The wineries of the Monticello appellation fulfill a vision of Thomas Jefferson, whose aim was to produce exceptional quality wines like those he had tasted on his travels to Europe. Today, 500 acres of vitis vinifera vineyards surround Jefferson's historic Monticello estate. In just over two decades, the wine industry in the Charlottesville area has flourished, achieving national and international acclaim.

The City of Charlottesville lies within the borders of the Monticello Viticultural Area and has been declared "The Wine Capital of Virginia" by the City Council. Within the boundaries of this federally designated area are twenty-one farm wineries, the largest concentration of such in Virginia.

The wineries vary from the largest, producing over thirty thousand cases to smaller operations of several thousand cases. They all have their own grape plantings, although many also lease vineyards in order to increase their production.