Stopped by Chester Gap Cellars for a glass of wine with my husband after a hike in Shenandoah. I tried the Lighter Side of Red and found it to be an easy to drink dry red wine. Service was friendly and the view was outstanding. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options! read more

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Beautiful grounds and friendly service. Lots of seating options to take in the views while sampling wine. I wanted to love Chester Gap in total, but the wines weren't quite there for us. Of the 5 in my flight, the rosé was my favorite. We all chose the standard flight. Still, lovely ambiance - worth a try. read more

Chester Gap Cellars - Fall wine tasting - Wineries Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

On our way to Central VA/Monticello wine trail we decided to drive through Front Royal and check out a few spots. Chester Gap Cellars has beautiful grounds with gorgeous views! There is cozy indoor seating, a patio with umbrellas and lots of grassy area to enjoy your wine and the views. Wines were nice. Subtle flavors. The red blends were interesting. They offer flights, glasses, and bottles. Shout out to Evan who helped us in the tasting room He was personable and very knowledgeable about the wines and the vineyard. He also gave us suggestions of other spots to try in the area What we tasted (descriptions are from the winery tasting note sheets) White Flight: *Viognier '21 - A purist's example of Viognier. Fermented in stainless steel to allow for only the grape's expression to dominate. *Viognier Reserve '20- Aged in French Oak to smooth and soften this otherwise vibrant white. This is a great comparison to the first Viognier on this flight, taste the Oak influence in this glass vs. the stainless steel earlier. *Roussanne '21- A French Rhone varietal, full of fruit but no residual sugar. Aged in stainless steel to highlight its naturally crisp flavor. *Petit Manseng '20- A full bodied white, slightly sweet (1% residual sugar) aged in stainless steel. *Rose '23 - Beautiful and light in color yet full of flavor. 2023 rose is a blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 20% Petit Verdot. Red Flight: ‣ Lighter Side of Red '22 - A lighter red with a full-bodied flavor, Blend of Cabernet Franc and Grenache for a peppery aroma and flavor without overpowering tannins. ‣ Merlot '21 - Estate grown and aged in French Oak, this is always a favorite . It has just a hint of Petit Verdot for added color and to further express the strong Merlot tannins. ‣ Hillside Red 22 - They experiment with their Hillside Red line using grapes they are thinking about planting in the vineyard. This is a blend of estate grown Merlot and a newcomer to the cellar, Tempranillo. Big, juicy and full bodied. ‣ Petit Verdot '22 - Estate grown and aged in a combination of new and neutral French Oak barrels for a smooth, rich and delicious flavor profile. This is a big, bold red! ‣ Vintner's Red '21 - Expressing the true character of the vineyard. All estate grown 60% Cab Franc, 20% Petit Verdot, 20% Merlot aged in French Oak. My rating rationale for beer, wine, or spirits: +1 Service +1 Atmosphere/Vibe +.5 Taste/Quality (Flavor, aroma, and overall quality of the beverage) +1 Presentation (Glassware, garnishes, and visual appeal of the drinks) +1 Selection/Variety (Range of beer, wine, or spirit options and uniqueness of offerings) read more

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Fabulous in every way. Extremely attentive service by Jeff, the views are absolutely stunning, breathtaking and spectacular, and the wines, especially if you purchase a flight provide so much variety and depth. You can really appreciate the minerality and climate here. We purchased a red, a white, and a rosé. There were so many choices and we wish we could've come home with much more but this just means we'll need to make a return visit soon. Absolutely worth the drive from DC and from anywhere. You will feel cared for and appreciated here and it's wonderful to support a small winemaker who also creates a welcoming environment! read more

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I've visited Chester Gap Cellars twice - once in July and again in September. Each time, the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable about the wines. The quality of the wines were better than I expected for a Virginia winery. I particularly enjoyed the Rose and the Vintner's Red and bought a case to take home and share with friends, who also enjoyed the wines. The views from the tasting room and deck are simply beautiful. There was a food truck on-site during my recent visit and the winery sells/serves Charcuterie boards and other light bites to go along with the wine flight/tasting, wine by the glass, or bottle you purchase to enjoy while taking in the view. I look forward to returning and bringing friends with me. read more

Chester Gap Cellars - View from tasting room deck. - Wineries Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Amazing and breathtaking view! We both tried the wine flights and enjoyed them outside overlooking this amazing view! I can't wait to go here with my family when they visit me. Next time I'll try a wine slushie! My favorite wine was the lighter side of red. The service was fast and friendly. I can't get over how serene and remote the venue is. Another thing to mention is that they had a food truck as well on the Saturday when we went! read more

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Beautiful views, amazing staff, and great wine- Chester gap has it all! Loved our time at Chester gap with the beautiful scenic views of the mountains. The wine has good and affordable- I'd go with the wine flight as a great way to try all their offerings. They don't have a large food menu, mainly cheese boards and artisanal breads, but there was a food truck outside when we visited. We ordered the flight, frozen white wine, cheeseboard and stuffed cheese bread. My favorite from the flight was the rose, it was perfectly crisp and paired so well with the cheese and bread. The frozen wine is a great option if you like sweet drinks. This is a perfect place to relax, hang out with friends and enjoy the views. read more

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Went here on a beautiful fall day and the views are amazing. Wine selection is good and staff are extremely helpful and nice. The choice of food is limited but they did have an excellent food truck. It is also okay to bring you own food so that is a plus. This place is also dog friendly which is very nice. It is very hilly and the stone seating areas can be a bit tricky but the views are worth everything while you sip a glass of wine. I would recommend stopping in for a nice glass of wine and relax with the fabulous views. read more

Was there after COVID and business was slow so my Son and his Girlfriend and I got lots of a warm reception from the Female Proprietor. The wine was excellent and the food was minimal but tasty. The ambiance was great, inside and out. Beautiful property! read more

best winery in front royal!! I live just minutes from this place and this has been my second time here. The wine for the prices are reasonable and very nice people who work there. I got a bottle of Riesling and their charcuterie board. So refreshing and just the perfect amount of food on a wonderfully sunny day. The pastrami was definitely the best part! Also, amazing views. Took my boyfriend's family here to see and they were breathtaken as well. overall, definitely come here to check out the amazing views while treating yourself to some wine! read more

Chester Gap Cellars - Wineries Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

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Highly recommend! Kind hostess, great drinks, and amazing views. We all ordered the frozen white wines and loved it! The wonderful scenery and overlook added so much. When we went, there was a food truck there with very yummy salad and sandwiches. The winery also sells cheese and meat boards and stuffed artisanal breads (that smell like pizza)! read more

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I love the views and ambiance here at Chester Gap Cellars. The service is good and are currently only doing flights, glasses or bottles sales. The wines were decent but would definitely go back again because of the views. read more

I visited this place with some friends this past weekend. I found them online and decided to visit their website. I loved that they mentioned on the site "All are Welcome" "We are proud to celebrate the diversity of all of our guest. No matter your gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability or sexual orientation, we welcome you to our tasting room and vineyard. Celebrate what makes you unique now and always." I absolutely loved that they were inclusive and this is what makes a great business. Not to mention, service was great, the views were amazing and the wine was delicious. What more can you ask for? I would definitely visit this place again. We did the wine flights so we got a taste of 5 wines. There was a sweet wine that I really enjoyed that kinda had a tootsie roll taste to it. The rose' was a close second for me. Well done. read more

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Delightful! My husband and I took our two dogs and could not have felt more welcomed. The tasting area inside was warm and cozy with spectacular views out across the valley. There were comfy places to sit inside and a lovely deck area outside as well. Down below the deck on the hillside, there were several fire pits with chairs around them so plenty of seating. We had sandwiches from the food truck that was there - a deli sandwich kind of place - and both the caprese and California turkey sandwiches were gorgeous and delicious. We also took the hiking route from the tasting room to the waterfall. Very pretty and a perfect distance to work up a little appetite before we dug into our sandwiches and relaxed with a couple of glasses of one of their reds. We will be return visitors for sure! read more

We've been here a few times and have always enjoyed ourselves. They don't have an extensive wine list, but their wines are enjoyable and the staff is always friendly. As others have stated, the views are incredible. It is a small winery, but they are currently making improvements. One that has already been completed is the drive into the winery. They have widened it, so it is a bit easier to get there. I believe they are making more parking as well. Now onto the wines. When we went there they had 5 wines to try. I do want to point out that I prefer red wines, so I'm not one to talk alot about any whites. Roussanne '19 - It was a nice crisp white wine. Chardonnay '19 - It is oak barrel aged for 16 months, but keeps a clean crisp taste, not a buttery taste as a lot of barrel aged wines Rose '22 - Nice light rose. Lighter Side of Red '21 - This is a blend of Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. I generally really like blends such as these, and this one wasn't bad, it just didn't make me go wow. Cabernet Franc - This was a non-vintage with a blend of 2019, 2020, and 2021. It seemed a little light, or not as strong or peppery as some Cab Francs I enjoy. Come out and check them out. They have some seating inside, some seating on the deck and additional seating out on the lawn. The views are incredible from both the deck and the lawn. We will definitely be coming back. read more

This winery was recommended to us by another couple at a wine tasting at Luray caverns (who had awful wine and did the tasting outside in the bitter cold). The couple said that Chesters Gap was wayyyy better so we looked them up. I totally agree .. much better experience.. highly recommend. wine was not cheap but reasonable. All the wine was good. the view is lovely but it was cold and rainy that day .. so too foggy to see the view. read more

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Chester's gap is a nice spot to hang out and catch amazing views of the mountains. Chelsea is very kind and hospitable. read more

Chester Gap Cellars - View from Chester gap - Wineries Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Incredible service and atmosphere. Truly warm and inviting reception from the owner. Also superb service from staff.

The wine was worse than the venue. Don't waste your time. Sad little place without shade or ambience. Literally any other winery would be better. read more

Amazing wine and amazing views. Extremely nice people. What a great place to come and relax. Take a nice stroll around the property with a fantastic glass of wine and snacks. This is a destination place. read more

Chester Gap Cellars - View from winery. - Wineries Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Great view and really good wine. I was presently surprised by how good Virginia wine can get. The bottle we bought was on the high side at 40 dollars but to support the Vinyard I was very happy to do so and really happy with how good it was. read more

Beautiful scenery and plenty of places to sit and enjoy! We had mulled wine, wine flight, cheese, salami and crackers and it was all good! Staff was very friendly! Our pup loved it too! read more

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Intimate winery, friendly staff, best spacious sitting, wine tours, expansive mountain views, charcuterie available. Had a wonderful time. read more

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So in love with this winery! We went to two other wineries in the area and this place definitely has the best view of the surrounding mountain/hills! It has the easiest access for dogs since their seatings are mostly outdoor and you did not have to pass the main bar to access the patio. The wine selection is pretty good too. Their 2016 Cabernet Franc was very smooth. A glass of wine here (and also tasting) is $8 -- relatively cheaper to LWW or Qvmont. I mean with that gorgeous view -- it's super worth it! The employees are also very friendly and they seemed genuinely interested in talking to their customers. Definitely my favorite VA winery so far! read more

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Wonderful reason to drive an hour. The wine is very good, the people are really nice, and the views are spectacular. Enjoyed the Petit Manseng and Frozen Rose (Sue me, i was hot). Looking forward to a return visit in the fall. read more

Chester Gap Cellars - View from Chester Gap Cellars - Wineries Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

This is our go-to day trip destination. A one-hour drive from DC, it's The perfect spot for friends, family, and romance. Super dog and kid friendly. Amazing views and fabulous wine. The owners and staff are attentive, professional, and after many visits it almost feels like home. Can't say enough about the place! read more

Chester Gap has a tiny tasting room but it's well worth the trip, both for the wine and the view. Built along a steep slope, its 7 acres must get a lot of drainage. At 1,200 cases/year, their wines are all estate. One thing I really appreciate is how this place focuses on dry wines; given so many places are catering to the sweet wine/party crowd, this place is doing it right. Even more impressively, its wine cellar still has a lot of wines from years 2012 and 2013, which is impressive given many Virginia wineries are pushing out wines that are 2015s already. What I tried: 2013 Viognier Reserve: Strong nose, honeysuckle and butterscotch notes. Aged 24 months. 2012 Viognier "Boisseau": The one exception to the 100% estate rule, I'll give it a pass because it comes from one of Jim Law's vineyards. Softer, but actually I didn't like it as much. 2013 Roussanne: A rare French grape; apricot notes but I didn't like it all that much. 2013 Merlot: Nice tannins but not soft enough for me. Why can't I love VA Merlots more?!?! But aged 32 months. 2013 Cab Franc: Felt very 'big'. I swirled my glass around and saw it has huge legs. Aged 33 months (!!!) so it didn't have the standard Virginia pepperiness. 2012 Vintners Reserve: 2/3 Cab Franc 1/3 Petit Verdot. I didn't get the barrel time but it must have been a while since it was a nice balance of bold and smooth. 2013 Cuvee Manseng: Desert type wine but not sweet; enjoyed it. read more

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The views are gorgeous! The staff is friendly! The guests the day we went, were so kind and welcoming as well. We had a glass of wine, charcuterie plate, and each did a five wine tasting. The owners came and said hello, and stayed to talk to us for a bit; we loved that personal touch. We also heard there is an AirBnB at the entrance to the property, and I would SO check that out next time I'm here. read more

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A group of 3 of us visited Chester Gap Cellars one afternoon a couple of weekends ago for a wine tasting and to relax. We were the only customers in the place - it was one of the first sunny, warm, beautiful afternoons in a very long time. I'm guessing a lot of people were going outside to enjoy the warmth and not run out to visit places - hence the quietness of the winery. First, the view off the back deck is spectacular! It looks off into a wooded, remote valley. I'd love to see what this looks like in the Autumn when the leaves are turning various colors! As for the wines, the wines were decent and show promise. None of them wowed me, but overall I enjoyed the tasting and the visit. The Wines 2013 Viognier 2012 Viognier "Boisseau" 2012 Rousanne 2012 Merlot 2012 Cabernet Franc 2012 Vintner's Red 2012 Petit Manseng After the tasting, we each selected a glass of wine and went out on the deck to enjoy the company, the view, the wine, and the sunshine! We had brought some food (salami, cheese, grapes, etc, to snack on.) The one thing I will ding them on is the individual who poured during our tasting. He was not very friendly or talkative. I felt like we really had to work hard to get him to say much of anything about the wine. We enjoy hearing about the wine and the wine making process, the challenges faced in making that particular vintage of wine, and so on. read more

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Sign and website say they close at 6, but they really close at 530 (last pour at 530). Disappointed as we made a detour to stop and taste (and buy) on our way home from vacation, but got there at 550 and couldn't be served. We knew we were cutting it close but were looking forward to adding another Virginia winery to our list of those we've tried. Just wish their signs and site were more clear. read more

We had the perfect day yesterday at Chester Gap Cellars. Chelsea greeted us upon arrival, made sure we had a beautiful place to sit and took our order for wine. If you love a smooth, rich and flavorful red wine be sure to grab a glass of their Petit Verdot! It will not disappoint...neither will the view. We will be back soon read more

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To start the road is not Corvette friendly. Pulling up to the winery the view is spectacular. Talking to some of the pourers they sell about 1500 cases per year and most of their wine is estate grown. They have a roussanne that only about 2 other wineries make in Virginia. It has a unique taste. My favorite is their Cabernet Franc. It's a great place to visit... read more

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The views are amazing and right off the main road near the skyline! The mulled hot wine is absolutely amazing. Beautiful views. They need better crackers for their Charcuterie board. Pita crackers or some ritz would be great whatever they had was awful. read more

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My Father and I went today and were blown away coming down the driveway. What an incredible view, and it gets better when you get out of your car and see where the Adirondack chairs are. The owner greeted us and spent a good bit of time answering our questions and showing us around. Really really cool place and we are definitely going to come back in the Spring and enjoy the view and a glass of wine. They have a very unique microclimate owing to their elevation and the layout of their vineyard and I'm psyched to open the next bottle of their wine. They have very sensible COVID policies and everything was well thought out. We bought a bottle of Viognier and a bottle of Petit Verdot, both of which will be on the table for Thanksgiving in a few days. Definitely check it out if you are in the area, you wont be disappointed! read more

Randomly stopped in on Friday April 21, 2023 with my wife after hiking. The views are exceptional and they match the wine. The reason for this review is to share the experience - the "I feel like I am a member of the family" experience. I felt like every guest that walked in was a good friend or relative. The charming woman behind the bar (sorry, I don't remember her name :-( ) was genuinely interested in everyone and while she educated me on their wines she made me feel connected as though I was a friend of the owner. In short, great wine, great people, great views - check them out. The only bad thing I can say is I live too far away to be a regular, but the next time I am hiking in that area I will be making a stop at Chester Gap Cellars. read more

While the wines here are okay/good it was the views that really made our group's time here so spectacular. The one wine we did love was not ready to be sold yet as they were waiting of the labels for the bottles. I would definitely go back for that Cab Franc. The views at Chester Gap are breathtaking. I can't imagine a more picturesque porch to sit and drink wine on with friends. Staff/Owners are very friendly as well which is a plus. It's good to see owners so involved with the day to day operations. read more

Small charming winery w nice wines and great Mountain View's. Tasting room is very small but charming. Staff (chelsea) was attentive and pleasant. We were impressed w the $20 charcuterie board that was pretty robust for the cost. We most enjoyed the Rose and the Lighter Red. read more

We came back for another tasting since we were again visiting our family. Too bad we missed the peak leaves because the view is just as gorgeous as can be imagined. Bought all the Viogner varietals this time. Wineries in VA have exploded since 1986 when there were about 4 in the DC to Strasburg corridor. It's a mind jumble to pick the ones you should visit, but we can't leave this one out.. GOOGLE + Craft Whiskey & Distilleries read more

We stopped by this winery after a hike. The back deck has a beautiful view, blankets, and allows dogs! The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. We did a tasting and ultimately got cheese and crackers too. The cab franc was really smooth and not as spicy as others. I can't wait to come back over the summer. read more

This is a must see!! The wine is delish especially the mulled wine! The owner Jeff was so wonderful and you can tell quality, taste and atmosphere are all important to him! The views though- the BEST ever! We will be back- great for large parties and couples! Add this to your list! read more