Fresh biscuits are on the rise at Pour Baker, a new bakery from owner Cammy Lu that’s serving scratch-made Southern comfort alongside her signature “shake-and-pour” baking mixes. Stop in for buttermilk biscuits piled high with fried chicken, country ham, or bacon, egg, and cheese, then save room for pie. Choose from a classic apple slice, Grandma Shelley’s sweet potato pie, or a four-slice pie flight if decision-making is an issue. Round it out with a fresh-baked cookie, or grab one of Lu’s just-add-milk mixes (also sold at Walmart) to bring the bakery home with you. pourbaker.shop
Golden pour
The Monticello American Viticultural Area brought home 26 medals across 10 wineries at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards, including four coveted gold medals. Top honors went to Chestnut Oak Vineyard, King Family Vineyards, Pollak Vineyards, and Veritas Vineyard & Winery. Cabernet franc stole the spotlight with seven medal-winning wines, further cementing its status as the region’s signature grape.
And here at home, Hark Vineyards followed its 2026 Governor’s Cup best in show with the 2026 Monticello Cup, the region’s highest wine honor, awarded to its 2023 cabernet franc. monticellowinetrail.com
Grist twist
Just one month after announcing it would close, Murphy & Rude Malting Co. has found a path forward through a consolidation with Carolina Malt House. Founder Jeff Bloem will remain at the helm of the brand, with production moving to North Carolina. The malthouse will maintain the same commitment to regional grains, including its beloved Virginia Pils, made with 100 percent Virginia-grown barley. Even better? Brewers and distillers across the mid-Atlantic can expect more variety, better pricing, and a success story to cheer. murphyrudemalting.com
A new chef at the Mansion
Fresh off its debut to the area’s culinary scene, The Dining Room at Birdwood Mansion has welcomed a new executive chef with an impressive passport. Emanuel “Ema” Zarlenga brings more than 20 years of experience spanning Paris, Lyon, Buenos Aires, Miami, and luxury resorts throughout the world, including the Ritz Paris, three-Michelin-starred L’Arpège, and the Four Seasons Buenos Aires. A graduate of the École Ritz Escoffier, he’s known for wood-fired cooking, sustainable sourcing, and expertly aged meats. birdwoodmansion.com
Raiding the spirits vault
Eleven years after becoming Charlottesville’s first legal distillery, Spirit Lab Distilling is celebrating with a trip down memory lane and into the cellar. To mark its anniversary (and America’s 250th), SLD is releasing a rare collection of library bottles, including aged single malt whiskies, brandies, and long-forgotten one-offs pulled from the archives. Some were never widely released, others haven’t seen daylight in years, and many are one-bottle-only finds. spiritlabdistilling.com
A door closes, a window stays open
Fans of El Tako Nako don’t have to say goodbye, just follow the food truck. The beloved taco spot closed its Emmet Street restaurant on July 1, but its truck on Hydraulic Road is still rolling seven days a week, serving up the affordable tacos, quesadillas, and tortas that built its loyal following.
MORE TO CHEW ON
Through July
Pie in July. The Pie Chest is back with crab and sweet corn, and ratatouille pies all month. Free entry, times vary. Ethos Wine & Tea, 817 W. Main St. ethoswineandtea.com
Wednesday 7/15
The Clifton x King Family Wine Dinner. Beautiful food paired with top-tier wine at one of Charlottesville’s most historic venues. $175, 5pm. The Clifton, 1296 Clifton Inn Dr. the-clifton.com
Friday 7/17
Sweet Jane’s Kitchen. Serving Maryland-style crab cakes alongside music from The Wavelength and handcrafted jewelry from the Joyful Bauble Pop-Up. Free entry, 4pm. Fallen Tree Vineyard and Farm, 4593 Clark Rd., Crozet. fallentreevineyard.com
Saturday 7/18
Tea, Please! Tea Party Lunch. Enjoy a sparkling wine toast upon arrival, followed by a tea lesson and a personal tea tray filled with finger sandwiches, pastries, sweet treats, and savory bites, plus opportunities to mingle. $70, 11am. Café Frank, 317 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. cafefrankcville.com
Sunday 7/19
Blueberry Food & Wine Celebration & Summer Market. Taste blueberry wheat beer, cider, wine slushies, and more, plus a local makers’ market. Live music by Ty Burkhardt. Free entry, noon. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com
Saturday 7/25 & Sunday 7/26
Peach Jam-Boree. Orchard fun with games, activities, live music, and peach-inspired menus. Free entry, 9am. Carter Mountain Orchard, 1435 Carters Mountain Trl. chilesfamilyorchards.com
Tuesday 7/28
Tomato Tomato Fest. Celebrate Charlottesville’s tomato harvest with themed menus and items from local vendors and farms, a home gardener’s contest, a tomato art competition, and more. Free entry, 4pm. The Little Market at Lampo, 205 Monticello Rd. tomatotomatofest.com
Saturday 8/1& Sunday 8/2
Homemade Peach Ice Cream Days. The 41st annual Lions Club ice cream-making event returns during the peak of peach season. With live music. Free entry, 8am. Chiles Peach Orchard, 1351 Greenwood Rd., Crozet. chilesfamilyorchards.com
Saturday 8/8
Summer Tomato Vegetarian Wine Dinner. A vegetarian dinner where each of the four courses features fresh summer tomatoes paired with a Mount Ida Reserve wine. $80, 6pm. Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve, 5931 Blenheim Rd. mountidareserve.com
