#3 King Family Vineyards

This shouldn’t come as a surprise for anyone familiar with King Family Vineyards, but they’ve easily earned a spot on our list.

For those not in-the-know, this is a VERY well known and popular winery in Virginia. They are the quintessential example of how to combine superb winemaking and high-class customer experience. 

When you pull off the main road on your journey to King Family Vineyards, you might think you’ve become lost in a small neighborhood. But soon you’ll see a beautiful white farmhouse and (very) green polo field peeking over a crest in the road, showcasing a large and beautiful property. Even the cleanliness of the parking lot impressed me! If you’re lucky enough to visit during a polo match, you’re likely to find the lawn packed to the brim with well-dressed spectators and lots of picnic blankets; it’s quite splendid to see, but also quite busy, so plan your trip accordingly. The grounds often host weddings and private events as well.

On to the wine! 

Crose is their Merlot based rose and it enjoys a huge cult-like following, often selling out quickly. I’m pretty sure it’s their most popular wine, because every time I visit there’s none left for purchase! Luckily there’s a local store nearby which carries the label, and I’ve had some fortune finding bottles of Crose there. It’s an above average rose and has well balanced acidity which nicely accentuates it’s simple notes of fruit; it’s perfectly priced at $22.

Their Viognier is crisp and clean, and better than most in the area. The Petit Verdot was among the top two I’ve had in this region as well, and definitely worth pulling the trigger on. My most recent tasting included a vertical presentation of their Meritage Blend (showcasing two or more of the traditional bordeaux red varietals) which I found very good, but WAY overpriced (in my humble opinion) at $75-$80, vice my blind tasting guess of $32-$38. I also enjoyed a red dessert wine “Seven,” which I think would be a fine fit for Ron Swanson: it’s aged in bourbon barrels for two years and displays some very cool and unique flavors.

Now, let’s talk about their small batch series (not usually available for tasting): I was lucky enough to try a few of these, and found myself a fan (for tips on tasting off-the-menu items, check out my very first article – http://steppingintowine.com/index.php/2018/08/09/five-tips-to-get-more-out-of-your-tasting-room-experience/). The prices may be a bit too high, but I have no doubt they sell tons of this stuff. I loved their dry Petit Manseng, which was complex and had great tropical notes. It’s also very rare to see a dry Petit Manseng because it takes a lot more time and care to make than your typical wines. They also have multiple small batches with no sulfur added (I will not go down the rabbit hole of sulfites in wine, but ladies and gentlemen the wine still has sulfites in it from the fermentation process). The orange Viognier is a must try and so is their Malbec and Merlot.

1) Wine = 4.3
2) Price Point = 3.5
3) Service = 4.2
4) Decorum / Scenery = 4.1
5) X factor = 4.0

Overall: 4.075

(0-5 scale, anything above 2.5 you will have a good time)

King Family Vineyard is a must visit (and stay for a while) winery. It has a great line up of wines which will appeal to a wide variety of pallets, and if you’re in the area at the right time for a polo match, it should make for a memorable experience. All in all, high marks across the board. They’re considered a staple of the area for good reason.

Featured image sourced from King Family Vineyards Facebook page