Casanel Vineyards & Winery Review

As a wine lover, I feel sooo grateful to call Virginia my home due to the many vineyards and wineries that also call my state home. One of the biggest things about many of Virginia’s vineyards is that they are proudly family-owned. Casanel Vineyards & Winery is truly no exception — family is at the heart of everything there which makes it such a special spot to add to your Virginia winery bucket list. This blog post will dive into all of what makes Casanel Vineyards & Winery, such a special and inclusive spot to visit for everyone in your crew.

*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.*

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.

While there, I had the opportunity to use my Reserve Pass – a Wine Pass app that gives pass holders varying discounts at participating wineries across the state of Virginia and *even* beyond. Its geographical interface allows wine lovers to locate wineries near them and get the best deals *literally* at their fingertips. At Casanel Vineyards & Winery, I was able to enjoy 10% off wine bottle purchases! If you’re like me and you LOVE visiting local wineries, then you must check out Reserve Pass and get your own today, which I write about more in-depth about the specifics of here. If you’re interested in purchasing a Reserve Pass to save on your winery and vineyard visits, then use my discount code “ktloveswine” for 50% off your Reserve Pass today! Purchase here!!

Casanel Vineyards & Winery Review

This Casanel Vineyards & Winery Review will be split into 3 sections: Getting There, About Casanel Vineyards & Winery + Plan Your Visit, and My Experience.

Getting There:

Located just about 10 minutes outside of downtown Leesburg, Virginia, Casanel Vineyards truly feels as if it’s in another world away! It is worth noting that Casanel Vineyards is located off of gravel roads. To spend less time on the gravel roads, then it is suggested to plan your travel via Business 7/East Colonial Highway as opposed to Routes 15 and 704. At the same time, it is highly suggested that you drive to reach the vineyard. Luckily, Northern Virginia has several rental car options to choose from. If coming from Washington, DC without a car, the nearest Metro stop is Ashburn Metro Station which is the last stop on the Silver Line and about a 25+ minute drive away.

Address: 17952 and 17956 Canby Road, Leesburg, VA 20175

About Casanel Vineyards & Winery + Plan Your Visit:

Shaped in their three core values of people, passion, and a sense of place, owners Casey and Nelson DeSouza planted their roots at what is now Casanel Vineyards & Winery in 2006. With a lot of hard work, authenticity, and a  whole lot of celebration, the DeSouza’s have created a place where everyone can come together no matter who they are for a glass of wine (or a mocktail) and leave having a great time. Today, the values of people, passion, and a sense of place still reign true at Casanel as the winery has several offerings to enjoy whether it be enjoying a glass or flight in their tasting room or outside at their patio or balcony, or a stroll around the grounds’ gazebo, everyone will be sure to have a great time!

Casanel Vineyards & Winery has PLENTY of offerings for you to enjoy upon planning your visit! These offerings include:

  • Self-Guided Wine Tastings – including glasses, bottles, and wine flights
  • Guided Wine Tastings – A staff member in the tasting room will walk you through not only the story of the family behind Casanel, but also give you a 1oz pour of 7 different wines.
  • Mocktails – you heard me right! A variety of mocktails are offered on the tasting room’s menu, to ensure everyone has a great winery experience!!
  • Tours – Tours of the grounds and winemaking experience at Casanel are available for parties of 6+ to enjoy. Tours cost $25/person and sturdy shoes are recommended.
  • Events – Whether on their website or social media pages, I was truly amazed at Casanel’s presence in the Northern Virginia region and strong partnerships with our local businesses. Casanel hosts several events both on their grounds and beyond that appeal to a variety of interests and hobbies. See more on events here.

When planning your visit to Casanel Vineyards & Winery, 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. At the same time, children are welcome inside the tasting room and beyond at Casanel. Whereas, pets are welcome outside only and they must be well-behaved and on a leash. Truly, everyone is welcome at Casanel but all visitors must be sure to plan their visit in advance. See more on planning your visit here.

My Experience:

While at Casanel, I took part in a guided wine tasting, which as previously mentioned, includes a 1oz pour of 7 different wines. As someone who personally prefers dry wines, I was in luck as most of Casanel’s wines are for those with a dryer wine palette. It is also important to note that taste of the wines at Casanel (as well as other vineyards!) is determined by the weather conditions year-after-year which affects wine harvest and the taste of the wines. During my guided tasting I tried the following wines – some of which pay tribute to the owners and family members that make Casanel, Casanel:

  • 2024 Ellianna – Estate Pinot Gris
  • 2024 Chardonnay – 100% Estate Chardonnay
  • 2024 Jose Rose – A rose made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Petit Verdot, and Norton
  • 2021 Casey’s Agape – A red wine blend Nnmed in honor of owner Casey
  • 2020 C4 Cullen’s Cabernet Sauvignon – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 2021 Petit Verdot – Full bodied with Lucious acidity and expressive flavors of black and blue fruits, savory, umami notes, and a lengthy finish
  • 2021 N2 (Nelson’s Norton) – 100% Estate Norton grapes

Learn more about the wines at Casanel here.

At the same time, I LOVED getting the chance to talk with those who work at Casanel throughout my guided tasting experience. One of the most beautiful aspects of visiting Casanel is that the DeSouza’s embrace and value everyone who walks through their doors, whether it be somebody who works in the tasting room or winemakers or visitors. Everyone is truly celebrated and loved as they are at Casanel which is something that I noticed right away!

Wrap-Up:

Casanel Vineyards & Winery is such a special place. While there, I truly saw how those who work there and regularly visit love it so dearly. From the heart that goes into making their wines to the experience as a visitor tasting their wines and having a good time (regardless of if you drink or not!), the DeSouza’s values of people, passion, and a sense of place still reign true to this day. Til next time!!

A special thank you to Reserve Pass and Casanel Vineyards & 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

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Want to Save on Wine?! Get A Wine Tasting Pass!

Do YOU love wine?! Are YOU traveling to the wine country in Virginia or California?! Perhaps, do YOU live near wine country?! If any of these following examples apply to you, then you must check out Reserve Pass app! If you know me or have been following me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) for some time, then you know that I LOVE wine! I ALSO LOVE finding a good deal and enjoying one, too! Luckily for me, Reserve Pass allows me to enjoy wine at local wineries AND score some discounts!! I have been fortunate enough to partner with Reserve Pass (which has since merged with Virginia Wine Pass!) in the past and today, I am hear to share with y’all, my experiences of using Reserve Pass.

About: 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)! 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.

Currently, Reserve Pass is partnering with over 250 wineries across the United States, being a passport for its guests to visit local wine regions both near and far. Reserve Pass’s deals and discounts vary per winery. Some places offer buy one get one free on wine glasses/flights/tastings, a percent discount on wine bottle(s) purchases, and tasting fee waived with the purchase of a bottle. It is also important to note that Reserve Pass does not partner with every vineyard/winery/brewery in the United States (and primarily its partnering wineries are in the West Coasts’ and Virginia’s Wine Country regions), meaning that there won’t be a deal at every place you may visit. However, there are several vineyards/wineries/breweries that Reserve Pass DOES partner with, especially clustered in the Virginia Wine Country/Maryland area and across the West Coast. In Virginia, Reserve Pass partners with wineries, including: Boxwood Estate Winery, Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, & The Winery at Bull Run. Overall, Reserve Pass is truly a wine tasting pass!

Whether you’re visiting a local wine country for the first-time EVER or live nearby a wine region (such as in Virginia or the West Coast) and want to check some boxes off of your winery bucket list, Reserve Pass truly IS the wine pass for YOU! Reserve Pass allows for its users to purchase two different types of memberships:

  • Monthly ($14.99/month) – PERFECT for those looking to try local wineries while on vacation or in the Summer month(s) when you know you’re looking to try a high-volume of wineries in a given month.
  • Yearly ($99/year) – PERFECT for those who live and frequent local-to-them wineries and will be visiting them multiple times in the year.

Interested in trying Reserve Pass for yourself?!?! Use my discount code “ktloveswine40” for 40% off an annual membership today!

I have personally LOVED how unique Reserve Pass is given its app-based geographical interface to allow for users find wineries nearby their current location and whether or not there is a deal nearby. For the many day trips that I take in the Washington, DC area to the nearby Virginia Wine Country, I LOVE that I can simply log onto the Reserve Pass app and find wineries near me and their corresponding deals. For example, when planning for a day trip to visit my friend Carlin in Winchester, I was able to find a nearby vineyard offering discounts to Reserve Pass members to grab a glass at along the way.

A special thank you to the team at Reserve Pass for sponsoring today’s blog post. Please note that all opinions are my own.  

XOXO – Katie <3

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Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery Review

My first-ever activity when I turned 21 was visiting local-to-me vineyards, as it was also in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. AND, vineyard visits have since become a favorite activity of mine! SO, when I got invited to check out a winery AND brewery, Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, I could NOT say no!

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.

About:

Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery was founded in 2002 and reimagined in 2020 with a mission to “blur the lines between beer and wine” through the power of innovation. Set in the heart of Northern Virginia’s Wine Country in Delaplane, Virginia and possessing several scenic views at everyyyy angle, Three Fox Vineyards also strives to give back to the community beyond its visitors. Three Fox is ALSO dog-friendly and family-friendly!

Three Fox has a variety of seating arrangements too. Whether it be within their indoors Tasting Room, outdoors Patio and Deck, or *even* in none other than their Grape Vines, there is ALWAYS an option for everyone and their preferences. One of the many many many assets that Three Fox has to offer is also seating literally over the hill to an onsite meadow and creek (!!!!!!!) with several benches where many fur legged LOVE to take a stroll by! If you want to learn more, look no further than here!

As for drinks, Three Fox has a vast wine and beer menu, as well as some boozy shakes! I opted for the white wine flight and was very impressed!!!

Getting There:

Three Fix Vineyards & Brewery is located off of Exit 23 via I-66 via an easy drive off of the highway and is easily within a day trip’s distance from Front Royal, Winchester, and Washington, DC. It is easiest to drive to Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, as the nearest Metro station (Ashburn via the Silver Line) is a 46 minute drive away.

My Experience:

Overall, I was BLOWN away by my visit at Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery! The staff that I met, including Christina, Robin, and Molina (not sure if it’s spelled correctly!), were all EXTREMELY kind and hospitable. One of the things that stuck out to me about Three Fox’s interior design was the unique touch of bouquets across the tables. I later found out that those gorgeous bouquets were mostly the product of the staff’s *very own* gardens at their respective homes. HOW LOVELY!

Now, I was seated at an amazing location onsite … a table in the grape vines!!!! YES, the grape vines!!! HOW NEAT! Three Fox ALSO has a local third party pizza vendor onsite which I grabbed some lunch at alongside my complimentary white wine tasting. While seated in *none other than the grape vines* I enjoyed taking in ALL of the incredible vibes here at Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, including a front seat row to watching … the cows come home (no LITERALLY!). I had never sat in a table in the grape vines and I truly felt like royalty thanks to the staff at Three Fox!

Wrap-Up:

I LOVED the family AND dog-friendly atmosphere at Three Fox and would highly recommend it to others looking for a great vineyard AND brewery to visit! Not only is Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery easily accessible off of I-66 and within an easy reach of Washington, DC, Front Royal, and Winchester, but it also boasts something for everyone of ALL ages.

A special thank you to the team at Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery for sponsoring my visit. 

Til next time, Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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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.

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

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My Experience at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival

Every Spring and Fall, George Washington’s Mount Vernon puts on an incredible wine festival, bringing in several participating wineries from ALLL across Virginia. As fellow Virginia wine (and wine in general!) lovers, my best friend Stephanie and I decided to experience the Virginia Wine Festival ourselves in early October 2023 and we were definitely in for a treat!

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.

About the Mount Vernon Wine Festival: The Mount Vernon Wine Festival is hosted every Spring and Fall and allows guests to sample unlimited wines from wineries all across Virginia at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in the evening. Guests also get a complimentary wine glass to take home, can admire the sunset on the estate’s East Lawn looking over the iconic Potomac River, and can walk through the first and second floors of the mansion. Tickets are starting at around $50 (which is what Stephanie and I both paid) and go up if you choose to purchase a charcuterie board or do VIP seating. Concessions are available for purchase, too. We opted to do General Admission. See more information on planning a visit to Mount Vernon in general and events here.

Around 20+ wineries (each with their own booth) participated at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival, allowing guests to get unlimited samples with admission. Bottles and glasses are also available for an additional purchase at each booth. I ended up doing some Christmas shopping for my family (wine is my best gift for loved one’s – haha!) and got 2 bottles for myself, too. Stephanie and I had an incredible time at each of the wineries that we were able to do complimentary tastings at. Each winery offered a unique flair, some of which’s wine had odes to the winery’s owner’s German, Polish, or Indian heritages. I LOVED getting to try several different unique wines, whether a celebratory, a dessert, or a go-to red or white. The wineries we tried included:

  • Horton Vineyards – a 3-generation women-owned winery, including the youngest daughter being the youngest woman winery owner in the United States!
  • Narmada Winery – an Indian-owned winery based near Washington, Virginia that pays homage to both Virginia wine country and its owners’ Indian heritage.
  • Morais Vineyards & Winery – a stunning winery AND popular Virginia Wine Country venue located in Bealton, Virginia.
  • Molon Lave Vineyards – the literal sweetest people were at their booth and they had the most Katie pink rose named *none other than* Katie’s Charm (!!!!).
  • North Mountain Vineyard & Winery – Paid homage to German/Polish heritage with some delicious dessert wines and the sweetest people at their booth as well.
  • Briede Vineyards – located in Winchester, Virginia with some amazing white wines.

Stephanie and I also were able to put our picnic chairs and blankets down on the East Lawn where we *maybe* spent 15 minutes the entire time we were there. Needless to say, we LOVED getting to sample several different wines from many many many vineyards across the Virginia Wine Country. We prioritized trying different vineyards over touring the mansion and it was for sure worth it and a blast to socialize with the staffers from each winery and other fellow festival guests. We definitely got our money’s worth and we will for sure be back to a future wine festival, too!

As fellow wine lovers, Stephanie and I LOVED getting to make a visit to the Mount Vernon Wine Festival. There are SO many incredible Virginia vineyards that we still have YET to check out. I know Stephanie and I both have our own winery bucket lists, too! I feel beyond lucky to live in an incredible state in the heart of wine country, featuring SOOO many incredible wineries to visit and enjoy some locally made wines at. And, it’s not every day that you get to strike a pose with the President and First Lady (!!!!).

XOXO – Katie <3

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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

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