Barren Ridge Vineyards Welcomes You
From 1897 until today....
Experience our evolution
from Apple Orchard to Modern Winery
Fishersville, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley
"Wine makes daily life easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions, and more tolerance"
-Benjamin Franklin
From an 1800's era Apple packing shed to Modern Winery, this beautiful property has been in the Higgs family for four generations.
Walk just a few steps into the Tasting room and you can feel the Barren Ridge difference.
It’s a place you want to spend time with friends and family, where you'll be treated like friends and family.
So sit back, relax, and take a moment out of time.
Immerse yourself in the Barren Ridge Experience. From Vineyard Tours to Private Tastings we have many options for you to experience our Family winery.
Do you enjoy a hands on educational experience? Book a Reserve Wine Tasting or a Vineyard Walk to learn more about wine, from vineyard management, to production, to tasting.
Want to wake up to this view? Check us out on Harvest Host!
Meet the Winemaker:
Jessi Gatewood
After earning a BA in biopsychology at Mary Baldwin College and a master’s degree at the University of Richmond, Jessi was pursuing her PhD in Neuroscience and working as research faculty at the University of Virginia when she reached a turning point in her professional life.
Instead of staying in a traditional lab, she had a fortuitous meeting with Gabriele Rausse, who instilled in her a love of the science and art of winemaking. She was fortunate to learn from Gabriele and his family, training at his home winery. In the ensuing years she worked in the cellars of several Virginia wineries, landing at Barren Ridge in 2014 where she worked until 2016 when her son was born. During her time as a new mom she worked for renowned VA winemaker, Michael Shaps, rising through the ranks to head winemaker in 2018. While challenging and exciting learning from a legend, she was drawn back to the Valley and Barren Ridge in 2019. Since that time she has found her confidence as a winemaker, and started to train a new generation, happily bringing her son to wander through the vineyards with her at harvest time.
Most recently, Jessi has collaborated with, and drew inspiration from master of methode champenoise, Claude Thibaut on her first Blanc de Blanc for Barren Ridge Vineyards, to be released July 2022.
Jessi has been an incredible addition to the Barren Ridge Vineyards team, and we are excited to taste what she comes up with next!
Upcoming Events
Contact
Address & Phone:
984 Barren Ridge Rd, Fishersville, VA 22939
(540) 248-3300
Special Vineyard Hours:
Barren Ridge is Open 7 days a week
Holiday Closures: Closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving Day
Reservations appreciated on the weekends, especially during music events
Reservations strongly encouraged for parties of 8 or more to ensure we can accommodate your group
Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn, patio, or camping chairs, as well as any picnic blankets for off-patio seating
Please note: Outside of Barren Ridge Vineyards scheduled events, we are unable to book or honor tours for the duration of our harvest season (August-October). Your comfort and safety is our top priority, and we cannot guarantee optimal tour conditions during this time period. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Regular Hours:
Mon -Thurs: 12:00 - 6:00
Fri - Sat: 12:00 - 8:oo
(Live Music Saturday Music 3-6 PM)
Sun: 1:00 - 6:00
(Live Music Sunday Music 2-5 PM)
Directions:
We are located approximately 10 minutes from the intersection of I-81 and I-64.
From Charlottesville
I-64 West. Take exit 91. Turn right onto VA-285 N/Tinkling Spring Rd. Turn left onto Mule Academy Road. When it turns into Barren Ridge Road, the entrance will be on your left in about 2.5 miles.
From Staunton
Rt-250 East. Turn left on Barren Ridge Road about 2.5 miles. The entrance will be on your left.
To inquire about weddings, parties, and private events at Barren Ridge Vineyards, email us at events@barrenridgevineyards.com
To inquire about performing or being a vendor at Barren Ridge Vineyards, email us at marketing@barrenridgevineyards.com
To inquire about weekly special events, reserve wine tastings, vineyard walks, and wine clubs, email us at trmanager@barrenridgevineyards.com