Once again, we asked our readers to raise a glass to their favorite wineries, breweries, distilleries, festivals, destinations and more by voting in our annual Savor Virginia’s Best Readers’ Choice Awards. And that they did.
Thousands responded in both our initial nomination round and in our voting round, offering their picks for everything from the best place for seasonal beers to the best cheese shop, the best distillery for classic moonshine to the best winery tasting room.
Whether you are searching for a great viognier, a unique B&B or the perfect wine trail, our readers have you covered with these Virginia standouts. Here are our winners—ranked Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze—based on the number of votes received.
BEER AND BREWERIES
Best Beer Label
Platinum
Starr Hill Brewery
Gold
Colonial Beach Brewing
Silver
Smartmouth Brewing Co.
Bronze
Wild Wolf Brewing Company
Best Brewery for Ale
Platinum
Old Bust Head Brewing Company
Gold
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Silver
Wharf Hill Brewing Co.
Bronze
Front Royal Brewing Company
Best Brewery for Amber
Platinum
Old Bust Head Brewing Company
Gold
The Virginia Beer Company
Silver
2 Witches Winery and Brewing Co.
Bronze
Back Bay Brewing
Best Brewery for Families
Platinum
2 Silos Brewing Co.
Gold
Blue Mountain Brewery
Silver
Back Bay Farmhouse Brewing Co.
Bronze
2 Witches Winery and Brewing Co.
Best Brewery for Food Truck Offerings
Platinum
The Virginia Beer Company
Gold
O’Connor Brewing Company
Silver
Billsburg Brewery
Bronze
Pleasure House Brewing
Best Brewery for IPA
Platinum
Devils Backbone Brewing Company
Gold
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Silver
Big Lick Brewing Company
Bronze
Wharf Hill Brewing Co.
Best Brewery for Lager
Platinum
Devils Backbone Brewing Company
Gold
Alewerks Brewing Company
Silver
Front Royal Brewing Company
Bronze
Vanish Farmwoods Brewery
Best Brewery for Live Music
Platinum
2 Silos Brewing Co.
Gold
Montross Brewery
Silver
Smartmouth Brewing Co.
Bronze
The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery
Best Brewery for Saison
Platinum
Smartmouth Brewing Co.
Gold
The Virginia Beer Company
Silver
O’Connor Brewing Company
Bronze
Montross Brewery
Best Brewery for Seasonal Beer
Platinum
Old Bust Head Brewing Company
Gold
Alewerks Brewing Company
Silver
2 Witches Winery and Brewing Co.
Bronze
Beale’s Brewery & Restaurant
Best Brewery for Sour
Platinum
Three Notch’d Brewing Company
Gold
Aslin Beer Company
Silver
Oozlefinch Craft Brewery
Bronze
New Realm Brewing
Best Brewery for Special Events
Platinum
2 Silos Brewing Co.
Gold
Smartmouth Brewing Co.
Silver
2 Witches Winery and Brewing Co.
Bronze
Big Ugly Brewing
Best Brewery for Stout
Platinum
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Gold
Blue Mountain Barrel House
Silver
Colonial Beach Brewing
Bronze
Wharf Hill Brewing Co.
Best Brewery for Tours
Platinum
Devils Backbone Brewing Company
Gold
Port City Brewing
Silver
Blue Mountain Brewery
Bronze
Big Lick Brewing Company
Best Brewery Restaurant
Platinum
Devils Backbone Brewing Company
Gold
Wharf Hill Brewing Co.
Silver
Spencer Devon Brewing
Bronze
Wasserhund Brewing Co.
Best Brewery Tasting Room
Platinum
Dirt Farm Brewing
Gold
Colonial Beach Brewing
Silver
Big Lick Brewing Company
Bronze
Montross Brewery
Best Craft Beer Overall
Platinum
Old Bust Head Brewing Company
Gold
Colonial Beach Brewing
Silver
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Bronze
Blue Mountain Barrel House
Best Craft Brewery Overall
Platinum
Starr Hill Brewery
Gold
Bear Chase Brewing Company
Silver
The Virginia Beer Company
Bronze
Big Lick Brewing Company
CIDER AND CIDERIES
Best Cider Maker
Platinum
Stephen Schuurman, Winchester Ciderworks
Gold
Will and Elle Correll, Buskey Cider
Silver
Cathy Calhoun, Ditchley Cider Works
Bronze
Ian Niblock, Bold Rock Barrel Barn
Best Cidery for Flavored Cider
Platinum
Winchester Ciderworks
Gold
Sly Clyde Ciderworks
Silver
Bold Rock Hard Cider
Bronze
Bold Rock Barrel Barn
Best Cidery for Traditional Cider
Platinum
Winchester Ciderworks
Gold
Bold Rock Hard Cider
Silver
Albemarle CiderWorks
Bronze
Buskey Cider
Best Cidery Overall
Platinum
Winchester Ciderworks
Gold
Sly Clyde Ciderworks
Silver
Albemarle CiderWorks
Bronze
Bold Rock Hard Cider
DISTILLERIES AND SPIRITS
Best Distiller
Platinum
George “Papi” Zwetkow, MurLarkey Distilled Spirits
Gold
Danny Swanson, Laird & Company
Silver
Mark Rangos, Blue Sky Distillery
Bronze
Allan Delmare, Dida’s Distillery
Best Distillery for Bourbon
Platinum
A. Smith Bowman Distillery
Gold
Tarnished Truth Distilling Company
Silver
KO Distilling
Bronze
Falls Church Distillers
Best Distillery for Brandy
Platinum
Laird & Company
Gold
Dida’s Distillery
Silver
Catoctin Creek Distilling Co.
Best Distillery for Classic Moonshine
Platinum
Belmont Farm Distillery
Gold
Belle Isle Moonshine
Silver
KO Distilling
Bronze
Three Crosses Distilling Company
Best Distillery for Flavored Moonshine
Platinum
Belle Isle Moonshine
Gold
Belmont Farm Distillery
Silver
Five Mile Mountain Distillery
Best Distillery for Gin
Platinum
MurLarkey Distilled Spirits
Gold
Dida’s Distillery
Silver
Falls Church Distillers
Bronze
Silverback Distillery
Best Distillery for Rum
Platinum
A. Smith Bowman Distillery
Gold
Blue Sky Distillery
Silver
Vitae Spirits
Bronze
Chesapeake Bay Distillery
Best Distillery for Tours
Platinum
A. Smith Bowman Distillery
Gold
Blue Sky Distillery
Silver
Tarnished Truth Distilling Company
Bronze
Vitae Spirits
Best Distillery for Vodka
Platinum
MurLarkey Distilled Spirits
Gold
Blue Sky Distillery
Silver
A. Smith Bowman Distillery
Bronze
Dida’s Distillery
Best Distillery for Whiskey
Platinum
Copper Fox Distillery
Gold
Falls Church Distillers
Silver
George Washington’s Distillery
Bronze
Filibuster Distillery
Best Distillery for Whiskey
Platinum
Copper Fox Distillery
Gold
Falls Church Distillers
Silver
George Washington’s Distillery
Bronze
Filibuster Distillery
Best Distillery Overall
Platinum
MurLarkey Distilled Spirits
Gold
Laird & Company
Silver
Blue Sky Distillery
Bronze
Copper Fox Distillery
Best Distillery Tasting Room
Platinum
MurLarkey Distilled Spirits
Gold
Copper Fox Distillery
Silver
Tarnished Truth Distilling Company
Bronze
Silverback Distillery
Best Mead
Platinum
Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery
Gold
Honey & Hops Brew Works
Silver
Silver Hand Meadery
Bronze
Haley’s Honey Meadery
Best Spirits Overall
Platinum
Copper Fox Distillery
Gold
Laird & Company
Silver
KO Distilling
Bronze
Tarnished Truth Distilling Company
TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Best Bed and Breakfast
Platinum
Skyline Vineyard Inn
Gold
The Truitt House
SilverRed Fox Inn
Bronze
Clifton Inn
Best Beer Festival
Platinum
Smithfield Wine & Brew Fest
Gold
Virginia Beer Festival
Silver
Blacksburg Brew Do
Bronze
Neptune’s Coastal Craft Beer Festival
Best Cheese Shop
Platinum
The Cheese Shop
Gold
Wegmans
Silver
Feast!
Bronze
TASTE
Best City (or Area) for Touring Breweries
Platinum
Charlottesville
Gold
Richmond
Silver
Norfolk
Bronze
Front Royal
Best City (or Area) for Touring Distilleries
Platinum
Charlottesville
Gold
Williamsburg
Silver
Richmond
Bronze
Fredericksburg
Best City (or Area) for Touring Wineries
Platinum
Charlottesville
Gold
Leesburg
Silver
Northern Neck
Bronze
Woodstock
Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant
Platinum
Harper’s Table
Gold
The Farmhouse at Veritas
Silver
Foode
Bronze
1608 Crafthouse
Best Resort/Inn/Hotel
Platinum
Salamander Resort & Spa
Gold
The Omni Homestead Resort
Silver
The Tides Inn
Bronze
Williamsburg Inn
Best Restaurant Craft Beer List
Platinum
Charlottesville Draft Taproom
Gold
The Water Dog
Silver
Mekong Restaurant
Bronze
The Answer
Best Restaurant Wine List
Platinum
The Inn at Little Washington
Gold
Opus 9 Steakhouse
Silver
Zoës Steak and Seafood
Bronze
Steinhilber’s Restaurant
Best Restaurant/Bar for Cocktails Made with Virginia Spirits
Platinum
The Hound’s Tale
Gold
The Alley Light
Silver
The Babcock House
Bronze
Amber Ox Public House
Best Spirits Festival
Platinum
Smithfield Bacon, Bourbon & Beach Music Fest
Gold
Belle Grove Plantation Spirits Festival
Silver
River City Spirits Festival
Bronze
Virginia Craft Spirits Roadshow
Best Tour or Limo Company
Platinum
Cville Hops On Tours
Gold
Fruits & Roots Wine Tours
Best Beer Trail
Platinum
Williamsburg Tasting Trail
Gold
Route 151, Nelson County
Silver
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cheers Trail
Bronze
Coastal Virginia Beer Trail
Best Farmers Market
Platinum
Smithfield Farmers Market
Gold
Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market
Silver
Virginia Beach Farmers Market
Bronze
The Historic Roanoke City Market
Best Virginia Made Product
Platinum
Whitley’s Peanuts
Gold
Laird & Company Apple Brandies
Silver
Blue Crab Bay Peanuts
Bronze
TASTE Products
Best Virginia Weekend Getaway Spot (City/Town)
Platinum
Williamsburg
Gold
Charlottesville
Silver
Smithfield
Bronze
Staunton
Best Virginia Wine Trail
Platinum
Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail
Gold
Loudoun Wine Trail
Silver
Monticello Wine Trail
Bronze
Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail
Best Wine and Beer Shop
Platinum
The Cheese Shop
Gold
Bon Vivant Wine & Brew
Silver
Total Wine and More
Bronze
Vintage Cellar
Best Wine Festival
Platinum
Vintage Virginia Wine & Food Festival
Gold
Stratford Hall Wine & Oyster Festival
Silver
Smithfield Wine & Brew Fest
Bronze
Town Point Virginia Wine Festival
WINE AND WINERIES
Best Bottle Artwork
Platinum
Vint Hill Winery
Gold
Veritas Vineyard
Silver
Blenheim Vineyards
Bronze
SummerWind Vineyard
Best Virginia Wine Maker
Platinum
Carl Henrickson, Little Washington Winery
Gold
Mark Misch, Ingleside Vineyards
Silver
Theo Smith, Rappahannock Cellars
Bronze
Matthieu Finot, King Family Vineyards
Best Virginia Wine Overall
Platinum
Little Washington Winery
Gold
Ingleside Vineyards
Silver
Barboursville Vineyards
Bronze
Pearmund Cellars
Best Wine Dog/Cat/Animal
Platinum
Barrel Oak Winery
Gold
Three Fox Vineyards
Silver
Chateau Morrisette Winery
Bronze
Magnolia Vineyards
Best Winery for Cabernet Franc
Platinum
Barboursville Vineyards
Gold
53rd Winery
Silver
Phillip Carter Winery
Bronze
Mountain Rose Vineyards
Best Winery for Cabernet Sauvignon
Platinum
Barboursville Vineyards
Gold
Keswick Vineyards
Silver
Gray Ghost Vineyard
Bronze
Two Twisted Posts Winery
Best Winery for Chardonnay
Platinum
Ingleside Vineyards
Gold
Gray Ghost Vineyard
Silver
Rappahannock Cellars
Bronze
The Williamsburg Winery
Best Winery for Dessert Wine
Platinum
Horton Vineyards
Gold
Rappahannock Cellars
Silver
Mountain Rose Vineyards
Bronze
Thatch Winery
Best Winery for Meritage
Platinum
Rappahannock Cellars
Gold
Pearmund Cellars
Silver
King Family Vineyards
Best Winery for Merlot
Platinum
Barboursville Vineyards
Gold
Greenhill Vineyard and Winery
Silver
Glen Manor Vineyards
Bronze
Rosemont of Virginia Winery
Best Winery for Norton
Platinum
The Winery at Bull Run
Gold
Chrysalis Vineyards
Silver
Casanel Vineyard
Bronze
Gaurthier Vineyards
Best Winery for Petit Verdot
Platinum
Ingleside Vineyards
Gold
Pearmund Cellars
Silver
Veritas Vineyard
Bronze
The Williamsburg Winery
Best Winery for Picnics
Platinum
Three Fox Vineyards
Gold
King Family Vineyards
Silver
Veritas Vineyard
Bronze
Glen Manor Vineyards
Best Winery for Rosé
Platinum
The Williamsburg Winery
Gold
Gray Ghost Vineyard
Silver
53rd Winery
Bronze
Early Mountain Vineyards
Best Winery for Sparkling Wine
Platinum
Rappahannock Cellars
Gold
Trump Winery
Silver
Three Fox Vineyards
Bronze
Mountain Rose Vineyards
Best Winery for Tours
Platinum
Williamsburg Winery
Gold
Glen Manor Vineyards
Best Winery for Viognier
Platinum
Three Fox Vineyards
Gold
Jefferson Vineyards
Silver
Phillip Carter Winery
Bronze
Two Twisted Posts Winery
Best Winery for Weddings
Platinum
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
Gold
Early Mountain Vineyards
Silver
Keswick Vineyards
Bronze
Rosemont of Virginia Winery
Best Winery Overall
Platinum
Little Washington Winery
Gold
Ingleside Vineyards
Silver
53rd Winery
Bronze
Phillip Carter Winery
Best Winery Tasting Room
Platinum
Little Washington Winery
Gold
53rd Winery
Silver
Magnolia Vineyards
Bronze
Early Mountain Vineyards
Best Winery with a View
Platinum
Little Washington Winery
Gold
Afton Mountain Vineyards
Silver
Bluemont Vineyard
Bronze
Muse Vineyards
