Wolf Gap Vineyard and Winery

July 10, 2025.  Wolf Gap Vineyard and Winery is among a small pod of wineries located near the towns of Edinburg and Mt. Jackson in Shenandoah County.  While the winery has been around since 2004, current owners Janel and J.C, Laravie purchased the property in 2021 and have invested greatly here since then.  There are new production facilities in a renovated barn and a new indoor tasting room occupying space that the old production equipment used to cramp.  Finally, they added a new outdoor pavilion that we’ll get to in a moment. 

We had a chance to sit down with the Laravie’s and their winemaker, David Lambert. 

 Right to Left: Janel, Jethro (the winery dog), JC, David, Roger. The mountain hump over Janel’s head marks Wolf Gap.

The Laravie’s own a marketing business - Chacka Marketing – in Tampa, Florida.  But the location in the Virginia mountains was a coming home of sorts for both Janel, who is from West Virginia, and JC who hails from Northern Virginia.  Besides the winery and the marketing business, the Lavarie’s are raising two pre-teens in their ample spare time.  David Lambert consults with several wineries including Shenandoah, which his great aunt Emma Randel started.  For the Laravie’s, he helped police the vineyard, replanted a number of vines and added some experimental plants to the nearly 20-year old vines.  One of the new varieties is Carménère, a noble Bordeaux varietal.  I’m always looking for good red wine with fish and Carménère fits that bill.  I look forward to Wolf Gap’s release when it happens. 

Wolf Gap has four acres of vines at their Edinburg location and leases another 12 acres in the area.  They produce around 2,000 cases per year at this point, of which 85 – 90% are estate grown from these vineyards.  David is a proponent of getting super-ripe fruit with as little intervention as possible, given the Virginia climate.  David reports seeing a couple of Spotted Lanternflies but unlike many wineries, they don’t have any of the pest’s favorite habitat – the Tree of Heaven.  Most of the wine comes from their onsite production facility.  A little wine is produced in Warren County.

 

Janel and JC built a large outdoor covered pavilion to host special events and so guests could take in a wide view of Great North Mountain at a place called “Wolf Gap.”  The noticeable hump on the mountain is said to resemble a sleeping wolf. 

 

The pavilion has a tasting bar right there and overhead fans prevent it from being oppressive even on oppressively hot and humid days like the day we happened to visit.  Bright red umbrellas help with that as well.  For the cooler months, there are fire pits outside.  An added bonus for special events like weddings is that these are held after hours so that the tasting room customers will not be inconvenienced.  Wolf Gap is handling around 6 or 7 weddings a year.  A wedding in the cool of the evening sounds delightful.  Outside food is generally allowed except when special events are going on.   Lunch and dinner menu’s are available. Wolf Gap is also planning events with other neighbors like a Riesling event with Shenandoah winery.   

We visited with our server Cassy who was kind to substitute some good selections where their standard tasting menu had run short.  Here’s what we tried:

Traminette (NV).  This is a semi-sweet white wine with lots of floral notes.  Good citrusy acidity.  Light-bodied at 11% ABV.  Sounds as if it pairs well with spicy foods.  I rate it a B.

2022(?) Chateau Chardonnay.  Even with aging six months in new French oak, this is a light Chardonnay.  It won a Silver Medal in the 2024 Governor’s Cup.  We rate it a solid B.

Lobo Loco (NV).  Wolf Gap’s rosé is a semi-sweet blend of Traminette and Chambourcin.  Watermelon in color with a very slight spritz.  Slight grip in the back of the throat.  12% ABV. Good acidity tempers the sweetness and keeps this wine in the high “B’s” quality range.

2020 Chambourcin Reserve.  Wolf Gap grows lots of Chambourcin.  This release is smooth with dark fruit notes and some vegetal earthiness.  13% ABV.  We rate it a B+ at $32.00 a bottle.

2021 Cabernet Franc.  This is a clean low tannin version of a Cab Franc.  Good fruit and some cocoa.  I rate it a B. 

2017 Mariage Reserve.  A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin grown at the vineyard makes this  high effort wine.  The two parts are barreled separately for two years then blended.  More vegetal earthiness.  A real unique back of palate experience.  Medium bodied, and well-balanced.  13% ABV.  I rated it a B. 

Chambourcin Bleu (NV).  David uses 95% Chambourcin and 5% Blueberry.  The last gives it a great refreshing lift and tartness that balances the 2% residual sugar.  12% ABV.  Good hot weather red.  A best seller for Wolf Gap.  I rated it a B+.

2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.  100% estate-grown.  Very earthy and cherry fruit.  Light – medium-bodied.  Some sediment.  This wine won a Gold Medal in the 2024 Shenandoah Cup, a competition sponsored by the 22 members of the Shenandoah Wine Trail.  I rated it a B+.

We thank Janel and JC for their time and hospitality.  Bring your dog and your picnic and have a nice day at the winery.