Wineworks Extended

In Search for a Winery:

Wineworks Extended is a wonderfully hidden gem located just six minutes from Charlottesville’s city center. It is conveniently open between 1:00pm and 7:00pm every day. I loved that I could go get a wine flight and buy a bottle (or two) close-by, even though nearly all of the other wineries wouldn’t even be open until Thursday.

The premises is located on a medium-sized parking lot, with a pop-up tent for Bizou standing ready for Friday and Saturday night dinners. A short set of stairs and a ramp leads to the entryway to the tasting room. The tasting room itself is small, but not currently being used in its traditional sense.

Outside is a small porch with two tables and enough seating for a group of four and a group of six. Under the pop-up tent, there is additional seating. The furniture was all made of whicker with soft cushions on each chair. It felt high quality, and was incredibly comfortable to rest awhile here!

Even though there isn’t much of a view between Avon Street and what appears to be marshland, the ambiance is much improved with the colorful potted plants and hanging lights.

The staff was incredibly friendly, warm, and welcoming. I felt like I could sit here all night, and no one would mind. I had a wonderful chat with the bartender at the end of my meal. She was charismatic and sweet – an absolute doll!

Keep in mind that the Bizou pop-up restaurant is only open Friday and Saturday evenings – there is no food available on the other days. Be sure to bring a snack to enjoy with your wine of choice!

Does Wineworks Extended have the full experience you’re looking for at a winery? Eh… probably not. However, in a pinch, it is both convenient and wonderfully adequate for a person looking for a winery scenario.

Well done to Michael Shaps for putting this together! It saved me when in the search for something special to bring home to my partner. I will definitely return.

Visit Wineworks Extended:

Hours: 1:00pm-7:00pm Monday-Sunday

Address: 1585 Avon Street Extended, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902

Phone: 434-529-6848

https://www.virginiawine.org/wineries/wineworks-extended

My Wine Flight:

There were two different wine flight options: French wines and Virginian wines. The cost of each individual wine varied, but a wine flight cost $10, which seemed reasonable to taste a variety of different wines from a specific region. The bottle price ranged from $24 to $35, depending on the wine selection.

My chosen flight consisted of four different Virginian wines, two reds and two whites, all created by wine-maker Michael Shaps. They are listed as follows:

Michael Shaps 2016 Odette – Light, Fruity, even floral – very enjoyable!

Michael Shaps 2017 Petit Manseng – A pop of citrus and a little oaky. Normally I’m not into the oaky flavor, but this was very manageable.

Michael Shaps 2016 Petit Verdot – A little tannic. I thought it felt flat at first, but the more it breathed, the more it improved.

Michael Shaps 2016 Tannat – The tannins completely dry out the tongue. They take over the pallet. Not for me, but it’s definitely for someone!

My favorite wine happened to be the lightest one, the 2016 Odette. It was delicate and delightful to drink. I could envision enjoying a glass on a warm summers day with an aperitif. I ended up taking home the 2016 Petit Verdot as a gift for my beau, who prefers reds over whites. It was my splurge of the day at $35, but it did not disappoint when I was able to share it with my loved one at home!