Head to Virginia’s Best Winery for Your Next Weekend Getaway

Rows of grape vines perfectly frame the Nicewonder Inn.

Nicewonder wines pair with delectable small plates at the Tasting Room.

Farm-fresh, colorful, and distinctive plates are a mark of Hickory Restaurant cuisine.

Linger-worthy views by the infinity pool are a hallmark of the accommodation.

Luxury yurts provide all the comforts of the inn.

Spacious patios and porches highlight Nicewonder’s pastoral setting.

A delightful getaway awaits at Virginia’s newest winery hotel, just north of the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia, which straddles the state line. The long, curvy drive into the 450-acre Nicewonder estate opens from wooded hills to rolling pastures and vineyards, with the main inn and fine-dining restaurant Hickory as the hub.

The first vines were planted in 2013 on the sprawling farmland that the Nicewonder family has called home for generations. A few years later came the winery, tasting room, and nine luxury yurts. The 28-room inn opened in 2022, and most recently, an exquisite domed spa and fitness facility. Overlooking the pond and vines, the lovely infinity pool may be the most alluring spot on the property.

The farmhouse-chic style of Nicewonder Inn is modern and refreshing with vineyard views that exude serenity. Inn guest rooms and the cedar yurts are spacious and well-appointed. Tucked in the woods, the yurts have only a hint of rusticity and are pet-friendly.

You’ll find the “patron saint of Appalachian food,” chef  Travis Milton, front and center at Hickory, juggling pots and garnishing plates in his open wood-fired kitchen. The James Beard Award semifinalist proudly curates menus with eclectic dishes and creative flair, highlighting local purveyors and heirloom produce from the farm. Menu selections are paired with Nicewonder’s award-winning wines as well as fine wines from around the world. Viognier, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc varietals are grown on-site, and guests can enjoy a flight or full tasting of Nicewonder wines with a light meal and live music at the rustic Tasting Room barn and patio.

While wine is the cornerstone of Nicewonder, many activities beckon—from guided hikes, yoga, and target sports to s’mores by the firepit and innovative spa treatments, such as gemstone and far-infrared therapies. Guests may play golf at the adjacent sister property, The Virginian Golf Club, a Tom Fazio-designed, championship course developed by the Nicewonder family in the early 1990s. Take time to visit the chickens, peruse the gardens of greens and edible flowers, and explore nearby attractions, from Bristol’s Birthplace of Country Music Museum to Abingdon’s Barter Theatre and Virginia Creeper Trail.

Nicewonder embodies all the appealing elements of its pastoral setting and offers a taste of Appalachian heritage and hospitality in a welcoming, intimate atmosphere. As Tom Fazio once said of  The Virginian, “From the country drive through the stone entrance, you know something special is going on out here.” Aptly, his statement rings true for the vineyard retreat as well. nicewonderfarm.com