You need to go there just to see it. It really is lovely and I agree with other reviewers that it is the perfect place to get married. They do have tastings. We were the only ones there the day we visited and the staff was friendly and nice. I'm not a big cider person but it was interesting and I did find a few that I liked!
If I were getting married this place might be under consideration. Lovely setting in the foothills of Virginia with a set up for events. The cider was...okay (and I like cider) but the atmosphere is almost perfect!
Drove up to this beautiful estate and was really impressed with how this place looks. We were welcomed with a nice warm fire in a cold day. The host was very nice and cheerful. It was a very busy day and just one host which made some a bit impatient but she mangers to handle the crowd very well. I wish l remembered her name so l could at least commend her for her hard work as l know it was not easy. She knew her ciders and this is what made the experience enjoyable. It's $8 for the tasting and you get to try 7 different ciders. The host spoke through each cider, how it's made, the different ingredients and the time it's taken. I can understand the hard work that is put into these ciders but there are products which are a lot better out there. I feel that there are offering too many products instead of concentrating more on the ones they think will do best. I guess it is why they call it a wine tasting and they are trying to figure out what works best. All in all great service!!!
We were there as they were just starting to set up for a wedding, and you could tell it was going to be gorgeous. Just the views coming up the driveway were great. This was our first time at a cider tasting, and I was surprised at the SIZE of the pours! You really got an accurate taste of these ciders, and they were nice, dry and light. Several nice areas to sit, chat, sip and eat both inside and out. Highly recommended!
Had an appointment for a tour for our upcoming wedding at this beautiful setting. But Castle Hill's wedding contact Ms Keys kept us waiting for 30 mins and had to be called as a reminder and upon arriving did even apologize. We tasted cider while waiting and the tasting room staff stated she is always late. Very nice. She proceeded to be unorganized and scatter brained the whole time. This women has no clue on weddings or how to treat clients or people in general. Completely unprofessional and a terrible representative for this amazing property. She even tried to promote herself as a wedding planner and even though she new we had already retained a well known planner for our event. She has no ethics or integrity. Get married somewhere else!!!
Customer service was completely lacking - employees did not seem to have even basic manners. I was expecting alot more from the cider - world's best? Not even average. Tasting fee was high ($8) to sample mediocre cider.
The grounds are lovely, and the tasting room warm and inviting. It was not busy when we arrived, and the three young ladies working there doted on my kids. The ciders are very good, though not yet great. But I have great hopes for what they will do in the future. Drink these ciders the way you would drink wine, instead of thinking of them as an alternative to beer.
Having been to many wineries over the years, I would put this venue on the low end of what I've experienced. The host was pleasant enough when we first showed up but when a group she seemed to know arrived they became the focus of her attention. We samples six of their ciders for eight dollars And the host provided a little information about each. But there was no discussion about the property, the history of cider, and all their things which make a visit interesting and memorable.
We were staying in Gordonsville at our time share and decided we wanted to try some local cider. After doing some shopping in Charlottesville we headed via our GPS to find Castle Hill. It was quite the drive through the middle of nowhere and we wondered several times if we were totally off track. We persevered and were at last at Castle Hill. It is a large sweeping piece of property and we were warmly greeted by a roaring fire when we arrived, which was such a treat on a rainy, cold day. We were the only ones there so we had the full attention of the staff. We did the tasting flight and enjoyed the various ciders they produce. We learned a little about the different methods they use to make their ciders. We felt welcome to spent as much time as we wanted sitting by the fire and enjoying our favorite glass of cider. The property is lovely but our view was limited because it was such a cloudy, hazy day. I imagine sitting out on the lawn in the fall would be breathtaking. If you are in the area on a weekday and have time to spend an hour or so just sitting and relaxing in the quiet countryside this might be a good choice for you.
Came across this beautiful property on a day trip last year and decided to check out a little closer and schedule a tour. Our guide, Evelyn was super sweet and seemed to have a tight grasp on weddings and wedding planning which was refreshing for someone who works for one of DC's top wedding planners. The barn house feel lends itself to so many options and we loved Evelyn's ideas about what could be done with the space. The cider is good too. I would totally get married here and we definitely added Castle Hill to our suggestion list for clients. OH, and there's an orchard!