Gray Ghost Vineyards and Winery
Located in Amissville, off of Route 211 (appropriately, Lee Highway) in Rappahannock County (across the road from Narmada Winery), 15 minutes west of Warrenton. One of the older wineries in the area (opening in 1994), Gray Ghost Winery bears the nickname of one of the most famous Confederate officers, John Mosby (see below). Owners Al and Cheryl Kellert chose the name due to Al’s family link to Mosby, and to enhance the “history buff” atmosphere of Gray Ghost. Al also brings a chemistry background which is put to use on the winery.
Wine. Among the Top 30 wineries in the state, and among the Top 10 wineries if Northern Virginia. Gray Ghost’s 2019 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded a gold medal at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle nation-wide wine tasting competition in 2023, while its Chardonnay of the same vintage was awarded a gold medal at the 202s San Francisco Chronicle competition. Their Cabernet Sauvignon of the 2017 vintage was awarded a double gold at the 2020 Chronicle event. Several Gray Ghost wines have recently been awarded silver medals in large tasting competitions: their 2020 and 2021 Chardonnays received silver medals at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle event; the 2020 Vidal Blanc and 2019 Ranger Reserve (a Cabernet-Sauvignon led blend) received silver medals at the 2022 Chronicle tasting; their 2021 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc and Gewurztraminer received silver medals at the 2022 Finger Lakes Wine Competition; the 2021 Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer, 2020 Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2021 Adieu dessert wine all were awarded silver medals at the 2022 Atlantic Seaboard Wineries Association competition.
Setting. The winery is relatively small, but filled with Civil War memorabilia. The views outside are nice but simple. The setting becomes unique at the Christmas holidays, featuring sculptures made from Gray Ghost wine corks.
Stories. One star. Civil War – Mosby’s Rangers. Colonel John S. Mosby commanded a small Confederate cavalry unit of initially some 400 troops, eventually to grow to close to 2,000 men. He was by far the most proficient practitioner of “guerilla warfare” in Virginia during the Civil War – scouting, raiding and creating chaos in the front lines of the Union Army. “Mosby’s Rangers” were so effective that he is often credited with extending the life of the Confederacy by over six months. Much of US Highway 50 in Virginia goes by the name “John Mosby Highway,” as you will no doubt see on many signs in your travels through Virginia wine country. Mosby’s nickname was given by the Union Army, from his ability to infiltrate enemy lines undetected and capture prisoners and provisions. Interestingly, before the war Mosby was among those speaking out against secession. After the war he served in the Grant administration, notwithstanding their fierce enmity during the years of fighting, and became US Consul to Hong Kong.