This place is a hidden gem in the woods. Among winos, it has a cult following, but those who appreciate a relaxed and unpretentious wine tasting experience will love it here, too. The setting is very rustic, with the glass enclosed tasting room tucked into the trees and outdoor seating scattered throughout the property. Because the tasting room space is small, this location is best enjoyed on a day where the weather is nice enough to sit outside. The staff will bring you a menu and serve you table side. There are plenty of wine options from familiar (like Riesling) to unusual (like Gruner Veltliner). They offer light bites from their kitchen, including a bread service (the baguette is made fresh and served with in-house produced olive oil). On any given day you'll run into the winemaker, Gabriele, here and will most definitely get a visit from Trady, the unofficial host and friendly golden retriever. The whole scene feels like an outdoor living room. We loved the wine and appreciated the friendly service so much that we walked away with a mix of bottles and olive oil to share with family and friends. read more

Gabriele Rausse Winery - Outdoor seating - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The wines are very good and reasonably priced. They also bring bread with oil once you're seated and the oil is so good that you'll have to buy a bottle to take home! read more

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We visited GR today for our wine club pick up party and were treated with tastes of all the wines in the wine club shipment plus three paired four paired food tastings: bread & olive oil, risotto, scallop & greens, and ash-rolled cheese. All of the wines were good, but GR specializes in Cabernet Franc (which was spectacular). The team was attentive, and the weather was spectacular (sitting outside was glorious). Try this winery; you won't forget it. read more

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I've debated sharing this because I want to keep this place all to myself. This is one of the best Virginia wineries I've been to and I've been to many. We tried literally all the wines by sharing all three flights they offer. Every single one was at the least very drinkable, with many being excellent. The owner was there and he was delightful! I wish we lived closer as it would be our regular spot if so. The setting is very peaceful. It's a small tasting room and very unassuming, but made for a lovely afternoon. Fun fact, the owner's daughter-in-law is also has a winery that is in Northern VA and it just happens to be one of our other favorites! read more

My favorite winery in the Charlottesville area! Gabrielle Rausse is beautifully set and surrounded by trees and feels like you're far from any city life. I love forest bathing here while enjoying some wine. The freshly baked bread is *chefs kiss*. Plenty of seating around the property and dog friendly! Be sure to say hi to the resident winery pup! read more

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You get there and aren't really sure it's a winery but it's a beautiful location fabulous bread, and really nice wine. We got a bottle rather than did a tasting and very much enjoyed it. Good service as well. read more

Great spot and amazing wine! No sign so easy to miss if you haven't been there before! Closed on Saturday

Gabriele Rausse Winery is one of my top Virginia wine picks and favorite stop on the Monticello wine trail Owners and staff are super welcoming and friendly! Their "tasting room" is this stunning glass tree house nestled at the top of a hillly forest. "Tasting room" is in quotes since all tastings are outside now in the forest, at cozy tables with firepits. They offer a red or white flight as well as wines by the glass. A special bonus is their AMAZING fresh baked baguette and olive oil! This is a family owned winery where you can taste the love and attention to detail in every sip! Other notes: Primarily dry European style wines My current favorites: Gruner Ventliner and Roussane Hours are Sunday,Monday,Thursday and Friday Outdoor seating only read more

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Exploring local wines trails is a "hobby" of ours, so taking on the Monticello trail near Charlottesville was a must. Of all the wineries we visited, this was the least commercial, most quirky, and by far the BEST wine we experienced over half a dozen local wineries. Not only were they the best tasting in our opinion - they also offered the most eclectic selection - including a wonderful dry Muscat, Malvasia Bianca, and the Chasselas Doré Sparkling. All at better price points than surrounding vineyards. The cab franc - while not an unusual offering - was one of the best I've had in my east coast travels. They do have a somewhat unusual way of doing tastings - which is to serve you little 2oz bottles, but don't let that deter you. And parking is a bit limited in this "woodsy" location. Make sure to get a sourdough baguette - they are spectacular here. Ranked number 1 with Keswick following up as #2 based on their Norton's (which i adore). read more

Gabriele Rausse Winery - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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The setting is really cute and the people who helped us were really nice. We had a wine flight with four reds and we enjoyed all of them. The cab franc was especially good. It's a cute place that's probably never overrun by people. The sitting area was comfortable but there really was no view. The tasing room looked nice, but we didn't use it. Maybe next time. read more

We were the only customers on a dead weekday in late December. They treated us so well. We enjoyed fresh baked french baguette, with cheese, and of course...yummy wine! They are a close knit family with pride in their work. It was fun to spend an hour with them! read more

We were looking for a winery with views, but we didn't get that, but the spread out outdoor seating was whimsical. The service was "get a menu and wait for staff to find you." So if you're not in a hurry is great, but if you're moving with a purpose, maybe not good. A positive pull is the fresh baguettes, which you see when entering the small facility. It took about 8 minutes to get service, which didn't include an explanation of the wines. We got the Wines of the world no sulfites flight, and they were meh. They were a bit weak with little finish. Not impressed with the wine, but the bread - yes, 5 stars. read more

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Ok, so overall, of all the vineyards we've visited, this wasn't our favorite of the wine options, solely based on taste. It was good, but not great. However, if you're the kind of person who likes the woods/camping and you just want to get off the beaten path, this is 100% your place! The GPS didn't actually lead us to the correct entrance, but another vineyard gave us the heads up that the entrance is immediately after you see what looks like an old rusted tractor. With that, we knew we found our destination! I actually really loved the vibe of this place, it was just so different than your average wine tasting. I also really loved that they had different flights to choose from, and we preferred the mixed flight (whites & rosés) the best! I will say, of every tasting we've been to, this one had the absolute BEST presentation of their flights... we were instantly amazed at how beautiful each one looked. Additionally, they provided fresh homemade sourdough and olive oil, which was so appreciated after drinking our wines! The service was also top rate, they refilled our bread and even brought my mom bug spray when they realized how much she was struggling with these little microscopic flying bugs! Overall, I would really recommend this unique experience. TIPS: If you don't want to be eaten alive by bugs, bring a lot of bug spray and DO NOT wear white clothing--it attracts these bugs! Also, pay attention to the weather, and avoid hitting this spot on super hot or muggy days. There's only outdoor seating, and with the location, it gets Very hot! MILITARY: they do give a discount read more

Gabriele Rausse Winery - Mixed wine flight & White wine flight - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

When I first visited GR years ago, they had just opened the tasting house, and it was still one of the high points of out wine tours in Charlottesville. The return trip confirmed that initial reaction. Since the first visit, they've added a lot more great wines, and they've fleshed out the grounds to include two yurts with fire pits and a multitude of other great sitting spots. They've also added food options, including fresh-baked baguettes, polenta, and more. Their COVID set up is sweet, with four tasting options that all come with for apothecary bottles of two-ounce pours each. We enjoyed the two red tastings, including the cab franc, Malbec, cab sauv and merlot. We loved the wine, fire pits, and yurt so much we stayed for hours and got several bottles. GREAT STOP for wine in Charlottesville. read more

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This is a somewhat hidden winery who likes to keep a low profile so you won't find this winery listed on any big name article but on Yelp thanks to reviewers or find out by word of mouth. You won't find this advertised and it's by word of mouth we found it. It doesn't draw big crowds bc (1) the scenery for the wine tasting isn't great and (2) this wine hasn't won any prestigious awards. We gave it a shot bc it was dog friendly and it was highly recommended by a oenophile at another winery. Also when I saw they offer fresh made baguettes, the deal was done. Their bubbles were great so we bought a bottle. Of the 8 wines tasted we bought 3 and most VA wineries we went to we didn't like anything enough to buy a bottle so I think that says something. The only winery we liked more for the quality of wine was Blenheim which is nearby or Barboursville. If you just want scenery then don't come here. It looks like an over grown backyard. But if you want a more chill off the beaten path wine tasting with above average VA wine then definitely add it to your list. read more

Gabriele Rausse Winery - Scenary ain't great but the wine and fresh bread make up for it. - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I am just so sad that Rausse has never gone back to having the tastings inside that lovely tasting room, now well past the pandemic. The camaraderie in the building and Having someone in the kitchen making tasty little bites to compliment the wine was so different and unique. Sitting outside just doesn't have that same cool vibe. It just doesn't motivate me to go now. It's a shame, because we always were inspired to buy some wine to take home when we were there before. read more

This winery has the best wine of all the Cville options we have tried (and we've tried many). We left with a whole case of wine for home, which we have never done before at any other winery. We also had the good fortune of meeting and chatting with Gabriele for a while. He was such a joy. Highly recommend including this spot in your Cville itinerary. It was the highlight of my in-laws' visit. read more

This is an absolutely, adorable winery! It had no signage to mark it, so I am very thankful for GPS. The flights, glasses and food are well priced. Both the bread and chèvre and the bread and tahini humus were fabulous supplements to out tastings. The white tasting was a little on the sweet side and not our favorite, but the rose and amber flight was fabulous! The environment was chill, perfect for a date night or calm Sunday afternoon. We sat outside and enjoyed our spread under a covered area of sorts. It was a little toasty outside, but that is what we get for coming out here in August. The service was quick and friendly. You can tell this is a "mom and pop" sort of place. I definitely recommend this quaint wine bar/vineyard for your next weekend outing. read more

This is easily my favorite winery ever. So so good, and I'm not just talking about the homemade bread! The owners are incredibly nice and welcoming. The presentation of the flights are so creative. The Monbazillac is my absolute favorite, up there with my favorite wines of all time. I'm sad I didn't buy more to take home! We will be back soon! read more

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I never buy wine when I visit a winery and I bought three bottles. Wow, the wine is so good! Bravo! read more

Gabriele Rausse Winery - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I almost passed up on this place because it didn't fit the typical vineyard aesthetic, but I'm so glad I decided to give it a chance. We pulled up and we greeted with cute doggos and a cozy but chic outdoor tasting area. The one downside is they only have outdoor seating for the time being, but even with it being windy and cold today, we sat by a fire pit and were completely warm. The wine was superb. We split a red wine flight and thoroughly enjoyed each wine we drank, so much so that I purchased one bottle of each wine we tasted! The staff helping us (mainly Tim) were so kind and knowledgeable about the wine. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking to have a delicious glass of wine in a unique setting. read more

Gabriele Rausse Winery - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This place is absolutely hidden. We drove up thinking we were entering someone's house. No signs or markers to indicate it was there and if you weren't looking for it, you'd miss it. They were only doing outside service but there were tons of tables and nooks to sit in. Thankfully I had my Thermacel bug repellant bc you are in the woods. They bring you complimentary sourdough and olive oil, both of which you can buy onsite. You guys...the sourdough is the best I've had! Super crispy outside baguette and springy inside. All wines are pre-bottled. We did two different flights so we could share and try the most things. They were kind enough to recommend the order to try them in since we were doing one giant tasting. Really cool spot for fall. read more

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The wine was average. They gave us glasses from different wineries which was weird. They also had us sit outside, no indoor seating. It's hidden, not somewhere we would visit again. We can during Christmas time, no lights or seasonal decoration. Still had pumpkins which made it feel out dated and not much effort. I had the rose, nothing really spectacular. There's better places but if you like the simple outdoors then would recommend. read more

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Small unassuming place, good service. I don't like their dogs running around who look like they haven't been groomed or bathed in awhile. Everything was good, just unsure if I'd return. No view here, you come for the wine only read more

I haven't even left the winery yet and I have to write this! I had the most wonderful experience at Gabriele Rausse. I opted for the full tasting menu. For $18, you get 4 small plates and several wines. The food changes daily. I knew that I needed to do the tasting the second I walked in and saw the team making fresh pasta by hand. They also make homemade sourdough throughout the day. All of the wines were fantastic - their grapes are sourced locally as well as a few from Loudoun County. These small batch wines are nuanced and unique, highlighting all of the best qualities of each varietal. I will definitely return! read more

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Pretty good wines. Where this place really shines, however, is the setting of the tasting room: it's nestled in the woods, it has a really cool building, and a great little deck. We didn't get a chance to try any of the food, but it looked AMAZING. read more

Gabriele Rausse Winery - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Back in the woods but a very fun experience! The cheeses were delicious as was the wine. Give it a try!

Nice quaint outdoor tasting room. We tried a white and red flight wth the baguette and olive oil they provide wth the tastings. We had also brought some 70% Ugandan dark chocolate and dried cherries. The Gruner Vetliner, Roussane, and Chardonnay all paired well wth the baguette. The Rosso was very nice on its own and would probably pair well wth a pork tenderloin. The Nebbiolo and Cab Franc both paired well wth dark chocolate and dried cherries. The flavors of the wines complemented the chocolate and the cherries. read more

Has to be one of my favorite wineries that I've visited in the Charlottesville area! For so many reasons: 1) It's the third closest winery to my house 2) It feels like a secret; there's no actual signage with the winery name, just a crane holding an open sign with their logo that is up when they're open and only when open. 3) It's a really neat and unique space 4) You get fresh bread, baked there, with your wine tasting, or if you come early enough on the weekend you can do a wine and food pairing! 5) There are many wines on the tasting, and so you get a good bang for your buck, especially because I enjoyed most of them, which is not always the case at the more-wine tastings. 6) The Rausse brothers are so nice and personable and really run the place like a family establishment, which it is. We came with our toddler son and they brought him a clementine to snack on and gave us the table in the back corner to sit at where there are books for kids, and adults, to peruse. It was also later in the day and things were slowing down so we really got to chat with them. Top two reasons I will continue to go back to Rausse: good, affordable, not presumptuous wine, and great customer service/vibes. Love. read more

While the wine was better than most, we were treated like *#'@. When we arrived we were told to go out to one of the tables with a scoffing attitude, and the waitress was just straight up rude. Views are nothing but trees, and could have had a better experience getting lost in the woods with a bottle. read more

Third stop on our wine tasting tour, July 5th 2024. Nice little place in the woods, very magical feel. Upon entering the building, there was a lovely smell and beautiful baguettes were resting behind the bar. Three women were working, one blonde, one brunette and one with grey hair. The place was small, it was busy and the service was slow. After standing around for a few minutes we finally got waved at by the blonde woman. She handed us 2 menus, didn't really explain anything and impatiently asked us "inside or out?" We said we didn't know, could we have a minute? She walked away and the grey haired woman approached us and rudely asked 'what do you want?' (Again, we hadn't even looked at the menu yet). We quickly settled on 1 white and 1 red flight while the grey haired woman angrily and impatiently stared at us. We ordered and said 'can we sit outside please?' She scoffed at us and said "well, I'll do the best I can" with a strange attitude. We were very confused, she seemed to be taking out her frustrations on us due to the busy weekend. We paid no attention to her rudeness and soon after she placed 2 wine glasses on the bar with some bread and oil and in the nastiest, childish manner she said "You can take those glasses and go outside now, that'd be helpful!" Before we had a chance to move along she rudely gestured at us with a sassy head motion to take our glasses and go outside. We immediately told her to cancel the order and walked out. Worst customer service we've experienced in our lives. The grey haired woman should not be in any customer service position. Wine and food looked great, unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to taste anything. read more

The reviews are on point here -- Gabriele Rausse and crew make amazing wine! We actually drove all the way from Newport News to get a case of the White Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving (yes - WHITE pinot! I can't believe no one has mentioned it -- it's truly amazing and unique) only to find out that they were sold out until the next vintage. NOOOOO!!! Just when I thought all was lost, the guys behind the counter started pouring their new list -- and then I didn't mind that they were out of the White Pinot. The reserve Chardonnay is absolutely delicious -- my partner doesn't care for Chardonnay at all, and he loved this one. We also nabbed a couple bottles of other wines - the Viognier, Cab Sauv reserve, and Nebbiolo. The tasting room is beautiful - very relaxed and dog friendly. Also important for us - kid friendly! We've been to several tasting rooms where we've gotten nasty looks for arriving with a kiddo - totally not the case here. Everyone was very nice to the little guy, and we all enjoyed the afternoon. We'll be back next year for that White Pinot. :) read more

The best winery we went to as far as service and not being packed. Very close to Monticello, this is an easy miss if you don't look out for it. Beautiful glass house that offers a small food and wine pairing for $18! The sourdough bread made there is amazing! The staff was lovely and we highly recommend this winery! The food, although small tastings, were amazing. We enjoyed some caramelized onions, Jerusalem artichokes (a root, not an artichoke), carrot cake, and bread and olive oil. The wine was tasty as well but it was the service that really did it for us and the fact that it wasn't jam packed! read more

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There's a reason this place is my favorite and I come back time and time again. The staff is knowledgeable, warm, and welcoming, wines are amazing and I love their food & wine tasting, the opportunity to taste their wines alongside a rotating menu of small plates helps to showcase their versatility. read more

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The namesake is a legend in the Virginia wine industry. It's probably my favorite Charlottesville winery, and that's from someone who's visited almost all of them. Yet despite Gabriele's fame it remains one of the most reasonably priced wineries in the area - a double win. The winery is really small, and oddly enough closed on Saturdays. That's because if they were open on Saturdays the room would be overwhelmed, and Gabriele focuses on serving great wine vs. a place to party. If it's crowded when you arrive, you'll be politely asked to wait while the people at the bar finish their tastings. But those who know Virginia wine know Gabriele's reputation, so it's not like the winery will ever be lacking for potential customers. His son Tim is often working behind the bar - look for the tall friendly guy with the bushy beard. But every single server has always been knowledgeable and friendly. Fresh baked bread is always being served. But enough about all that, let's talk about wine! Whites/Rose: 2014 Chardonnay; steel, bright & fruity but not buttery. 2014 Reserve Chardonnay had a very toasty nose; French Oak but no buttery taste since it didn't go thru malolactic. I enjoyed both, but probably the 'regular' Chard better. The Rose was pretty good, which is all the more surprising given I typically don't like Roses. Reds: The Rossi Table wine was heavy on Merlot with some Petit Verdot. "Table Wine" is often code for "cheap", but this was one of the most complex table wines I've had in a while. The 2014 Cab Sav was somewhat of an experiment, as it was aged in steel. It was different; I liked its fruity palate. The 2013 Nebbiolo Reserve was a little spicy, although mine was less so since it had been decanted for a really long time. While I liked everything I had, I looooooooved the 2014 Cab Franc, which was only $20 (!!!). This time around they didn't have the Grenache or the Monbazillac desert wine, which were my favorites. But that's OK - I can always find new favorites here. If you're lucky you might meet Gabriele himself. He's an older gentleman who has plenty of stories how the Virginia wine industry has grown tremendously over the last 30 years - something he's made no small contribution to. read more

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The wine was excellent and the wine tasting had cute glasses and was held outside due to Covid. There was plenty of outside seating. read more

Gabriele Rausse Winery - Red wine tasting - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Amazing atmosphere - very secluded and cozy! Several fire pits to gather around and keep warm. Has two yurt covering which are also very cozy and good for larger groups The wine was also delicious! We did the red tasting and they added in an extra for free! Very woody hints in the wine and matches the environment The staff was also incredibly friendly and pleasant to talk with Just a caveat that the indoor area was closed when we went! But the architecture is still impressive! read more

One of the best wine tasting experiences I've ever had. Old school. Quiet. Unhurried. We sat around a short wooden table with a potted lemon tree in the cozy wooden building, listening as Gabriele Rausse, Father of the Modern Virginia Wine Industry, patiently answered our questions. He's been planting vines and making wine in Virginia for more than four decades. As he spoke, Tim and Gabriela brought out wine and small plates of delicious, homemade food. Sliced baguette and olive oil. Reserve Chardonnay. Viognier. Polenta with Bolognese. Rosso. Cab Franc. Merlot. I bought 22 bottles of wine. Each time I open one, I'll be reminded of my first trip to Monticello and the beautiful day we spent with the Father of Virginia Wine. Un milione grazie, Gabriele! read more

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I almost didn't write this review because GR is one of Charlottesville's hidden gems. It's a winery, not a vineyard, which some people get confused about. Each visit comes with complementary homemade bread and amazing olive oil. They had food and wine tastings prior to covid, but have sadly not brought them back yet or plan to anytime soon. Regardless, the wine tastings are still excellent with individually bottled pours in a great presentation. Another huge plus is Trady, their friendly pup who always greets you and tries to get you to share some of your bread (can you blame her - it's so delicious!) They have lots of seating for a fairly small location, and has been a favorite stop of mine for a while! read more

Definitely off the grid. We are so happy to have found it. Love that it is tucked away in such a beautiful nook. Fire pits and plenty of outdoor seating. Super friendly staff as well. read more

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