Drink

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Around the world, as both a beverage and a pastime, tea is steeped in history and ritual. From the casual to the ceremonial, tea is a throughline for many cultures, and now, it’s enjoying a renewed interest from beverage pros who are drawn to tea’s unique flavor characteristics, health benefits, and cultural connections. Recently, two […]

by Stephanie Ganz

Raising a Glass

Here are the winners of the 10th Virginia Craft Beer Cup (2022). Congratulations to all the winners and competitors that entered. A record 106 breweries competed in this year’s competition which included 14 new participants! Brewers were able to submit up to four beers to be judged in 33 different categories. A record […]

by Staff

Pedal-Powered Barhopping

Mobile cycle tours keep the party rolling. Climb aboard the tipsy carriage, Farmville’s mobile bar-hopping experience, and buckle in for a pedal-powered tour of the watering holes in historic downtown. “There’s no better way to experience downtown Farmville than pedaling a party bike on Main Street,” says co-owner Jacob Jamerson. The bike […]

by Vayda Parrish

Wine Country Living

This Loudoun County neighborhood has its own tasting room. CYNTHIA JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY Love visiting wineries? Now you can live on one. The new Hartland neighborhood in Aldie—a community of single family homes—features a winery and tasting room on the 800-acre property. Jon Hickox, owner of the popular Winery at Bull Run in […]

by Konstantin Rega

Stiff Competition

Virginia wines compete for the coveted Governor’s Cup award. (Virginia Governor’s Cup) Over seven days in March, world-class judges will assemble to sniff, swirl, and sip more than 500 Virginia wines in the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup, one of the most stringent wine competitions in the U.S. (British wine writer Steven […]

by Constance Costas

Spirited Sips

Craft cocktails and wine, all with the convenience of a can. Biarritz. Tangier. Charleston Alluring destinations, yes, but also the artfully composed flavor profiles of Colony Cocktails’ three canned wine creations. Philip and Jessica Miller developed the line, inspired by their travels. “We loved how food and drink had the ability to pull people together […]

by Ashley Hunter

Made in Virginia Awards 2021: Drinks

Here are the drinks that won our 2021 Made in Virginia Awards. (Photography by Fred and Elliott) Black Chevron Vodka (Three Crosses Distilling: in Powhatan) For the Davenports, their 80-proof vodka had been high on their wish list since the beginning. “When we were coming up with products before the […]

by Markus Schmidt & Mindy Kinsey

Steampunk Sipping

A passion for sci-fi informs Caitlyn Horton’s Gears and Lace wines. Winemakers love dreaming up special blends to please their own palates. For Caitlyn Horton, the result is Gears and Lace, a line of steampunk-themed wines with names drawn from Victorian-era slang. The inspired theme earned Horton, the daughter of Horton Vineyard […]

by Constance Costas

Barrel Fever

As bourbon demand rises, Virginia is bringing the barrels. Back in 1964, when Congress officially recognized bourbon as a “distinctive product of the United States,” it created a handful of rules to govern its making. In addition to US provenance, corn content, and distillation proof limits; the law dictates aging bourbon for […]

by John Haddad

Stir, Serve, Sip

Shake up your home-bartending game with these Virginia-made mixers and hand-crafted beverage accessories. (Daley Glassworks Decanters) CUSTOM-MADE HAND-BLOWN DECANTER AND GLASS SETS Daley Glassworks, Floyd Tim Burke of Daley Glassworks has curated hand-blown glass creations out of his Floyd County studio for more than 30 years. Burke’s made-to-order glassware […]

by Staff

The Taste of Place

At Troddenvale Cider in Bath County, Will and Cornelia Hodges are coaxing complexity from the humble apple. Jeffrey Gleason Jeffrey C Gleason On a crisp September morning, Will Hodges crosses the yard from his farmhouse to his cider cellar with bloodhounds Fanny and Hooch at his heels. There, he is greeted by […]

by Stephanie Ganz

Rye Oh My!

Rediscovering one of Virginia’s favorite spirits. Rye whiskey is one of the original local spirits. It’s been distilled here in Virginia since the 1700s; in fact, George Washington started one of the first successful commercial rye distilleries in the country in 1797, says Dale William Neal of VirginiaRye.com. And, like whiskies distilled […]

by Mindy Kinsey

Trails & Tours

A herd of equine expeditions across the Commonwealth. Here in Virginia, it’s estimated that 30 percent of all households are home to a horse enthusiast, and the state ranks 13th overall for horse population in America, according to the Virginia Horse Industry Board. Not lucky enough to have a steed of your […]

by Mindy Kinsey

America’s Drink

Blue Mountain Brewery keeps the beauty of brewing on everyone’s minds. Sarah Hauser Sarah Hauser, Virginia Tourism Corporation. DA1A4294.tif Blue Mountain Brewery and Hop Farm is Virginia’s first countryside brewery, hop farm and tasting room. It serves up ten hand crafter brews on draft every day paired with a local food menu. Virginia Tourism […]

by Staff

Poppin’ Bottles

Richmond’s Barrel Thief Wine & Provisions Yadapts to the times. (Barrel Thief Wine & Provisions) You can’t miss the bright red painted brick facade of Barrel Thief Wine & Provisions in Richmond. The wine shop’s location at the corner of Libbie and Patterson avenues opened in 2008, and Booth Hardy returned to […]

by Staff

A Unique Challenge

Mt. Defiance makes small-batch cordials with huge flavor. Jennifer Chase ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS AGO, Peter Ahlf left his job at NASA for a second act in custom woodworking. His first gig was renovating a kitchen for a friend of the family, Marc Chretien. Several years later, when Chretien was looking to […]

by Mindy Kinsey

The Big Fizz

Two Richmond beverage makers join the seltzer trend.

by Markus Schmidt

A Little Something Sweet

Often sweet and always smooth, dessert wines are perfect for sipping.

by Mindy Kinsey

Age Gates & Other Liquor Laws

New book details the questionable history of alcohol in America.

by Mindy Kinsey

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July 5, 2025

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The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Eight Virginia schools received the National Blue Ribbon 2024 award for their high performances. The Exemplary High Performing Schools are Spring Hill Elementary in McLean, Green Run Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Bethel Manor Elementary in Hampton, and St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton. The Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are Central Academy Middle […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

The University of Virginia has climbed to No. 4 among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, advancing one position from last year. The university maintained its No. 24 overall ranking, tying with Emory and Georgetown universities. UVA’s commitment to accessibility and student success stands out in several key metrics. […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Can’t-Miss Spots in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park offers breathtaking views, scenic trails, and diverse wildlife—the perfect prescription for nature lovers. Some spots to add to your itinerary include: This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2025 issue.

by Stacy Watkins

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New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

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The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

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Drink

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Current Issue

Events

Independance Day Celebration

June – July @ Art Works!

Carlyle House Family Fun Day – July 4th Jamboree

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Most Popular

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Can’t-Miss Spots in Shenandoah National Park

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