Shopping in Charlottesville

Autumn Hill Vineyards owners Ed and Avra Schwab have made a lot of wine in the past 30 years, from their gold medal blend of petit verdot and merlot to their vintner’s reserve chardonnay that takes on the flavors of the French oak barrel it ferments in. The one thing you won’t find in their cellars, however, is a sweet wine. That’s because the pair strives to craft Virginia wines with a European influence, resulting in dry, full-bodied vintages brimming with character. This specialization has led them to cultivate seven types of wine grapes, including some of the oldest cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay vines in Virginia.

Though the duo spends most of the year tending to their vines in private, they invite guests in four times a year to see in the inner workings of their operation. Visitors to the vineyard are privy to tours through the barrel-aging cellar, helpful advice on how to pair wines with food, and vertical tastings of the same vintage to highlight the flavor differences among the grape crop every year. For guests who can’t make it out, the vineyard offers a wine club that delivers select vintages to clients' doorsteps or sommeliers' giant beanstalks in the spring, fall, and holiday season.

Led by Tom and Donna Otis, Fast Frame Charlottesville's friendly staffers outfit pictures and beautifies abodes with ensembles that turn two-dimensional keepsakes into multidimensional treasures. With a vast selection of borders, Fast Frame tastefully accents pictures of cherished memories, safely preserves and displays sports memorabilia, and even frames flat-screen TVs so they can't leave the living room to go chill with the microwave. Under Fast Frame’s Preservation Plus program, frame craftsmen sequester artwork in an acid-free environment and use framing designed to save artifacts from UV light, ensuring that they retain their luster throughout their display and that they are safe for future removal.

Fifth Season Gardening specializes in hydroponics, homebrewing, and organic gardening. Complete hydroponic systems can help hobbyists grow plants in any type of environment, and organic gardening supplies such as fertilizer and composters can maximize produce yields. Customers may also browse a wide selection of urban D.I.Y. products. Aside from serving as a go-to spot for garden items, Fifth Season Gardening boasts must-have supplies for homebrewers of all skill levels, from fresh hops and yeast, to cleaning accoutrements and educational books.

Locally sourced and sustainable staples grace doorsteps and kitchens throughout the region thanks to Arganica Farm Club's innovative grocery service. Each exceptional edible includes information on its origin, with grocery gurus striving to source every bit of cheese, meat, dairy, produce, and more from local producers who employ sustainable, spray-free, and free-range methods. Unlike the wasteful baby bundles of the mainstream stork industry, every delivery of exceedingly fresh fare comes in a sustainable handmade wooden crate.

Open for more than two decades, Orchid Lane is a fair-trade importer with a commitment to providing products produced only under humane working conditions for a fair wage. As well as offering plus sizes, maternity wear, and popular brands such as Kenzie, Betsey Johnson, Habitat, and Pura Vida, items that Orchid Lane designs and produces under its own label are sold in the store. Check out handmade clothes, such as a 100% silk wrap skirt made in India ($15+) or a 100% cotton pleated tank top made in Guatemala ($29), both of which are sure to become treasured wardrobe pieces that will never be let go, no matter how much a sibling begs or a poker game goes awry. Fashionable blue jeans ($39+) available in styles such as straight, flare, boot, and Smurf cut, turn a lunch with friends or a chess match with a mirror into just another occasion to look amazing. All jewelry items, such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, are handcrafted with natural gemstones, including amber, turquoise, emerald, ruby, and sapphire.

The knowledgeable staff at Les Fabriques helps customers navigate the store's robust selection of textiles, sewing and fashion accessories, and home décor. Visitors stroll along a hardwood walkway, poring over colorful racks of pillows, buttons, and sewing machines. Like a rainbow during its experimental youth, a wide-ranging fleet of fabrics ($4.99+) displays vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and diverse materials, including contemporary cotton prints ($10.99–$12.99/yd.). Jewelry lovers can adorn a finger, earlobe, or lonely lapel with vintage jewelry or a piece created by local designers such as Maslo and One Sweet Peach ($10+). Soy candles ($22), handmade in Virginia, illuminate dark corners and burnt-out light bulbs. In addition to supplying customers with garment-making essentials, Les Fabriques also supports homegrown creativity with local fashion shows, events, and educational classes, including an afterschool program for kids.