Veritas Vineyard & Winery

The name Veritas derives from the Roman historian Pliny the Elder’s observation “In Vino Veritas” or “In Wine There is Truth.” When Andrew and Patricia Hodson bought Saddleback Farm in 1999, they decided to grow their truth, planting grapes and instilling their shared love of wine into the bountiful land.

In 2001, their first vintage was ready for production and the couple saw great success as they joined the Virginia winemaking community. The simple horse and cattle farm continued to expand, hosting its first wedding — an intimate celebration for a close friend of the family — and launching into the Charlottesville hospitality scene.

Since then, Patricia and Andrew have worked tirelessly to expand on their vision, bringing Veritas into the world of events and perfecting fine hospitality at the Farmhouse. Veritas has grown into a 20-year-old winemaking trailblazer and family business with all three of  Andrew and Patricia’s children running the beloved destination.

Couples are drawn to the stunning alfresco ceremony lawn showcasing cascading mountains and panoramic vineyard views, the enchanting Saddleback Hall grand ballroom, the rustic welcoming tasting room with mezzanine loft, and the graceful tented wooden deck overlooking the manicured lawn and vineyards.

Welcome reception to send-off brunch, Veritas has earned a reputation as a full-service Charlottesville wedding destination. Custom wedding and services packages ensure exclusive use of the grounds and include a long list of décor and design elements.

“There isn’t much that isn’t included. White ceremony chairs, aged barrels, linens, plates, lighting — it’s all here,” says Veritas marketing manager Lindsey Navin.

The private, highly sought-after wedding venue operates with seamless stress-free hospitality thanks to dedicated staff whose years of experience shines through during the wedding planning process and continues on through the last dance.

An exclusive in-house Charlottesville wedding catering team creates sophisticated menus that usher in fresh regional ingredients and gift guests an unforgettable culinary experience. Design a menu to cherish, beginning with passed hors d’oeuvres of apple glazed Virginia ham biscuits and lamb polpette. Customize an artisan cheese board and serve the most beautiful farm-picked salads. Guests select their favorites from seared scallops to herbs de Provence chicken to perfectly prepared steak paired with range of complex, elegant Veritas wines.

Navin has seen couples personalize their Veritas wedding experience by creating a forested greenhouse aesthetic on the tented brick patio, placing a white adult bouncy house on the ceremony lawn, and planning romantic photo shoots in the cozy, secluded wine cellar.

At the end of the night, couples and their closest friends and family retreat to the six-bedroom Farmhouse for luxury accommodations steeped in Southern hospitality. The award-winning wine country hotel is cherished for its tranquil on-property location and gourmet breakfast.

One of the original wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail, Veritas’ family-run vineyard and signature welcoming warmth is a gift couples return to year after anniversary year.