Reviews of Upper Shirley Vineyards (Winery)

Nicole Willis

Great food, great wine, great atmosphere... do you need another reason?

Caleb Barnes

My wife and I visited Upper Shirley for the first time today. The venue was beautiful, and the food was out of this world good. We arrived not long after they opened, and went into the tasting room. There were no tasting menus printed yet (even though they know when they open, they were not prepared). However, our tasting experience was very pleasant. I wish I could remember the lady who did our tasting. She was incredibly sweet and knowledgeable, and very pleasant. Halfway through our tasting thou, what I assume was a manager came over with the tasting sheets. Since she had been going by memory she reached for one and he pulled it out of her hand, and put them away. Not long after that, what I assume was another manager came over and rudely interrupted her mid-sentence to ask what the last name of the gardener was. Not only was that incredibly rude to us as guests, but that is no way to speak to an employee, and definitely not the way you speak in front of paying customers. They gave us our wine tasting glasses, but instead of quickly rinsing them, they wrapped them in a little bit of paper, and shocker, now my wives purse has red wine in it. We had lunch on the patio, and since there were several doors to exit from we chose the one closest to our table. Apparently we walked in on a private wine tasting. There were no signs indicating so, and upon arriving in the room we immediately felt uncomfortable. We apologized and tried to walk as quickly through the room as we could. As we were apologizing, the employee giving the tasting (based off reading the other reviews, its safe to assume it was the owner) rolled his eyes and said some not nice comments. I've never seen an owner of an establishment less worried about the companies reputation. Not every body is a wine snob, some people just like to have a glass of wine at a beautiful place. Hopefully the owner will read this and the other comments and realize he should change his tune.

Michelle Parker

My husband had the burger, I had the market chicken salad, both were wonderful. We don't drink, but it was a lovely lunch spot after the plantation tour.

Heather Bannister

Great experience. Will return again..

Lars Vik

Great wine and food, with a view of the river. Sitting on the back porch with a glass of wine is a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

Elizabeth Hussar

I made several attempts to speak with the 'tasting room manager' from Upper Shirley restaurant regarding having my wedding rehearsal dinner at the restaurant. As soon as they hear 'wedding' or 'rehearsal' they immediately switch gears. My party is very small (roughly 20-25 people)however I would have had to rent a room for a $500 fee with a $3000 food and drink minimum. That is absolutely insane for the amount of people and the type of food being served. I spoke to several 'managers' and was told that I would be receiving a phone call from a female manager to discuss the alternative of sitting in the main tasting room area. She never called me. I called on two occasions to speak with her and again was blown off. I don't expect this kind of service from a restaurant that would charge such a fee. Definitely should reconsider who is in what managerial positions and their ability to interact and communicate with potential customers. Along with that 3 grand minimum...

David Johnson

Great property and friendly staff. We did the wine tasting. $16/person for 8 1 once pours. We didn't find any that we liked though. I prefer a sweet white but they were all gone dry.

Erlinda Boykin

Beautiful and very clean place.. Band was super good!

Rose Maghdouri

I love, love, love this place!!! I came to this winery about two years ago for lunch and wine tasting and I fell in love with this place. Upper Shirley Vineyards, is a beautiful place with great staff, wonderful wine and food. I have been coming here at least once a month since two years ago. This place make me so happy, that I had my wedding here on May 25, 2018. From the owners, to staff and Catherine, the lovely wedding planner at USV they were all super nice and helpful to make sure to create and plan my big day as I was imagining it. Almost two months after the wedding, I still have my guests contacting me and saying nothing but positive about the venue, wine and the food for the wedding. They all keep saying that they had the best time and how much they liked the venue and view of the James River. I will highly recommend USV, for your big day (wedding), small gathering or just a field day away from the city for lunch, WINE and view. All you need to do is to arrive and laid back relax and enjoy wine, food and view. Love, love love it!!!

Chas Craig

The Crabcakes were good,but a bit overpriced @ $25.Their Wine Tasting was pricey @ $11 for 8 wines & $15 for 11 wines.When doing a Wine Tasting you need crackers or something to clean your palate in between wines &,you need to be able to rinse out your glass.The Staff was very friendly & service was very good.

Sandra Ross

This was our third visit to Upper Shirley. We visited the 3rd time for my 30th birthday. This was our first stop on our wine tour! I booked lunch for 16 of us which made me nervous because I know large groups can be tricky. They made us feel very welcomed, our lunch was AMAZING... our food came out in a timely manner and they even let us split up the checks which was great! My friends loved the atmosphere and views of Upper Shirley. Thank for you such a great job of accommodating our group! We cant wait to return!

Chris Deel

Great atmosphere, food is good and me personally love the sparkling rose, even though I'm a bold red wine drinker.

aurette decuffa

Magnificent!

Jen Brugliera

Great location and food. Outdoor porch seating was a great find. We spent a few hours here and would have stayed longer if it was warmer outside today!

Jacob Aylor

Absolutely beautiful facility. Location has a perfect view of the James River and is right on the water. Both the food and wine are excellent. Perfect spot to host an event and a perfect location for a wedding.

mark elrod

Visited 8/7/16 My first visit when they opened was a much better experience. This day was loud. The patrons weren't very friendly. The staff was good and attentive. I'm glad I knew what we wanted because if I had stayed longer I probably would have left a 1 star rating. Wines are good. The location is exquisite. Staff is good.

Shawna c

Wonderful winery. Great wines.

Juliana Vorpagel

The place is amazing, the service is terrible! It took very long at the tasting and didn't give us attention... we had few different people serving us the tasting.

Marwan

Great venue, lovely winery, wonderful people.

Judy Benedict

We ate lunch and sat on the patio overlooking the James River.

Thomas Leonard

The wines are excellent and the food is wonderful. We had great service for our lunch. Things are pretty expensive, but I guess the costs include the beautiful location and building. I had the grilled cheese and it is truly the best grilled cheese I have ever had.

Brian Decker

Will Upper Shirley Vineyards ever enter the 21st century and allow well behaved, leashed dogs to enjoy an afternoon at their vineyard? You are right on the capital trail.. and it is such a shame you hold onto this antiquated rule.

William Rhodes

I came with my family including my 5 month old. There was no where to change her in either the men's or women's restrooms. The receptionist also informed my group there were only 2 high chairs in the restaurant. The service was horrible and I felt that any time we needed something we were a bother. I also do not drink wine and a coke is 3 dollars per cup with the coke being both flat and warm. The food was mediocre at best. I wont be wasting my time or money to come back.

Patrick Ward

Beautiful site for a wedding.

Aileen Duncan

We had a beautiful family lunch in there the food was awesome the wine was delicious the Sun was shining. They had a band playing folk songs. It was a wonderful wonderful day!

scott boyd

Certainly one of the best restaurants in the area. Service good, but it can get a little noisy inside when they're busy, so when the weather is to your liking ask for a table on the patio. Best shrimp and grits ever. Bummer that they won't take reservations for less than 6 which almost caused me not to go. Popular now so they can dictate terms, but it may come back around to bite them in the butt.

Gerrit VanVoorhees

Great food and Wine!

nanoparticle666

Service and food/wine was great! I'll definitely be back!

Geoff Wilson

First visit after riding our bikes 10 miles up and back down the Capital Trail, and we liked the relaxing Sunday vibes. We elected to buy a bottle for $26 vs $10 / glass for the 3 of us which worked out better. They had a live guitar performance out on the back lawn which was nice. Plenty of comfortable couch seating outside in the sun. Couldn't put up the umbrellas for shade though because they said that they kept blowing over. Wish we could have brought our bike picnic food out back but said no outside food (as it is also a restaurant). They've got bike racks too. Beautiful place all around.

Patricia Bradby

I have been here a handful for times to meet friends for drinks and/or lunch. The service is a bit slow at times but always friendly. The food is delicious even if it is a bit pricier than what you would expect in this area. The wines are the best in the Hampton Roads/Richmond area in my opinion. The atmosphere is lovely with lots of natural light inside and a nice view of the river out back. Just what this area needed.

Ryan Maddox

Great place, food is amazing

Skip Gibbs

Great wine Great food and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend it

Karen Wilds

Wonderful wine and food. Beautiful setting.

Adrian Espinoza

First I'd like to start out by saying I was excited to visit based upon the other google reviews I had read. The property is nestled nicely in a rather remote location giving it a sense of calmness. We came with the intent of wine tasting and possibly eating once we finished the tasting. We only went as far as the wine tasting. The price was reasonable $11 for 8 different wine tastings. What became increasingly unreasonable was the amount of or the lack of wine that was poured into my glass. In the beginning I thought maybe I had one bad pour and it was just an isolated incident but it continued to progress. At one point I compared the pour I was receiving to my date’s who had already taken a sip of hers, she still had more wine in her glass than I did without me having taken a single sip. I began to compare my glasses poured to everyone around me, the party next to me with the same server was poured what I would deem expected and acceptable amounts of wine. Needles to say we didn't stay once we finished. I wasn't rude as I am a quiet person by nature nor was my server, so I struggle to comprehend why this occurred. All I know is I will not be returning again. My only regret is not taking photos to post with this review so others could see how badly the portions I was served each time.

Ross Lewis

It's in the middle of no where, but it's worth it. Rt 5 is a nice drive off of 295 if you're in the Richmond area. Beautiful facilities and grounds right on the bank of the James River. Limited menu but what they have is amazing. We had the burger and the tomato sandwich and they were easily two of the best sandwiches we've ever had. Burger and fries are $17 so not a cheap lunch, but you do get what you pay for. Wine tasting will run you $11 or $15 for 8 or 11 different wines to taste. Great lawn and patio spaces to hand out at. Just be mindful that unlike a lot of the other VA wineries, no out side food and drink or pets allowed here.

AM

Not family friendly. This was our second visit here. The first visit was mediocre, and I chalked it up to it being a busy day. This visit however was very disappointing. We brought our children with us (2 yo and an infant) thinking it would be fun to have a glass of wine and sit outside. When we got there the tasting room was empty so we figured we’d get a quick tasting then go outside. It took over an hour for a tasting. The woman serving us was very kind and knowledgeable about the wines. We were keeping our 2 yo entertained and was not bothering ANYONE. We had one wine left to try and my husband was playing with our child who was happily laughing when a man, who I assume was the owner or manager walked out and loudly said “umm, can you not” and rolled his eyes referring to our child laughing. He didn’t not say it directly to us but in our direction, loud enough for us and everyone around us to hear. Prior to his rude comment we were receiving complaints on how well behaved she was and how cute her laugh was. While it’s a beautiful place with good wine, it’s not worth dealing with rude comments and feeling unwelcomed.

Leonard BARNARD

Shrimp and grits way tooooo soupy. Go to Charleston and learn how to make them!!!!!!! Len

Leslie Bratton

Wonderful food, atmosphere, & wait staff

Christopher Woods

Wonderful lunch!!

Cindy Reierson

Food is excellent. Service is superb. Wine is great too

Kat

The food is delicious with a nice atmosphere. It is a great place for luncheons with a larger crowd.

Ali Cicero

Horrible i went and got the fried oysters they were horrible no wait worse than horrible my grandma got the fried green tomatos they didnt even look like tomatos everything was horrible but the venue and also the fries SHOULD NOT have shredded cheeses on them the mayo (yuck) and the chips (ehh) they hostess was really nice and the good thing was the that the plantation was amazing and the game was really fun the prizes are nice but the food was worse than horrible the fries were the worst and whenever i swallow i have the same horrible taste in my throat and i took the fries home and when i got in the car from the plantation tour it smelled and i thought i was going to throw up so i should say in a smaller story everything but the hostess the drink and the plantation was horrible im never coming again thank you very much

Teresa DiServio

Fun place!

Cheri Sizemore

We were here for our work Christmas party, 16 of us and they did a wonderful job. The food was very delicious. Looking forward to coming back in the summertime to see the vineyard.

Bob Bonham

Thoroughly enjoyed Upper Shirley. Went with friends who and been raving about it and had a great time. Very nice, casual space with friendly, accommodating staff. Menu is not extensive, but not an issue. Crab cakes were different, which was good...two medallion sized cakes on a butter beans and andouille sausage cassoulet...yum! Friend loved his Cuban and wife's burger was average. Excellent wine. Overall great/fun experience.

Gunter Waidelich

Recht gute Rotweine, die Weißen sind bei weitem besser. Das Personal, welches die Weine zur Verkostung präsentiert ist einigermaßen geschult, wenn jedoch spezielle Fragen kommen, die nicht auf einer Lise steht, wo man nachschauen kann, sind schnell die Grenzen erreicht. Jedoch wird angeboten, den Winemaker zu kontaktieren, was durchaus positiv ist. Das Ambiente mit der Terrasse wo man gemütlich sitzen kann und den herrlichen Blick auf den James River genießen kann hat etwas außergewöhnliches. Hatte leider bisher nicht die Gelegenheit im Restaurant zu essen, werde dies aber noch nachholen, wenn ich das nächste mal wieder dort bin.

Margaret Benbeneck

Enjoyed the wine tasting. Had a relaxing day listened to some jazz outside on the patio. Met some nice people. Enjoyed lunch and a bottle of wine with a friend celebrating my birthday.

Marie Fleming

The staff was wonderful and the food was delicious. I can't say enough about the amazing view!! Highly recommended!!

Mary Liz

Good food but a little overpriced. Lomg waiting time too.

Michael Dellapenta

Awesome time @ wedding

Natalie Hancock

Excellent food, wine, and view.

Chris MJ

Slowest tasting ever. Instead of doing groups at the same, they skipped around to multiple groups, holding separate conversations. Very inefficient. Never felt like we were given any attention.

Jeff A

Very nice place to relax for some food and wine- beautiful atmosphere

Jason McConnell

Not sure what the best part was. The wine, the food, or the view and atmosphere!

Mearl Balmer

We attend as many Thursday night wine pairing dinners as we can. Food quality and unique presentation from Chef Ernie are the best you can find. Meals are superbly accompanied by excellent, well paired wines. Staff is so friendly and accommodating. Music enhances a wonderful dining experience, which is as good as any we have experienced through our years traveling over seas. Keep up the fine pairings! We needed a great place like this in this area.

Michael Yates

Fantastic views, service, and atmosphere

Julie Proctor

Great want to try it out for lunch

Paige Alcorn

The worst service I have ever experienced.....our server's name was Hannah. We only saw her once and we had to go looking for her/the check after two hours. She never checked on us (and neither did anyone else) including after the food was served and nobody attempted to clear our plates. My water sat empty for about 30 minutes before I went and filled it up myself. Wine and food is good (portions were a bit small and seemed inconsistent) but that can only go so far. I can find good food and drinks elsewhere with service.

Tyler Copan

Really beautiful place with delicious wines and food!

Joanne Corley

Wonderful mushroom and arugula salad with crab cake on top! Excellent as always.

Ron Rhodes

Best place in the area to eat. Outstanding views.

Nathan Pridemore

Great service, wine, and food. Expect long waits if you go Sunday afternoon though.

Kim Davis

Had a wonderful Birthday lunch here. Was suppose to go for my real birthday In March but it was cold and rainy day. Today was a much better day. Our waitress was wonderful and checked on us. My summer salad was wonderful had grilled shrimp on top. This was my first time and hope to come again.

Greg Mestre

Very nice atmosphere for relaxing and enjoying a glass or bottle of wine. We didn't necessarily find a wine we couldn't live without, but different people should try it for themselves, you never know. Really a beautiful property!

Louisa Ireland

I went today for a tasting and had the most unfriendly, unhelpful woman during my experience. She gave no welcome, barely any information, and answered questions in a terse one word fashion. Wine was good, but was overshadowed by the fact I waited 25 minutes for a tasting which then started with no greeting or acknowledgment, not to mention apology for the wait. As someone who also works in the wine industry, I was upset by the lack of effort she displayed on connecting with customers, especially those who had been waiting over 20 minutes to then have a subpar experience. Not worth your time to visit.

Kimberly Ma

It’s such a beautiful vineyard. One of my favorites!

Lisa Fogleman

Excellent Viognier, snacks and views but terribly slow service at the tasting counter.

Molly Cooper

Great southern cuisine! My husband had the Upper Shirley Fried Chicken and I had the Shrimp and Grits! For dessert, Bananas Foster Bread Pudding. Our palates were delightfully pleased!!!! Additionally, our waitress was well versed on the wines and very professional. Loved the atmosphere where it was easy to carry on a quiet conversation and enjoy the visit.

Cheryl Wentz

Today my husband and I and another couple visited 5 wineries and a meadery east of Richmond. Our first stop was Upper Shirley. We frequent wineries and always share a tasting since we usually have several stops on our itinerary. Upper Shirley is the only winery we have visited that does not allow a couple to share a tasting. We chose to forego tasting any of the wines here as this would be too much for each of us. Therefore, we also did not purchase any wines. We did purchase 2-3 bottles at every other winery that we visited today. Not sure why they have this policy.....seems like this is a good way to lose $$ and turn people off from visiting. The setting is beautiful.

Sarah C. Richardson

Lovely setting, good food nicely served, and we like the sparkling rose’, but I can’t give it 5 stars because it is so loud. It’s OK for 3 or 4 people sitting close together, but any more than that and it’s impossible to hear each other.

Sherry Louka

Delicious food! We had an amazing cheese appetizer tray, shrimp and grits, chocolate torte, and a bottle of Tanant wine. The service was also exceptional! Along with a fantastic view of the river.

Toni Cleveland

Wonderful wine, food outstanding and view terrific! Would highly recommend!

Virginia M

Great place to eat and have a glass (or a couple) of wine. Beautiful area!

David Hyder

Upper Shirley is always a treat. It is a beautiful venue regardless of weather. The food is generally excellent, and is priced accordingly. Nevertheless we'll go back.

Chris Kuhn

What a wonderful venue for any size event!! Beautiful porches and views, especially of the river!!

C McD

My wife and I visited USV today for the first time and loved everything about it. A beautifully designed and well appointed, modern-era barn contain the dining room and tasting room in an open space. We had excellent service upon our arrival at the bar despite a pretty good crowd. The wine tasting lineup revealed consistently quality wines from top to bottom including the balanced viogner and sauv blanc that will be excellent summer options; the pink bubbles that were delicate, dry and tart; and the rare tannat which was a wonderfully deep, dark, rich red that is ready now but will be even more Napa-like with time. Though we ate before we came, we decided to sit on the back patio with blankets provided by USV and enjoy the stunning views and a bonus lunch. The grilled cheese with Va ham, creamy tomato soup and fresh green salad were perfect on a crisp afternoon. My wife had the gnocchi with summer veg which was warm and comforting but not too heavy. The whole place had a great vibe, especially the owners who were extremely kind and gracious while spending time talking about their labor of love. Our first trip will not be our last, can’t wait to get back to Upper Shirley already.

Victoria Leezer

Nice facility and friendly staff but ...as long as you like showing up to a winery in your Sunday best you"ll enjoy. Not overly impressed with the wine selection but it wasn't bad. Just not my kind of place, less casual than most, disappointed

Terese Plesser

We biked from chickahominy to the Upper Shirley Vineyards. The food and service were absolutely excellent. They allowed us to keep our tandem on the front porch and sit were we could keep an eye on it. I would recommend it to anyone. The atmosphere was very chic!

Michael Kahn

1/2 pours, even if you are tasting 12 wines, are still half pours. And when it costs $16, there are better vineyards.

Michael Stephens

Great venue for events or to sit and enjoy a decent glass of wine or two.

Pamela Comodeca

Wines are delicious as well as lunch. View of James River is gorgeous

Shaunn Hummel

Outstanding food, service and wine!

Cindy Cates

Beautiful restaurant & incredible food & service!

Trace Woodbury

Some of the best wine I have had in the region, the scenery is breathtaking, the food is awesome, and the service is great. A wonderful time!

Sarah Yubeta

The wines are excellent. In the short two years that they have been open they have won several Governor's Cup medals. My favorites are the Rosé both flat and sparkling. The food is delicious as well. I definitely recommend the spring gnocchi and the fried green tomatoes.

gabrielle trudeau

attempted to have a glass of wine and before even walking into the establishment, we were yelled at and chased off by the owner with a jeep who got upset because we didn't realize it closed at 5(it was 5:30) would never return if barrels of wine were being given away for free.

Tom Osgood

Very nice people, great wine and service. But, I have to give the food a C+. Also, for a man, I don't think its enough to eat even if there are four courses. It's very attractive, but loud! Again, all servers were pleasant, including the owner who stopped by the table.

Gordon Bass

Everything from the lovely drive to get there to the wine tasting before our lunch was outstanding. Both of the owners stopped by our table to ask about how our experience was going. Could not have been more pleased.

Mark Huffman

Great food in a great atmosphere.

Ben Sherron

Absolutely beautiful. Our waiter was spot on. And the wine was fabulous! I give it 10 stars!

Mickey Alderson

Beautiful location and truly enjoyed Full Moon Fever!

Todd Keffer

Excellent setting and wonderful food.

Franklin Antonio

Food and service was very good. I recommend the shrimp and grits. Wine was mediocre. I was expecting a lot more from a $14 glass of wine.

Jim Bernard

Spent a very nice father's day with my wife and son at the winery. Good food, wine and atmosphere. I have an issue with the driveway though. Too far to walk your bike and not suitable to ride on. Please do something to to better accommodate bicycles. I'm thinking the car traffic would enjoy it also!

Maureen Santelli

I want to preface this review by saying that I have worked at three Virginia wineries behind the bar and my husband has worked at two. My husband and I also like to visit other Virginia wineries with our toddler when possible. My husband, mom, 20 month-old toddler and I arrived at Upper Shirley Vineyards and noted before we went in that no pets were allowed but children were permitted in the tasting room. This is something that we are very much aware of as not all wineries allow children in the tasting room. First, a little about this taster. I did not catch the name, but he was pretty distinctive in appearance. He was tall, with blonde hair and a blonde handlebar hipster mustache. He wore a black polo shirt with a weird logo on it: a skull with bunny ears. I assume this is not a winery logo? The bar was medium busy, at least by my husband and my standards. Our taster was waiting on another couple. Our taster gave us our first wine but then busied himself with the other older couple, pouring them several more wines. After 15 + minutes. My husband, who is used to giving tastings to 10+ people at a time was getting annoyed and said to the taster, “Hey can we get our second wine?” The taster replied over his shoulder without even looking at us, “Yeah, in a minute.” My husband wanted to leave but I convinced him to stick it out. It’s not like the taster was giving lots of profound information anyway – just reading from the sheet. So we waited…. Another couple who was standing next to us finally went to the other end of the bar because the taster wouldn’t even acknowledge they were standing there. By the 15-20 minute mark, our toddler was getting fussy. We were trying to pace back and forth from the bar trying to get her comfortable, but after all that wait, you too would get tired being held by your parents or playing below the bar. Frankly, with our daughter getting fussy I was hoping the taster would speed things up. But nope, still he stayed focused on this one couple. Finally, the taster finished with the other couple, but apparently there was an issue with the taster getting a tip and running payment on the POS system. The taster called a manager over to help so at least from this I know a manager was available to help the taster with at least taking payment and getting his tips. At this point we were 30 minutes into the tasting at least and we were only on wine #4! My husband and I were going back and forth over whether we should just leave, shifting the toddler around, etc. When out of the blue, the taster says to us, without making eye contact, “You’re gonna have to take your kid out of here!” He says this as he’s pointing at the door. We were shocked. No manager was called over. No suggestion of handing off the baby to another family member. Nothing. Just unceremoniously thrown out of the tasting room. I was so angry that I said to him we were fine with that because he was probably the worst taster we had ever encountered. To this he responded that “it wasn’t fair to the rest of the people at the bar that our child was crying and disturbing them.” Again, no eye contact and then he proceeded to turn his back to us. In fact, there were at least two other babies in the room, one of which had been crying throughout the 30+ minutes we were at the bar. Maybe that's just how customers are treated at Upper Shirley Vineyards? I don't know if we didn’t look rich enough to give this guy a big enough tip or maybe this taster just really hates children. But I will tell you something that is certain: my husband and I are going to tell anyone and everyone who will listen to never go to Upper Shirley Vineyards.

Linda Martin

Great wines and awesome food, friendly and knowledgeable staff.

David Darby

I work with Rent-E-Quip, a full service rental company in central VA and I can personally attest that Upper Shirley Vineyards runs a tight operation. From our load in times to the flow of the event their team dose an amazing job. You wont regret utilizing this venue. Oh, and its gorgeous but you probably already knew that!

Susan Harrison

We were very disappointed. My husband and I were from out of state and stopped for a tasting and because we wanted to share a tasting they would not serve us. He usually tastes and then if we buy I sip a little to confirm I like it.. oh well we saved a few hundred bucks...

Joe Roberts

Beautiful location, excellent food and a few solid wines make this place a definite go to if you're looking to visit a winery in Virginia. The tasting area was pretty crowded the whole time my wife and I were there but the one bartender did a good job of keeping track of and taking care of everyone. The deviled eggs and mozzarella sandwich were solid! You also couldn't beat the view. It was hot out so we opted for the viognier which was crisp and refreshing. Worth the 40 minute trip from Richmond!

Carlos Rudge

First time experience: The winery has a pleasant atmosphere, wonderful food, great service and of course, it offers quality wines! You can also appreciate the outside patio with multiple shaded areas, listen live music while waiting for the food or just enjoy the James view!!! All surrounded by a manicured lawn and no dogs (no “surprises” either). Expect to see the owners (husband and wife) working hard inside and outside to make sure you have the best experience. I normally don’t like people but the place is so vast that you can truly enjoy your family and close friends without any issues. We were very fortunate to receive the chef and the owner’s visit at our table. We were very Impressed. If none of this entices you to enjoy the venue, I would truly recommend Olive Garden, they have “good” food too ;)

Erin Stenzel

You should go here. Everything was amazing from the wine to the food. For bonus points get a glass of the Tannat for a tasty treat!

Robin Wells

Great wines, food and service.

Kathryn Mercer

Environment is clean, bright, and comfortable. Had lovely lunch with an excellent glass of 2015 Tannat (bought 2 bottles for home consumption). Companion had one of the best burgers if not the best one she's eaten in the general Williamsburg area.

Bruce Melvin

Love wine and great food, this place is awesome. The shrimp and grits were the BEST! Not only are the food and wine great, the service was outstanding! Do not miss this on you wine tour. Beautiful view of the James, vineyard and polo ponies, cannot beat this place. The Dameron's have a marvelous facility and know how to run it.

Eric Strugatsky

Smallest tasting pours I have ever had a wine tasting. Save your money!!

Barbara Wenk

One BIG room doesn't do it. Too loud as one cannot talk with family or friends. Hard to hear wine pourer because of noise. Traffic flow isn't good as people have to constantly walk between food servers. My husband and I only drink red wine and the cost was too much for so few red wines. We were disappointed in our visit. We did enjoy the drive from Richmond.

Rachel Whelan

Loud, chaotic, and an overpriced tasting. Save yourself 15 dollars and buy a single glass to enjoy on the property instead. I'm sure they do a good business with their food, and the outdoor area is lovely in good weather, but don't come expecting to be blown away by the wine like other vineyards in the area.

Elizabeth Hartz

Great. Ate outside with view of James River. Food delicious

Kevin Wyatt

Beautiful place, great venue and plenty of places to sit, relax and get away. We enjoyed the wine, staff and tastings but even more so the food!! I am making this review a little late but I will always remember having the seasonal summer gnocchi. I was on the outside deck with my lady, having a great Upper Shirley Rosé. We have eaten here a few times so I can attest that the chef knows what he is doing. Prices are appropriate for the quality. Thanks Upper Shirley, hope we see you soon!!

Brian Corbett

Wines were very good, some strong winners! Food and ambiance put over the top!

tom pruitt

Perfect place to take a blanket, have a bottle of wine, watch the birds take flight and dive for their fish, and listen to the sounds of the James River as it flows by.

K Coleman

Fabulous place! Award winning wine and great food - and hosts are terrific! We met them as they wandered about checking on everyone. They were so nice! Upper Shirley is really a treasure! A bit tough for cyclists due to the long gravel road but worth it!

Dean Ives

Great food and good wine. Beautiful views and some live music. What more can you ask for?

Peggy Holt

Had a delightful experience at Upper Shirley Vineyards today! From an exquisite lunch of savory ham biscuits and crab cocktail stack, wine and tasting, to walking the beautiful grounds, everything was fabulous! The flavors in the crab cocktail stack intermingled so well. The ham biscuits with the sweet pepper jelly gave it just the right pop. Service and wine right on point! Best food we have had at any winery! Will be back soon!

Matt Van Thyne

Food was OK. Service was horrendous from the hostess to the waiter. Nice scenery which is why I gave it 2 stars.

MBeshada

A great lunch with some nice wines. A great way to spend an afternoon.

Bill Shepherd

Great menu and the food is fabulous. Location is beautiful and nice views outside. Owner Taylor stopped by and chatted with us and was very friendly. Would definitely recommend to everyone and we will be going back to try the dinner menu.

Norman Carolino

I've been to Napa countless times. All the big names Opus One etc. Upper Shirley Winery is a World Class facility. Period!! End of discussion! All wines were very balanced. The perfect meal was served. Attention to detail is paramount here. This place exceeded my expectations. Overlooking the river. Bring a date. It's the perfect Winery to visit! A hidden gem right here in Tidewater.. near Richmond and Williamsburg....

William Bannister

Loved this venue! So precious and southern and beautiful! Wine was amazing, food was amazing, and the service was top notch. Chef, Carlisle Bannister does a great job running the kitchen, and my server Chris was awesome! I got the Route 5 burger and it was by far the best burger in Richmond and most likely the best burger I’ve ever had. If I could give more than 5 stars I absolutely would!

John Peters

Swell destination with friends for lunch -- food, wine, and service was top notch .

dianne overstreet

Absolutely beautiful on patio and the chef made food is delicious.

Terri Davis

I had a terrific experience here. Great lunch on the sprawling porch and a fun wine tasting inside at the bar with the proprietor, Tayloe Dameron. Beautiful venue and excellent waitstaff. Just a great experience all around. Would be a wonderful venue for a wedding or corporate event.

Analise Gregory

Upper Shirley Vineyards This vineyard literally blew me away. It is a fairly new vineyard, but my gosh their wines are fantastic. This vineyard is outside of Richmond, VA, and sits on one of the most gorgeous pieces of land ever. Also, be sure to check out their restaurant - it is amazing and super delicious! Fave Wine: The Tannat

Sharyn Abernatha

Food and Wine are great. Lovely place for wine tasting.

Ann Elliotte

Food was D_lish and wine was better!

Marisa DiMarco

Wonderful food, and terrific wait staff! can't wait to go back. recommend the shrimp and grits. it'a so much more than the name suggests!

Joe Gagnier

Very good food and wine, beautiful ambience.

RVALaura

Beautiful place! Had lunch on the porch with a group of 10 people and the service was fantastic. All the food and wine were amazing! The owner stopped by our table to check on everything and told us a little about the history of his journey purchasing the property and turning it into what it is today. After lunch a few us us had glasses of wine at the bar and the owner again chatted with us. He was very down to earth and friendly and made us feel very welcome. We walked down the lawn to take some pictures in front of the river and saw two bald eagles. Overall a wonderful afternoon. I will definitely be returning soon!

Kibibi Robinson

The owner gave us a private tasting of their wines. The restaurant and views were spectacular! I will definitely return to Upper Shirley vineyard again.

Rocket Xavier

Awesome wine, great staff and a wonderful view.

Scott Canion

Excellent food & wine

Trina Roberts

What an amazing place! The staff was welcoming and the food, simply delicious! A definite must visit!