In case you haven’t noticed, I like to drink wine. Here is the latest in my quest to taste them all…
Hours: 11-6 daily.
Tasting: $5 for a flight of 8-10 wines.
Location: Warrenton, VA
Atmosphere: 7
Wait times: n/a*
Wine: 7
Food: 6
Price: 6
Overall experience: 7
Mediterranean Cellars could use a little landscaping outside the tasting room, but inside there is plenty of room to sit and enjoy your wine amidst the Greek décor. The winery is owned by a Greek family that opened the business decades ago, and the place possesses a family-run feel. While less sleek polished than some wineries, the service-oriented staff made up the difference. Visitors are welcome to bring their own snacks inside, but the cheese boats (cheesy bread) are also delicious.
The owner’s wife took over the end of our tasting, and offered us their port, which is not on the tasting list. She added a personal touch to the experience.
Hours: Hours vary by month. Check their website for updated information.
Tasting: You can choose a white or red flight for $10 each, or $15 for both. Each tasting has 5 or 6 wines.
Location: Warrenton, VA
Atmosphere: 6
Wait times: n/a*
Wine: 6
Food: n/a
Price: 4
Overall experience: 5
After lounging at Mediterranean Cellars, we decided it would be silly to pass up visiting Marterella, which is literally across the street. Inside, the winery couldn’t be more different – the tasting room updated and sleek, and the tasting counter encircles a small kitchen. A couple of friendly dogs roamed around the winery unattended (presumably the owners). The website states that customers are welcome to bring dogs, if they are kept outside. Outside food is not permitted.
Nothing was necessarily wrong with Marterella, but I wasn’t in love. A few of their wines have won Virginia Cup awards in the past couple years, but the wine wasn’t quite to my taste, and the prices seemed overly steep. I probably wouldn’t go back, but that isn’t to say that someone else wouldn’t enjoy the wine or the atmosphere.
*Note: I’ve left off wait times for these reviews, because late-February (post-Valentines and pre-Spring) is not exactly prime time for winery patrons. My group of 4 had no wait time at either winery, but I would expect a summer afternoon to be more crowded. Though Mediterranean Cellars has ample seating, the tasting counter is very small. Marterella’s counter is also relatively small, and they have less indoor seating.
The Princess and the Pea 