An Afternoon of Hiking and Wine Tasting in Bluemont, VA
Dog-Friendly Hiking and Winery in Bluemont, VA
What’s the best way to enjoy National Dog Day? With a Field Trip! For those of you unaware, “Field Trip” is what we call shopping, wine tasting, exploring–basically anything that’s fun and outside of our daily routine (a trip to the vet is NEVER a field trip). When Rummy hears “Field Trip”, her little tail starts wagging and it’s on! So for National Dog Day, we decided to get some exercise and revisit a winery that now allows dogs after the Virginia legislation change in July 2018. Read on for info about our afternoon of dog-friendly hiking and winery in Bluemont, VA.
Raven Rocks Hike
We started the day with a morning hike at Raven Rocks, a 5.8 mile out and back hike with a vertical gain of 1,530ft. It is very rocky, and the technical parts can be difficult. But it’s a really great one–nice scenery, some switchbacks, good workout without feeling completely smoked the entire time and a ridiculous view at the top. I wrote about it earlier this year when we visited Twin Oaks Tavern Winery afterward (dogs allowed in the tasting room, many tables inside, great views).
We did the White trail which took us a little over 1.5 hours to reach the top at a moderate to moderately quick pace. Of course that’s subjective, but we kept moving aside from a few stops for water.
It’s very rocky and there are a few parts that were too technical for Rummy’s little legs. Maybe she’d have made it, but not worth it for several reasons. Number one, I don’t want her to get hurt. Number two, I don’t want to carry her the entire way back if she does get hurt. So even if you have confidence in your pup, keep that in mind. It could be a long walk back carrying that extra weight. She did really well, though. For a pup that’s accustomed to city parks and brunch, she impressed the heck out of me!
At the end of the ~1.5 hour hike up, you are rewarded with this view. I’ll let the picture do the talking.
The trail is clearly marked and most important, SHADED. The only time I needed sunglasses was at the top. The tree cover provided enough shade during the entire hike that we were really comfortable. Back at the trailhead, we cleaned up and headed out for the <4-mile drive to Bluemont Vineyard.
Bluemont Vineyard
We visited Bluemont Vineyard two years ago before dogs were allowed in the tasting room, so I was excited to go back now that they allow dogs inside. Didn’t matter a bit. The weather was great so we sat outside because the views here are really hard to beat. Seriously, the only other vineyard views that can compete in Northern Virginia (that I can think of) are at Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane (where pups are not allowed in the tasting room). But I do think these are the best in Northern Virginia. Curious which we think are the best in Virginia? Read this review from our road trip to Alabama and back last Fall.
The Essentials: Tasting Room Access
First things first, yes dogs are allowed in the tasting room. But there aren’t really places to sit inside once you’ve finished your tasting. That’s if you do the Elevate tasting. They offer two tastings- Elevate ($15) is a traditional tasting, poured at the counter with info about the wine. They also offer a Flight tasting ($10), which is a flight of wine with tasting notes that you can enjoy at your table. We opted for the latter simply to enjoy the unseasonably perfect August weather. But, if you want to enjoy a traditional tasting inside, you can do that with your dog.
There is another side of the tasting room that looked to be exclusively for wine club members. So if you join the wine club, you may be able to sit inside with your pup. Aside from that, we didn’t see places to sit inside. But the real draw at Bluemont is the view and they completed some seriously impressive work outside to accommodate more people comfortably. I emphasize “comfortably” because there is room to spare. The last thing you want is to sit on top of other tables. That’s annoying enough for people, but it actually prevents some dogs from joining in the fun. Pups can sit at these tables with a little space for themselves.
I wasn’t able to get all of the photos I wanted because I feel super weird getting shots when it looks like I’m taking them of a family or couple. I don’t want to be that girl. So check out their website and trust me that there is LOTS of outdoor seating.
Outdoor Seating
There are two levels of patio seating, both completely shaded. They each have probably half a dozen tables, along with a few others that are not shaded (or covered in case of rain). They also added a huge side patio addition. When we were here before it was a lawn, albeit a really, really nice lawn with nice tables. Now, it’s a true patio with lots of tables and a bar that runs the length so you can belly up to that view. Which is what people come here for. Or it could be the food…
And the Food…
Outside food is not allowed but they do have a nice menu of charcuterie, flatbreads and desserts. If you come hungry, be prepared to spend a lot of money. Flatbreads run $14- $17 and they’re sort of small. We ordered several after our hike. Pricey? Yes. Delicious? YES!! We thought we’d enjoy the Summer GOAT the most- goat cheese, olive oil, peaches, arugula and balsamic glaze. We did enjoy it, but we were surprised by the Classic Margherita–the basil and tomatoes were so fresh. It was perfectly simple, or simply perfect. Whatever. It was delicious and I wanted more.
This is clearly a destination winery–the views, the food and the abundance of outdoor seating. They know why people come and provide for it. If you’re looking for a place to sit inside with your dog, you may have a tough time here. But if you come during nice weather, and you should, you should have no trouble finding seating. Unless you show up late in the day. Because I believe a place like this will be slammed during Fall and Spring.
There are also several breweries nearby, so if you’re making a day of tasting, you can hit both wineries and breweries. And if you’re looking for an area where you can give your pup some exercise before asking them to behave in public, this is ideal with Raven Rocks so close. From Alexandria, the drive was barely over an hour at 9:00 am on a weekday. So it’s totally within reason for a weekend.
Want More Options for Field Trips?
Want more options for a dog-friendly hiking and winery in Bluemont, VA? Check out our Reviews page. Looking for more options for other Field Trips? Check out our Wineries, Breweries, and Parks/Walk Routes pages. You can filter by Location (city, neighborhood, wine region), tasting room access and more! Enjoy!