Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard

The Tasting Room at Merrie Mill has to be seen to be believed and has often been described as a journey through the looking glass with Alice in Wonderland.

When Guy and Elizabeth Pelly came from the U.K. to Charlottesville to attend a Castle Hill wedding, the trajectory of their lives was forever changed. The London-based couple fell head over heels with the energy of the university and small city charm and instantly saw themselves in the burgeoning farm and winery scene.

“I just got this vibe about the place. We saw what other farms were doing around here and it inspired us. This is a real destination,” said Guy, who grew up on a small farm near Kent in southeast England.

The couple purchased the 413-acre Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard estate in 2018, planting and growing seven varieties of grapes on 12 acres that birthed whites, reds and a celebrated rosé. While the rare Manteo soil and nurturing sun did its job on the grapevines, Guy and Elizabeth spent years building out their fabulously unique tasting room.

Notching a name for its welcoming, playful spirit as well as delicious wine, the Tasting Room at Merrie Mill was finished in 2021 and began hosting weddings in 2023. The venue stands alone with Alice in Wonderland whimsy and guests are delighted and inspired by the wonderfully weird maximalist style and unexpected artwork.

Elizabeth collaborated closely with Jenn Grandchamp of Kemble Interiors to conceive the high-design space set around two copper bars, a lofted interior, and multiple terraces and lawns overlooking the vineyards. A wedding day reveal all of its own, the room sings with childlike wonder among a floating sea lion (a 100-year-old taxidermy transplant from Amsterdam) over the bar, a painting of Guy’s great-grandfather above the fireplace that was commissioned by famous English royalty artist Oswald Birley, Victorian-era pressed seaweed and a cabinet of eclectic curiosities set against tasteful and comfortable furnishings.

Weddings take place on Saturdays, April through November, and couples are invited to enjoy the entire property Friday evening until mid-day Sunday with lodging and/or a bridal suite included in the enchanting two-bedroom Clementine Cottage. Ceremonies of up to 200 guests take place by the grapevines on the front lawn overlooking timeless South West Mountain backdrops. Vows are succeeded by cocktail hour inside the compelling tasting room followed by dinner and dancing in the property’s grand event tent.

Couples are encouraged to personalize the reception space, treating it as a blank canvas to design with florals, décor and lighting while showcasing the engaging tasting room space in all its ready-to-entertain glory. Blissful photography scenes continue into the vineyard and against historic outbuildings that include an elegant Dutch barn and rustic white grain barn.

The Pelly’s are thrilled to welcome couples to their world of wine and wonderment.

“We’re excited about one of the most important days of your life,” Guy says. “It’s really special to us to be included in your day. Merrie Mill will become a special place to so many people.”