Chester Gap Cellars in
Front Royal (VA)

Fine winery in Front Royal. Gorgeous scenery and tasty wines . Dog friendly. Worth the trip.

Best Vinyard by Washington DC Was a pleasure to actually meet the winemaker Stunning view Great wine and hospitality

Fantastic wine and wonderful service. The bread was delicious! The view over the valley was perfect and the food truck on the premises had some great food!

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.

Chester Gap Cellars 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 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)

Great wine selection and beautiful view! The boys brought us here because it was one of their top picks, the wine and views did not disappoint.

The Wines are well balanced, very delicious and are yielded from high quality grapes. My favorites are the Vintner, Petit Verdot and the Roussanne. Always a great experience here when I’m in town. Thanks Chelsea for always being so kind!

Absolutely hands down the most amazing winery I’ve been. The view alone would be enough, but the food and wine are great too. A MUST visit!

First time visiting Chester Gap Cellars and I can’t believe I didn’t know about this place! I’ve visited several wineries across NoVA and this one is a hidden gem. The staff was so kind and helpful and the only thing better than the view was the wine it self. Big fan of the Chardonnay. I went on a hot June day and they also offer a frozé cooler which hit the spot. They’ve got a covered area to relax and enjoy a gorgeous, sweeping view of the blue ridge valley. Enjoyed the Petit Verdot, Rose, and viognier. Theres also a really great food truck on Saturdays and Sundays that makes a great Ruben. There are also several hiking trails nearby making this one of the best winery stops near dc.

Found this winery on Instagram and knew it'd be the perfect place to unwind after a morning in Shenandoah, and I was right! The wines were fabulous, and the incredible views made the experience truly magical! We met the owner Jeff who was very hospitable and seemed to treat guests like family. I will definitely be back - this time hopefully to see the waterfall before it rains!

Stop #1 from when my mom and I traveled the "Blue Ridge Whisky Wine Loop". What a fantastic start, maybe too fantastic because we didn't want to leave! The outdoor deck and views across the mountain just make you forget all your worries, and that's before you even have your first sip of wine ? The wines are very tasty and the staff love bragging about what makes their wines so good!

Amazing spot, great service - went above and beyond with blankets and a fire when it was cold outside. Mulled wine was yummy and the wine flight a great option.

One of my favorite wineries in Virginia! I love wine, vegan treats, and hiking. This location offers all of the above! The tasting room is cozy, the wines are tasty, and the locally baked stuffed bread is amazing! Bonus that you can take a quick hike on their property to a waterfall! I visited after several storms so the trail on the property wasn't clear (which I was warned might be the case), but I was able to climb over the trees to get to the waterfall! Amazing experience! Highly recommend this winery!

Such a great place! The property itself is beautiful- plenty of spaces to sit and enjoy your time there. Highly recommend the wine flight so you get a feel of the variety they have here. You also must get the stuffed bread.

My friend, pup and I had such a lovely time visiting Chester Gap Cellars! It was a gorgeous, easy 1.5 hr drive from DC. The wine was delicious, and there was a food truck on Saturday with delicious sandwich options (including vegetarian). The staff were all extremely welcoming and kind. It’s very dog friendly too! We headed down the hill to enjoy a special woodsy walk, through the vineyards to a waterfall (be warned it’s a little steep on the way back up!). Can’t wait to visit again soon!

Lovely, smaller winery with fantastic views, multiple places to enjoy the scenery while enjoying their wonderful wines! The staff is very friendly and helpful. The food truck is a nice addition.

First time here during this visit. Wonderful experience here because of a member of the staff, Chelsea! She was fabulous and I look forward to coming back. Plenty of outdoor seating and very delicious wine. Start with a flight! ?? there was also a food truck available the day I was there, so look them and plan ahead. ?

A breath taking experience. Between the captivating views and eclectic flavors of wines, Chester Gap Cellars provides the perfect get a way. The vineyard is beautiful and the staff is pleasantly hospitable. The landscape is incredible but if you're a "mover" like me the winery also provide a hiking path to explore the grounds. A huge plus is the home made bread which compliments the wines provided. The owner is passionate about his craft and very knowledgeable. It was an enlightening and educational adventure. If you're traveling near Front Royal make the stop. It's worth it.

A memorable, relaxing little winery that is a must visit. Incredible views and truly delicious wines. This is a place you’ll want to linger for another glass or even another bottle. Thank you to the owner for such a welcoming experience!

The winery is a must see! The view is incredible and the wines are tasty. I worked with them to host a private event in the pavilion space and I couldn’t have been more impressed with their communication before the event, the organization day of, and how accommodating they were. I changed the time of the event 3 different times and they were very easy to work with. The event went very well and all the guests commented on the quality of the property and the wines. The pavilion is a great space to host an event and the minimum spend (not a reservation fee!) is very reasonable. I spoke to a few wineries in the area and this one was the best bang-for-buck and view overall. One of the guests who attended is a Sommelier and said the 2020 Cab Franc was particularly good. I personally liked the Viognier and the 2021 Rose was a big hit. I would recommend this to anyone, especially if you are looking to host an outdoor event up to 20 people.

Chester Gap is one of my all time favorite Vineyard. Not only the outside view is awesome but a good wine adds more beauty to it. Cam here for relaxing afternoon with some snacks and stayed till closing. A really beautiful place and view to enjoy while sipping on delicious wine.

The staff is super friendly and the wine is delicious. We got a flight and brought our own bread and cheese, which they said was fine, and sat out on the deck. The views are amazing. If you're in the area you must stop here.

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. One of the most beautiful vineyards in the area and a perfect pitstop off the Skyline Drive. I really enjoyed their Rose on a hot summer afternoon - crisp and dry enough that you weren't overwhelmed by fruit. Also, make sure you order one of the breads if you're looking for a snack! We had the Mediterranean with the mixed charcuterie board and it was delicious!

This place is legit if you love the vineyards . Great location with beautiful views and great service . We had the wine flight and the frozen rose glasses which were refreshing. Definitely a try. This place is not filled with people u find at a regular vineyard . This seems more of a personal spot with the comfort of family and friends . A must visit if you are in the area. Also it is pet friendly.

Went here after 2 months of quarantine and could not have asked for a more perfect day! the views are gorgeous, the wine was delicious, and the service excellent. Given the circumstances, there was only outdoor distanced seating, and everyone was respectful of the distancing guidelines.

Our new favorite winery in the Shenandoah Valley! The only thing better than the view was the wine. After our tasting, it was hard to choose which bottle to buy, so we bought a bunch. We enjoyed the Chardonnay on their deck, which overlooks a picturesque valley. Friendly staff. Simply a lovely wine destination.

Chelsea was lovely, fun, and light! Staff here is friendly and clearly enjoys each other’s company. Amazing high-up views with a COOL breeze!!! Nice clientele — also polite — and I didn’t experience any children... ! We also met Laura Patten —mother of one of the owners— fun fun fun!!! Good wines and excellent views! Charming!!!