Chateau Morrisette Winery

Overview

About Chateau Morrisette Winery

A long-running, family-operated winery and restaurant perched just off the Parkway near milepost 171.5, Chateau Morrisette pairs good wine with big Blue Ridge views. It’s an easy detour—about 300 feet from the road—and one of the more polished food-and-wine experiences along this stretch.

Why stop

Panoramic mountain views from terraces and dining room
Wine tastings, tours, and full-service restaurant in one stop
Regular live music and seasonal events

Heads up

Weekends can be crowded with waits for tastings and tables
Prices trend higher than casual Parkway stops

Map

Where it is

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RestaurantChateau Morrisette Winery36.79382, -80.39547

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Chateau Morrisette Winery

Reserve the restaurant for weekends and peak seasons; tastings can fill too.
Check the events calendar—live music changes the vibe and the crowd size.
Aim for weekdays or arrive before noon on weekends to avoid waits.
Bring a blanket or camp chairs for outdoor music days.
Don’t forget a valid ID for tastings and wine purchases.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Weekdays late morning or early afternoon for easy parking and unhurried tastings.
Late afternoon into golden hour for photography and views—especially on clear days.
Live music typically runs on fair-weather weekends from late spring through early fall; arrive early if that’s your aim.

Planning Essentials

Location: Near MP 171.5, between Mabry Mill and Rocky Knob.
Reservations: Smart for the restaurant and peak-season weekends. Tastings can also book up quickly during events.
Expect weekend crowds; weekdays are far more relaxed.

2 active Blue Ridge Parkway alerts

ClosureNorth Carolina Helene-related closuresAvoid the closed Parkway section from MP 344.2–355.3; recreation of any kind is prohibited there.Official details
ClosureVirginia Parkway closures and detourFollow the signed detour around the closed James River Bridge and avoid the closed Roanoke Mountain Loop. - James River Bridge (MP 63.5–63.Official details

Blue Ridge Parkway alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide

Your drive to Chateau Morrisette Winery, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tour

Recorded for this place

Chateau Morrisette: A Winery with a View

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“Just ahead is a unique stop for the Parkway: Chateau Morrisette, a large, family-operated winery and restaurant. It's one of Virginia's oldest, perched right on a ridgetop just a few hundred feet from the road.”

Plays as you drive up to Chateau Morrisette Winery in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.

More about Chateau Morrisette Winery

Why It Stands OutFounded in 1978 and moved to its current ridge-top home in 1981, the winery is among Virginia’s…

Founded in 1978 and moved to its current ridge-top home in 1981, the winery is among Virginia’s oldest. Expect a broad portfolio (from dry reds to beloved regional blends), a handsome timbered tasting room, and a dining program billed as elevated Southern cuisine. The setting is the hook: sweeping vistas toward Buffalo Mountain and the valley below.

What to DoTastings and Tours: Sample flights in the tasting room and, on busier days, consider a tour to…

Tastings and Tours: Sample flights in the tasting room and, on busier days, consider a tour to peek behind the scenes.
Dine with a View: Settle in for lunch or dinner; on clear days the windows and terrace steal the show.
Browse and Buy: The shop stocks bottles and wine-centric gifts so you can take a favorite home.
Events: From live music to special dinners and weddings, the calendar is lively, especially late spring through early fall.

The Wines & FoodProduction tops 60,000 cases, with estate vines covering roughly 13 acres.

Production tops 60,000 cases, with estate vines covering roughly 13 acres. You’ll find familiar labels alongside seasonal releases, and the kitchen leans into local, seasonal ingredients—think comfort-forward dishes refined just enough to match the wine list.

Setting & VibesThe grounds are designed for lingering—courtyards, terraces, and lawn space make it easy to…

The grounds are designed for lingering—courtyards, terraces, and lawn space make it easy to stretch a Parkway day into a slow afternoon. Leashed dogs are welcome outdoors, and on music days you’ll see folks settling in with a bottle and snacks.

WildlifeYou’re not in deep backcountry here, but casual sightings of deer, wild turkey, and songbirds…

You’re not in deep backcountry here, but casual sightings of deer, wild turkey, and songbirds around the property add to the ambience.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway

All Blue Ridge Parkway wildlife maps

1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.