The word “adventure” doesn’t usually come to mind when you think of wine tasting. Do you know how you usually just drive up to the winery by car? So boring. What if you could kayak down to the winery while taking in the magnificent views? Well, on the beautiful and quirky East Coast of Virginia, you can.
So what is this kayak and wine adventure?
“Take off your glass” is a kayak and winery tour organized by Southeast Expeditions in partnership with Chatham Vineyards. You’ll spend a lovely day paddling the Chesapeake Bay, then stop along the way for a glass (or two) of award-winning Church Creek wine at Chatham Vineyards and Winery. How cool does that sound?
The tour begins on the banks of Nassawadox Creek in the remote village of Bayford, Virginia. After a short rowing lesson, you’ll head south to Church Creek, taking in the natural beauty, watching the East Coast’s wildlife, and listening to interesting stories about the area..
When you arrive on the shores of the Chatham Vineyards, you’ll pull your kayak out onto dry land before heading to the Chatham Tasting Room for delicious Church Creek wine and a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility.
After the wine tasting, you can relax a bit at one of the tables overlooking the vineyard while enjoying the wine. Local cheeses and bread platters are also available. After all those strokes, you deserve it. After you finish your wine, you will return to your kayak and head back to where you started your journey.
The tour cost is $89 per paddler, including guide, boat, equipment, and visit to Chatham Winery. Plus, you get a free bottle of wine for every two rowers! Beginner kayakers are welcome and encouraged.
Wine and kayak tours run daily from March to December. Advance booking through Southeast Expeditions necessary. To book a Paddle Your Glass Off kayak and wine tour, or just learn a little more, visit their website. SoutheastExpeditions.com
How did Chatham Vineyards and Winery come about?
Chatham, owned and operated by John Vener and his wife Mills, has been a working farm for over four centuries. Second-generation vine grower John learned the art of grape growing from his parents, who ran the Great Falls Vineyard in Great Falls, Virginia for over thirty years. Since 1999, more than twenty acres of French grape varieties have been planted, including Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The winery was built in 2005 and currently produces between 3,000 and 5,000 cases of wine per year.
What is the history of Chatham?
The land at Chatham Vineyards is located along Church Creek, which was patented as early as 1640 and has been a working farm for over four centuries. Entering Chatham Winery, you drive down a long dirt road surrounded by magnificent vines. At the end of this road, you can’t help but notice a beautiful federal period brick house called Chatham, which was built in 1818 by a man named Major Scarborough Pitts. It was named after William Pitt, Earl of Chatham and friend of the American Revolution. The grounds also contain historic outbuildings, barns, and two early 1900s houses that have been recently renovated. One of the houses, a 1915 farmhouse 3 bedrooms 2 baths are available for guests to rent. This is the perfect place for a relaxing and romantic getaway on the east coast.
If you want to skip the adventure and go straight for wine tasting…
Chatham Vineyards and Winery
chathamvineyards.com
9232 Chatham Rd, Machipongo, VA 23405
(757) 678-5588
Watch
Open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 (April-December)
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays (January-March)
Tasting cost: $5/person
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