Lovingston Winery

April 12, 2025.  On our way back to Charlottesville, we decided to stop at Lovingston Winery south and west of the town of Lovingston off Route 29 in Nelson County.  Wes Roberts, his wife Tessa Riley and her parents, Bill and Shelley Riley, purchased Lovingston Winery from the Puckett Family in 2021 and with it a winery that originally opened to the public in 2003 and Josie’s Knoll Vineyard, named after Josie Stevens, whose family resided here back in the early 1900’s. 

Lovingston Winery occupies a nice new barn amid the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge range.  You will drive past a barn and farmhouse area and then past the tasting room to parking in the rear.  The farmhouse used to be the tasting room when the Puckett’s owned the winery.  Now it can be rented for overnight stays and the barn is the tasting room.  Inside the new barn is one open room which would be dark if the sliding barn doors were closed.  A fireplace sits at one end.  When the doors are open you freely move onto a pleasant patio with views across those foothills.  A set of Adirondack chairs sits on a further ridge for even a better view. 

 

 

We sat down with Wes Roberts to get the basics about the place.  Wes is a golf pro by trade who learned wine “on the fly.” 

  Wes Roberts, Hank, and Tessa Riley

Lovingston has ten acres under vine which produce around 1,300 to 1,500 cases a year.  Last year Lovingston’s long-time winemaker, Riaan Rossouw, left, and Wes and the family have elected to have their grapes processed by Emily Hodson at Veritas Winery.  They are debating whether to bring production back in-house although they are very pleased with Emily’s work for them. 

It is truly a family-run winery.  When we visited, Wes, Tessa, and the Rileys were are there working with customers.  Expect quite a lot of personalized attention.  To keep the intimacy of the venue, Wes says they don’t plan to expand, unless it is to add more food options.  Outside food is okay or you can purchase cheeses, fudge, and pizza.  Dogs are okay as well.  Now with four years of experience under their belt, they are sponsoring more events like the Corgi Races led by winery dog, Hank, and some non-alcohol events.  Tessa handles these outreach events and the Lovingston wedding and reception business, which may include overnight lodging in the 1906 farmhouse on the grounds.  Wes is the general manager of the winery.   Bill Riley manages the farm and vineyard. 

Kim had a glass and I had standard red tasting flight, served in elegant Riedel glasses.  A cool breeze brought up scents of new flowers.  Here are our impressions:

2022 Chardonnay.  Kim rated the Lovingston Chardonnay an A.  You know how rare that is!  We bought a bottle.  This is an excellent value for the price.  Light creaminess and apply acidity.  Good finish.

2022 Rotunda Red.  I rated this a B+.  It is very approachable – like a Bourdeaux blend with Pinotage added. Some herbal/vegetal notes.  Light tannin.  Light bodied.  Good balance.

2022 Cabernet Franc.  Grapes are from Josie’s Knoll Vineyard.  Smooth and balanced with layers of lingering flavor of red fruits.  Medium body.  Good wine with lighter meals.  I rated it a B.

2022 Love, Virginia Cape Blend.  This wine is equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Pinotage and pays homage to the Cape of Good Hope.  Very slight sweetness. No tannin.  On the lighter side bodywise.  Very mellow.  A good blend for seeing fall foliage.  I rated it a B.

2022 Pinotage.  One of the legacies from Riaan Rossouw is Pinotage which originated in Riaan’s native South Africa.  Wes plans to continue with this grape as it makes a fun distinguishing point for the winery because it is rarely grown in Virginia.  I found it smooth and slightly sweet.  A little sullen.  Some tobacco notes?  Anyway, I bought a bottle of this B+ wine, partly because of the rarity of Pinotage in the Commonwealth.

2021 Merlot.  The Lovingston Merlot stuck me as a mild, unobtrusive wine and thus versatile for many meals.  I got some bubblegum notes.  I rated it a B.

Lovingston was a nice stop to break up the distance between Lynchburg and Charlottesville.  We met folks coming to the winery from both directions.  Thanks to Wes for spending some time with us.  We wish Wes and the family all the best.