Bluemont Vineyard
January 16, 2026. To begin our winery tours for 2026, we are continuing an informal project started last month to return to some near-by wineries that we have not written about for this blog. This allows us to take some short trips in the doldrums of the winter while catching up on developments of the local wine places.
We’ll start with Bluemont Vineyard in western Loudoun County near the town of Bluemont. Passing the brewery and the bakery on the valley floor, you ascend more than drive up vertiginous but well-maintained roads to the winery and tasting room at 951 feet of elevation. Bluemont sits in the first ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, looking like an eagle’s nest from the valley below. While we have been to higher elevations to taste wine (I think the highest was Stone Mountain at 1,700 feet), there are few with such a panoramic unobstructed view. On a winter’s day, you can see squares and rectangles of dormant farms in yellow stubble and sage green all the way down the Snickersville Turnpike.
Bluemont is owned by the Zurschmeide family who moved to Virginia in the 1970’s and, soon after, began making plans to open a winery and vineyard on the hillside above their farm. Kate Zurschmeide opened Bluemont in 2007. On our visit, we met her daughter, Carly Zurschmeide, a pleasant young lady with a round face and long brown straight brown hair. She plans to be an owner one day and is putting in the equity now. Along with Carly, we met Forrestt who introduced himself as a sommelier. He is a big man whose tea shirt and shorts (on a day that felt in the 20’s), sunglasses (inside) and long black hair may challenge what many think a sommelier should look like. Bluemont is not a biker bar, after all. But he’s a nice guy who knows his stuff and explains his kit by saying that he’s from Montana originally. The wind-chill was like summer for him.
Carly told us the vineyard is 42 acres under vine producing between 5,000 and 10,000 cases a year. 2025 was a short year because of the Spotted Lanternfly. They grow 15 varietals, and 98% of their wine is from their estate. Winemaker Scott Spelbring makes all the wine at their on-site production facilities.
Bluemont has two indoor tasting rooms. To get to either tasting room, you must climb some stairs or take a ramp to the back door of the main building.
We sat in the wide low-swung front tasting room of the main building with views of the valley. There is a deck for warmer days through some glass doors. Be Aware: This tasting room and this view are reserved for Wine Club members on weekends.
We strongly advise visiting Bluemont on weekdays, otherwise you will be relegated to the back tasting room, which we found depressing by comparison as its only view is the retaining wall at the rear of the main building.
During the warm months, Bluemont has a spacious covered patio and an apron of a picnic area that is open to the sun and open to the general public, but the seating is first-come. When we visited the temperature was in the low-30’s with a mountain breeze, so no one was sitting outside. A couple of steps from the main building is another tasting area that was closed for the winter. But this room allows for garage doors to be opened to take in that valley view again.
You should also be aware that Bluemont does not allow outside food. There is much good food available from their kitchen, such as the piping hot French onion soup and a steamy artichoke dip that we had with our wine. We were also able to snag a seat next to the faux fireplace. Bluemont is kid-friendly and animal-friendly. If you want more for the kiddos to do, one alternative is a visit to Great Country Farm, Bluemont’s sister property at the foot of the mountain. Check-out the pastries. Bluemont also partners with the Dirt Farm Brewery for beer lovers in your party.
Bluemont can host weddings and special events for parties up to 200 people. They have an event venue called “The Stable,” which sits between the tasting room and the valley floor. In the future, Carly said that Bluemont plans to bring back motorized winery and vineyard tours. This month features a chocolate truffle wine pairing night and a Bourbon Barrel Weekend.
Forrestt served the wine with little comment as the room was busy in spite of the cold outside.
2025 Chardonnay Reserve. Forrestt let us try a newly release 2025 Chardonnay Reserve. It has light oak and a touch of cream. Kim gave it a C.
2024 Sauvignon Blanc. This white has a hint of new-cut grass and a little sweetness on the nose. Kim gave it a B.
2024 Albariño. Kim reserved her highest score – a B+ - for the Albariño, which was more complex and citrusy. Grilled pork and vegetables go with this. Note the $40.00 per bottle price.
Roger had a tasting of Bluemont’s “Signature Series.”
2021 Farm Table Red. Tannins up-front, Plum. Acidic vs jaminess (is that Norton?). An unassuming blend. Not too ambitious. Barbequed ribs come to mind to accompany the wine. I rated it a B.
2021 Chambourcin. Blackberry fruit. Smoky. A poor man’s Pinot Noir. Has 10% Petit Verdot. Nice finish with a touch of sweetness. Good for pizza! B+.
2021 Cabernet Franc. The Cab Franc has 11% Petit Verdot. Touch of old-school green pepper. Gravelly. Mild tannin from the oak. Dark fruit. Won a silver medal in the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup. B.
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Bluestone’s Cab Sauv has 16% of Petit Verdot. Caramel. Lighter than some Cabernet’s and not somber or turgid. Age up to five years. B.
2020 Tannat. The winery’s tasting notes say this wine can age for another seven years. Surprisingly managed tannins. Dark charry. Very dry. Soil-like. Still, light enough for every day especially with some good cheeses. B.
2020 Norton Reserve. Bluemont’s Norton Reserve won a silver medal at the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup. It’s 100% Norton with that varietal’s distinctive jamminess (or foxiness). Very mild tannins. Thick, inky purple. I gave it a B.
We had a good time warming up on a cold day at Bluemont. Have some wine with a view that changes every season.
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