7 DECEMBER 22, 2021 - JANUARY 4, 2022 ISSUE 3051
Plenty of locales in Virginia and elsewhere can show off their history or their farms. Few, however, do it as well as Orange County where there is a commit-
PHOTO CREDIT: OC TOURISM
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Authentic and Home Grown
PHOTO CREDIT: AARON WATSON
ment to preserve the large-scale estates and grounds and make the most of them for residents and visitors. “You can’t be what you’re not,” says Lori Landes-Carter, Tourism Manager for Orange County. “What we have in Orange County is natural and authentic, borne out of our history. ‘Agritourism’ is all the rage now, and that’s what we have always done best. People come to see our history and how we have retained the rural farms, vineyards, historic sites, and natural areas that make up most of the county. “There has been an incredible resurgence of people wanting to recapture a natural element in their lives. It gained traction a few years ago and has become nearly universal in COVID’s wake. Gardening, farm-to-table, local agricultural experiences like corn mazes and pickyour-own orchards and berry farms, local vineyards, and cideries are all right here.” A local network of residents wants to expand on what’s already here. This Town to Trail network is actively connecting green spaces within Gordonsville in partnership with the Piedmont Environmental Center. Long-term, they are working to build a trail to connect Gordonsville to the Montpelier trail system and it’s Landmark Forest. Few places can lay claim to old-growth forests. Because local leaders and citizens embraced their story and are staying true to it, Orange County can. “Preservation has allowed us to keep our green space.”
FEATURE
On the western edge of Orange County, Barboursville Vineyards is an 18th century estate playing a legendary role in Virginia viticulture, with roots dating back to Jefferson. The estate hosts wine tastings in the Discovery Tasting Room and other historic sites on the grounds. Library 1821 displays historic documents such as a letter from President John Quincy Adams and other artifacts. This Fall’s Sommelier International Wine Competition named Barboursville Vineyards “Winery of the Year.” In an appropriate pairing, the acclaimed Palladio Restaurant, on grounds, serves an Italian fine-dining experience to match the elegant 870-acre estate. Perhaps the best kept secret is The Inn at Willow Grove. Named first in “The Top 15 Resort Hotels in the South by Travel + Leisure Magazine, this restored 1770s plantation and estate is now a five-star boutique luxurious country hotel and spa. The grounds are highlighted by oldgrowth trees and beautifully manicured gardens and surrounded by Virginia farms and vineyards. Dining at the Vintage Restaurant & Pub, immersing in the saltwater pool, and being pampered in the Mill House Spa are guest favorites. Classified as a “world-class escape,” The Inn with its 40-acre grounds is one more star in Orange County’s quiver of expansive historic properties.