Arterra Wines

Had a great time at Arterra Wines. I got to experience my first time here when they were empty and we had the whole place to ourselves. The wine tastings were half off as well. The wine was great. My fave was the tennant. The owners are a husband and wife team and they are so welcoming and friendly. They really take pride in their wine. It is a little on the pricey side but personally I feel that it is worth it. I will definitely come back. I just love the atmosphere here and how it you have to go through this path to drive there.

It is a nice, small, relaxing winery to bring family and friends. No matter where you sit after the tasting, the views are tranquil. The quality of the wines is worth the trip and price. The owners are wonderful and always willing to stop and chat with you. I have referred this winery to everyone and am looking forward to their 1^st anniversary!

I have been to many vineyards in the area, and Arterra is the absolute best. Beautiful tasting room and the best Virginia wines you’ll drink. Arterra is a small-​scale winery and the hand-​crafted quality shows! Jason, the owner/​winemaker, is taking Virginia wine to a whole new level. His wines have depth, character, and are just simply delicious. I can’t wait to try his new release this February. Another unique aspect of Arterra is the artwork created by Jason’s wife, Sandy. Sandy uses different mediums (clay, wood, metal, paints) to produce lovely and eclectic nature-​inspired pieces. Her artwork is a visit in itself! If you’re in the area, Arterra is not to be missed!

The artwork is gorgeous here. I found myself enamored with it! I like that this winery had something more to offer than wine. The views are also quite nice. What would have been really great is if the tasting counter wasn’t so far away from the views. I guess it’s that way for a reason, but with such a gorgeous view, I didn’t want my back to it.
The wine itself was decent. I really liked the tannat. When we came here, there weren’t many wines to taste for the tasting fee. It looks like they’ve expanded their offerings.
I wasn’t wowed by anything in particular, but would love to come back here to be wowed. Everything seemed solid, just not amazing. But there is definitely reason to return.

I enjoyed the wine but it is pretty pricy for the varietals offered. Perhaps it’s because the grapes aren’t grown on site but up in Louden Co. They seemed to be very focused on art and the cosmetics of the place. Also you should give industry people complmebtary tastings, especially if they have hooked you up on the past ! Sheesh. Again the wine was good but I can’t see myself bringing people here to hang out.

Friendly employees and beautiful location. Wine tasting is in a beautiful room with high ceilings. Tastings were reasonably priced because the quality of wine was incredible. Absolutely recommend!

I was very happy to have stopped here and intrigued to learn about the process of Native Yeast Fermentation that Arterra fully embraces. I really liked all of their wines; they are known for big bold reds and I think that is an accurate description. Surprisingly, I also LOVED their Chardonnay. I’m so picky about my Chardonnays and have found I prefer a heavily oak aged flavor to the typical VA stainless steel variety, so I wasn’t 100% sold on the description of «subtly accented by French Barrel aging», but that slight kiss of oak was all it needs. This is a really really really good wine! My husband and I ended up buying 4 bottles and know this will be a featured item around the Holidays.
Although the winery is quite beautiful, we didn’t stay long. They have plenty of space inside and out for picnics, but I didn’t see any food for sale, so it was a pretty quick trip for us after our tasting.

Arterra brings together a very unique experience for its patrons. As you traverse the nearly vertical driveway, you’re not 100% sure what you’re in for nor are you certain this trip would be possible when the snow starts to come. The trees open to a beautiful and rustic tasting room above yet another steep incline beyond the parking lot. The room itself is unassuming, but then you get to the bar. You are greeted by a very warm and informed staff.
The Wine
Arterra’s wine-​making half of the co-​ownership equation, Jason Murray, has brought a lot of creativity to his venture. While many fans of the traditionally «woolly red» Cab Franc that Virginia offers in spades may be a little taken aback by Murray’s view, his version absolutely does not disappoint, and I found myself appreciating the actual flavors all the more without the biting texture.
The Chardonnay, and only white offered while I was there, was also made outside of in the typical Virginia style of the heavy oak and buttery feel, but rather in the French style with seasoned barrels making a more subtle texture, and citric taste.
The Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Tannat all carried the same wool-​less texture, making the crisp, warm flavors stand out, and my husband, a very seasoned Virginia red drinker, found Murray’s versions not only delicious, but the perfect compliment to the end-​of-​summer/​beginning-​of-​fall day on which we had visited.
The biggest surprise of the visit, however, was their featured dessert wine, the Blueberry Apple wine. Neither my husband nor myself are terribly in love with sweet wines of any kind, but our hostess assured us that the blueberries would balance the sweetness of the apple. She was right! I never think of blueberries in terms of tartness, but instead as they taste in pancakes or pie or pretty much any other «processed» blueberry affair, but here they are center stage as the «tamer» of sweetness. The cool effervescent wine was a delightful end to the flight.
The Atmosphere
Now, I don’t know if this kind establishment has run into issues with crowding at their bar on a busy Saturday, but if not, I’d be a bit surprised. The sitting areas are large enough, but the bar can only host maybe 10 – 12 tasters at a time, and while yes, the drive to get out here is an hour plus from most things east, the quality is certainly worth the trip and I hope they build up in response to rising popularity.
The view in the back is sparse. This is not your Barrel Oak nor Bluemont spectacular vista, but what it lacks in grandeur, it makes up for in sincerity and hard work. The new vines clinging to the dirt on the mountainside in open space between the unending treeline.
Inside, the artist and co-​owner, Sandy Gray-​Murray, has brought together an absolutely gorgeous array of mixed media and clay creations inspired by the process itself. I found myself wandering, Chardonnay in hand, feeling very connected with her work and the experience her and her husband have gone through to bring us this little wooded shrine to Dionysus, and even though I felt a bit pretentious with the idea of the general act, all the work and wine was so accessible that the entire exchange felt as natural as breathing.
Overall, an incredible display of daring wines and stunning artistry.

My husband and I decided to go on our wine your for our anniversary, and Arterra was by far our favorite. We went to Delaplane, Naked Mountain, and Molon Lave, and we were almost disappointed that we started with Arterra because we were spoiled for all the others. We love bold reds, which are hard to find in the area. I’ve done tours of Napa and around the world, and I have to say Arterra is on the top of my list. Our server was excellent and the wines are beyond compare not only in the region, but in the wine industry in general.

Best Tannat I’ve ever tasted (all of the wines were excellent)! The atmosphere of the place is tranquil and welcoming. I had a lovely conversation with the owners, Jason and Sandy, before Jason (the winemaker) did a tasting for me. I will definitely be back and bring friends.

Great new winery! The winery is run by a husband and wife team. They did a great job with the building and the décor. The décor is filled with art done by the wife, and they are beautiful! There are 6 wines to taste from their tasting menu. The blueberry apple red wine was the group favorite. It’s a nice summer-​y wine, perfect for making a sangria! The other wines were very good as well! We brought home a bottle of the Chardonnay and the Cab Franc.
If you’re looking to stay and sit for a little while, you will want to pack some meats, cheeses and other snacks to munch on. The scenery is very pretty and inviting, so you will definitely want to sit a spell.

One of my favorite wineries, not just for the wine but the service. Lovers of bold reds — rejoice!
Arterra’s name is aptly chosen. Jason — the wine maker of the husband/​wife team — feels strongly that wine should reflect the terroir of the land it comes from. His background as a viticulturist before he was a wine maker is reflective in his wine-​making style. So note to self — find more wineries run by viticulturist; they seem to know what they are doing.
At $ 10 for 6 wines (and no glass) you don’t get a huge amount of wine, but I certainly left happy. Arterra is one of the few places that has Tannat and Malbec, so it’s hard for me not to like them right off the bat. That, and all but two were reds.
I had a hard time choosing favorites between the Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Tannat (not that the Cab Franc or the Blueberry-​Apple wines were slouches). I even liked the very bright Chardonnay. Yes I said it — I found a white I would happily buy. He used to have a Late Harvest Tannat which I loved, but sadly it was gone this time around.
The tasting room is very cute. The building doubles as a showcase for Sandy’s art (the place is called Arterra — Hawkmoth Arts for a reason). I can’t say I’m an artsy kinda guy, but at some point I can see myself getting one of the pieces which was molded from grape leaves.
Jason or Sandy have always been my servers; both recognized me when I visited. And if you ask, Jason is happy to go to great lengths in describing his wine making process. Suffice to say he does things a little differently… something about his selection of the yeast. While I was visiting he was being interviewed by someone, so I got even more detail than I normally get. She seemed impressed enough to say his Chardonnay echoed of Jim Law’s wine, so that’s a high compliment indeed.
My only complaint is the price. The least expensive wines are $ 29, and several are $ 39. But in this case I’ll be forgiving. Arterra is a small boutique winery (only 8 acres of their own, plus 7.5 under lease), so they are priced accordingly. But hey — when does craftsmanship come cheap?
*** One last note — this place is NOT handicap accessible. Just take a look at those stairs going up.

Beautiful new vineyard nested in wooded area along a creek. The blueberry apple wine is the bomb! We were highly surprised and satisfied

Right in the heart of Fauquier Wine Country is Delaplane, probably the most wineries in VA with this town name and this one recently opened and should do really well.
It’s owned/​run by a husband and wife where he’s the wine maker and she’s the artist. They both do very well with their crafts, as we enjoyed all of their wines and the art they have on display.
They offer one dry white a sweet and then several reds. The tasting room is AMAZING! It’s timber framed and beautiful, with large windows and nice views of the hills, where they will soon plant their vineyard.
Customer service was great, with a nice story of how they got started and how they manage to produce each wine.
We look forward to going back more in the future!

We have been checking virginia wineries off our list, and this is our favorite so far.
The location is already great nestled in the woods. The building is amazing, architecturally, making for a very cozy environment. Couple that with the ceramic art produced by the winemakers wife and it’s lovely, unique, and irresistible.
Now the wine… best I’ve had in virginia. The winemaker is scrupulously thoughtful, and because he puts so much care into his wine, they really are tastier and more interesting than other wines.
This place is really the trifecta — great location, GREAT wine, great art… we are most definitely coming back again and again. Loved this place!

Very cozy spot in the woods to enjoy awesome wine. The blueberry apple is unique and delicious. The custom art by the owners wife adds a really nice touch.

Off the beaten path we found a warm cozy place to kick back and enjoy great wine and awesome artwork.

Off the beaten path, Arterra is a cozy treasure in the middle of the woods. The wine is the best I’ve had in Virginia. Combing good wine with the experience of tasting in horse country. Arterra is a must for anyone’s list.