Rappahannock Cellars
Located in Rappahanock County, just west of Fauquier County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, 15 minutes south of Front Royal. Owners John and Marialisa Delmare and their twelve kids (yes, twelve — child labor in the vineyards…) purchased the Glenway Farm in 1998 and turned into Rappahannock Cellars. At production of over 10,000 cases a year they are now one of the larger wineries in the state.
Wine. One of the Top 100 wineries of Virginia. Two Rappahannock wines, the 2018 vintage “Prestige” (a Chardonnay) and 2020 “VX2” (a Vidal Blanc and Viognier blend), were awarded gold medals at the 2022 Finger Lakes Wine Competition. Their 2019 Cabernet Franc and 2020 Petit Verdot, were awarded silver medals, while five other wines came away with bronze medals (the 2019 vintage Meritage, 2020 Chardonnay and Black Label Chardonnay, and 2021 Rosé and Viognier). Their Sparkling Rose won a double gold back at the 2018 Finger Lakes Wine Competition, and the 2016 Meritage a gold. Very wide selection, including unusual Viognier white blends (a Viognier-Chardonnay, and the VX2 Viognier-Vidal Blanc blend). Try the Port, or the Xerez-style Solera (made from multiple years of the Vidal Blanc). About half the wines are from estate-grown grapes, the balance from mostly local vineyards.
Setting. One star. Named as one of Virginia’s 10 Most Beautiful Wineries. The winery is on the historic Glenway Farm dating to the early 1800s, located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The vines spread out around the winery and provide nice views in all directions. Notice the sign at the driveway entry helpfully calculating distances to many other Virginia wineries — as well as to Napa Valley and Bordeaux… The drive to the vineyard is especially scenic coming along Hume Road (County Road 635), which runs along the headwaters of the Rappahannock River. Reasonably spacious tasting room, with a separate comfortable tasting area for club members. Wide selection of light fare to accompany tastings (the selection of oils is unusual and excellent), and when we were there a farm-to-fork food truck outside. The property also opened a distillery in April 2018.
Stories. California Wine Country comes to Virginia. The fast-growing Virginia wine business has drawn expertise from many sources, including wine-making centers with long histories such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, California, and New York’s Finger Lakes. In some cases, winemakers from those long-established regions have been sufficiently attracted to come and make wine in Virginia themselves. The Delmares of Rappahannock Cellars are an example. Former owners of Saratoga Vineyards (now “Savannah Channel Vineyards”) in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Delmares in 1998 chose to swap California for the Blue Ridge. With their twelve kids all involved in some aspect of the vineyard and/or winery, the Delmares are certainly at the “larger family” end of the “family-run” vineyard spectrum. And in having chosen Virginia over their previous California wine-making territory, they are an example of how Virginia’s vineyard potential, scenery and ambience has attracted a wide range of players to create such a vibrant industry in so short a time.