10 Vineyards Outside of California Where You Can Get Married

Vineyard weddings are often destination ones. Couples and their guests board planes and travel to California for the most picturesque locales and wine-centered celebrations. However, budget or logistical constraints can thwart a couple's plan to wed in Napa or Sonoma counties. Before abandoning the dream of throwing a soiree amid a verdant estate, consider booking one of these U.S. wineries located outside of the Golden State.

Hosting more than 200 weddings annually since 1924 with guest counts as high as 450, the Biltmore Company in Asheville, North Carolina, boasts planning expertise rivaled only by its 8,000 acres of jaw-dropping scenery and stately venues.

Operations: Vineyard and winery

Best-selling wine: Biltmore Limited Release Chenin Blanc

Wedding season: Year-round

Lodging: On-property options with hotels within five miles

Venues: Antler Hill Barn, Biltmore Gardens, Champagne Cellar, Conservatory, Deerpark Restaurant, Lioncrest, Diana, and the Inn on Biltmore Estate

Maximum guest count: 450

Good to know: The entire property cannot be rented out.

The Roman-based credo of Veritas Vineyards -- "in vino veritas" -- means "In wine there is truth." And what better way to celebrate your commitment to marriage than to toast with a glass full of one of this property's truth-telling selections? Throw a tented celebration in Afton, Virginia, in full view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and carry wine through the final course by pairing the Kenmar or Othello dessert selections with your wedding cake.

Operations: Vineyard and winery

Best-selling wine: Viognier

Wedding season: Year-round

Seasonal wine recommendations: Vintner's Reserve and the Harlequin Chardonnay (winter); Viognier and Merlot (spring); Rosé (summer); Cabernet Franc and the Saddleback Chardonnay (fall)

Lodging: On-site B&B, "The Farm," which sleeps 12, with other options 30 miles away in Charlottesville and Waynesboro

Venues: The tasting room, the deck, the mezzanine, the bridal suite, the lawn, the ballroom, and Saddleback Hall

Maximum guest count: 250

Good to know: A couple rents out the entire property and can choose anywhere on the grounds for the ceremony location.

Located in the heart of apple country in Massachusetts, Nashoba Valley Winery uses the native fruit to brew cordials, whiskey, and every sip in between. The winery sits on a hilltop orchard and overlooks the church steeple in the town of Bolton, making a hillside exchange of "I do's" only natural, rather than something better left to the movies. 

Operations: Vineyard, winery, orchard, distillery, and microbrewery

Best-selling wine: Cranberry Apple

Wedding season: June – October for outdoor daytime weddings; year-round for indoor evening celebrations

Seasonal wine recommendations: Renaissance (winter); Vignoles (spring); Strawberry Rhubarb (summer); Cranberry Apple (fall)

Lodging: No on-property options, but hotels are within five miles

Venues: Pavilion, J's Restaurant, a gazebo on the orchard grounds, or on a hillside of the couple's choice

Maximum guest count: 160 for outdoor celebrations and 60 for indoor ones

Good to know: The entire property cannot be rented out.

Flag Hill Winery and Distillery may be New Hampshire's largest commercial vineyard, but don't overlook its other spirits distilled on site, like the spiced rum, which demands Coke and an ice cube. Bonus: Flag Hill's outdoor reception quote is all-inclusive, meaning tables, chairs, linens, custom-built bathrooms, and more are part of the rate.

Operations: Vineyard, winery, and distillery

Best-selling wine: Cayuga White

Wedding season: February – December for indoor celebrations; May – October for outdoor ones

Seasonal wine recommendations: Marechal Foch and Vignoles (winter); Flag Hill Red and Flag Hill White (spring); De Chaunac and Cayuga White (summer); Apple Cranberry Fruit Wine (fall)

Lodging: No on-property options, but hotels in Durham are within eight miles

Venues: Tented ceremony or reception, vineyard ceremony, indoor distillery ceremony, and the post and beam dining room

Maximum guest count: 235 for outdoor celebrations and 85 for indoor ones

Good to know: Ceremonies must be booked in conjunction with a reception, and couples can pay to rent out the entire property.

Since 1970, the team at Ponzi Vineyards in Sherwood, Oregon, has stayed committed to crafting menus that showcase great food and even better wine. The marriage of the two is at the heart of every Ponzi celebration, as the venue collaborates with the couple on cuisine from conception to the final dessert plating.

Operations: Vineyard and winery

Best-selling wines: 2011 Ponzi Pinot Noir and 2013 Ponzi Pinot Gris

Wedding season: June – September

Seasonal wine recommendations: 2011 Ponzi Aurora Pinot Noir & 2011 Ponzi Aurora Chardonnay (winter); 2013 Ponzi Arneis & 2012 Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir (spring); 2013 Ponzi Pinot Gris, 2013 Ponzi Pinot Noir Rosé, and 2011 Ponzi Pinot Noir (summer); 2011 Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve & 2012 Ponzi Chardonnay Reserve (fall)

Lodging: No on-property options, but hotels and spas are within a 10-minute drive

Venues: Modern tasting room and an outdoor plaza, or the Vineyard Home at Ponzi Vineyards historic estate located in Beaverton

Maximum guest count: 250

Good to know: Couples can rent out the entire property, but the location accepts only 12 weddings yearly, with August being its most popular month to book. Inclusive rental packages are available and can encompass setup, service, catering, and cleanup.

Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery in Dahlonega, Georgia, may be more than 2,500 miles from California wine country, but its "Napa-style" wine tours and tastings will have your guests convinced they're in the state known for its grapes, rather than the one associated with peaches. The 10,000-square-foot cellar is the gem of the property, hidden belowground by a craftsman-style cottage that sits on the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

Operations: Vineyard and winery

Best-selling wines: Blanc de Blancs Brut and Instinct

Wedding season: February – December

Seasonal wine recommendations: Coupage and Instinct (winter); Chanteloup and Howling Wolf Red (spring and fall); Plenitude and Sunset Rosé (summer)

Lodging: No on-property options, but B&Bs and cabins are within eight miles

Venues: Vineyard pavilion (ceremony), winery (reception), and Sparkling Wine Cellar (rehearsal dinner)

Maximum guest count: 200

Good to know: The property closes to the public during every wedding.

The 28 acres of King Family Vineyards in Crozet, Virginia, rest in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The grape vines and planting practices of not meddling with the fruit's natural growth are French-inspired. This laissez-faire atmosphere makes way for unconventional vineyard pastimes, like Sunday polo matches. Sip a glass of the property's Merlot-based rosé (fittingly called "Crosé," in a nod to its location), and fill your bar with your favorite bottles. After all, King ships to 11 states.

Operations: Vineyard and winery

Best-selling wine: Meritage

Wedding season: Year-round

Lodging: No on-property options, but hotels and B&Bs are a 15-minute drive away in Charlottesville

Venues: The Carriage House, North Gallery, and Tasting Room

Maximum guest count: 200

Good to know: Weddings are held exclusively in the evenings when the property is closed to the public. 

Part of Texas Hill Country, Becker Vineyards in Stonewall draws in crowds and couples because of its manicured grounds and varied venues, from intimate cellar receptions to grand outdoor celebrations. If you're a spring bride, plan to capture the property's blooming lavender fields, and no matter the season, take a portrait with a glowing southern sunset as your backdrop.
 
Operations: Vineyard and winery

Best-selling wine: Viognier

Wedding season: Year-round

Seasonal wine recommendations: White Wing, Provencal, and Reserve Chardonnay (spring and summer); Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Raven, and Tempranillo (Fall)

Lodging: No on-property options, but hotels are 11 miles away in Fredericksburg

Venues: Lavender Haus Reception Hall (ceremony or reception), Wedding Tree (ceremony), Barrel Chai (reception), and Library (reception)

Maximum guest count: 250 for outdoor weddings and 100 for indoor ones

Good to know: The ideal guest count for a wedding at Becker is 120 to 150. Most ceremonies are outdoors, even in the winter months, because indoor seating is limited. Couples cannot rent out the entire property, so book weddings at 6pm or later, when the property is already closed to the public.

Three Rivers Winery is a quiet oasis hidden in Walla Walla in Washington wine country. You'll find its rustic property, surrounded by the Blue Mountains, not only inviting but also relaxing. Guests –- whether wine connoisseurs or novice tasters –- are sure to find a sip that pleases their palates because the property sources grapes from vineyards across the state. Pack your wedding-weekend itinerary with three-hole golf, a cheese pâté cooking class, or outdoor movie showings -– all of which are regular happenings at Three Rivers.

Operations: Vineyard and winery

Best-selling wine: Columbia Valley Malbec and Columbia Valley Chardonnay

Wedding season: Year-round

Seasonal wine recommendations: Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling (winter); Steel Chardonnay and Malbec (spring); Estate Cabernet Franc Rose and Walla Walla Syrah (summer); Svelte and Chardonnay (fall)

Lodging: No on-property options, but hotels are within six miles

Venues: Bordeaux Room, Outdoor Deck, Lawn, Tasting Room, and Golf Course

Maximum guest count: 250

Good to know: Couples can rent out the entire property.

If you're seeking an idyllic vineyard wedding -– one that's alfresco and decidedly European -– look no further than Alcantra Vineyards and Winery in Cottonwood, Arizona. Its open-air Tuscan-themed chapel overlooks the confluence of the Verde River and Oak Creek, while its farmhouse lawn (popular for receptions) twinkles from the bistro lights hanging overhead between the trees and decorative lampposts. 

Operations: Vineyard and winery

Best-selling wine: Confluence

Wedding season: Year-round

Seasonal wine recommendations: Confluence and Sauvignon Blanc (winter); Grand Rouge and Pinot Grigio (spring); Zinfandel and Viognier (summer); Merlot and Mesa Blanca (fall)

Lodging: No on-property options, but hotels are 10 miles away in Cottonwood and 30 miles away in Sedona

Venues: Chapel and farmhouse lawn

Good to know: Couples can rent out the entire property.