One stop shopping (and drinking)
Kill two birds with one stone at Early Mountain Vineyards on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9 for the third annual Holiday Open House from 11am-5pm. Shop from local artisans selling crafts and specialty food items while enjoying a glass of Virginia wine. Gift baskets stuffed with local fare and Early Mountain wines will also be available.
Santa will be visiting from the North Pole on Saturday from noon-3pm and Sunday from 3-5pm. Plus, the vineyard will also be collecting canned goods and nonperishable food items to donate to local food banks throughout the month of December.
A barrel of fun
For the beer enthusiasts in your life, share the love on Tuesdays at Blue Mountain Brewery’s “Geeks Who Drink” trivia night. Starting at 7pm, the brewery is packed with like-minded brew fans psyched to answer all sorts of trivia questions. The answers get loopier as the hand-crafted beer goes down quicker.
For the more sophisticated beer lover, head down Route 29 to the Barrel House, Blue Mountain’s sister brewery in Arrington, open Friday-Sunday from 11am-7pm for tastings, glasses of beer, and complimentary tours. Bring the growler for a refill on tap, or purchase 750ml bottles of specialty brews, such as the Mandolin (artisanal ale), Dark Hollow (imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels), Isabel (chocolate orange porter), Steel Wheels (extra special bitter), or the Uber Pils (imperial pilsener) to take home for yourself or to give as gifts.