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Gabriele Rausse wine dinner to celebrate The Roosevelt’s anniversary

To celebrate their first year, Church Hill’s award-winning The Roosevelt will be hosting a dinner pairing the wines of Charlottesville vintner Gabriele Rausse and chef Lee Gregory’s interpretation of Venetian dishes. The dinner will be held at The Roosevelt on July 29, 2012, at 7PM. Tickets are $45 (+tax/tip), available at the restaurant (pre-sale only).

Known as the father of modern-day wine in Virginia, Gabriele Rausse creates wines that are among the most highly regarded in Virginia. Gabriele Rausse helped start Virginia wine when he successfully planted Vitis vinifera at Barboursville Vineyards in the late 1970s. Rausse later helped establish Jefferson Vineyards in the early 1980s and Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard in the 1990s, and has consulted for Afton Mountain Vineyard, Blenheim Vinyard, and White Hall (among others). He branched out on his own in 1997 with the launch of Gabriele Rausse Winery.

Reflecting the persona of the most charming Italian man in Virginia wine, Rausse’s wines are very European, with clean structure, clear fruit flavors, and judicious use of oak. Gabriele Rausse Winery is not open to the public, as Rausse’s day job as the Assistant Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello (yes, that Monticello) keep him fairly busy. Rausse is so popular that a Facebook group has been set up to help his fans find his appearances and tastings.