January 18, 2024
A getaway through Southern Virginia leaves room for country roads, small-town exploring and conversations with the people behind the spirits. You might discover how apples become brandy, enjoy a cocktail in the Halifax countryside or extend your trip with a distillery stay near Farmville.
The makers along the way offer different perspectives on Virginia spirits. Fruit-growing experience, local ingredients and a curiosity about flavors all shape what they create.
Before you go, download the Virginia Spirits app to discover nearby distilleries and build your own trail. With the Virginia Spirits Passport built into the app, you can check in at participating locations, earn points and redeem rewards as you explore.
Use this guide to build a weekend around Halifax and Martinsville, then extend your getaway to Sandy River Distillery in Rice, near Farmville in Central Virginia.
At Springfield Distillery in Halifax County, the setting gives you a reason to slow down. The property includes a home dating to 1842, natural springs and countryside views, with cabins that let visitors turn a distillery stop into an overnight getaway.
This family-owned, woman-owned distillery is led by Kelly Gordon and produces whiskey, bourbon and specialty spirits using locally sourced Virginia ingredients. Explore the lineup through a tasting, enjoy a cocktail or arrange a guided tour to learn about production. Check the events calendar for live music and other reasons to gather.
Ask about the ingredients behind a favorite pour or how the team develops its flavored whiskeys. With an overnight stay planned, you can give yourself more time to enjoy the property and surrounding area.
Make it part of your trip: Build an afternoon around the tasting room, then stay in one of the Springfield 1842 cabins.
Smith River Spirits in Ridgeway offers a different starting point for exploring distilled spirits: fruit.
Founded in 2019 by Kevin Nelson, Alan Black and Wes Mills, the business grew from experience with apple growing, winemaking and small-batch distilling. Its brandies invite visitors to consider how fruit selection influences a spirit’s character.
Apple Black Red, for example, combines three apple varieties, with Gold Rush apples taking the lead. Ask how the team selects its fruit and what distinguishes its pure fruit and traditionally aged brandies. The distillery offers tours and tastings, along with onsite bottle sales.
Make it part of your trip: Pair Smith River with a meal and a museum visit in nearby Martinsville.
Extend your trip into Central Virginia for a visit to Sandy River Distillery in Rice. Its bourbon and whiskey offer a starting point for exploring how Virginia grain becomes a finished spirit.
Book a guided tour through the working distillery, affectionately called “Grandma’s Kitchen,” to learn about the craft and story behind the bottles. A guided tasting offers another way to get to know the lineup, while cocktails let you discover how the spirits work in a mixed drink.
With onsite lodging available, Sandy River can also become the centerpiece of a weekend with friends. Spend time together, explore the surrounding area and leave room to enjoy your visit.
Make it part of your trip: Add an overnight stay near Farmville and reserve your tour or tasting ahead of time.
For a two-day getaway, focus on Halifax and the Ridgeway–Martinsville area. The drive between them takes a meaningful part of the day, so check your route before booking and keep the rest of your schedule relaxed.
Start with time exploring Halifax or nearby South Boston, leaving room to browse local shops and enjoy lunch. Use Visit Halifax County to find dining and activities that fit your plans.
Head to Springfield Distillery for the afternoon. Choose a tasting to get to know the lineup or arrange a tour if you’d like a closer look at how the spirits are made.
Check the events calendar before visiting. A scheduled performance or gathering could become the centerpiece of your afternoon.
If you’ve booked a Springfield 1842 cabin, settle in for the evening and make the property your home base. Otherwise, return to your accommodations before heading out for dinner.
After breakfast, head toward Martinsville and Ridgeway, allowing time for the drive.
Visit the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville, then enjoy lunch before continuing to Smith River Spirits. Check both locations’ schedules when choosing your travel dates.
At the distillery, explore the brandy lineup and ask how apple varieties, fermentation and aging influence flavor. Arrange a tour if you’d like to learn more about the production process.
Keep your evening flexible, with dinner in the area or an overnight stay before heading home.
Give Sandy River Distillery its own day or overnight stay rather than squeezing it between the other stops.
Reserve a guided distillery tour or tasting, then leave time for a cocktail and some exploring around Farmville. Onsite lodging makes it an option for turning this part of the trip into a longer getaway with friends.
Depending on where you’re traveling from, Sandy River could be your first stop or the final destination of your trip.
For more time outdoors in Southern Virginia, explore options around John H. Kerr Reservoir, also known as Buggs Island Lake.
Consider Occoneechee State Park near Clarksville when planning an extended stay. Review current park information and choose activities that fit your interests and schedule.
Stay near Halifax or South Boston if Springfield is the focus of your getaway. The Springfield 1842 cabins offer an overnight option on the distillery property, while Berry Hill Resort provides another place to consider.
Choose Martinsville or nearby accommodations for a trip centered on Smith River Spirits and the western side of Southern Virginia.
Stay at Sandy River or around Farmville if you’re extending your trip into Central Virginia. Explore Sandy River’s lodging options when arranging your distillery experience.
Check the distance between your lodging and planned stops before booking.
Check each distillery’s current hours, tasting options and reservation requirements before setting out. Plan transportation in advance, choose a designated driver and leave plenty of time for meals and exploring.
Use the Virginia Spirits app to discover nearby distilleries and build your own trail. Whether you’re curious about a family recipe, a new style of whiskey or the story behind a bottle, start with a stop that interests you and see where it takes you.
Have you been itching to explore Southern Virginia, but not sure where to start or where to stop along the way? We’ve done the hard work for you.
Scroll for a complete list of distilleries to visit and recommendations on lodging, food and activities to enhance your stay. Your next adventure with #VaSpirits will be one to remember.
Everything we mention below is conveniently mapped out here.
Discover three unique distilleries in Southern Virginia in just one day or weekend trip!
From bourbon to barbecue sauce, Bondurant Brothers Distillery has everything for spirits lovers with an appetite for local. Bondurant Brother’s moonshine is the star here. Keeping the family legacy alive, Robert Bondurant is the grandson of one of Franklin Country’s most famous moonshiners. At Bondurant Brothers, he brings the history of distilling back to life one single batch at a time.
Enjoy the unique and pure taste of Smith River Spirits brandy from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Founders Kevin Nelson, Alan Black and Wes Mills built their distillery on a passion for small-batch distilling and winemaking with over a decade of experience. Specially selected fruits shine through every glass, which all spirits lovers can savor and appreciate.
Founded on early American tradition, Springfield Distillery prides itself on being one of Southern Virginia’s finest. Pop into their tasting room for handcrafted spirits from locally sourced ingredients and learn some of their tricks of the trade while you sip. This labor of love can’t wait to host you!
Stopping to sip at Southern Virginia distilleries works up an appetite – here are a few of our favorite local places to check out along the trail!
For a more detailed list of eateries in the Halifax area, visit here.
Don’t want to leave after just one drink at Springfield Distillery? Stay in the 1842 Cabins on the other side of the property and make it a weekend getaway!
Additional rustic stays and B&Bs:
And for a mix of boutique and luxury:
While spirits may be the main event of your Southern Virginia trip, don’t miss out on these fun adventures that will have you wanting to come back before the weekend ends. Here are a few options to extend and enhance your visit to the area:
Visit virginia.org for a full guide on “Virginia’s racing region.”
