October’s Haunted Establishments with “Spirits” Series

The Winery at La Grange – Haymarket, Virginia

It’s October and all this month we’ll be exploring haunted drinking establishments - restaurants, taverns, wineries, any place that serves spirits … and has “spirits.” 

Let’s hit the road and discover who or what it is that makes these places so dark and brooding…

Housed in an 18^th Century restored manor house, The Winery at La Grange offers elegant Virginia wines crafted in the European style. The winery opened in 2006 and has garnered several awards for its Virginia wines.

The Winery at La Grange offers 12 to 15 wines crafted from grapes grown in the estate’s eight-acre vineyard. Red wines include Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo and Benoni’s Red. The list of whites contain a Chardonnay, Cuvee Blanc, Vidal and Viognier.

 One wine, General’s Battlefield Red, is aged in oak barrels that have been made from trees cut from the Manassas Battlefield.

But besides wine, history (and hauntings) are also prevalent in this three-story hilltop mansion. The manor was built in 1790 and maintains more than a few ghosts. Staff and customers have witnessed all of the bottles on the mantle pop their corks at the same time.

Customers discuss their strange encounters with others while sipping wine at the bar – especially during the month of October. One of the regular sightings is that of former owner, Benoni E. Harrison. Harrison purchased the manor and estate in 1827 and resided here until his death in 1869. He can still be seen today, wandering the property, checking to make sure all is in order.

In honor of Mr. Harrison, the stone walled cellar, where guests can enjoy a glass of wine in an intimate setting, has been named Benoni’s Lounge.

Another inhabitant of the house is a young girl who is seen only in an upstairs bedroom.

During renovations in 2006, visitors heard piano music drifting on the evening breeze. When they went to investigate, they discovered that there was no one in the house, and no piano any where to be found. Although Benoni Harrison’s will shows that he left his "piano in the parlor" to his nephew in 1869.

Plan a trip to the Winery at La Grange and sample some wine on the patio, or in Benoni’s Lounge. Maybe you’ll be soothed by distant piano music as you catch a glimpse of Benoni making his rounds on his beloved estate.

~ Joy

Details:

The Winery at La Grange

4970 Antioch Road

Haymarket, VA

(703) 753-9360

Hours

Monday – Thursday Noon -6 p.m.

Friday – Saturday Noon – 8 p.m.

Sunday Noon – 7 p.m.