Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, between mile marker 170 and 171, there lies a taste of Tuscany just waiting to be discovered.  Located at 752 Rock Castle Gorge Road in Floyd sits Villa Appalaccia Winery, nestled in the rolling hills near Rocky Knob. Villa Appalaccia is a beautiful, relaxing place to savor a refreshing glass of Italian style wine, as well as delicious Italian food. Complete with a bocce ball court and music garden, Villa Appalaccia features live music on Saturdays and wood-fired pizza on Sundays (May through October), making it a must visit if you’re in the area.

The winery was established over thirty years ago by Wisconsoners, Susanne Becker and Stephan Haskell. This past August, Tim and Julie Block celebrated their fifth anniversary as owners of Villa Appalaccia. Tim comes from a strong background in restaurant operations, even serving as Regional Vice President for Bloomin’ Brands, famous for Outback Steakhouse. The anniversary weekend was packed with daily live music, an outdoor movie on Friday night, barbecue buffet with all the fixins on Saturday, and wood-fired pizza on the lawn on Sunday.

This “Wine-aversary” celebration has become an annual event for each of the last five years, and Villa Appalaccia uses this opportunity to recognize and thank the community for their support.  As Villa Appalaccia straddles both Floyd and Patrick County, the owners are active members in both county Chambers of Commerce. Since last year’s Wine-aversary celebration benefitted a Floyd County charity, Plenty!, this year’s celebration will support a Patrick County charity. “The Villa,” as it’s affectionately called by patrons, presented a check for over $1,200 to Patrick County’s local chapter of Dolly’s Imagination Library, a national organization founded by Dolly Parton with the goal of providing books free of charge to children from birth to age five.

In addition to caring for the community, family is important to Tim and Julie. Manager and son-in-law, Heyward Smith, has been an invaluable addition to the team. Heyward is a perfect fit for the Villa, he loves the outdoors and lived in the mountains of North Carolina. He has been adding to the menu, and spearheading the wine club activities. The winery has a staff of a dozen or so employees who are considered extended family members. And despite the fact that they have their own careers, you may even find son, Tim, and daughter, Alicia, helping out from time to time when the Villa has special events. And goodness how those events have grown over the last five years! From hosting weddings, rehearsal dinners, business socials, brunches, and birthday parties, Villa Appalaccia Winery makes every effort to expand its services when a new idea is proposed.

Heyward established a wine club at the Villa this year. In the five months since its inception, there are already over 160 members. Along with discounts on wine, food, and merchandise, there are also some fun appreciation events for members only. By far the most popular is the six course wine pairing dinner which takes place four times per year. The seating is limited due to space constraints, so members are notified when tickets go on sale. Their last dinner sold out in under ten minutes! You can find photos and examples of past menus on their website at www.VillaAppalaccia.com/events. 

An exciting new addition is a sister property – an Airbnb called the Blue Ridge Summit. Originally built in 1968 as a bed and breakfast/Christmas tree farm, the property sat empty, for sale for years. When Tim and Julie purchased the winery, their son, Tim, and his wife, Christine, began to look for property close to the winery. They decided to buy and renovate the old farm that was for sale. Unfortunately, Tim’s work requirements meant that they had to return to Charlottesville a couple of years later. 

Instead of giving up on the property, Tim, Julie, and their kids purchased the house and turned it into a family gathering place and Airbnb. Located just five minutes by car from the winery, this home sleeps ten and at 3,500 feet elevation, it has amazing 360 degree views for miles!  Unlike any property in the Southern Appalachians, and just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Summit combines the ruggedness of the Appalachian high peaks with the luxury of a resort. The owners seriously doubt you’ll want to leave. But if you do get sick of the vistas, sunsets and sunrises…two wineries, a zipline, and the trails of Rocky Knob Recreation Area are just a mile away. The Villa generously donated a two-night stay to raffle off as part of their fifth anniversary celebration.

Over the last five years, Villa Appalaccia has seen some big changes, while remaining true to its roots. The heart of their business is still making Italian style wines, with Italian varietals from grapes grown right here in Virginia. Their focus is on great quality wines. In fact, their 2020 Sangiovese won a silver medal in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition, one of the most stringent competitions in the U.S.. The owners of Villa Appalaccia also ensure that guests have a great time, while also building community with friends and neighbors. The atmosphere at The Villa remains sophisticated, sincere, and lively. In the five years since Tim and Julie have owned Villa Appalaccia Winery, they have given back to the community in many ways, and will continue to do so. Stop by the next “Wine-aversary” event to see how Tim and Julie have made The Villa their own. 

Villa Appalaccia • Julie and Tim Block

752 Rock Castle Gorge, Floyd, VA – between mileposts 170 and 171 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  

540-593-3100 • www.VillaAppalaccia.com