***Please note that this My Experience at Effingham Manor & Winery + Review will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date Virginia Wine scene. This guide was most recently updated as of May 2026.***

If you’ve ever wanted to visit a winery located on the grounds of a historic Manor, then you’re in luck! Effingham Manor & Winery is on a historic manor’s grounds – complete with a koi fish pond – that’s converted into a winery and events space producing locally-made wines all while honoring its history and heritage. Indeed, Effingham Manor & Winery is a unique spot – perfectly fit for both history nerds, wine lovers, and everyone in between. 

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page. For more Washington, DC area travel inspiration, check out my Exploring The DMV page. For a comprehensive guide on Northern Virginia Wineries, look no further than here.

My Experience at Effingham Manor & Winery + Review

Table of Contents

How To Save at Virginia Wineries (and Beyond!)

Getting There

About Effingham Manor & Winery + Plan Your Visit

My Experience

How To Save at Virginia Wineries (and Beyond!)

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• Explore – by simply downloading the Reserve Pass app, you can simply plan your wine tasting adventure within your own backyard or while on vacation.
• Perks – as a Reserve Pass member, you get to enjoy exclusive perks while touring historical sites, strolling through vineyards, and tasting local wines.
• Revisit – unlike just any old coupon, you can revisit any of the wineries you loved and get the same Reserve Pass deals with them time and time again.

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For more details on Reserve Pass, look no further than here. For a comprehensive guide on Northern Virginia Wineries, look no further than here.

Getting There

Located in Nokesville, Virginia on the Western edge of Northern Virginia’s Prince William County, Effingham Manor & Winery is most easily accessible by car. There are no nearby Metro stations or public transit options if coming from Washington, DC and it is best to get there via driving. Effingham Manor & Winery is accessible via back roads (be prepared!) off of the Prince William County Parkway with close proximity to Bristow, Virginia and its many shops and restaurants nearby. However, once you arrive at Effingham Manor & Winery, you will NOT regret your visit there!

Address: 14325 Trotters Ridge Pl, Nokesville, VA 20181

About Effingham Manor & Winery + Plan Your Visit

Effingham Manor & Winery is open daily from 11am-6pm and you can reserve your table here. Please note that walk-ins are welcome, too. Due to the property’s historic nature, pets are not welcome onsite. Additionally, visitors to the winery must be 21+ only.

As previously mentioned, Effingham Manor & Winery consists of both a Manor and a winery – truly a history buff and wine lover’s paradise! While not all Sunshine and rainbows when it comes to its history, Effingham Manor & Winery truly maintains its heritage while moving forward into the 21st century (and beyond!). 

Effingham Manor was first settled by William Alexander of the powerful Alexander family (and where Alexandria, Virginia got its namesake from!) as part of a land grant from King George 1st. The manor was officially built with an operating farm by 1967. When William Alexander died in 1814, his wife and son Lawrence inherited the property, however, it was sold to pay off debts in 1828 to John Macrae. It is worth mentioning that not all history is happy as Effingham Manor, since the land was worked by slave labor until the 1860’s with up to 40 enslaved people working on the property. Upon the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation, 3 of the 4 Slave Houses were taken down, with one remaining for Sharecroppers. This historic slave house still stands and is one of only a handful in Virginia and was converted into a guest house in 1955 when the Engh family purchased and owned the manor. The Engh family upon purchasing Effingham Manor was also responsible for a lot of the renovations and upkeep of the manor, all while maintaining its legacy. In 2015, Chris Pearmund and his partners purchased Effingham Manor, with the intention of marrying the history of Virginia, and the history of Virginia Winemaking – aka amazing!!! Today, Effingham Manor has wifi, indoor plumbing, an onsite award-winning Virginia winemaker, and its grounds have been added onto what it is today: Effingham Manor & Winery. On the weekends, Effingham Manor also doubles as a tasting room, events space, reception, and dining rooms – all for visitors to enjoy as they savor a glass of wine! Learn more about Effingham Manor & Winery and its unique history here. 

Reserve your visit to Effingham Manor & Winery today here.

My Experience

Guided Wine Tasting

While at Effingham, I took part in a guided wine tasting and guided tour of the manor. I tried several of Effingham’s wines – all of which are dry wines (as someone who LOVES dry wines, I felt as if I hit the jackpot!!). As previously mentioned, Effingham has an onsite, award-winning winemaker, meaning that all wines are Virginia-made! In addition to a variety of wines, Effingham also has beers on tap from Haymarket’s Trouvalle Brewing. Highlights of my guided wine tasting at Effingham include:

• 2022 Chardonnay (Gold Harvest Challenge) – A medium-bodied wine that’s aged in French oak barrels that offers hints of lemon curd, meringue, and lightly toasted oak. Tropical fruit and citrus flavors prevail, offering a hint of bright acidity on the finish.
• 2023 Rose (Silver Texas International) – An off-dry rose that’s a blend of Chambourcin and Chardonnay/Chardonnel. Palate-wise, the rose offers a touch of sweet melon and citrus fruit notes balanced with a soft round mouthfeel with subtle citrus notes on the finish.
• 2023 Celebration (Silver Virginia Wine International) – Containing 1.5% residual sugar and a blend of Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, and Petit Manseng, this white wine is 100% aged in stainless steel and offering, honeysuckle, Asian pear, dried apricot, and citrus nose that carry over to the palate.
• 2022 Merlot (A Newly-released vintage!) – Effingham’s only varietal wine aged 14 months in American Oak Barrels, it showcases aromas of cherry, cranberry, and plum with flavors of pomegranate, tart cherry, and a hint of peppercorn which are all found on the finish.
• 2021 Meritage (Gold Virginia Wine Invitational) – A Bordeaux-style wine aged 14 months in 100% American Oak comprised of Cabarnet Franc, Cabarnet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot and showcasing notes of black fruit and tobacco on the nose that carries throughout and onto the palate. 
• 2021 Tannat (Best of Category and Double Gold, Harvest Challenge 95 Points) – Aged 14 months in Virginia Oak, this beautiful varietal that expresses notes of black fruit, leather, and chocolate with black fruit, cherry, and spices on the palate. 

Learn more about the wines and beer at Effingham here and here.

Guided Manor Tour

Alongside a guided wine tasting, I also enjoyed a guided Manor Tour. On this guided Manor Tour, I learned more about the history of Effingham Manor and its preservation into what it is today. From the wallpaper to the furniture to tributes to the manor’s former owners, including the Engh family with places to enjoy a glass of wine at every corner, Effingham Manor truly holds past history while honoring what it’s become. While I previously mentioned the manor’s history and story earlier in this blog post, I loved getting to enjoy its gorgeous grounds that celebrates Virginia history AND winemaking! Hence, I’ve included a little bit of a mini photo tour of the manor, which I LOVED learning about how local social groups come for book clubs, card games, and more on a regular basis at!!!

Wrap-Up

Effingham Manor & Winery blends both Virginia history and winemaking together. Indeed, it is such a gem in Virginia and truly offers unique pieces of Virginia life, history, and culture with nods to both the past and the present. Needless to say, I am 10000% excited to visit Effingham Manor & Winery again *very* soon!!

A special thank you to Reserve Pass and Effingham Manor & Winery for coordinating my visit and sponsoring today’s blog post. Without their support, The Pink Chickadee wouldn’t be where it is today!

XOXO – Katie <3