Veritas Vineyard
Veritas Vineyard is located in scenic Afton, Nelson County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains west of Charlottesville. Veritas (the name is from the famous phrase about one of wine’s benefits — “In Vino Veritas“), was first planted in 1999. Owned by the Hodson family, originally from England, who bought what was Saddleback Farm and turned into Veritas. This is a sister company of Flying Fox Vineyard, also located in Nelson County.
Wine: One of the Top 10 wineries in Virginia. Veritas has established a long track record of success at wine competitions both in Virginia and on the West Coast. At the prestigious 2025 San Francisco Chronicle wine competition, the largest such event in the United States, Veritas’ 2023 vintage Sauvignon Blanc and Monticello White were both judged to be “Best in Class,” on top of which three of Veritas reds — the 2023 vintage Claret and Cabernet Franc, and the 2022 Veritas Reserve — were also awarded gold medals. A year earlier, Veritas’ 2022 vintage Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier were both awarded double gold medals at the Chronicle competition, while their 2021 Momentarius white blend and 2019 Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon-led Red Blend also came away with gold medals. At the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup annual state-wide wine competition, Veritas’ 2023 vintage Monticello White and 2022 Veritas Reserve were awarded gold medals, while their Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and “Scintilla” (a sparkling wine) received silver medals.
Setting: Two stars. Named a one of Virginia’s Ten Most Beautiful Wineries. A large but attractive tasting room, with racks of wines on display, and a nice veranda with many table facing the grounds and the hills. Great views, and one can walk around the grounds to a certain extent. Tours of the winery are available with reservations. Outdoor concerts some Summer weekends; plan in advance and reserve at their Bed & Breakfast, The Farmhouse at Veritas. With the setting and popularity of the wines, can become fairly crowded; lines are usually shorter if you go earlier. Bread and cheese and sandwiches available.
Stories: One star. Natural Virginia — Rockfish Gap. The Rockfish Gap, a few hundred feet above the village of Afton, is the main passage between Charlottesville, in Virginia’s Piedmont, and Waynesboro, in the Shenandoah Valley on the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains: Interstate 64 between the two cities crosses the Gap. Rockfish Gap was first used by Native Americans, likely pursuing Buffalo and Elk who also utilized the pass. It was later the site chosen for the railroad to pass West from Charlottesville, through a series of four tunnels. The longest of these went through Afton, and when it went into operation in 1858 it was the world’s longest tunnel! The tunnels remained in operation until 1944, when a new tunnel was required for larger trains. Trails through the Gap retain their importance, as the Appalachian Trail passes through here, as does Skyline Drive which shortly below the Gap meets and transits into the Blue Ridge Parkway. Afton also was a popular resort in the late 19th century for Washingtonians and Richmonders looking for a summer in the mountains. In the Fall, you can also volunteer to join the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch. Volunteers lookout for the 16 species of raptors that migrate through Rockfish Gap. Their total for 2014 was 7,000 hawks.