868 cobblestone cottage

Is 868 Estate Vineyards Worth Visiting?! Here’s My Take!

***Please note that this Is 868 Estate Vineyards Worth Visiting?! Here’s My Take! 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 October 2026.***

Planning a Northern Virginia winery visit, this 868 Estate Vineyards review will hopefully help you decide whether or not this gorgeous and community-focused winery is worth a spot on your bucket list.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

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.

Is 868 Estate Vineyards Worth Visiting?! Here’s My Take!

Northern Virginia Travel Guides

If you’re traveling to the Northern Virginia Wine Country anytime soon, then look no further than my Boxwood Estate Winery Estate Pairing Review, Casanel Vineyards & Winery Review, Effingham Manor Winery Review, The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm Review, Old Farm Winery at Hartland Review, The Winery at Bull Run Review, and Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery Review. To plan your own wine tour, check out my experience with Cork & Keg Tours. For more Washington, DC Wine Country wineries to visit, there are many listed out in this guide as well as this dog-friendly wineries guide!

Besides wineries, for things to do in Northern Virginia, including thrift stores, pumpkin patches, and garden centers, then check out this master list as well as a guide on George Washington’s Mount Vernon. For dining options in Northern Virginia, look no further than these Old Town Alexandria dining, brunch, wine bar, and cafes guides as well as this Arlington wine bars guide, Burke restaurants guide, and Fairfax brunch guide. 

If you are looking for an activity to do pair with visiting a Northern Virginia winery with some nature, then I would highly recommend taking a scenic drive and go leaf peeping at Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive (read here for Fall Foliage predictions!). In addition to leaf peeping, Northern Virginia has several incredible pumpkin patches (which I list here!). If visiting Northern Virginia, then book one of many excellent hotels in the area!

pretty-scenery

Table of Contents

How To Save at Virginia Wineries (and Beyond!)

Getting There

About 868 Estate Vineyards + Plan Your Visit

My Experience

Is 868 Estate Vineyards Worth Visiting?!

How To Save at Virginia Wineries (and Beyond!)

friends-at-868

Want to save on wineries in Virginia (and beyond!!), including at Effingham Manor & Winery?! Download Reserve Pass and sign up for YOUR membership today!! Reserve Pass is currently the only app in the United States that is essentially a nationwide wine (and sometimes beer) tasting pass for you and a guest (see more here)! Memberships are available in monthly and annual formats.

The key features of Reserve Pass are:

  • 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.

Interested in getting your own Reserve Pass today?! Interested in trying Reserve Pass for yourself?!?! Use my discount code “ktwine40” for 40% off an annual membership today (value: $69).

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 the heart of Washington, DC’s Wine Country in Northern Virginia’s Loudoun County, 868 Estate Vineyards feels as if it’s practically a whole other world away from the nation’s capital! Due to its location in the countryside and not too far from Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, it is best to drive to 868 Estate Vineyards. Luckily, Northern Virginia has several rental car options to choose from. 

Address: 14001 Harper’s Ferry Road, Hillsboro, Virginia 20132

Hours:

  • Wednesday, Thursday, & Sunday: 11am – 6pm
  • Friday & Saturday: 11am – 8:30pm

About 868 Estate Vineyards + Plan Your Visit

pink-wine-barrel

It all began in 2012 when three families, Peter and Nancy Deliso, Wendy and Chris Charron, and Carl and Erin DiManno, bought Grandale Farm with an underlying mission to simply bring people together in a warm and welcoming place to enjoy a glass of wine and time together via wine, music, food, and art. To this day, 868 Estate Vineyards produces over 4,000 cases of award-winning wine annually, including a 2020 Governor’s Cup Winner. 

868 Estate Vineyards has plenty of offerings, including:

  • Wine Tastings – Award-winning wines (including non-alcoholic versions)
  • Dining – Onsite good eats that guests can grab and enjoy wherever they choose to sit (whether inside the tasting room or outside!)
  • Art – An onsite art gallery which rotates throughout the year
  • Gift Shop – A gift shop (complete with snacks!) that sells local artisans’ and makers’ merchandise
  • Events & Music – A variety of fun events throughout the year including regular live music on the weekends (including a Summer music series to highlight local talent), trivia nights, and *even* ghost tours during Spooky season
  • Shipping – Wines can also be shipped to 35+ States. See wine information and shipping information here.

When visiting 868 Estate Vineyards, it is advised to check their website to ensure that they are open when you plan to visit and to ensure if a reservation is required for your party that you do so in advance. Pets are welcome outside only and they must be well-behaved and on a leash. Children are welcome, too, but must be with their parents at all times and cannot climb the historic walls on the grounds. Truly, everyone is welcome at 868 Estate Vineyards but all visitors must be sure to plan their visit in advance. See more on planning your visit here.

My Experience

bench-and-wine

While at 868 Estate, I opted to stick to one wine that I LOVE: Cabernet (I ordered 2 glasses!). My friends Stephanie and Ashley and I also ordered some food from 868 Estate’s Good Eats menu, too, when we were in the tasting room (where guests can also sample wines, too). Each of the winery’s menu items are made to pair well with their wines (I ordered a burger!). 

We decided to sit outside where 868 Estate was hosting a corporate event in a separate area of the grounds, a group for a Bachelor Party was having the time of their lives at the table next to us, and there was live music playing. HOWEVER, it was NOT loud or overstimulating at all, rather, I felt as if I was just enjoying time with friends with a burger and a glass of wine. Nevertheless, it was a LOVELY time!

funny-slogan

I ended up ordering my wine outside where there’s an additional tasting room via a covered area (in addition to the indoor tasting room and adjacent art gallery!), which was a super fun perk! I could access my tab both inside and outside at both tasting rooms until I closed it. It is advised to close your tabs to avoid additional fees. I always recommend tipping those who work there for all they do 🙂

After we ate and drank a bit, we decided to walk around the historic winery grounds. 868 Estate Vineyard’s grounds are GORGEOUS! We LOVED the pink and yellow bikes in front of the vines!! 

Is 868 Estate Vineyards Worth Visiting?!

vines-and-dress

A resounding YES!

868 Estate Vineyards is 1000000% worth visiting! Personally, my favorite vineyards to visit are the ones where I know everyone (children and pets included!) are welcome. 868 Estate Vineyards alongside its incredible local community initiatives via embracing local musicians and artisans is such an asset to the Northern Virginia community and definitely worth a visit. 

Wrap-Up

cobblestone-cottage-and-wine

Happy sipping and admiring the gorgeous history, nature, music, and artwork galore at 868 Estate Vineyards!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Boxwood Estate Winery Estate Pairing Review

I am truly somebody who LOVES a good wine day and will probably drink wine anywhere! However, I had yet to add enjoying a wine day in a wine … cave surrounded by French Oak Barrels (!!!!!) to the list of places that I have enjoyed a glass of wine until recently. When I heard about Boxwood Estate Winery’s Estate Pairing – a guided and curated wine and hors d’oeuvre pairing hosted in their cave (!!!!!) – I could not resist the opportunity to take part in this incredible experience! A special thank you to the incredibly kind and hospitable team over at Boxwood Estate Winery for hosting me for an Estate Pairing! Come along with me for my *very own* Boxwood Estate Winery review of their Estate Pairing!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Boxwood Estate Winery Estate Pairing Review

If you’re traveling to the Northern Virginia Wine Country anytime soon, then look no further than my 868 Estate Vineyards Review, Casanel Vineyards & Winery Review, Effingham Manor Winery Review, The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm Review, Old Farm Winery at Hartland Review, The Winery at Bull Run Review, and Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery Review. To plan your own wine tour, check out my experience with Cork & Keg Tours. For more Washington, DC Wine Country wineries to visit, there are many listed out in this guide as well as this dog-friendly wineries guide!

Besides wineries, for things to do in Northern Virginia, including thrift stores, pumpkin patches, and garden centers, then check out this master list as well as a guide on George Washington’s Mount Vernon. For dining options in Northern Virginia, look no further than these Old Town Alexandria dining, brunch, wine bar, and cafes guides as well as this Arlington wine bars guide, Burke restaurants guide, and Fairfax brunch guide. 

If you are looking for an activity to do pair with visiting a Northern Virginia winery with some nature, then I would highly recommend taking a scenic drive and go leaf peeping at Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive (read here for Fall Foliage predictions!). In addition to leaf peeping, Northern Virginia has several incredible pumpkin patches (which I list here!). If visiting Northern Virginia, then book one of many excellent hotels in the area!

About

Boxwood Estate Winery was founded by John Kent Cooke the former owner of the Washington Redskins football team via his lifelong dream. Cooke’s love for Bordeaux wines gave Boxwood its emphasis on curating premium red and white Bordeaux wines in-house. Given that Boxwood is proudly an estate winery, Boxwood controls all steps of the production of its wines. One of the biggest distinctions of Boxwood is the fact that it focuses on the high-quality of its premium wines versus high quantities of wines, making for an elevated wine experience when going!

Getting There

Boxwood Estate Winery is located in Middleburg, Virginia AVA in the heart of Northern Virginia’s Wine Country, local horse farms, and Revolutionary and Civil War history. Boxwood is located a couple of miles off of I-66, about an hour’s drive from Washington, DC or a 30 minute drive from the Ashburn Metro Station (accessible via the Silver Line towards Ashburn). It is easiest to either drive or Uber to Boxwood, given cost and time to get there. Free parking is onsite at Boxwood.

Estate Pairing

To continue my Boxwood Estate Winery review, let’s learn more about its *very own* Estate Pairing! Boxwood’s Estate Pairing takes pride in its serving of French Bordeaux tradition. Serving four of its high-end wines paired with a carefully curated plate of hors d’oeuvres, the Estate Pairing is served in Boxwood’s immaculate wine cave. All wines from the Estate Pairing are ALSO available to purchase afterwards to enjoy a piece of Boxwood at home, too! To preview Boxwood’s Estate Pairing, see below:

  • Cupola 2022 – Has aroma hints of lemon-line with notes of cantaloupe, white pepper, tropical fruits, and white flowers. 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris blend. Pairs well with shrimp tempura, smoked trout, shrimp scampi, or fried oysters.
  • Reserve 2021 – Contains whole berries fermented by variety and clones, aged 15-17 months in French Oak Barrels before its final blend containing aromas of rose petals, red cherries, and black fruit with a hint of blueberry and cherry flavors and cocoa on the palate. 53% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pairs well with steak with arugula, portobello mushrooms, lamb, or London broil with garlic aioli.
  • Topiary 2017 – Dark cherry with notes cedar and white pepper and a lingering spice dark fruits. 54% Cabernet Franc, 32& Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot. Pairs well with tiramisu, roasted pork, short ribs, or root vegetables.
  • Reserve 2020 – Contains notes of blueberry, black cherries, and caramel and vanilla; 42% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pairs well with mushroom tart, tenderloin, roasted pork, or beef and mushrooms.

*Note that all wines are 100% Estate Grown Fruit from Middleburg, Virginia AVA.

To make a reservation for an Estate Pairing, look no further than here.

Wrap-Up

To wrap up my Boxwood Estate Winery review, I will say that the drive there is amazing in itself!! It is seriously magical driving through the windy roads of Middleburg, Virginia AVA to make it to Boxwood and getting there is pretty great, too. Truly, I had a WONDERFUL experience at Boxwood Estate Winery! Not only did I feel an extremely warm and welcoming and hospitable presence by the staff and *even* the fellow guests, but I also felt in awe at the mere beauty of Boxwood Estate Winery itself. Being able to sit and stroll throughout the Cave at Boxwood, where I spent most of my time while there, was seriously an incredible experience for the books. Never have I ever been able to enjoy sitting in a Cave where many many many wines to be enjoyed by many to come are being made! At the same time, I had a GREAT time nerding out over wine diamonds (which I never knew existed until my visit!) with Boxwood’s Lisa and being given an amazing guided tour by Boxwood’s Mark.

Truly, I highly recommend a visit to Boxwood Estate Winery to anybody! Boxwood’s Estate Pairing is truly a unique experience like NO other (!!!!!). Whether you are looking for the perfect unique date night, celebratory dining, or solo experience, then look no further than Boxwood Estate Winery’s Estate Pairing!

A special thank you to the team at Boxwood Estate Winery for sponsoring my visit!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee6 Comments

Fourth of July at The Winery at Bull Run

Just last week on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared me and my best friend Bryn’s experience at The Winery at Bull Run over the Fourth of July! If you know me, then you know that I LOVE The Winery at Bull Run located in Centreville, Virginia. Well, to my surprise, The Winery at Bull Run blew me away *YET AGAIN* when we went – it was my fifth time going!

For more of my experiences at The Winery at Bull Run, look no further than here:

The Winery at Bull Run is located in Centreville, Virginia just about 30-45 minutes outside of Washington, DC. The vineyard is the closest of its kind to the nation’s capital that makes most of its own wine right where the vineyard is (a lot of wineries outsource their wine, including one closer to my home). It also offers historical tours as it is right next to the Manassas Battlefield State Park, too. So, that being said, there is A TON of history here in Virginia, let alone just at and around The Winery at Bull Run!

So, at The Winery at Bull Run, they do guided tastings indoors only. They give out free waters along with each tasting and a complimentary wine glass as a souvenir to take home. Wine tastings includes 6 wines – 3 reds and 3 whites – and cost $18 when you arrive or $10 upon pre-reservation. The guided wine tastings are GREAT in my opinion: it was Bryn’s first time ever at a vineyard and a great way for her to learn more about different wines. I even learned some things, too, and found a few new favorite wines along the way. I plan to take my Dad there sometime, too, as they also offer historical tours and allow you to see where they make the wine in-house!

The best part?! There were practically NO CROWDS there on the Fourth of July! Usually, The Winery at Bull Run is PACKED on the weekends, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it as just the opposite.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee2 Comments