all reds. Toward the end of our tasting, at 5:24pm, our wine educator, Nicole, noticed the gentleman who was doing the reserve tastings walking around and let him know that we were headed back there shortly. He replied that the manager, Deb, had just told him that they were done. Mind you, it is not even 5:30pm and the winery closes at 6pm. He asked Deb if we could come back there to do our tasting and she shook her head and gestured with her hands emphatically, "No way!" right there in front of us. Never in all our winery visits, have we been treated so rudely; it ruined the rest of the visit. To add insult to injury, we looked over and saw that there was about 5 people sitting at a table in the reserve area enjoying themselves.

We will not bother to return and my sister was completely disgusted and does not wish to return on her subsequent trips. We weren't breaking any rules, we weren't unruly or inebriated... We counted 3 dogs in the tasting room--including the reserve room--though the website says no dogs allowed. Yet we weren't allowed to do a tasting before last call? We were going to purchase bottles to take home, plus purchase 3 reserve tastings--not to mention repeat visits with guests and recommendations. I certainly wouldn't want someone like Deb managing my business, as she seemed to care more about shutting down than encouraging repeat business and making sure that the customer had a good experience within the winery rules and expectations. She gave no explanation or apology. In fact, the only time she spoke to us was to ask if it was our (wrapped) food that remained on the table where we had been sitting. We replied yes and she said that she just wanted to check before she threw it away. The place was not crowded; she had to have seen us sitting there.

The one bright spot about our 40 minute drive out to Pearmund was our wine educator, Nicole. She was intimately acquainted with the wines and seemed to genuinely enjoy her job and interacting with people.

In the end, it doesn't matter how good the wines were (the ones we tasted were just okay to pretty good...the one reserve we tasted was very good). If I'm not made to feel welcome, then you've not given me any reason to return and spend money in your...

My daughter and I decided that for her wedding it would be memorable and fitting to serve wines from Virginia. We found Pearmund by a google search to be the closest winery to our house and went for a visit. We were delighted to find not simply that this winery was one of the best rated in the state, but also, when we participated in a tasting, that the wines were superb.

We decided upon the Cabernet Franc 2008 and Old Vine Chardonnay 2008 for the reception meal, and Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc as well during the cocktail hour.

The best testimony I can give is that the guests were delighted by the wines. They drank them heartily and with evident good cheer, and I received lots of compliments.

I purchased a bottle of the flagship "Ameritage" for my table, and that wine won praise from one of my best friends, who is something of a connoisseur.

My daughter thought it was very romantic actually to travel to the vineyard to pick out wines, and we purchased a special bottle for her to take on her honeymoon also. The vineyard gave her two glasses with Pearmund engraved on it, as a keepsake for her and her husband.

Pearmund gave us a very good rate for the purchase of several cases for the reception and after-party. Their friendly and cordial service was exemplary.

So I highly recommend that, if you want wines for your wedding that are top rate and memorable, and that (most importantly) your guests will really enjoy --- that you consider serving Pearmund wines. We couldn't have been more pleased with the decision and the entire experience of dealing...

This winery menu changes like most seasonally or when they run out. However, expect more or less 10 wines equal reds or whites and dessert. On this recent occasion they offered a special "Black Ops" wine which is an unknown blend to all the employees. Expect to pay $10 per person or you can share a tasting with one other for the same $10.

Parking is very good I have almost never had an issue parking (all gravel). I also drive an all electric vehicle which they conveniently provide a Tesla 40amp charger (see destination charging on your car map) or a standard charger for everyone else which uses EVgo (this is new since last year).

Frequently they have a pizza shop tow an oven to the lot to sell to customers. Outside you will find a very nice patio which ample seating. There is also seating farther out towards the barn and creek. They also provide cornhole.

Wines themselves I found are all quite good and highly rated. The tasting room has enough space for about 30 at one time as well as extra seating in their barrel storage room. The storage room is kept very cool and a great place to sit in the summer.

Overall I frequently stop here as a last stop for the day to both charge my car and grab some delicious wines.

Lastly if you are a Va Go pass member (2016) you can get your tasting complimentary if you buy a bottle. Though no bottle as of this review...