Your Guide to the Richmond West Trail
Situated in the heart of Virginia, a tour of the Richmond West Trail will reconnect you to the natural beauty that lies less than 30 minutes outside of downtown Richmond. Whether you drive along River Rd or Huguenot Trail — winding along either bank of the James River — or head west on Broad St, you will soon find yourself outside the hustle and bustle of the city.
The Richmond West Trail features an eclectic mix of wineries, craft breweries, distilleries, and a cidery — there is a perfect libation for everyone and every occasion!
— by Paige Poprocky, Social Media Manager (and the brains behind Sips & Trips with Paige. Follow her @sipsandtripswithpaige!)
Byrd Cellar Vineyard & Winery
Byrd Cellar Vineyard & Winery offers wines that appeal to both seasoned wine drinkers and casual drinkers alike in a fun, relaxed environment. Their new tasting room offers a large patio, a tented area, and roomy serving bars. Grab a flight, glass, or bottle and sip back and relax.
Location: 2442 Davis Mill Rd (Goochland)
Hours: Found here
Courthouse Creek Cider
Courthouse Creek Cider is the only cidery in Virginia to follow natural production techniques (what they call the rustic method); they believe this approach produces complex and nuanced ciders that pair exquisitely with food. Their farm is the perfect spot to spend a relaxing afternoon tasting their delicious ciders and beer. While enjoying a cider, tour the orchard and small farm. Fun fact: Both their cider and beer are 100% gluten-free.
Location: 1581 Maidens Rd (Maidens)
Hours: Found here
Crazy Rooster Brewing Company
Crazy Rooster Brewing Company’s mission is to allow everyone to relish their preferred beer styles while embarking on exciting journeys with new ones — potentially discovering newfound favorites! Their tasting room offers an inviting space with great vibes and music.
Location: 1560 Oakbridge Dr (Powhatan)
Hours: Found here
Elk Island Winery
Elk Island Winery got its name from the 1300-acre island in the James River, which was once a part of Thomas Jefferson's Elkhill farm situated right next to theirs. The winery specializes in Norton and vinifera varietals while offering a broad range of wines to suit all tastes.
Location: 5759 River Rd W (Goochland)
Hours: Found here
Fine Creek Brewing
Fine Creek Brewing is a small, family-owned farmhouse brewery in rural Powhatan County that offers a rotating selection of craft beers and a seasonal menu. If you want to make a weekend out of the trail hopping, consider staying onsite at the overnight cottages. Down the hill from Fine Creek Brewing are 13 cottages — with an ample green space and walkways between them. These suites feature a host of amenities along with complimentary breakfast.
Location: 2425 Robert E Lee Rd (Powhatan)
Hours: Found here
Grayhaven Winery
Founded in 1978, Grayhaven is one of the oldest commercial vineyards in the state of Virginia. In 1994, the winery was granted the 22nd Farm Winery license in Virginia. In addition to their small-batch production, they offer a variety of South African wines to sample and enjoy. I encourage you to order a cheese plate, enjoy a glass, and chat!
Location: 4675 W Grey Fox Cir (Goochland)
Hours: Found here
Hardywood West Creek
Hardywood West Creek is the ultimate brewery experience for craft beer lovers. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Richmond and nestled on 24 acres overlooking Tuckahoe Creek, Hardywood’s destination brewery includes a public taproom with a built-in stage, a mezzanine-level private event space with a conference room, an outdoor patio and beer garden, and a food truck plaza.
Location: 820 Sanctuary Trail Dr (Tuckahoe)
Hours: Found here
Hilltop Distillery
At Hilltop, distilling is a family business. Mother and Son (the first and only in the country) and Father are all distillers taking pride in developing flavors that can be enjoyed on their own or mixed in their favorite cocktails. Hilltop specializes in wheat vodka, bourbon, whiskey, single malt, moonshine, and flavored moonshine.
Location: 2750 Maidens Loop (Maidens)
Hours: Found here
Kindred Spirit Brewing
Kindred Spirit Brewing prides itself on being a vibrant and welcoming community. Their taproom offers views of their brewhouse, live music, events, food trucks, and more! If you need a rec, the Solera Saison (dry French saison aged in wine barrels) sounds delicious!
Location: 12830 W Creek Pkwy Unit J (Tuckahoe)
Hours: Found here
Lickinghole Craft Brewery
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery is a water-conscious, biologically friendly farm brewery carefully crafting unique and innovative beers. Set on a 290-acre farm in the heart of Virginia, LCCB grows hops, barley, herbs, and spices for their Estate Series of beers. You can bring your dog, have your kids play on their playground, and even enjoy a round of disc golf.
Location: 4100 Knolls Point Dr (Goochland)
Hours: Found here
Three Crosses Distilling Co.
Three Crosses is the first legal distillery in Powhatan County. Their current 150 and 250-gallon stills were hand-built in Missouri by Affordable Distilling Company. They have created an environment where people can come in and enjoy handcrafted spirits while making new friends!
Location: 3835a Old Buckingham Rd (Powhatan)
Hours: Found here
Want more (wine) where that came from?
Keep up with Paige’s blog, Sips & Trips with Paige — a wine, travel, and experience site that revolves around wine adventures, travel, and date-night experiences!
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