In the past decade wineries have flourished in the Charlottesville area, and an increasing number of Dinsmore House guests are partaking in local wines. In addition, the last few years has seen an increasing number of microbreweries pop up.

The Dinsmore House offers several packages for wine enthusiasts including our Wine Lover’s Package, Romance Package and “Bubbles and Berries” package. We also offer free tasting coupons at selected vineyards exclusively to our guests.

We are often asked for our recommended wineries, and we have several favorites. Here’s an itinerary we’d recommend for guests seeking a local wine and microbrew sampling:
First stop, King Family vineyards. Located outside the town of Crozet, the Kings have an idyllic setting with mountain views and even host polo matches on some Sundays.
Then onto Blue Mountain Brewery, located a few miles away. Blue Mountain has beers that are big on flavor, and is a great spot to grab a casual lunch.
The final stop of the countryside jaunt, we love Veritas Vineyards. Boasting perhaps the nicest tasting room in the area, they also have friendly staff and delicious wine flights.

Of course if you want to extend your wine tour to several days, there are more than a dozen other great local vineyards and three other microbreweries to choose from. A few of our favorites are Barboursville Vineyard and Starr Hill Brewery. Check out http://www.monticellowinetrail.com/ for the local vineyard map.

Innkeeper FAQs

Q: Where do we park at the Dinsmore House?

A: Garage parking is provided in the garage directly behind the inn, free of charge.

Q: Where’s a good place to eat?

A: We have a menu book at the inn, as well a recommendation sheet. There are 96 restaurants within a mile of the inn. A few of our favorites are ZoCaLo, LeToile, Maya and Zinc.

Q: How do we get to Monticello?

A: Directions are provided in your welcome letter. It’s five miles away from the Inn.

Q: How close are we to UVA?

A: The Dinsmore House is located at the University Corner, a five minute walk from the Rotunda, where the free tour is excellent.

Q: What wineries do you recommend?

A: There are a lot of great wineries to choose from. Our personal favorites are King Family, Veritas and Barboursville.

Q: How did you become involved innkeeping?

A: Primarily it was a lifestyle change from the corporate rat race of Washington, DC. We also wanted to live in Charlottesville, and we love meeting people. Seemed like a natural fit!

Q: What’s the history of the building?

A: The Dinsmore House Inn takes its name from the home’s architect and builder, James Dinsmore. He was the master builder for Thomas Jefferson, and constructed the house that the B&B now occupies in 1817.

It’s a common refrain when repeat guests enter the Dinsmore House. “Where’s Hannah?” About that time we’ll hear her before we see her. The jingle of her collar signals her arrival as she saunters into the room. She’s a little bit of an old girl now, but she still loves to greet the guests and ask for a shoulder scratch. When we opened the bed and breakfast she was a puppy, and every guest was a new adventure. She’d follow guests everywhere, her natural herding instincts kicking inn, subtly nudging them with her snout. She doesn’t do much herding these days, but the guests still flock to her. I have no doubt if I polled our guests over the years and ask them what they remember most about the Dinsmore House…it would be Hannah. She is the quintessential B&B dog.

1.) The off-season pricing at the Dinsmore House is 20-30% less than in-season pricing.
2.) No lines at Monticello, Montpelier and Ash Lawn
3.) The Dinsmore House winter breakfast menus feature hearty savory dishes and warm muffins
4.) No traffic or road construction
5.) Reservations at restaurants are easily acquired
6.) Mountain hikes are cool and bug free
7.) UVA basketball has a new coach, a new arena and a fresh approach
8.) Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or baby-moons with a package at the Dinsmore House - $50 off
9.) The concert schedule at the John Paul Jones Arena and the Paramount Theater is packed with great shows
10.) Skiing and tubing at Wintergreen, only 40 miles away

If you’re thinking of visiting Charlottesville in October, don’t hesitate!

There are some wonderful activities that we at the Dinsmore House enjoy during October.

Unique Shopping:

Martha’s Market is a fundraising event for the Martha Jefferson Hospital that is sure to help you with your holiday shopping. Over 60 vendors with handmade crafts, jewelry and food abound. If you are looking for unique gifts for someone you know (or for yourself as well), this is the place to find them!

http://www.mjhfoundation.org/site/c.fjJVJgMQIqE/b.1851675/k.8BD4/Marthas_Market.htm

Apple Tasting:

On October 17th, take part in Monticello’s apple tasting. This is an annual event where participants get to taste and vote on a variety of local apples.

http://www.monticello.org/calendar/saturdays.html#locations

Halloween Spirits:

The Albemarle Historical Society offers spirit walks the last weekend of October. It’s a great way to learn about our 250 year history and local folklore.

http://albemarlehistory.org/index.php/Historical_Society/events/spirit_walk/

Cooking Classes:

The Seasonal Cook, located .5 mile from the inn, offers tasty cooking classes. Some of our favorites are the “Market Basket”, where participants may join the chef at our Farmers Market to pick out local fresh ingredients. They then meet at the store to prepare and indulge in a wonderful meal later in the day. Check out their class schedule at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133046085266&index=1

Their website is: http://www.seasonalcook.com/index.html

Autumn is one of the best times to experience all Charlottesville has to offer. It’s apple season, and many area orchards are open for apple picking! During this season, breakfast at the Dinsmore House features our signature baked apples, courtesy of the nearby orchards.

Carter’s Mountain, on the way to Monticello, is just 3 miles from the inn. You can pick your own apples, buy some already picked, or just go there for the view – it is stunning! They also have the best apple doughnuts you can imagine! There is an apple festival in October, visit their website to learn more.

Chiles Orchard, located west of the inn, is also a great place to pick apples. They are located at the foot of the Blue Ridge, a fantastic sight to see in the fall! Check out their website for more details.

Hiking the Blue Ridge is one of my favorite activities in the fall. Let the Dinsmore House bed and breakfast serve you a hearty breakfast before exploring nearby trails. We’ve got trail maps and resources available for you to use for any level hike.

November marks the Virginia Film Festival, always a hit! Come view films and participate in forums with directors and actors. This year’s theme is “Funny Business”.

The Virginia Film Festival

Welcome to the Dinsmore House B&B! The Dinsmore House is an historic inn in the center of Charlottesville. This is the new innkeeper blog, where we will try to keep visitors apprised of happenings, both at the inn and around Charlottesville. So bookmark us and check back often. Here are a list of some upcoming concerts in Charlottesville:

9/13 The Temptations at the Paramount
9/20 Patty Loveless at the Paramount
9/24 The Decemberists at the Pavilion
9/26 Lucinda Williams at the Pavilion
10/1 U2 at Scott Stadium
10/11 David Cook (American Idol) at the Paramount
10/17 Metallica at JPJ Arena
10/18 Third Day at the Pavilion

Located on the west end of Main Street in Charlottesville, the Dinsmore House Inn is located at the University of Virginia, and less than a mile from the historic Downtown Mall.