By Joe Bargmann
This summer we sent a writer to explore the many food offerings along Route 29. It was a marathon—26.2 miles due south from Ruckersville —that included a home-cookin’ diner, a Chinese restaurant with a deer-taxidermy diorama, and this year’s Best Pizza spot (see page 95). By far the most beautiful place on the itinerary was Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, in North Garden. Like some other area wineries—notably, Barboursville, Veritas, and Early Mountain—Pippin Hill wants to be known for its food as well as its drink. To that end, horticulturalist Diane Burns and executive chef Ian Rynecki collaborate to create a farm-to-table menu that draws heavily from lush gardens right outside the kitchen door. Pairing Rynecki’s creations with fine wine and famous mountain views, Pippin Hill is a feast for all the senses.