Viva LexVegas!

Enjoying Delicious Craft Beer and Wine in Lexington, VA—a True Southern Gem

I am biased, but I adore Lexington, Virginia. I actually lived here for three years when I was stationed in Charlottesville, Virginia, and I fell head-over-heels in love with the lush rolling hills, the beautiful weather, and the small town feel. Fast forward almost six years and my, has it grown! It’s still a quaint, Southern small town, but the craft beer and wine scenes have come front-and-center. And you know, I love a craft beer and wine scene. So, we had a free weekend, and I knew we needed to drive up from North Carolina and check it out!

Devils Backbone Outpost

We began the weekend at Devils Backbone Outpost—a great, large brewery with excellent food. https://www.dbbrewingcompany.com/ We had been to Devils Backbone before, but a few things had changed since our last visit. They have added a huge, beautiful deck to the outside where you can sit, sip on an ice cold beer, and gaze upon the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. On this visit, I tried a flight of Gold Leaf Lager, Suffragette Sour, Spill the Tea Belgian Ale, and the Great DB Back Off stout. (that last one was chosen solely for the name… who doesn’t love Bake Off?) Anyway, the sour was by far my favorite with the Gold Leaf coming in second. I will admit, though, that I love, love, love a sour—the more mouth-puckering the better—and this one delivered in spades.

Ecco Adesso Winery

Then, it was on to Ecco Adesso Winery. https://eccoadesso.com/ Talk about bucolic. If you are looking for an experience that makes you feel like you are sitting on top of the world looking at endless rolling farmland, happily grazing cows, and drifting clouds, this is the place. The owners of Ecco Adesso are not offering their own wine, as of yet, but they are off to a great start offering local wines by the flight or by the glass. I chose to create my own flight of Early Mountain Cab Franc, Sassaia Sangiovese, Barren Ridge Petite Verdot, and Sassaia Spumante Brut. My favorites were the Sangiovese and the Spumante Brut, though all were delicious and on a beautiful sunny day, sipping wine while enjoying the scenery was not a bad way to spend an afternoon. One tip—if you are headed to Ecco Adesso, go early. The inside of the wine tasting room was gorgeous, but full when we arrived—though outside was a treat, too.

Heliotrope Brewery

On Sunday, we chose Heliotrope Brewery as our lunch spot, and I was definitely impressed by the beer, the delicious pizza, and the atmosphere. What a cool place—that’s all I can really say. It’s got a great vibe and the beer is fantastic, though complex. I really enjoyed the Thumbs Off Pilsner and the Foxhole Atheist (again, the names… I can’t help myself!) IPA. Dave had the Bob Paisley’s Northern English Brown, which was also delectable. The caesar salad was the best in town and the pizzas… well, if you want authentic wood-fired pizza with really innovative and eclectic toppings, this is the place. If you are in Lexington, you definitely have to try this place.

For More Awesomeness…

Other places to check out while you are in Lexington, include the famous (for good reason) Southern Inn Restaurant. https://www.southerninn.com/ Located on the main street running through downtown, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Check out their fried chicken and pecan pie. Killer. AND they have a great wine list, as well. Also, make sure to try Sweet Things Ice Cream Shop. https://www.facebook.com/SweetThingsIceCreamShop/ The ice cream is divine and the feeling is truly small-town-USA. While you indulge in a cone, take a stroll across the picturesque grounds of Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. Both are rich in history, and because they located right across the street from one another, you can cover both in one visit. If you are a history buff, make sure to check out the Marshall Center on the VMI campus, as well as the VMI Museum, and the Lee Chapel.

So, if you find yourself in the Blue Ridge, make your way over to Lexington and enjoy some delicious treats and gorgeous landscape. And don’t forget to raise a glass and enjoy your day, one sip at a time! Cheers!—Megan