The Williamsburg Winery

The Williamsburg Winery sits on Wessex Hundred, a 300-acre estate near the James River. Founded by Patrick and Peggy Duffeler, who planted the property's first grapevines in 1985 and released its first vintage in 1988, the estate now includes more than 50 acres of vineyard and over 150 acres of woods. For weddings, the winery offers ceremony and reception spaces ranging from the raised Wessex Lawn, overlooking newly planted vineyards and a duck pond, to Wessex Hall, a 4,600-square-foot banquet room built in 2000 in the style of a 17th-century cruciform timbered structure, lit by iron chandeliers and featuring two stone fireplaces imported from Bordeaux, France. Westbury Hall, a Tudor-style barn with exposed oak beams, natural light, and a walk-out ramp entrance, suits smaller ceremonies and cocktail hours, while its lower level, Westbury Cellar, offers an intimate dining room with views into the estate's barrel cellar. The property also includes Wedmore Place, a 28-room boutique hotel, and the Gabriel Archer Tavern restaurant. For corporate gatherings, the White Horse Meeting Room provides vaulted ceilings, European antiques, audio/visual equipment, and seating for up to 15 guests around an oak boardroom table.