Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery

The Afton Mountain area of Virginia is located near some absolutely amazing wineries and breweries with award-winning beverages, fantastic food, and breathtaking scenery. There is one winery in particular that stands out in distinctiveness, not only for its “other than grape” wines, but also for its Authentic Honey Meads. Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery is owned and run by Greg and Kim Pugh, and it is certainly worth a visit.

Hill Top’s “true to the fruit” wines are made from “various fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, plums, apples, peaches, elderberries and many others. They contain no grapes and are not flavored” (Hilltopberrywine.com). From the “intensely strawberry” taste of the Sweet Vixen to the decadent, blueberry sweetness of the Little Heeler, each wine at Hill Top is a unique experience.

And speaking of unique experiences, Hill Top’s honeyed mead is an excellent choice for those who wish to sip a bit of history. (Mead is, after all, the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage.) If you’d like to savor the taste of the original Viking Era honeyed mead, try Hilltop’s Voyage. For a calming, floral flavor, you may enjoy the Lavender Metheglin. The Hunter’s Moon is a pumpkin spice mead that calls to mind the sights and sounds of autumn, and for those who enjoy a bit of heat in their drink, take a drink of the Dragon’s Breath, made from hickory-smoked hot peppers.

If you read Afton Mountain’s last blog about the upcoming Daylily Festival, you may remember that there will be wine vendors offering tastings to visitors. Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery happens to be one of these vendors, so stop by and enjoy a glass of “other than grape” wine and mead.

Photo by Tara Stoll