By Matthew Fitzsimmons

For many Virginians, NOVA is their gateway to exploring local wine. Over 100 wineries are in this part of the state, most within an hour’s drive from DC.

NOVA’s status as one of the wealthiest areas of the United States influences the wine experiences that are available. While traditional farm-style tasting rooms are still the norm, newer wineries are introducing more specialized experiences, including a focus on sparkling wine or food pairings.

The region’s relative wealth also facilitates new winery investment, despite the challenges facing the broader wine industry. In NOVA, even wineries that change hands often find owners willing to upgrade facilities and hospitality experiences.

Here is a summary of wineries that have opened (or are about to open) in NOVA since 2025.

Catamaran Hills Vineyard

39775 Wenner Road

Lovettsville

Visitors familiar with Virginia wine country will recognize the intimate, owner-operated atmosphere at . Owner Harish Kunshetty is likely to personally guide visitors through a tasting of his wines, a rarity in today’s wine industry.

Harish is an avid wine enthusiast who decided to open his own winery in 2025. Knowing he needed an experienced hand in the wine business, he turned to Virginia ‘wine godfather’ Doug Fabbioli for assistance.

Doug helped Harish find his new property, a hillside north of Leesburg. Together, they established several acres of vines, which now form the basis of Catamaran’s wines.

The vineyard is planted with varieties familiar to Virginia wine country. One exciting exception is Carménère, a Bordeaux grape now better known for its new home in Chile.

The winery offers outdoor seating only, so call ahead to confirm its opening status and make a reservation. Be sure to check out their sparkling Petit Manseng and Cabernet Franc, both of which earned Gold at the 2026 Loudoun Wine Awards.

Ovoka Farm Winery

750 Ovoka Farm Lane

Paris

Anyone who’s hiked Sky Meadows State Park has seen Ovoka Farm in the distance. Situated on the northern end of the park, the farm’s red-roofed manor home and grain silos have long been magnets for local photographers.

Ovoka started as a farm raising Wagyu beef. Wagyu is prized for its fine marbling and tenderness, the result of a low-stress life. Chefs love it, and Ovoka sells its beef to an assortment of local restaurants and through its on-premises food truck.

One drawback of Wagyu is that it’s not easy for non-chefs to cook. To compensate, Ovoka bred its Wagyu cattle with traditional American Angus. Its 400-head herd is now comprised of ‘F1 Wagyu,’ a 50/50 cross with the best traits of both.

In early 2026, Ovoka expanded its operations to include a winery. They don’t yet have vines at the farm, but Bull Run winemaker Kendell Anderson now makes Ovoka’s wine on the property.

Visitors can also enjoy Ovoka’s wines at its wine and produce store or at one of its .

Petit Domaine

37938 Charles Town Pike

Hillsboro

Petit Domaine opened in October 2025 with one goal – to make high-quality bubbly. They remain the only Virginia winery tasting room dedicated to traditional-method sparkling wine (although they do sell some still wine from partner labels).

Their focus on traditional-method bubbly (the same process used in Champagne) isn’t a coincidence. Winemaker Shai Van Gelder explained it this way: “Champagne is the world’s gold standard for sparkling wine. Petit Domaine is making wine this way precisely because it’s difficult, not despite it.”

In keeping with its status as a premium destination, Petit Domaine also has some of the fanciest events in Virginia. These range from a to caviar pairings.

Petit Domaine’s own sparkling wines won’t be ready until 2028, but guests can enjoy traditional-method sparkling wines that serve as inspiration for the winery’s future releases.

Silver Dog Vineyards

139 Feathers Lane

Linden

In July 2026, joined what is arguably the best ‘winery neighborhood’ in Virginia, with neighbors including Linden Vineyards, Capstone, Crimson Lane, and Accord (former Fox Meadow).

This isn’t by accident. Owner Eric Gronning explained he deliberately picked a site near Jim Law of Linden Vineyards, one of his inspirations for Virginia wine.

Eric purchased this 18-acre hilltop farm in 2018 from a local attorney. Not only did the farm come with steep slopes and higher elevation, but it already had an acre of vines. The winery also plans to add a full-service kitchen.

Silver Dog aims to produce around 1,200 cases/year, using exclusively estate-grown fruit. While their current lineup focuses on more traditional French grapes, one unusual addition for Virginia is Sagrantino, a high-tannin, medium-acidity Italian grape indigenous to Central Italy.

OH’s Vineyard

35246 Leesburg Pike #190

Round Hill

OH is Virginia’s newest winery, scheduled to open in early October (as of the time of this writing).

Husband-and-wife owners Waldo Ortiz and Ana Hirsbrunner purchased the former Bogati Bodega space in 2026 while searching for a home for their future tasting room. “We fell in love with the space as soon as we saw it,” Ana exclaimed while giving a tour of the premises.

While the tasting room is still undergoing its finishing touches, (courtesy of their partnership with Nate Walsh of Walsh Family Wine). OH also has plans for a line of sparkling wines.

Calling the space a ‘tasting room’ may be an understatement, as their ‘Salon’ will be a winery/restaurant combination. The restaurant wasn’t originally planned, but is a natural extension given Waldo’s culinary background.

Guests will be able to sample OH’s lineup, but Waldo also wants patrons to enjoy a farm-to-table experience featuring local food and wines from other Virginia producers.

About the Author: Matthew Fitzsimmons is a blogger who has visited nearly every winery in Virginia – most of them twice. Track his progress at