Early Mountain Vineyards hosts corporate meetings, retreats and weddings for up to 200 guests in its Event Hall, with five other spaces for groups from 10 to 150. The winery sits on a 350-acre property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, at 6109 Wolftown-Hood Road in Madison, Virginia, and runs its own kitchen.
Seminars and company events
The Event Hall is offered for corporate meetings, executive retreats and strategic planning sessions, as well as holiday parties and fundraisers. A team can meet in the hall during the day, take a chef-prepared lunch and move to the terrace or the tasting room for a reception. The Wine Library and Lounge is set aside for executive dinners, client appreciation events and wine dinners. For a very small group, the Chef's Table in the tasting room seats up to 10 for a seven-course seasonal dinner hosted by Executive Chef Tim Moore.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings are a core part of the business. Couples can choose a vineyard ceremony, an outdoor ceremony with an arbor or an indoor ceremony, and the reception is held in the Event Hall for up to 200 seated guests. The wedding offer lists a groom's lounge, a cottage for the wedding party, Chiavari chairs, round and farm tables, wine barrels and lanterns, a fireplace, parking and mountain views. The winery works with a list of preferred vendors and publishes a brochure for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Rooms and capacities
The Event Hall takes up to 200 guests for a seated dinner or a cocktail-style event. The Tasting Room holds up to 150 for receptions and networking. The Terrace takes up to 60 with mountain views, and the Patio up to 45 for rehearsal dinners, birthdays and corporate dinners. The Wine Library and Lounge has no published capacity and suits a small private dinner. The Chef's Table takes up to 10.
Catering
Catering is handled on site by the winery's culinary team. Menus are seasonal and draw on produce from local farms, with family-style dining among the formats. Each menu is paired with the estate's own wines.
History and setting
Jess and Sharon Sweely planted the first vines on the property in 2005. Jean and Steve Case bought it in 2010, renovated it and reopened it as Early Mountain in 2012. In 2015 the winery added Quaker Run Vineyard, about 14 miles north of the main estate in Madison County. The property sits among rolling farmland with the Blue Ridge on the horizon.
Getting there
Madison is in the Virginia Piedmont, north of Charlottesville and southwest of Washington, D.C. Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is the closest airport, and Washington Dulles is the main international option for out-of-state guests. Most groups arrive by car or chartered coach, and parking is available at the winery.
