Beer, Wine & Spirits in Tuckahoe

To taste authentic Spanish wines, you could travel to the Mediterranean-flanked European country. Or you could save yourself the hassle of pulling out your passport and head to Jacey Vineyards instead. That's because the wine haven grows seven different types of Galician grapes, which it then transforms into varietals, including the citrusy albari?o and the earthy malbec. And the wines aren't the only Spanish elements at Jacey Vineyards. The staff whips up tapas to complement the wines at its restaurant, Velas, and the grounds themselves boast multiple docks and a private cove that conjures images of the Galician coastline.

Heart of Virginia Wine Trail honors its home state by guiding guests through six wineries?James River Cellars, Cooper Vineyards, Lake Anna Winery, Weston Vineyards, Mattaponi Winery, and Grayhaven Winery. Although not included with this Groupon, the wine ambassadors proffer passports that award patrons tastings at each of the wineries and encourage them to enjoy the scenic countryside while navigating the path in between. Both regular tastings and special events typically include food pairings and a chance to talk to knowledgeable enophiles.

Established: 1951

Staff Size: 50+ people

Average Duration of Services: 4+ hours

Parking: Parking lot

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Brands Used: Dogfish Head, Uinta, and Original Sin Breweries, among others.

Recommended Age Group: Adults

Pro Tip: Bring lawn chairs, sunglasses, and the courage to kick your shoes off and dance.

Most Popular Attraction/Offering: Craft brews for every taste.

Q&A with the Social Marketing Chair

I'm a first-timer. How do you get me ready for the experience?

Bring a chair, stay a while, engage others, and bring cash for our vendors so you can taste the different offerings before choosing a favorite. Looking for just the right brew? Engage others for advice.

As the old adage says, "Stuff happens." What training do you and your staff have to stay ahead of the unexpected?

A quick wit, and great humor.

What is the experience customers can expect, and how do you make it special?

Quick service, friendly conversation, great food, vendors, and fun music. We aim to make this a great countryside experience.

With names like Voyager, Rendezvous, Trekker, and Sojourn, the wines at Grayhaven Winery LLC evoke a sense of getting away from it all. But their small-batch vintages aren't the only escape route from the everyday Grayhaven opens up. Visitors on estate tours will find Virginia-made goat cheese and baguettes in the tasting room, a child-friendly playground and nature trail, four resident horses, and three dogs with noses for fine wines. The vineyard also hosts three large events every year: the South African Food & Wine Festival, Blues in the Vineyard, and the St. Clements Wine & Beer Festival.

From 17 rolling acres, 10 varieties of wine grapes are harvested at James River Cellars each year. Those grapes are transformed by resident winemakers into red and white varietals, ranging from the jammy chambourcin to the citrus-forward and floral gew?rztraminer. Visitors can cozy up in the homey tasting room, where they can sip samples of wine at one of the communal table. During warmer months, they can head out to the sun-dappled patio to enjoy the breeze with their drink or, if you're under 21, to hang out and smell the vines.

The Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival gives visitors a chance to get an up-close view of more than 20 hot-air balloon teams from across the country, and then observe them in their natural habitat: the sky. The weekend-long festival is held on the grassy expanse of Meadow Event Park. The main attractions are the morning and early-evening flights, when all 20 colorful vessels take to the air at once and gracefully interrupt the annual paper-plane migration.

On Saturday, a sweeping balloon-glow display will light up the night sky. Meanwhile, off-site rides instill wonder with dawn or near-dusk flights in one of the balloons—and include transportation back to the grounds in the chase car. And yet balloons aren't the festival's only draw: regional crafts vendors display their hand-made apparel and arts, while craft beer and wine tastings pair with food from local restaurants. Throughout each day, live bands play classic rock and new wave, old-school jazz and R&B, and folk-infused country.