90 minutes from DC in the hamlet of Orange, Virginia is The Inn at Willow Grove, which is fast becoming one of the premier luxury properties on the east coast.
Set on 37 acres in the heart of horse and wine country, the historic 1778 Inn houses 14 “urban chic meets plantation” style accommodations and one of the region’s top restaurants, the 60-seat Vintage. Here, guests please their palates with Executive Chef Jason Daniels’ seasonal, contemporary fare delectably paired with a Wine Spectator 2013 “Award of Excellence” list that features the crème de la crème of international, domestic and local Virginia wines.
Chef Daniel’s inspiration for creating innovative and delicious cuisine came at an early age. Raised by his parents on a “hippie commune” in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Daniels grew up cooking with his grandmother, and today gives her sole credit for instilling an enthusiasm and skill for the craft. His family recalls that his passion was evident from an early age, poring over Betty Crocker cookbooks for hours.
Today, Chef Daniels describes his cuisine at Vintage as “country comfort food dressed up and brought to town.” Menu items, all locally sourced from farms within a 50 mile radius of the Inn, change according to what is fresh and available. This year’s autumn farm-to-table menu includes:
Appetizers: Crab cake, garlic corn cookie, creamed corn; Sweet tea-fried quail, preserved lemon coulis, baby spinach, pickled red onion; Sweet potato ravioli, brown butter, fried sage, vanilla cream
Entrees: Apple cider-brined and corriander-seared Atlantic salmon, celery risotto, baby spinach, mascarpone, dried apple; Seared duck breast, pepper-crusted butternut squash, sautéed rapini, vanilla bean and pecan essence; Vegetarian “State Fare” Twin Oaks tofu corndog, spaghetti squash, potato funnel cake, sautéed spinach
A sampling of award-winning wine pairings include: Virginia’s Early Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay and Barboursville’s Cabernet Franc; California’s Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, Tablas Creek’s Beau castel Blanc and Merry Edwards Pinot Noir; and internationally Australia’s The Hermit Crab Viognier, Germany’s Heinz Eifel Riesling, Italy’s Prunotto Barolo, Chile’s Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon and from France Chateau Montrose Bordeaux.
When not enjoying the dining and wines at Vintage, guests receive personalized service from a concierge butler and are welcome to enjoy the Mansion and grounds, including the Salon, the Library, and the extensive gardens featuring reflecting pools, ponds, and outdoor fire pits.
All guestrooms and cottages feature stately beds and stone-tiled bathrooms. Many of the rooms and suites also include wet-bars, gas fireplaces, large soaking tubs, king-sized beds, private sitting rooms, and serene porches. Textiles throughout the estate mix leather and suede, burlap and stripes and solids with graphics.
Museum quality art graces Vintage and the Inn’s common areas and guest accommodations. The collection was curated by Charlene Scibal, a former gallery owner, who owns the Inn with her husband David Scibal. Charlene’s personal aesthetic, a mix of Hollywood glamour, modern art, and French colonialism, is on display as a blend of classical, modern, and contemporary art.
The Smokehouse Spa is housed in the Plantation Estate’s historic smokehouse and offers a plethora of relaxing body treatments.
Nearby activities include wine tastings at local vineyards, antiquing, horseback riding, hot air ballooning, hiking, fishing, steeplechase races and tours of historic sites.
Rates range from $295 to $695 on weekends and holidays, with special rates available mid-week.
The Inn at Willow Grove is pleased to be the newest member of The Southern Living Hotel Collection) a small, curated group of independent, four-and five-star level hotels, resorts and inns that span 18 Southern states and offers the best in authentic Southern hospitality.
