RdV Vineyards

Beautiful winery, amazing wine, a must!

We had the best day at RdV celebrating our anniversary! Best and most informative of wine tours — Connie was awesome! Met new friends and such beauty surrounding the silo where we had our tour/​tasting! Love how the Josh and his team support the military and wounded veterans A must-​go see if you are in the area!

Without a doubt one of the most impressive wineries in Virginia. Only a handful have wowed us, but even fewer offer the entire package. For several years I have wanted to visit and when we finally got around to making the arrangements it was well worth the wait. It felt like we were transported to Napa or Europe! We were lucky to have our tour with Rutger who was an excellent host. He brilliantly has made all the proper connections in the industry to craft truly fine wine. We appreciated the unique nuances he took care to include in the tour and tasting experience, which further sets his wines apart from the rest. It will be our pleasure to go back with friends.

Great vineyard — this is about quality, not quantity. After we got buzzed in the front gate, we drove up to a great view of the vineyard and tasting room. The vines looked great and were surrounded by granite rocks.
The tasting room is modern and sleek and we were greeted with a tasting from a wine not yet for sale. The tour itself is about 90 minutes, and our tour guide was energetic and enthusiastic, which made it enjoyable. The architecture and design is impressive, from the silo, to the cellar caves made to store the barrels.
The actual tasting has small portions of cheese, honey, pâté, ham and bread. The tastings are also small, but again, its quality, not quantity. Rutger is making a good wine the right way and you can taste it.

It looks like I am the first Californian to review this winery.
The experience is far more intimate and personal than you find in Napa or Sonoma especially since the tour is given my one of the passionate owners.
The wines were limited to the Rose, which is only available as a welcome drink prior to your tour, Rendezvous, a Merlot, Cab Franc and petite Verdo blend, the Lost Mountain, a primarily Cabernet Sauvignon blend, and a Friends and Family Blend only available to Ambassadors, or wine club members.
I’d recommend the $ 50 tour/​tasting as a one time experience. It includes a welcome drink, tour and a small taste of both the Rendezvous and Lost Mountain complimented by a tray of cheeses, meats and bread. The wines are descent, but at $ 90+ price points, you can do better with many California Selections from Cliff Lede, Charles Krug or Silver Oak!
In addition I found that people who enjoyed the sweeter, more fruit forward wines from other Virginia wineries did not enjoy the tastings as much as I did.

Beautiful winery and nice tour. Plan on at least 90 minutes. It’s appointment only. We were aware of the ratings of this winery but we didn’t research times and details. We were lucky we arrived on a weekday right before their scheduled 1pm tour. Their were no scheduled appointments for that time slot so we lucked out!
Our tour guide was knowledgeable about the products and history. Their was a lot of thought and passion put into the planning of this winery. The grounds are beautiful and the design of the winery was fitting to the landscape. I highly recommend the tour, walking out to the vineyards, their processing tanks, caves and packaging. At the end of your tour, 2 tastings and a nice cheese and meat charcuterie.
Their wines are good but not bold enough for my palate. I already belong to 2 other wine clubs in Napa so their products weren’t enticing me to want more. They only produce 3 types of reds. So I recommend the tour, great day trip away from DC… But that’s about it.

We had RdV recommended to us by someone who knew we like Opus One… we thought how very odd, considering RdV is very close to where we live. Surely that could not be… but they were right.
First of all, the winery itself and vineyard… absolutely beautiful. Breathtaking views from the top of the hill as well.
We’ve been to a couple of events so far (became «ambassadors» aka members). The Bourbon Steak dinner was a lot of fun, although we felt underdressed… The second time, we planned better and dressed up a bit. RdV draws an interesting crowd, some pretentious, and some «average Joes».
Love BOTH wines… (red blends are our favorites to begin with) Buy them by the case when we have the $ — yes, the wine is expensive, but oh-​so-​worth-​it. The employees bend over backwards if they can to accommodate you and the history or stories they can tell you can entertain for hours.
I highly recommend visiting if you haven’t been, but yes, it’s reservation only, i.e. not for tour buses. Keeps the smaller intimate feeling going, which is one of the things we love.

If this review sounds like a broken record compared to the rest of the postings — it’s because it is, and that’s a good thing. The tour was the single best viticulture experience I’ve ever had, and I’ve been to at least 100 VA wineries (and some non-​VA wineries) in the past 4 years. The tasting/​production facility is also one of the most amazing buildings I’ve ever toured at a winery. The two reds they serve were both excellent.
The only negative thing is the price — but it’s a whopper. The tour is $ 50 and appointment-​only, and the wines were easily the most expensive VA-​grown wines I’ve ever seen (but at least you get about half a glass instead of a tiny tasting, plus a charcuterie plate).
Because of this, RdV isn’t for everyone. That said, I’m so glad I went. If you’re a die-​hard wine taster — and especially if you enjoy learning the process of making wine — this place is a must.

Truly great wine just 45 minutes from DC. I read some reviews that compare this against bold Napa cabs and they clearly just don’t get it. This wine is made in the OLD WORLD blend style. I would be extremely hard pressed to differentiate the Rendezvous from a right bank bordeaux. In fact, i’m sure I could not. It really is that good if you prefer the subtle complexity of bordeaux. If your looking for a Caymus style Napa fruit/​oak bomb, then you might be disappointed.

There are many nice things to say about RdV, one of them being that tastings are done by appointment only. This keeps the experience special, personalized and thorough. Upon entering, we were greeted by various staff with a warm, welcoming smile. Coats were taken and champagne was offered (it was a nice champagne too!).
The entire tasting experience lasts just over an hour, with the tour, mingling with friends and chatting at the start. The granite caves, barrels, various rooms, etc are all a site to see! The story is equally amazing and the amount of attention to detail is extraordinary! The tour is the typical winery tour that many offer, some charge for (and most are the same), rather this tour helps the visitor understand and learn more and RdV in particular.
The tasting included healthy pours of their 2 wines (both red) and a nicely paired and assembled charcuterie as well. We ended up enjoying a couple more bottles to top off the experience and stayed a while longer, definitely made for a more complete trip, rather than enjoying the tasting and leaving.
The grounds are impeccable! Nicely designed, laid out and maintained!
Even at one of the highest price points we’ve seen for a tasting… if you’re into wine, we would highly recommend a visit!

First, this is a showcase winery with details not found in any other Virginia winery that I have visited. The wine tasting reservation allows you to view the entire operation. As most noted, you must make a reservation to visit RDV — no walk-​ins. This entire setting is 2 to 3 levels above the rest and architecture of the building is pretty awesome. Absolutely worth a visit and the $ 50 tasting fee. And note, they were willing to do some re-​pours during our tasting.
As for the wine, it is very good for Virginia. There is in only one or two other vineyards in Virginia that compare. It is pricey, but come to expect that for better Virginia wines.
RDV like many other wineries is not kid or baby friendly and for a good reason.

This is the best winery and vineyard I’ve been to in northern Virginia. You must have a reservation, the tours are kept small and intimate, the operation is family run, the facility itself is beautiful, and the wines are delicious. I liked everything about this place, especially the humble sincerity the makers convey while obviously delivering a product of the highest levels.

I went to RdV for a tour/​tasting this past weekend. So overpriced, there is definitely a vibe for trying to be an exclusive winery in VA, but compared to wineries I have visited around the world, this one s a little outrageous. First of all, we are in VA, the wines are getting better, yes, but they are not nearly as good as those in other parts of the US. Exclusivity is not a substitution for ridiculously-​priced wine that’s quite good for VA but not incredible enough to justify a $ 95 price tag.
So when we arrived, we realized it was appointment only. You can schedule a tour/​tasting, priced at $ 50 per person, lasting ³⁰⁄₄₀ minutes. When we arrived we received a glass of bubbly. The tour was interesting, went through their process of the entire winery.
RdV only has two wines you get to taste, Lost Mountain and Rendezvous. RdV has an amazing facility, and the person giving the tour was very nice. The owner spared no expense in building his facility and making his wine perfect, but that cost is clearly recouped in the price of the tastings and wine. The owner has also worked with Linden’s Jim Law in perfecting his wine, which impressed me because I am a huge fan of Linden’s wines, we went to Linden the day before.
If you don’t mind being charged for $ 50 per person for a 30 – 40 minute tour, and two approx. 3 oz. pours of wine with a small plate of bread, cheese, a few pieces of salami, and olives. After our tasting, we were able to order a glass of wine for $ 18 but we chose just to leave.
The wine itself was fabulous for VA wineries, even so, $ 70 – 90 a bottle for a bottle was insanity to me. A mixed case of 12 bottles was almost $ 1000. These wines are not that amazing.
I think RdV has a way to go in regards to the tours and tasting. I would expect at least a glass of wine at the end after tasting the 2 red wines. Then, we could say I didn’t feel ripped off with a $ 50 charge for a tour and tasting. It has one of the most gorgeous settings in terms of VA wineries and for special occasions I would definitely think about going there. Hopefully, they change up their tasting and make it a little more reasonable.

Let me echo most of the other reviewers in saying the tour and wine are expensive but fun. RdV is one of the most beautiful vineyards I’ve seen in Virginia. From the time you enter (and a little before) you have an excellent view of the varied greens of the vineyard blocks and fields in one direction, while the other directions shows you rolling hills and far-​flung farmhouses. Horses, sheep, and cows are all in evidence, near and far. A home built from — or in the style of – an old barn sits on the property (as is a short soccer field!). The winery itself is beautiful, with spokes radiating out from an opaque silo that apparently glows with light at night; inside, it’s a very modern glass, cement, and steel construction, with weathered touches and furnishings here and there to bring in the country warmth.
The tour takes you through most of the winery, as well as outside to look at the vineyard a little (with permission given for you to wander on your own afterward). Caitlin was the guide when I was there, and she was welcoming, patient, and full of stories and information about the vineyard and winemaking in general. The tasting itself was relatively brief as others have said, since it’s only the two wines; however, the wines were good, as were the two cheeses, the sausage, the bread, and the olives provided for pairing. I found it a little different to have the guests left alone for the tasting, but Caitlin explained the wines before giving us time to ourselves and then returned after a while to talk more about them. I enjoyed myself.

There have been nearly as many media articles about RdV Vineyards wine as there have been bottles produced. The luxury-​brand winery with the intriguing owner/​winemaker has been covered by everyone from the Washington Post (including wine writer Dave McIntyre and political writer Dana Milbank) to the Washingtonian (Todd Kliman and Carol Joynt) to Jancis Robinson’s column in the Financial Times (where, incidentally, she called Virginia wines «thrillingly good»). Most Virginia wineries never get a mention in one of these, ever, not to mention all of them, regularly.
He’s done so many interviews it’s a wonder that owner/​winegrower/​winemaker Rutger de Vink has time for wine. Yet all of the articles stress his fanatical focus on all aspects of the winemaking process, and we can attest to it, too, having spent some time at the winery with de Vink when RdV was newly opened.
The results are in the wine, acclaimed by virtually everyone, even at the steep price point – for Virginia– of $ 95 for the Lost Mountain and $ 75 for the «second tier» wine, Rendezvous.
The results are also in the winery itself, which is now open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, with appointment, starting in April 2014. The building manages to be both minimal and opulent simultaneously, with its distinctive silo echoing the rural countryside as its centerpiece, and a modern glass, stone and wood interior out of Architectural Digest.
Beyond the main area’s hearth room and public spaces, the wine caves and barrel room continue the «just so» perfection of RdV. While Rutger de Vink himself is famous for showing up in his vineyard-​working duds, none of the mud or disarray finds of the working farm finds its way inside.
The fermentation room and its stainless steel tanks plays host to dinners for 45, while the intimate wine cave is the preferred space for a smaller huddle of 20 or so. Larger parties of up to 200 can use tented space outside.
Weekend visits to the winery can include a tasting of current releases (keeping in mind that at this writing RdV is producing only two wines for purchase), or a behind the scenes tour of the vineyards and winery following by tastings in the wine cave.
The winery is handicap accessible. There is a gravel drive, off of which a slightly inclined walkway can be used to access a side door of the tasting room. Inquire about accessibility for events or winery tours.
No dogs or anyone under 21 years old.
Cheers!
Nancy & Rick

So I went here over Memorial Day weekend with a couple friends and was pleasantly surprised. Truth be told I had no idea what to expect except that I had to make a reservation in order to do a tasting. I opted for the shorter tasting for $ 30/​pp and I have to say it was well worth the price imho.
When we drove up it hit us that this wasn’t your standard vineyard. First off you have to be buzzed in at the gate. Yes, you read that correctly. Initially my response to this was, REALLY!!! When you drive up the gravel drive you get to take in the absolutely pristinely kept grounds. The grapes are planted on vast rolling hills and the main building looks like a modern farm house with tons of windows and even a silo.
We walked in and were immediately taken with the contemporary architecture of glass and metal work. The place was a little like a museum though and came off a bit cold. It didn’t help that Delia Deetz and Otho were the only two others tasting wine during that time (yes, that was a Beetlejuice reference). However the coolness of the surroundings ended up being a perfect compliment to the experience. Our greeter/​host/​wine pourer (whatever you want to call her) was Caitlin and she met us upon entering. She was immediately warm and friendly so our initial concerns about the place feeling cool and uninviting washed away. She seated us in the tasting room that was furnished with modern, glass dining tables. Each couple received a plate of meats, bread, and cheeses to compliment the wines. Alas, there were only 2 wines to taste. HOWEVER, they were AMAZING. Both were well rounded, medium bodied and went down a little too quickly (even though we were poured a half glass of each). In fact one of our friends went so far to say it was the best Virginia wine he’d ever had. I can’t disagree. We ended up ordering a bottle at the table and another round of cheese and bread. I will say their bottles were steep even for VA wine standards ($ 75 for Rendezvous/​$ 90 for Lost Mountain).
After that we strolled up their drive to see the amazing vineyard views and peruse the grounds. I have to say the views matched the wine. Everything was absolutely wonderful. I’d usually say $ 30 is pricey for tasting two wines, but the experience warranted the price. I recommend this for a romantic escape or if you feel like getting away from the hustle and bustle of the more popular wineries that feel like tourist attractions.

Wow definitely one of the best red VA wines. Very nice tour and property. Definitely more on the pricey side and be ready to pay $ 75-​$ 95 per bottle.

Wow, just wow! So $ 50 for a tasting may seem like a lot, but our experience was just outstanding. We went with two friends and had reservations for a 3:00 tasting on Friday. Driving up to the property, it appeared we were driving up to a country farm with the exception of all the vines on the hillside. We were warmly greeted immediately upon walking to the entrance and led inside to a comfortable room where our tasting was being set up.
We were offered a glass of champagne and then led on a tour of the property. We started outside where Kaitlin explained what made this property conducive to wine growing — who knew poor soil conditions would promote the growth of the grapes? The property was gorgeous and well maintained. It was obvious that a lot of thought was put into the design and details of RdV from the exterior to the beautiful silo and the cave. This place was modern, but with old world charm. The cave was probably my favorite, aside from a room that looked to be a lab with formulas written on a chalkboard. The natural granite wall in the cave which happened to be the base of the hillside where the grapes were grown had small trickles of water running down — peaceful and apparently useful in telling if the vines might be getting too much water. I was surprised to learn RdV sends samples of their individual varieties to an expert in France who works with them to determine the proper blend for each wine.
The tour lasted about 1 hour and was interesting, enjoyable and informative. We were taken back to the tasting room where our glasses had been poured and small plates brought out, two types of cheese, some salami and a small bowl of olives. Really a nice presentation. My husband noticed a bottle of Caymus Special Selection open on a small counter in the room — it had been opened for a group of journalists visiting to compare against RdV wines. He joked with one of the sommeliers that we should test it against RdV as well. Wouldn’t you know we were led outside, promised a blind tasting and told the Caymus would not compare against RdV. He was right!
All four of us were able to identify the Caymus right away and agreed we preferred the RdV wines. This was a fairly big deal for me as I am partial to CA wines and absolutely love the Caymus Special Selection. RdV offers two (well three if you count Family and Friends) varieties, Rendezvous and Lost Mountain. Rendezvous is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It is a rich, full wine that I found fruity, delicious and ready to drink now. Lost Mountain is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. We were told this one would age quite well although I also found it quite good in the tasting. To be honest, I was absolutely floored to find VA wines I liked so well. Near the end of our tasting, Rutger even stopped in to greet us — very down to earth and clearly passionate about his wines.
We ended up joining the ambassador’s club which I believe requires purchasing six bottles of wine annually. We went home with two bottles of each of the 2010 releases and 2 bottles of the 2009 Rendezvous as well as a complimentary bottle of the Friends and Family blend. I am looking forward to some of the events they are planning for the summer. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who loves great Bordeaux style wines. This was an absolutely wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
Tip — their website states tastings are available only on Saturdays and Sundays. If you want to visit another day give them a call. They seem to be very accommodating as we toured on Friday afternoon and it was just the four of us.

Still have not had a bad experience at RdV. After my first visit I joined their Ambassadors Club for 6 bottles per year. The cost is easy to justify because they only ship once per year (in the fall) and they’re producing the best red wines in Virginia (seriously). I think the care they put into everything is extremely evident in the wines they are releasing. They shipped the 2010’s last fall, they’re beautiful but definitely need some more time to age in the bottle.
Customer suggestion: Keep doing the First Friday gatherings. They’re simple, relaxing and a great way to get people to come out. Maybe this coming fall (2014) give your local members the option to come to the property and pick up their wines rather than shipping them? I’d make the drive to come out and have a glass or two.

My husband and I went here recently for a tour/​tasting. So overpriced. The illusion of exclusivity is not a substitution for ridiculously-​priced wine that’s quite good for VA but not incredible enough to justify a $ 95 price tag.
RdV opened in 2006 but only recently to the public by appointment only. You can schedule a tour/​tasting, priced at $ 40 per person, advertised as lasting 90 minutes. RdV only has three Bordeaux-​style wines made from 5 varietals — Lost Mountain, Rendezvous, and a wine they make for charity and is only sold online. RdV has a beautiful facility, and the person giving the tour was very nice. The owner spared no expense in building his facility and making his wine perfect, but that cost is clearly recouped in the price of the tastings and wine. The owner has also worked with Linden’s Jim Law in perfecting his wine, which impressed me because I am a huge fan of Linden’s wines and visit there about once a month.
The reality was that RdV charged $ 40 per person for a 20 minute tour, and two approx. 3 oz. pours of wine with a small plate of cheese, a few pieces of salami, and olives. After the tour, we were seated at a table with two glasses of wine and the small food plate, and someone checked on us every 10 minutes. We were done after about 45 minutes of arriving (including the tour time). I honestly thought it would be a step up from a typical tasting, but it really wasn’t anything special to justify that cost. We aren’t in Napa or France, sorry.
The wine itself was good. Lost Mountain was actually quite good, but both were not ready for drinking yet. They were very young, but I could taste the potential — after cellaring them for 5 – 8 years, they would probably be wonderful. Even so, $ 95 a bottle for Lost Mountain and $ 75 for Rendezvous was insanity to me. A mixed case of 12 bottles was almost $ 1000.
Just to put things in perspective, my husband and I made our usual stop at Linden prior to RdV — each had a tasting, bought 3 bottles of wine to take home, ordered a cheese and charcuterie plate, with a baguette, and had 2 full glasses of library wine (2006 vintage) — our bill for ALL of that was only $ 20 more than the tastings at RdV. And the wine we had at Linden was much better than the wines at RdV. I’m not saying that I would be opposed to RdV’s cost if the wines were worth it or the tasting was stepped up to include more than cheese and salami — maybe some catered food that was specific to bring out the character of the wine? But for now, RdV is overpriced and not worth the trip.