What's New in Charlottesville and Albemarle County in 2022

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB) is excited to welcome several new additions to the area’s robust tourism portfolio. Highlights of what’s new for 2022 in Charlottesville and Albemarle County include the following:

• Keswick Hall – NOW OPEN
-Keswick Hall, located minutes from downtown Charlottesville in the pastoral countryside of Albemarle County, officially reopened in October 2021 after a multi-year transformative remodeling and expansion process. The results of these renovations include additional guest rooms and suites, reimagined resort grounds, and a new spa and wellness center, which will open at a later date. The resort has partnered with world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who will serve up his finest culinary offerings at Marigold by Jean-Georges, the new on-site restaurant. Marigold sources ingredients from local, family owned food suppliers in addition to implementing sustainable practices in its operations.

• Monticello Wine Trail Digital Passport
The CACVB launched a digital passport in partnership with the Monticello Wine Trail in October 2021 to highlight the accessibility and approachability of the destination’s award-winning wineries. The digital passport allows visitors to check in at participating wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail to receive a complimentary wine glass after completing their tenth check in. This gamified approach creates excitement about the passport and encourages repeat visitation to Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Nearly all of the 40 wineries along the Monticello Wine Trail are currently participating in this new initiative and the passport has already received more than 750 downloads.

• New Wineries
- Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard opened in summer 2021 and features a 5,000 square foot tasting room with eclectic antique furnishings, personal artwork and antique taxidermy.
- Hazy Mountain Vineyard & Brewery opened in summer 2021. Nestled against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, visitors can enjoy wine and craft beer in a tasting room inspired by the south of France.
- Chiswell Farm & Winery opened in fall 2021 and is located in a historic Jeffersonian estate in the Albemarle County countryside. This newest area winery is owned and operated by Chiles Family Orchards.

• New Culinary Offerings
- Multiverse Kitchens opened its doors in summer 2021 as a digital food hall, located near downtown Charlottesville. Featuring seven different restaurant concepts under one roof, ingredients are locally sourced and recipes are designed to travel well, ideal for curbside pick-up and delivery orders. Multiverse Kitchens was founded by University of Virginia graduate and local chef/restaurateur Harrison Keevil.
- Siren opened in winter 2021, one block from Charlottesville’s historic pedestrian Downtown Mall. Featuring Mediterranean-inspired fare with a seafood focus, Siren is operated by chef Laura Fonner, who was a winner of The Food Network’s show Guy’s Grocery Games.
- Ralph Sampson’s American Tap Room is slated to open at Barracks Road Shopping Center in the near future. Ralph Sampson is a former University of Virginia basketball player who achieved legendary status during his time on the team in the 1980s. Sampson’s new restaurant will offer guests local beers and eats in an upscale sports bar environment.

• Expansion of The Looking Glass at IX Art Park
Virginia’s first immersive art exhibit, The Looking Glass, has expanded. Located at the IX Art Park in downtown Charlottesville, The Looking Glass doubled in size in late summer 2021 to include more than 6,000 square feet of immersive art experiences. The Looking Glass is a collaboration between more than a dozen local artists and combines sights, sounds and interactive technology to create a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors to explore.

Continue to check our newly redesigned website throughout the year for the latest offerings from Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

About the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB) welcomes thousands of visitors to the region each year from all over the world who are seeking a variety of unique experiences in history, food, wine, spirits and adventure. The CACVB serves as the global resource for marketing the tourism assets of the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle, and assists tour operators, meeting planners, and other groups in planning visits to the destination. The CACVB’s mission is to enhance the economic prosperity of the people of the City and County by promoting, selling and marketing the area as a destination, in pursuit of the meetings and tourism markets.

###