Fox Meadow Winery
- At the furthest edge of Western Fauquier County, in the town of Linden, up in the hills. Dan and Cheryl Mortland purchased the site, part of then Freezeland Orchards (the name Freezeland appears on some of the wines), and opened the winery in 2006. This is a small farm winery. Look for the “Wine a Bit: You’ll Feel Better” banner. Sold in 2022 to new owners Amanda and Whiticar Darvill; winemaker Tom Payette is staying on.
- Wine. Tier II. Fox Meadow wines received three silver medals at the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide win competition, for their 2022 vintage Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, and Le Renard Rouge red blend. The winery received six silver medals at the 2024 Governor’s Cup, for their 2022 Pinot Grigio, Vidal Blanc, and Renard Gris, as well as for their 2021 vintage Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Renard Rouge. They also received a pair of silver medals at the 2024 Atlantic Seaboard wine competition, for their 2022 Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. Fox Meadow’s 2021 Chardonnay was voted “best Chardonnay” at the 2022 Atlantic Seaboard Winery Association competition. Wines are almost entirely from estate-grown grapes.
- Setting. Two stars. Beautiful views from the Fox Meadow balcony over the fields and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The higher elevation than most Northern Virginia wineries (1700 feet) adds to the view. Cheese and snacks available, and one can do a food pairing with the wine tasting.
- Stories. Virginia’s Country Stores – The Apple House. For centuries, The Country Store has played an important role in the Virginia countryside. A place for obtaining essential supplies for local farmers and for travelers passing through, and a place for getting news about neighbors and the distant outside world (like the next County), the County Store was essential to the fabric of rural life. As shopping malls and now mail-order businesses proliferated, many found it hard to stay open, or continue as tiny shops with no reason to stop. An exception is the Apple Store, located in the western end of Linden. People come a long way and wait in line for breakfast and lunch here, or just to carry away a dozen or two of their renowned apple cider doughnuts. The country store part of the Apple House sometimes seems like a sidelight of the restaurant, but it is chock full of local crafts, food products, and even a selection of Virginia wines. A great stop in between wineries, or to prepare the way for some serious afternoon tastings.