Sabin Wine Journeys - the Virginia Wine Journeys Blog

October 25, 2025.   South Paddock Winery sits within the 300 acres of Whitehall Farm in southern Albermarle County about four miles from Scottsville.   While Whitehall Farm was established around 1780, this winery appears to have been established in 2023 by DC-based architect Carmel Greer.    The full name for the place - as reflected on their bottles - is "South Paddock Winery at Whitehall Farm and Winery."  Despite the mouthful of a name, I don’t see two wineries in this one location – just South Paddock.    To get to the winery, you drive by stables that I presume to be “North Paddock,” and indeed Whitehall Farm advertises equestrian experiences for their guests.   The South Paddock Winery building is just down the road across the open fields.    When we visited on a fall crisp Saturday afternoon, we met our server Kaitlyn, and just one other guest.   Kaitlyn was a tall willowy young lady busying herself around the win...

October 25, 2025.   The old river town of Scottsville is found at the bottom of a long downhill run where State routes 20 and 6 cross at the southern end of Albermarle County.   Before you come to the small town on the river plain, the shoulders on both sides of the road rise sharply to houses and businesses  striving to keep level as the ground drops away.   In the 19th Century, Scottsville was the center of the farming community that stretched all the way into the Shenandoah Valley.   From here farmers loaded their produce on barges to ferry down the James River to Richmond and even into the Atlantic.   Plans were made to link to the Ohio River from a starting point at Scottsville, but the Civil War and the efficiency of the railroads put an end to that scheme. Today, Scottsville features casual dining, canal history and river adventures.   Most of the dining is along Valley Street, where you can get a good sandwich at the Tavern on the James, or a c...

May 16, 2023.   With a name like the Tasting Room and Taphouse at Mt. Ida Reserve, you begin to get an impression of this large wedding-focused venue that sits inside a sprawling 5,000 acre “reserve” in Scottsville, about 30 minutes south and east of Charlottesville, Albermarle County.   The Reserve has private homes, cottages, lakes, a go-kart track, and other amenities.   Oh, and four wedding locations.   Owner Tom Sullivan would be happy to sell the whole lot to you for only $45 Million (as of October 2022).   We are thankful to Jackie Callo, the Mt. Ida Sales Manager, and Tasting Room Manager, Ryan Hutchinson-Jarvis, for spending some time exploring what the venue offers.   According to their website, the wine part of the Reserve sits on some 27 acres of vineyards, four of which are on-site.   All fruit is hand-picked for small-batches.   Actual production of wine, however, is left to the ubiquitous Michael Shaps Wineworks in a custom crush ...