Orange County Ruins

The small town of Orange County is located in the north central region of Virginia, and is also my 2nd hometown to Madison. Not only do they host the annual Montpelier Horse Races, but they also have some internationally known wineries that attract more than just Virginians. This week... I will be talking about two things that this county has to offer, along with what makes it the perfect destination.

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Religiously, on the first weekend of November, all of Orange and surrounding counties come together to celebrate their favorite day of the month...THE races. Everything from tent vendors, Jack Russell Terrier races, Prince Michel wine and of course, the infamous horses that bring everyone back year after year. This has become a tradition for most Orange County families, which my friends and I are making one of our own. Bottles of champagne, tables of endless food, and just about everyone you know from back home was there for the weekend. Going along with this tradition, competitions are held such as the hat and tailgate contest. The bigger hat...the better! As for the tailgate, with a sponsor being the Charlottesville Wine & Country Living, the best display gets bragging rights for the next year along with a number of prizes! This year’s theme was the Hollywood Heydays of the 1930s, and one of the judges for the food was actually our chef at Early Mountain!

Another thing that Orange County will forever be known for is the wine in Barboursville, Virginia. Barboursville Vineyards, located on an 18th Century estate, is one place you don’t want to miss while in this part of the town. Winemaker Luca Paschina, who just so happens to be a family friend from my childhood swim team, has made himself known all over the world for his creations. Octagon, their most prized wine was actually one to make the menu of the Royal Wedding reception, over 3,000 miles away.

“Welcome to the home of Octagon, the centerpiece of our estate of wine.” Luca Paschina

Barboursville has endless wine culture, fine Italian dining, along with 10 state of the art cottage and Inn suites to complete the experience. One of my close friends from high school has been working at the vineyard for the past few years, and recently just gave us an in the vine experience that was nothing but spectacular. A tasting followed by a few bottles in the employee “hang out spot” was the perfect way to end our wine adventure for the day. Whether it’s to see the historic ruins, or to grab a glass of wine, Barboursville is one place that should be apart of everyones’ bucket list.

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Orange County is one place in Virginia that will always have a big part of my memories and experiences tied to it. Before finding the races and the wine, this small town is where I began my life and most of my friendships. Being back in Orange and thinking of its beauty on a larger scale, really experiencing everything it has to offer, only makes me love and appreciate Virginia culture even more. Wine country, horse races, fine dining and presidential grounds all make this state nothing but one of a kind. Next week... I will be talking Wilderness Run Vineyards and how I saw my second family build it from the ground up...stay tuned!