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Steve Case's Virginia Vineyard

Steve Case's Virginia Vineyard

As if he needed more coolness, a couple years ago Steve Case bought a Virginia vineyard. Our Dining Bisnow editor recently took a field trip to his Charlottesville winery. (Most shocking fact: Somehow he managed to avoid calling it America Onvine.)

steve caseSteve and his wife Jean have done major renovations and improvements to the once-strugglingEarly Mountain Vineyards since buying it in November 2011. They offer a muchwiderrange ofwine-tasting anddining options than the typical vineyard, in hopes of enticing guests tohang outfor a while rather than vineyard-hop. (You had us at "wider range.")

 

steve case's vineyardWe bet the AOL founder had time-pressed tech entrepreneurs in mind when he created a tasting room with a stand-up bar. But Early Mountain also has plenty of seating and a large fireplace. Outdoor seating is available on multiple patios and a hillside terrace with fire pits and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The tasting room has wines from all over Virginia on a monthly rotating basis-- a plus since the vineyards aren't exactly in walking distance.

 

early mtn-foodThe dining experience at Early Mountain also offers more options than the typical vineyard.The marketplace menu features lots of local ingredients in dishes like smoked gouda mac & cheese and meatloaf with roasted fingerling potatoes. And to round out the meal, the decadent dessert menu has salted caramel cheesecake.