Your Guide to Wine, Beer & Spirits in Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland

Experience the flavours and ingenuity of local makers when you tour and taste your way through the region’s breweries, wineries and distilleries. Start with these standouts.

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Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Afton, Virginia

Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Afton, Virginia

Barboursville Vineyards, Virginia, winery, vineyard, wine, fall, scenic, USA

Barboursville Vineyards in autumn, Virginia

Jefferson Vineyards in Virginia

Stop by Jefferson Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia to sample award-winning wines.

A stout being poured Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Sip on a cask-poured beer in the tap room at Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland.

Springfield Manor Winery & Distillery in Thurmont, Maryland specializes in both wine and craft spirits.

Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Afton, Virginia

Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Afton, Virginia

Barboursville Vineyards, Virginia, winery, vineyard, wine, fall, scenic, USA

Barboursville Vineyards in autumn, Virginia

Jefferson Vineyards in Virginia

Stop by Jefferson Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia to sample award-winning wines.

A stout being poured Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Sip on a cask-poured beer in the tap room at Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland.

Springfield Manor Winery & Distillery in Thurmont, Maryland specializes in both wine and craft spirits.

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Start with these standouts.

Capital Region Wine Country

Jefferson Vineyards — Charlottesville, Virginia

Known as one of the best Virginia wineries and the birthplace of American wine, the estate is located on the same site where Thomas Jefferson first grew grapes 250 years ago.

Big Cork Vineyards — Rohrersville, Maryland

Intensely flavoured wines are the draw here, where a sleek, contemporary tasting room pairs well with flights featuring six varietals. Enjoy scenic views of the winery’s 100-acre estate from the year-round patio at one of the most celebrated Maryland wineries.

District Winery — Washington, DC

Located along the Anacostia River in the Capitol Riverfront neighbourhood, this DC winery offers tastings of their premium small batch wines, private tours and a full-service restaurant, making it a popular choice for travellers.

Learn more about Capital Region wine trails to make the most of your holiday!

Bountiful Local Craft Beer

Atlas Brew Works — Washington, DC

Sip a craft beer at a 100-percent-solar-powered DC brewery, where an ever-changing tap list boasts a mix of flagship and seasonal brews, from the District Common lager to the Blood Orange Gose.

Guinness Open Gate Brewery and Barrel House — Halethorpe, Maryland

One of only two Guinness experimental taprooms in the world, this 10-barrel Maryland brewery features barrel-aged beers, perfectly poured milk stouts and Guinness Blonde, the outpost’s flagship beer. Book a tour and tasting to delve into the brand’s heritage.

Väsen Brewing Company — Richmond, Virginia

Funky, fruity and flavourful are a few ways to describe Väsen’s unconventional craft beers — experimental farmhouse ales, sours, saisons and wheats all grace the environmentally conscious brewery’s menu.

Spirits Worth Celebrating

Tenth Ward Distilling Company — Frederick, Maryland

Local ingredients lend themselves to the one-of-a-kind spirits created at this micro-distillery, including year-round favourites such as Absinthe Nouvelle, Caraway Rye, Smoked Corn Whiskey and Genever Style Gin.

Republic Restoratives — Washington, DC

Churning out everything from Borough Bourbon, a wheated all-American whiskey finished in Barbados rum casks, to Chapmans Apple Brandy, made from fermented and distilled local apple juice, women-owned Republic Restoratives is an excellent stop for a tour and tasting.

Tarnished Truth Distilling Company — Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Cavalier, a historic luxury hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, houses Tarnished Truth within its former laundry room, making for a unique space to experience the line-up of bourbon, vodka, moonshine and more.

Easy-to-Drink Hard Ciders & Meads

Capitol Cider House — Washington, DC

In the city’s Petworth neighbourhood, savour a flight of gluten-free hard cider whilst sitting on the patio. The taproom features a mix of ciders made on-site, as well as locally made apple brews from mid-Atlantic cider producers.

Albemarle CiderWorks — North Garden, Virginia

Founded by the same family that owns Vintage Virginia Apples, an orchard and nursery growing more than 100 varieties of fruit trees, Albemarle CiderWorks produces full-bodied ciders from heritage apple varieties.

Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery — Middletown, Maryland

A rough-hewn log cabin overlooking vineyards and forested hillsides is where you’ll find this purveyor of wine and mead — a wine-like drink of honey and water fermented with yeast and a mix of robust spices.

Getting Here: Washington Dulles International Airport is centrally located in the Capital Region and convenient to all destinations and activities across DC, Maryland and Virginia. Non-stop flights to Washington Dulles International Airport from major destinations worldwide make getting here easy.

Want more? Pair your adventures with a food tour to experience the full range of flavours at some of the best restaurants in DC, Maryland and Virginia. And sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest holiday trends and ideas.