While the 10-square-mile city limits of Charlottesville are fully urbanized and residential, the city serves as the heart of a rich agricultural region.
The surrounding Albemarle County is deeply rooted in agriculture, most notably viticulture. The Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) is one of the premier wine-producing regions on the East Coast, sometimes referred to as the "Napa of the East." Alongside vineyards, the region is famous for its apple and peach orchards, cideries, and small-scale organic farms.
Within the city itself, this agricultural bounty is celebrated at the Charlottesville City Market, one of the premier farmer's markets in Virginia, where local food production, artisanal cheeses, and farm-to-table culinary movements thrive.