Musical Greenhouse: Glass House Winery
Charles Parziale III, staff writer
Music, wine, food, good company and handcrafted chocolate. What more could you ask for? All of this can be found at the Glass House Winery. It is a cozy place where people can experience some of Virginia’s wine culture.
“There’s not many other places like this one. People normally show up and leave, people come here for the community,” said a member of Susie and the Pistols band.
“It just feels good to be in here, plenty of oxygen,” another band member joked as we sat at a table surrounded by trees and plants. The band performs at the winery on a regular basis of about six to eight times a year. Sometimes the members play with other bands at the winery too.
Jeff and Michelle Sanders own the Glass House Winery. They moved to Virginia and fell in love with the landscape. While the two were trying a way to apply their skills of wine and chocolate making, they discovered Virginia’s promising wine industry, and Glass House Winery was born.
On a 12-acre plot of vineyards, they have a steady supply of their own grapes. Along with making their own artisan wine, they have begun to make handcrafted chocolate, currently offering up to 10 different kinds crafted by their own in-house chocolatier. They also offer custom boxes in case customers want them for a special occasion.
All the fun happens inside their renown glass house, filled to the brim with green healthy plants. Stepping into the room, I could feel the difference in the air right away. It is refreshing. Sitting at a table, guests can listen to tree frogs sing, enjoy a nice plate of food, and listen to amazing musicians doing what they love. Even if you do not drink, sitting in that room, taking in the view of a small pond, and seeing the Blue Ridge mountains is a peaceful feeling not many other places can offer.
Prices can range from $20 for chocolate and approximately $25 to $70 for a bottle of wine.
The Glass House Winery is in the rolling hills of Free Union, Virginia: 5898 Free Union Road,. Their hours are: Thursday 12-5:30 p.m., Friday 12-9 p.m., Saturday 12-5:30 p.m., and Sunday 12-5:30 p.m.
