CrossKeys Vineyards

July 11, 2025.  Two crossed keys is an internationally known symbol of hospitality.  Going way back, the hamlet of Cross Keys, near Mt. Crawford in Rockingham County, is named after the old Cross Keys Tavern, an important center of antebellum community life  and hospitality, which came to be used for the ultimate of caring during the Civil War - a field hospital in the 1862 battle of Cross Keys (or “Crossed Keys”). 

Since 2001, when Bob and Nikoo Bakhtiar planted their first grapes, CrossKeys Vineyards has occupied the site of that old tavern.  The Bakhtiar family came to Virginia from Iran by way of California.  The Bakhtiar’s had to take down the many cedar trees that covered the property, and then they had to learn how to grow grapes in the Virginia climate.  Being in the real estate business, they were attracted by the close proximity to the Massenutten Resort, only 20 minutes away and the city of Harrisonburg, around 25 minutes away.  Massenutten and Harrisonburg have provided a steady stream of customers over the years. 

From their first vintage in 2006, today CrossKeys has grown to 33 acres of grapes under vine, making it the largest vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley, by their estimation.  These vines produce on average around 8,000 cases of wine per year in a large selection.  All grapes are hand-picked and all CrossKeys wine is estate-grown and all is produced in their production facility.  They opened their tasting room in 2008 and their bistro in 2012.  The tasting room was just renovated in April of this year.

We were happy to sit down with the Assistant General Manager Leslie Rodriguez who filled us in on many details. 

                                                                        Callie Ver Planck and Leslie Rodriguez

From the parking lot, you approach the long horizontal villa in pale yellow that fronts a flag-stoned piazza.  Here you can snag a table with an umbrella for leisure al fresco.  The piazza is enclosed on three sides by the villa in front, the bistro in the flanking wing on the left, and the tasting room occupying the wing on the right. 

 

                                                                 Photo by permission of CrossKeys Vineyards

The main villa houses commodious event spaces allowing CrossKeys to hold around 20 weddings a year, harvest festivals, and other large events.  But having a separate tasting room means that it can remain open while special events take place.  They were preparing for a wedding when we stopped by.  Overall, the tasting room felt that it could get crowded on a weekend, and if special events are using the ballrooms or the piazza, there would be no place for overflow.

 

Leslie pointed out that with the vineyard, winery, bistro, tasting room, and special events, the staff at CrossKeys must be highly trained in their specialized crews (growers, wine producers, servers, chefs, etc).  They take lots of pride in living out the mantra of hospitality.  The Bakhtiar family also lives on the property and takes an active role in the operations.  Sam Bakhtiar is the operations manager and Babak Bakhtiar handles marketing.  On the other hand, CrossKeys is a big operation and has an unavoidable corporate feel. 

 

The tasting room is sleek with fireplaces at both ends for the cooler months.  A chandelier lights the circular bar where you can get a curated tasting from staff like Callie Ver Planck or you may sit in the lounge area for a self-guided experience.  Having a full-service bistro means that outside food is not allowed.  There are no free munchies or crackers to go with your tasting.  We opted to order garlic shrimp and a Mediterranean plate from the sharables menu.  Both were delicious.  Dogs are allowed on leashes outside on the piazza.  Well-behaved children are welcome.

Leslie reports that most of CrossKeys’ wine sales are through the tasting room with little distribution beyond these environs.  Still you might get lucky and find CrossKeys products at Total Wine. 

 Let’s get to the wines, shall we?

2024 Joy White.  This is blend of Vidal Blanc and Traminette.  Kim found it too light but it is intended for a Summer sipper and should compliment spicy dishes with its acidity.  Nicely priced at $22.50.  Kim rates it a B-.

2024 Sauvignon Blanc.  Another light, non-complex wine.  Kim says its “not awful.”   B.

2024 Chardonnay Lumierè.  The CrossKeys lead Chardonnay has hints of lemon, apple, and even hay.  Light-bodied and still weak for Kim’s taste, but with some detectable malo in the production.  B.

2024 Fiore.  The CrossKeys’ rosé is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, and Merlot.  Strawberry notes have more “omph” than the wines we tried up to this point.  Good with a cheese board.  We rated it a B. 

2023 Cabernet Franc.  This Cab Franc is medium-bodied with raspberry notes and spiky tannin.  Light black pepper and tobacco.  This won a Silver medal at the 2025 Governor's Cup.  I’d rate it a B.

2023 Petit Verdot.  Medium to full-bodied.  Robust. Strong tannins and faint notes of pencil shavings.  I rate it a strong B.

2023 Meritage.  The CrossKeys’ Meritage is a sophisticated blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.  Aged first separately then blended and aged together for around 7 months.  Blackberry fruit lifts this medium-bodied wine.  B+.

2023 Touriga.  Some good red fruit and tobacco.  Tannins are well-managed considering how powerful Touriga can be.  It won a Silver medal at the 2025 Virginia Governor's Cup.  B+. 

We know that we did not see all that CrossKeys has to offer – such as a barrel room used for special dinners.  Therefore, it may be worth spending some time here. Get your rooms in Harrisonburg as CrossKeys has no overnight accommodations.  And the next day continue exploring the other wineries in the pod of wineries around Harrisonburg.