Overview
The drive out to Veritas is part of the experience. You leave Charlottesville, head west toward the Blue Ridge, and about twenty minutes later the road opens into Nelson County, where the vineyard rows run up toward the mountains. Veritas is one of the anchors of the Nelson 151 Trail, the cluster of wineries, breweries, and cideries strung along Route 151, and on a clear day the tasting room's lawn frames the ridgeline the way a good picture frame should. The winery keeps a simple, generous schedule: open every day of the week, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What has kept the place worth the drive is the wine itself, and the person behind it. Head Winemaker Emily Hodson has become one of the recognizable names in Virginia wine, and her work here has drawn the kind of attention that matters in this state — the 2024 Cabernet Franc earned a gold medal, and Veritas is a regular presence at the Virginia Governor's Cup. The winery recently marked its 25th anniversary, and this year it also entered into an agreement to pass into new local ownership, with Hodson staying on to lead the cellar. That continuity matters: the hand that makes the wine is not changing.
What to pour
Veritas plants and pours across the range Virginia does well. The reds lean into the grapes this climate has learned to trust — Cabernet Franc, the standout, plus Tannat, one of the bolder reds in the lineup and the kind of wine that rewards patience. On the white side there's Sauvignon Blanc, consistently one of the winery's best sellers, and Viognier, Virginia's signature white and a variety Veritas clearly takes seriously. There's sparkling wine too, easy to reach for on a warm afternoon on the terrace.
You don't have to guess your way through it. The tasting room offers a seated experience with a menu and wine list, so you can settle in at a table rather than elbow your way to a bar. If you find something you love, the Wine Club is built around exactly that — quarterly selections hand-picked by the team, with member benefits attached — and the online shop will send bottles home for you. The full list is at veritaswines.com/wines.
Beyond the tasting room
Veritas has grown into more than a tasting room over the years. The Farmhouse, the property's restaurant, extends the visit past an afternoon flight into a full meal, and it's a large part of what turns a wine stop into a destination. The grounds also host weddings and private events, and the same views that make the tasting room worth visiting make the ceremony photos work.
The events calendar is where the winery's personality really shows. The Supper Series brings guests together for multi-course dinners paired with the wines — an annual run that fills up fast — and Starry Nights turns the lawn into an outdoor concert venue on summer evenings, tickets going on sale when the weather warms. These are the kinds of events regulars plan their calendars around, and they're a big reason locals treat Veritas as a returning ritual rather than a one-time tourist stop.
Planning a visit
Veritas is at 151 Veritas Lane, Afton, VA 22920, open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can reach the winery at (540) 456-8000, and everything — tasting reservations, the events calendar, the wine club, the shop, and directions — lives on the website at veritaswines.com.
Come for a flight on the terrace, stay for a meal at The Farmhouse, and if a bottle catches you, the wine club will keep the good ones arriving long after you've driven back down the mountain. For a first-timer working through the Nelson 151 Trail, Veritas is a natural place to start — big enough to have everything, close enough to Crozet to make the trip easy, and grounded by a winemaker whose reputation the rest of the state already knows.
More winery in Crozet
Frequently asked questions
Where is Veritas Vineyards and Winery?
Veritas Vineyards and Winery is located at 151 Veritas Ln, Afton, VA 22920, USA, in Crozet, Virginia.
What are Veritas Vineyards and Winery's hours?
Monday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
How do I contact Veritas Vineyards and Winery?
You can call (540) 456-8000 or visit http://www.veritaswines.com/. Hours and current information are most reliable directly from the business.
What kind of business is Veritas Vineyards and Winery?
Veritas Vineyards and Winery is categorized as winery in our Crozet directory. See the description and quick facts above for what makes this listing distinctive.
Sources: veritaswines.com