Chateau O'Brien
Chateau O'Brien
3.5
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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17 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
74 reviews
Excellent
21
Very good
21
Average
13
Poor
3
Terrible
16
SirReal616
Orange, VA60 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
My wife and I joined another couple at their request for a white wine tasting and a private red tasting with Howard, a gracious, knowledgeable, and patient owner who listens to customers with humor and enthusiasm. The whites were splendidly light yet tasteful, each with their own characters. However I have to state they offer the best reds and a champagne the likes of which I’ve never enjoyed so much!! Before anybody goes please note the location is on the side of a steep ridge and limos and buses are not allowed—that was a nice feature adding to the coziness of the whole place.
Written January 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BlueMt_13
Linden, VA27 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
The property is beautiful and the winery is one of the nicest we've visited in VA. The wine is good, but extremely over priced - tasting are ridiculously over priced. The song 'Sign' by the Five Man Electrical Band strikes me each time...warning signs everywhere regarding who's welcome and not, which group is allowed to park in what lot, etc. Each time we visit, we are made aware of the time and that you will be ushered out precisely at closing...and the owner comes at you with aggression to ensure the doors are locked not more than 1 min past - gulp the remaining wine in your glass and have a good evening! We were speaking with a nice couple who, as we do, would like to visit and enjoy the experience more often - but, we have all felt unwelcome and made to feel as if unless you own a private plane and fly in to buy massive amounts of wine (stories many of his customers have been told repeatedly about a client base that consists of the upper 1-3%), your company is not valued or welcome. Others shared a story of a milestone celebration where they called ahead to confirm and were met with resistance because of the type of vehicle their group arrived in and, although they all paid for tastings (group of 14 x $30 to taste both red & white) AND bought over $1,000 in wine, they were reminded of rules and treated rudely. The owner had no idea who this person was and had to ask questions to be reminded of the event and their name. Understanding he couldn't possibly remember every customer's name - at least fake it to make someone who felt they deserved to be remembered because of the business they bring you feel valued. They have the right to position themselves in any light they see fit and cater to whatever socioeconomic status they desire or feel they are aligned with, but a brush up course in customer service and a little compassion for the other 97% would go a LONG way!!
Written September 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DeniseReaves
Durham, NC270 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
Nothing special. The experience was diminished by the braggart owner.
Written April 24, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PMJ1971
Canberra, Australia24 contributions
Feb 2020
The wine is ok, nothing to get excited about, but most certainly WAY overpriced. You can find equal to or better not far from this place at less than half the price. Just give it a miss.
But worst of all is just how rude and obnoxious the owner is. As a person with a tax exemption, I asked the staff to apply that exemption to my intended purchase, only to be told by the staff it wasn't possible (wrong). Given I intended to make a purchase of nearly $200 for two bottles of what was overpriced anyway, I elected not to make the purchase, which of course prompted the staff to double check with the owner. What followed was a tirade of abuse, demanding that I should have given them weeks advance notice, and how this was a retail purchase anyway, so how could I expect to be tax exempt. Well Mr Obnoxious, every POS software (including yours) has a simple button to select to apply a tax exemption. Even the retailer I bought my christmas tree from in a shopping centre carpark was able to apply the exemption. The entitlement to the exemption applies to every purchase, wholesale, retail any other. Its the law!
Perhaps you should have a clue, understand your customers, (located close to the largest diplomatic residence on earth), and treat your customers with some respect. Your wine average. Your service is well below average!
But worst of all is just how rude and obnoxious the owner is. As a person with a tax exemption, I asked the staff to apply that exemption to my intended purchase, only to be told by the staff it wasn't possible (wrong). Given I intended to make a purchase of nearly $200 for two bottles of what was overpriced anyway, I elected not to make the purchase, which of course prompted the staff to double check with the owner. What followed was a tirade of abuse, demanding that I should have given them weeks advance notice, and how this was a retail purchase anyway, so how could I expect to be tax exempt. Well Mr Obnoxious, every POS software (including yours) has a simple button to select to apply a tax exemption. Even the retailer I bought my christmas tree from in a shopping centre carpark was able to apply the exemption. The entitlement to the exemption applies to every purchase, wholesale, retail any other. Its the law!
Perhaps you should have a clue, understand your customers, (located close to the largest diplomatic residence on earth), and treat your customers with some respect. Your wine average. Your service is well below average!
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stevegO5076DS
Houston, TX13 contributions
Jul 2020
we visited the winery today, we spoke to the owner and he told us we would not be allowed to visit as he was only serving wine club members. There was no notice or information posted advising such.We felt his manner was rude and condescending. In fact, when we asked about tasting or purchasing a glass of wine, we were told there wasn’t open to us.
Good luck as we will not be back due to the delusions of competency exhibited.
Good luck as we will not be back due to the delusions of competency exhibited.
Written July 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
555JenniferL
Oakmont, PA201 contributions
Dec 2014 • Friends
Took out of town family members here today. Very small tasting area so had to wait and wished we hadn't. Wine not great, not bad....not work $109/bottle. Winemaker, owner very narcisistic and egotistical, displayed little if any interest in customers, constantly self agandizing and dropping examples of his past accomplishments. He also had doused himself in aftershave or cologne so you could not detect the wine bouquet. Save yourself th $15 per red wine or $8 per white wine tasting. Many good wineries in northern VA to pick from.
Written December 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xoxlilxmissxox
Spartanburg, SC62 contributions
We stopped by this winery labor day weekend. Not sure if they had extended their hours for the holidays like some near by wineries we walked in to ask. After being told tastings were over but we were welcome to sit on the patio we left. Only to be yelled and cussed out by the owner claiming we kept leaving the door open. Dumbfounded we said we had just arrived, the owner yelled at us to get the *bleep* off his property. After this experience we will never return, or advise anyone to go there.
Written September 9, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J E
Fredericksburg, VA8,678 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
...and they charge what they feel is an appropriate price for them. Unfortunately, we don't concur. The wines we tasted were mediocre at best. Even their $100+ bottle of red was just "ok" and nothing special.
They also charge a LOT for a basic tasting, but they did offer a decent pour, enough that my wife and I split a tasting and got a couple good sips. But $15 to taste red only and $8 more to taste white only is too much when the wines are mediocre and you don't keep the glass.
From reading comments that others posted, the same issues seem to apply:
1. Pretentious
2. Signs ("Don't park here" or "no dogs" or "no one under 21")
3. Mediocre wines
4, Beautiful tasting room
We agree with everyone who posted similar and have also noticed that this is one of the VA wineries with the worst TripAdvisor ratings and rightly so.
The good - The tasting room is gorgeous! Very well built and decorated with nice copper accents throughout.
Would we go back? Only if the owner did read TripAdvisor to see what guests are saying and "fixes" the issues. There are much pricier vineryards, nearby in fact, which much higher ratings. There are also a couple wineries nearby which are much more exclusive. Those are all rated much better than this one. So, price and exclusivity aren't the reasons for the poor review.
They also charge a LOT for a basic tasting, but they did offer a decent pour, enough that my wife and I split a tasting and got a couple good sips. But $15 to taste red only and $8 more to taste white only is too much when the wines are mediocre and you don't keep the glass.
From reading comments that others posted, the same issues seem to apply:
1. Pretentious
2. Signs ("Don't park here" or "no dogs" or "no one under 21")
3. Mediocre wines
4, Beautiful tasting room
We agree with everyone who posted similar and have also noticed that this is one of the VA wineries with the worst TripAdvisor ratings and rightly so.
The good - The tasting room is gorgeous! Very well built and decorated with nice copper accents throughout.
Would we go back? Only if the owner did read TripAdvisor to see what guests are saying and "fixes" the issues. There are much pricier vineryards, nearby in fact, which much higher ratings. There are also a couple wineries nearby which are much more exclusive. Those are all rated much better than this one. So, price and exclusivity aren't the reasons for the poor review.
Written December 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joey S
Stephens City, VA17 contributions
I have neither the time or desire to recount all of the issues that my wife and I experienced at this winery.
We cut our teeth on the hospitality of numerous Virginia wineries. I suppose that the explosion of wineries has made it inevitable that there would be many upstarts that completely miss what customers expect or want from a winery.
At every turn we were disappointed. Literally, at the turn to enter the grounds there was a sign stating that persons under the age of 21 were "absolutely" not permitted. A host that couldn't be bothered enough to make sure that one of the four wines was available for us to try. The fact that the tasting room offered four wines for $15. And I am fully aware that tastes will vary but neither my wife nor I were impressed.
My opinion is that you can do better and be treated better by visiting any of the other wineries in the area.
We cut our teeth on the hospitality of numerous Virginia wineries. I suppose that the explosion of wineries has made it inevitable that there would be many upstarts that completely miss what customers expect or want from a winery.
At every turn we were disappointed. Literally, at the turn to enter the grounds there was a sign stating that persons under the age of 21 were "absolutely" not permitted. A host that couldn't be bothered enough to make sure that one of the four wines was available for us to try. The fact that the tasting room offered four wines for $15. And I am fully aware that tastes will vary but neither my wife nor I were impressed.
My opinion is that you can do better and be treated better by visiting any of the other wineries in the area.
Written March 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Veeno80
Manassas, VA5 contributions
I totally agree with all of the reviews that say the owner is a jerk (or as my husband referred to him "a pompous a$$"). We stopped by this winery on a beautiful Sunday and they were pretty busy as most VA wineries are in the fall. We waited quite awhile to find a spot at the tasting bar, and all the while had to listen to the owner talk about himself to the group he was pouring for (they were clearly kissing his rear end buying multiple bottles of his $70 tannat). I really don't mind waiting my turn for a wine tasting- it comes with the territory- but listening to him jabber on about how great he is was a bit much. Anyhow, we finally made it to the front of the line and he looked at me and my husband and said "Just so you know this is the cellar tasting and we do reserve wines only here" as if to be questioning our place in the winery food chain... I have been to at least 30 wineries in VA and even worked part time at 2... I may not look experienced in wine tasting but I am. I do it because I love wine and I love VA, and I have learned not to take yourself too seriously when wine tasting at the risk you will look like a complete tool. My hubby and I looked at each other and said "Nah, let's get out of here" which we promptly did. There are over 100 wineries in VA and plenty others to choose from. If you find yourself in the Markham or Hume area I would recommend Philip Carter Winery or Aspen Dale. I have had great experiences at both of those places!
Written October 17, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chateau O'Brien (Markham) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Chateau O'Brien
- Chateau O'Brien is open:
- Thu - Mon 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Chateau O'Brien:
- (8.22 mi) Glen Gordon Manor
- (4.31 mi) Black Dog Farm at Mount Welby
- (7.39 mi) The Ashby Inn
- (6.38 mi) The Marriott Ranch Bed and Breakfast
- (4.95 mi) The Inn at Vineyards Crossing
- Restaurants near Chateau O'Brien:
- (5.67 mi) The Apple House
- (7.39 mi) The Ashby Inn & Restaurant
- (8.89 mi) Hunter's Head Tavern
- (7.97 mi) Field & Main Restaurant
- (8.22 mi) Houndstooth Restaurant
Chateau O'Brien Information
Excellent Reviews | 21 |
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Very Good Reviews | 21 |
Chateau O'Brien Photos | 37 |