Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa

The staff were really friendly, and my room was spotless. There’s plenty to do here: a pool and Jacuzzi, s’mores by the fire if you’re in the mood, plus wine tasting at a pretty affordable price for Fredericksburg. It’s a charming little getaway and feels like a hidden gem. I was a bit disappointed it wasn’t fully booked, since the place has so many options.

We’ve stayed in and around Fredericksburg plenty of times, but Carter Creek is going to be our new regular spot. The location works for us, and we love how dog-friendly the property is. After a day of live music, we could enjoy a last glass of wine on the big lawn and just walk back to our room. The grounds are beautiful, the room was tidy and well appointed, and the staff were so friendly. We also enjoyed the wine, beer, and food, especially the Brussels sprouts and pepperoni pizza. Booking directly included a complimentary wine tasting with the room, and Katie in the tasting room was fantastic. We could see that management has stepped up and is taking good care of things, so don’t let the older reviews put you off. Looking forward to staying again.

We had a great time in the tasting room, and our second try at dinner was much better: the bartender was attentive and the food was excellent. The food and drinks we got on Friday were good too, but waiting to order and then waiting for everything to arrive took ages. The restaurant looked only about 50-70% full, and our server never checked back, so we might have ordered more drinks if they had. Brunch was another miss. There was no host, so we sat at the bar. After 15 or 20 minutes, someone said a person would be with us soon, then we waited another 20 minutes and left for a place in town. The initial reception was good, but the spa felt awkward. Nobody was at reception when we arrived for our appointment; staff came in about five minutes later and apologized for running behind. We put on robes, then had to cross the courtyard in robes and spa sandals to reach the couples massage room. I don’t know if they were short staffed or if that’s normal, but the two women seemed stretched thin handling intake, services, and getting people where they needed to go. Being sent across the courtyard like that felt off putting. The room itself was decent, though water damage on the shower baseboard and grout coming out of a corner almost from floor to ceiling made it seem poorly maintained. It wasn’t dirty. The pool looked nice, but it was a little too chilly to use. There’s potential here, and the food and spirits were wonderful when we could get them, but service was so inconsistent that it’s hard to recommend right now. I’d consider trying again.

The wine tasting was a lot of fun, and the grounds were lovely, with flowers and plants all around. I also had a facial and a massage, and the spa was wonderful. I had a really nice time.