A Taste of the Shenandoah Valley in Eastern Virginia.
Since the founding of Gauthier Vineyard in 2010, we have sourced our grapes from a specific vineyard site in the Shenandoah Valley. This is an ideal site specifically chosen for its limestone soil, excellent drainage, and modest rainfall at 900ft. elevation – optimal conditions for producing wines of exceptional elegance and balance. From these grapes, we endeavor to create wines honoring the Old-World styles with a New World address.
Speaking of new, we cannot wait to share our new look, coming soon in late 2024!
WHITE
2024 Albariño
Albariño delivers a light and refreshing body with notes of citrus, grapefruit, pear, honeysuckle and melon with a saline finish. Virginia is particularly well suited for producing Albariños consistent with their old-world heritage. Gauthier strives to keep all of this in perspective to ensure you receive an Albariño produced to reflect its unique personality. The light and refreshing body also make Albariño ideal for pairing with many different foods, particularly oysters and other seafood harvested from the nearby Chesapeake Bay.
$28 per bottle, $7 per glass
2024 Viognier
An aromatic wine expressing lovely stone fruits, with some tropical mango, pineapple and tangerine. Behind these fruits is a soft citric and vanilla element that drives the overall complexity. The wine finishes with a bright fruity tone and a touch of yeast. A pineapple upside cake in a bottle. Pairs well with many foods but a lobster roll is particularly pleasing. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years.
$26 per bottle, $7 per glass
2024 Chardonnay
Chardonnay thrives in limestone-rich soils, which is why we are so pleased with the grapes from our leased vineyards. Grown at approximately 900 feet in elevation, these vines produce a beautifully balanced wine with fresh acidity and vibrant fruit nuances. For over a decade, we’ve partnered with acclaimed vintner Randy Phillips, whose expertise ensures exceptional quality. True to our philosophy, this wine reflects old-world inspiration with a distinct new-world character. Enjoy it young or let it age gracefully for a few more years.
$28 per bottle, $7 per glass
2023 Sauvignon Blanc
Our American Series wines blend old-world winemaking traditions with the unique character of our new world location. This Sauvignon Blanc captures that balance beautifully, offering a bright, fruit-forward profile with an elegant finish that highlights citrus, tropical notes, and a subtle herbaceous touch on the finish. This versatile wine pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes or can be enjoyed on its own, making it the perfect choice for gatherings with friends or quiet moments on the porch —especially the one here at Gauthier Vineyard, overlooking the fountain and vineyard.
$26 per bottle, $7 per glass
2021 Riesling
First documented in 1435, this distinguished grape variety shines in Virginia’s high-elevation vineyards, where limestone-rich soils create the perfect conditions for a beautifully balanced and refreshingly vibrant wine. At Gauthier, we craft our Riesling to harmonize its naturally expressive aromatics with a crisp, bright acidity—delivering a versatile wine that complements a vast array of foods and occasions. Known for its impressive range, from sweet to dry, Riesling offers something for every palate.
$26 per bottle, $7 per glass
2022 Gazebo Blanc
Our 2022 Gazebo Blanc is a new sweet wine addition made from the Moscato grape. Moscato’s high residual sugar and low acid contribute to Moscato’s signature sweet taste. Sip a glass and you will pick up on several key characteristics: a fragrant aroma of fruit such as peach, apricot and an orange citrus as well as delicate floral notes such as rose petal and elderflower.
$26/bottle, $7/glass
ROSÉ WINES
2024 Rosé
Cabernet Franc has shown itself to be an important grape in Virginia, and this is also true for the Rosé wines it makes. We use the inspiration of Provence and the elements of Virginia’s terroir to create a wine that will carry all the beautiful complexities of Cabernet Franc forward in the approachable Rosé form. The fruit and earthy characteristics are wonderfully blended, creating a lively wine that can be enjoyed on its own or with any number of ethnic foods. An international wine of mystery and intrigue, Rosé used to be reserved for the spring and summer, but now it is a wine to be enjoyed in all seasons.
$26 per bottle, $7 per glass
RED
2023 Cabernet Franc
Grown at an elevation of approximately 900 feet on limestone-rich soils with an eastern-facing aspect, this Cabernet Franc captures the classic characteristics we celebrate in Virginia wines. Bright fruit, approachable tannins, and layered complexity come together in a harmonious expression of our commitment to blending old-world inspiration with the spirit of our new-world home. Its balanced weight makes it a versatile pairing for a variety of dishes, and it promises to age gracefully for years to come.
$32 per bottle, $9 per glass
2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
One of the world’s most widely recognized red grape varietals. There are certain flavors and aromas that present in this wine, particularly black currant and green bell pepper with a very structured tannin finish.
$30 per bottle, $9 per glass
2023 Petit Verdot
Our Petit Verdot thrives in its distinctive terroir, where limestone-rich soils, an eastern-facing aspect, and elevation of approximately 900 feet allow it to develop traditional characteristics associated with Virginia. This wine showcases vibrant dark and red fruits, approachable tannins, and layered complexity. Guided by a philosophy that blends old-world inspiration with the essence of our new-world home, this wine pairs beautifully with game meats, lamb, and hearty pastas. It also promises to age gracefully for years to come.
$32 per bottle, $9 per glass
2021 Estate-Grown Norton
Gauthier’s 2021 Estate Norton was our first estate grown and estate bottled wine. The Norton grape has uniquely Virginia origins worth sharing here. Norton’s origins go back to one of America’s founding fathers and his attempt to find a grape that could produce a wine similar to the libations produced in the Old World. Thomas Jefferson put a lot of effort behind cultivating a wine culture in the new land, but Jefferson was not alone in his pursuits. While Jefferson was never able to fully see the fruits of his efforts, another man had much better results. In Richmond, Dr. Daniel Norton discovered his experimental vine was well suited for growth in Virginia soil. What Dr. Norton had was a native grape that had the ability to create wines similar in flavor and aroma to its European cousins. The next step was getting that wine made.
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Dr. Norton made the grape commercially available for purchase, and in 1830, the vines found a home in Missouri, which at the time was the closest thing America had to a Napa Valley. Missouri would become the wine capital of the new country, and Norton became the signature grape. The German settlers who founded the Missouri wine region loved how the Norton grape could survive in the harsh and cold conditions of the region, unlike the French vines that died easily, and how it was virtually impervious to diseases.
Shortly after arriving in Missouri, Norton hit what would become its heyday. The wine made from the grape spread across the US, and even found fans in Europe.In 1873, Norton wine won the gold medal in the international exhibition in Vienna. Things were really looking up, and it seemed for a time that Norton would spread like wildfire, becoming the dominant grape in the entire country, and then Prohibition hit.
With the onset of Prohibition, Norton and other wine grapes such as Cabernet and Merlot were pulled up across the country, with the sweet Concord grape planted in their place. Grapes used for primarily making wine had no place in the booze-free US, and with no one else growing Norton around the world, it fell into obscurity. When Prohibition finally ended in 1933, the wine that had been drunk in secret during that time all came from other parts of the world — locations that had never used the Norton grape — so when America began to rebuild its wine regions, they looked to the wines they drank during Prohibition as their inspiration, and that did not include Norton.
For 56 years following the end of Prohibition, the Norton grape was rarely planted and few remembered the wine it used to create. Then in 1989, a University of Maryland graduate named Dennis Horton purchased a small plot of land in Virginia, and set up a vineyard, determined to return Norton to its rightful place as a noble American grape, capable of producing fantastic wines. Since then Norton has slowly begun to be cultivated again in its birthplace of Virginia as well as the state of Missouri which made it famous all those years ago. Who knows what the wine world has in store for Norton, as tastes and preferences continue to evolve, but the real lesson here is that like any good American, the Norton grape never gives up.
This wine as a stand-alone is rich in color, firm in structure and abundant in flavor. With structured tannins and notes of leather and dark plum. It can be aged 5 to 10 years but also enjoyed now.
$28 per bottle, $9 per glass
2021 Woodmont
This is Gauthier Vineyard’s signature blend of our estate grown Norton with our grapes grown in the Shenandoah Valley. Named for our Inn, this is our five-varietal signature blend of our estate grown Norton with our grapes grown in the Shenandoah Valley: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Chambourcin. This blend cultivates an assortment of dark fruit flavors, subtle tannins, with a note of cinnamon on the finish.
$32/bottle, $9/glass
2023 Chambourcin
100% Chambourcin with deep color, full aromatic flavor.
$26 per bottle, $9 per glass
2021 Pinot Noir
A black grape varietal grown in the Carneros Wine region in Sonoma County, California, that traces its ancient roots back to Burgundy, France. Aged in oak for one year, this light bodied wine has silky tannins with notes of cherry and subtle spice.
$30/bottle, $9/glass
2019 Sweet Beau
This wine is a blend of the first harvest of our estate grown Norton and Chambourcin grown on our Shenandoah Valley leased vines. This wine is sweet with a hint of effervescence. It captures the personality of Gauthier Vineyard’s winery dog, Rochambeau (aka Beau), a Vizsla born in Crozet, VA. His smiling portrait is prominently featured on the label.
$12 per bottle, $3 per glass
2019 Gazebo Rouge
This wine is made from Chambourcin grapes grown on our vines in the Shenandoah Valley. Chambourcin is a purple-skinned, French-American hybrid grape that is more readily available in the United States and Australia than in its homeland, France. It is one of the world’s most popular hybrid varieties and is noted for its distinctive dark coloring and herbaceous aroma. Chambourcin wines are often spicy, with black cherry and plum flavors, and a range of herbal characters. Chambourcin’s exact parentage is unknown, but it is thought to be a crossing of native North American vines with a French hybrid. Its hybrid status prevents it from qualifying as a Meritage blender. This version of Chambourcin wine is fermented in a slightly sweet style in response to requests from many of our regular guests. It is a spicy, easy drinking red wine with a sophisticated smooth finish.
$26/bottle, $8/glass
SPARKLING
2023 Blanc de Blanc
Made from 100% of our Shenandoah grown Chardonnay grapes transformed into a sparkling wine using the Charmat Method. A Brut Style sparkler with notes of green apple and pear.
$32 per bottle, $8 per glass
SEASONAL FRUIT WINES
2023 Summer Breeze
Sparkling watermelon wine. Fresh, bright, and bubbly.
$26 per bottle, $7 per glass
DESSERT WINE
Rochambeau’s Starboard
This fortified wine made from the Chambourcin grape is 17.5% alcohol (35 proof). After fermentation and aging in French oak for one year, it is fortified with grain alcohol to preserve its distinctive Chambourcin character before being transferred to retired bourbon barrels from a nearby distillery, where it rests for one year prior to bottling. The appellation “Starboard” is a play on words with starboard as the nautical term for the opposite side of the ship from the “Port” side.
Pairings: This red port-style wine pairs very well with chocolate, especially dark chocolate truffles. The soft rich texture, and earthy flavor of chocolate truffles goes well with the deep, fruity, slightly sweet flavor of this wine. In addition to chocolate, it goes well with blue cheeses and dried fruits.
$30 per bottle, $11 per glass