Drinking with a Founding Father of Virginia Wine

There’s nothing like a quick visit with friends to Gabriele Rausse Winery. It was my third visit here, but ever since the first visit I had wanted to bring a friend who has studied Italian for years. Owner and winemaker Gabriele Rausse, a longtime master of Virginia Wine, who himself estimates he has consulted with or helped planted almost 100 vineyards in Virginia, often wanders the grounds talking with customers. My friend really wants locals to practice speaking Italian with, and this was a perfect chance. The stars aligned and it was great wine and good times for all.

We met some new attendees at last week’s Out and About event, and we invited them to join us for wine and hangout time, along with some longtime friends. We showed up with some lunch and Peter Rausse showed us to a great spot with a solo stove already burning to keep us warm outside. The winery doesn’t have any inside seating, just standing room at the bar. We decided to relax and enjoy the warmth from the stove and some great wine. Peter took our orders from the menus and brought them out to us. One friend had a white flight, hubby had a red flight (which he generously shared with me) another friend and I split a bottle of 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, and our other friends split a red flight. The wine came quickly and the fun was underway.

Unfortunately they were out of the 2021 Nebbiolo Reserve. Everyone is talking about Virginia Nebbiolo right now, so I’m Nebb-curious.

From the red flight, we started with the 2023 Cabernet Dorsa. The wine was pleasant with some earthy fruit. While overall this wine wasn’t my style, one of the couples we came with ended up ordering and enjoying a bottle. Next was the jammy and fruit forward 2023 Cabernet Franc. It was very young and fruity, and I really enjoyed this one – and one of our friends took a bottle home with him. The third tasting was the 2022 Tannat. This was, as expected, earthy and serious – this is not at all hubby’s style, but I enjoyed it. From the tasting flight, the 2022 Merlot Reserve really wowed me. Pleasant fruit with low tannin, this wine is a serious sipper that will pair well with anything.

I also adored the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – this is a lovely, fruit-forward wine, and so easy to enjoy with friends and conversation. While it’s very young and fresh, it’s a wine with which you should take your time. Light tannins, pleasant and smooth, this wine drinks easy.

Gabriele himself also came by and did converse with my friend in Italian. My friend lights up when he gets to use his Italian, and Gabriele was enjoying himself too. I got to talk a little with him about the winery, which he started in 1997, and got grapes (from vines he planted!) from the winery that eventually became Blenheim. When Blenheim reclaimed the vines after Dave Matthews purchased it, he lost access to them and in order to keep his ABC license, he had to plant grapes, and he planted Nebbiolo on the winery property to comply. He now has leased vineyards in Albemarle, Rockingham, and elsewhere to supply the winery.

This winery is so relaxed and fun – we greeted two winery dogs that wandered past and just sat and talked. Despite being cool, plenty of visitors came to the winery. I ended up taking home the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2022 Merlot Reserve. Our friends all took wine home too.

I hope you’ll visit Gabriele Rausse winery. I’m trying to plan for Out and About to visit, and how to get back when the next Nebbiolo release happens. Gabriele didn’t share when that would happen, but I can’t wait. The wine is really good and the winery is a perfect spot for some forest-bathing.