Day Trip

Destination: Williamsburg, VA

If one yearns for a quiet retreat in a small European town, enjoying a picnic beside a pond, sipping the latest vintage produced from the vines in the surrounding fields, the solution exists within an hour’s drive of most Tidewater locations—Williamsburg Winery at Wessex Hundred. Depending on your day trip origination, you will travel the typical hurried highways until a turnoff just near the exits for Busch Gardens transports you to Humelsine Parkway and then Lake Powell Road, which leads to your destination. The winding drive through the property presents patterned acres of grapevines strung along wires and posts. Visitors may choose from the many options to experience the vineyard once they reach the parking lot, which faced what could best be described as the replica of a European village with several buildings. We found the following order suited the day perfectly. First, enjoy a tasting flight, accompanied by all COVID-19 precautions such as outdoor (but comfortable) seating only, masks and plastic tasting cups at the Wine Pavilion, a two-story, covered and uncovered porch-like facility with views of the fields. Choose from white, red, sparkling and dessert/ specialty wine flights. The staff provided pleasant conversation and knowledge of the wines. Determine your favorite wine and from there, head across the “village” road to the gift shop to purchase a bottle. You would typically also have access to the tasting room here and could skip the pavilion experience to sample the

[ by jill doczi & rick blanton ]

Less than an hour from most places in the Tidewater region, an escape toward Williamsburg offers some definite “chill” time.

The Williamsburg Winery property offers wine tasting, a place to enjoy the delicious varietals inside and outside, food options and some retail therapy.

PHOTOS: RICK BLANTON

LEFT-Wedmore Place offers overnight accommodations with access to fine dining at nearby Café Provencal ABOVE-The Damn Horse Trader (inside The Flipping Flea) has just about anything you might want related to horse riding.

wines, but current restrictions have closed the room temporarily. A stroll back toward the parking lot places you in front of the Gabriel Archer Tavern where you may purchase a to-go picnic of anything from a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich to crab cakes. We chose the local Virginia cheese and charcuterie board, but they also offered a variety of creative salads, sandwiches, seafood, pasta and quiche along with desserts. The tavern currently has limited indoor seating and patio dining, but on a beautiful day, head around the back of the events building where a grassy field and numerous picnic tables beside the pond provide a pastoral setting for lunch. This open area also provides the space for those with families to stretch out and get comfortable. While this day trip did not include overnight accommodations, from the parking lot, we saw Wedmore Place, which houses 28 European-themed rooms, a swimming pool, courtyard and library, as well as conference space. The Café Provencal, featured in Wine Spectator’s Article “8 Outstanding Winery Restaurants” in May 2018, uses a variety of vegetables and herbs grown onsite at the Wessex Hundred property. This café remains open only to Wedmore Place guests currently due to COVIC-19 restrictions. According to the website: Wessex Hundred Founder Patrick Duffeler, Sr. and his family spent many years traveling throughout Europe, and in particular, the South of France. The food and wine culture in Provence, specifically, left an indelible impression of them and forever changed the way they experienced the culinary arts. Café Provençal brings to life the ideals of the Provence food culture—a creative celebration of local producers, coupled with delicious wine in a comfortable and relaxed setting.

The Café Provençal aims to showcase the delicious bounty of Virginia farms, and those in surrounding states, to create a true farm-to-farm dining experience. The Wessex Hundred culinary team works especially hard to support smaller farms—quality farms that raise animals humanely and practice environmental stewardship. The farm-to-farm concept isn’t easily accomplished, but the team is committed to this philosophy. Although we had no plans to spend the night, we still received excellent service in the form of a description of the facility, its history and the encouragement to wander the hallways and lobby to see the vast array of antique furniture, art and floor coverings. We, of course, accepted the offer. Next on our venture, we headed to Rocco’s Smokehouse Grill. You can go here for an early take-out lunch before heading to the winery for a picnic or for dinner after an afternoon of tasting. When you walk into the building, you’ll find the aroma of the smoked meats amazing. We had the

very juicy and tender smoked beef brisket sandwich with the smoked beans and coleslaw. They specialize in Carolina-style BBQ and pride themselves on good food at a fair price. The next gem we found boasts on their website that they are “the only indoor flea market in Williamsburg.” The main reason we ventured there is to check out The Damn Horse Trader booth (804-5396946). I am told it is the place to go within the equine community in the area for riding apparel, tack and most anything horse-related. If owner Mary McKann doesn’t have what you need, she will find it for you. After perusing The Flipping Flea for a while, we were a little hungry again and right next door was El Sabor Mexicano. I’m always in the mood for Mexican. Since I was working, no margaritas for me this time, but the food was delicious, quick and a nice price. We had the chile relleno with taco, beans and a salad and the lunch fajitas. After a full day in the Williamsburg area, our final stop was Yorktown Beach to watch a

LEFT-Smoked beef brisket sandwich at Rocco’s Smokehouse Grill BELOW-Chile relleno with taco, beans and a salad from El Sabor Mexicano

gorgeous sunset before heading for home. Yorktown Beach is a two-acre public beachfront with boat dock, free parking, picnic areas and restrooms. This beach is also ADA accessible, with a Mobi Mat and Mobi Chair for visitors in wheelchairs. Overall Williamsburg is a nice little getaway from the Norfolk area; we will be back.

Jill Doczi has written and edited in public relations, marketing and journalism for a lifetime, forever trying to earn the respect of her journalism instructors. She resides in Virginia Beach.

Rick Blanton (rickblanton.photography) has photographed for periodicals, ad agencies, and businesses throughout the Mid-Atlantic, and shot travel pieces within the continental U.S. and in Europe for over forty years. Williamsburg Winery 5800 Wessex Hundred Williamsburg, VA 23185 www.williamsburgwinery.com • Gabriel Archer Tavern www.williamsburgwinery.com/ gabrielarchertavern • Wedmore Place www.williamsburgwinery.com/ rooms-and-amenities

Café Provençal 5810 Wessex Hundred Williamsburg, VA 23185 www.williamsburgwinery.com/ cafe-provencal

Rocco’s Smokehouse Grill 207 Bypass Rd. Williamsburg, VA 23185 www.roccosmokehousegrill.com

The Flipping Flea 6927 Richmond Rd. Williamsburg, VA 23188 www.theflippingfleamarket.com

El Sabor Mexicano 6925 Richmond Rd. Williamsburg, VA 23188 elsabor.weebly.com

Yorktown Beach 425 Water St. Yorktown, VA 23690 www.visitwilliamsburg.com/ attractions/yorktown-beach

Planning to take a road trip somewhere within a day’s drive? Tell us about the experience. Send in your piece (and any photos you take) for us to consider publishing in a future issue of Boulevard. Email: julie@blvdmedia.io