A Highly Rated Visit to Veramar Vineyard

I recently had the opportunity to visit Veramar Vineyard in Berryville, Virginia, and I honestly couldn't believe that I had never been there before. Or, at least, I don't remember ever visiting.

Veramar has apparently been part of Virginia's wine scene for more than 20 years, so how did this

one slip past me? I've certainly been familiar with the wines of the Bogaty family and winemaker Justin Bogaty over the years, but somehow I had never made my way to this particular vineyard.

I recently received an invitation to visit after Veramar reached out with some exciting news. Two of their wines had just received new ratings from Wine Enthusiast: the 2024 Quintessential Chardonnay-Viognier earned 88 points, while the 2025 Seyval Blanc received 87 points.

And there's an even bigger accomplishment behind those two wines: Justin Bogaty has now had 103 wines receive ratings of 87 points or higher from Wine Enthusiast. That's certainly something worth celebrating and another great example of the quality and consistency coming out of Virginia's vineyards.

A Perfect Day in Wine Country

I brought my family along for the visit, and we had such a wonderful day.

We enjoyed a tasting, spent some time taking in the gorgeous views and, of course, enjoyed some wine and food. There's just something about sitting outside at a Virginia vineyard on a beautiful summer day that makes it very easy to relax and forget about everything else for a while.

As for the wines, I enjoyed the entire tasting. I'm usually pretty honest about the wines I taste. Not every wine is going to be for everyone and that's part of what makes wine fun. But during this tasting, I found something I liked across the board.

Whites, reds...there was something for everyone. And, naturally, I ended up taking a bottle home.

Actually, I took the bottle home.

The Quintessential Choice

2024 Veramar Vineyard Quintessential earns 88-points from Wine Enthusiast.

It was no surprise that the wine that ultimately came home with me was the 2024 Quintessential. The Quintessential is a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier, and it is exactly the kind of wine I want to drink during the summer. Crisp. Light. Extremely fruit-forward. Refreshing.

It's one of those wines that doesn't require a lot of thought. Pour a glass, sit outside and enjoy it.

I could easily see this being my go-to wine for a summer afternoon with friends, a casual dinner or just relaxing on the patio. The 2024 Quintessential is currently $32 a bottle, and after enjoying it at Veramar, I think it's worth seeking out.

Virginia Wine Keeps Getting Better

The recognition that Veramar is receiving is exciting for the winery and for Virginia wine as a whole.

Virginia is producing wines from a wide variety of grapes and styles, and winemakers like Justin Bogaty continue to demonstrate what can be done with Virginia-grown fruit.

So if you're looking for a beautiful place to spend an afternoon in Virginia wine country, I'd definitely put Veramar Vineyard on your list. And if you see the Quintessential Chardonnay-Viognier on the tasting menu be sure to get a glass.

You might just end up taking a bottle home, too.

Cheers!