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"Jones von Drehle"

Oct

2019

Jones von Drehle Petit Manseng Revisited

We have been big fans of Petit Manseng since the first time we tasted it at Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery some years ago. This small grape can produce a full bodied high alcohol wine. It’s often called the red drinker’s white wine.

We did a Spotlight on Petit Manseng in North Carolina in July, 2017. In that post, we had tasted through the 2013, 2014, and 2015 vintages of Petit Manseng from Jones von Drehle in addition to giving a bit of information about Petit Manseng itself. This time around, we were fortunate enough to add the 2012 vintage, the first vintage, and the 2016 vintage to the mix, so we tasted 2012 – 2016. And we should note, all bottles were purchased for this tasting.

We decided to change things up this time. We did this tasting blind. We also added a wine from the Southwest of France to the mix. This wine was a 2011 iLori Les Jonquilles from Domaine Brana. Made from fruit grown in the Irouleguy appellation, it is a blend of Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, and Petit Corbu. Bottles were covered in foil by one of us. The other randomly assigned a number. Friends arrived and the tasting began.

We used a chalk board to record feedback on the wines. We discussed the nose, palate, and finish. We tried to guess the year or whether the wine was the French one. We didn’t do so well on the guesses of the vintages, but the last wine was clearly different than the others. This was a big clue that it was not solely Petit Manseng. Interestingly enough, that wine was by far the least favorite of the group. Our impressions of it did improve when we paired it with a savory tomato cobbler.

Our group thought wine 1 was young with notes of apricot, citrus, and pineapple. We guessed it might be the 2016 vintage. It turned out to be the 2013. It seems this wine might have a few years to go.

Wine 2 had more notes of pineapple and apricot. We found banana and an herbaceous note along with a hint of minerality. We incorrectly guessed this to be the 2014. It was in fact the 2012. This wine is still showing beautifully.

Wine 3 had a subtle nose. The palate gave us mandarin orange and pineapple. We found the finish was hot. We thought, for that reason, it might be the 2015 which clocked in at 15.6% alcohol. It was in fact the 2016.

We missed numbering wine 4 on the chalk board. This one was different than the others. There was lots of stewed stone fruit notes. Think peaches or nectarines. Someone got a crème brûlée note on the finish. A few thought this might be the French wine, but we weren’t so sure. It turned out to be the 2014.

Wine 5 presented a yeasty note with pear and green apple. It was silky and soft. We thought it might be the 2012. It turned out to be the 2015. We were surprised by this. We didn’t feel it was hot at all which is surprising given that 15.6% alcohol. This one was a definite favorite.

We finally made it to the last wine, #6. This one was clearly different. It was green and seemed old. The finish was astringent. We were pretty sure this was indeed the French wine. And we were right. This was the least favorite of the group.

Once we finished tasting through all the wines, we did the reveals and then enjoyed some food and a bit more of our favorites.

We look forward to exploring more Petit Manseng in the future!

To learn more about Jones von Drehle, check out our first episode of Cork Talk where we sat down with Chuck and Diana Jones.

Cheers!

Jan

2019

Jones von Drehle

Join us for our first episode! We sit down with Diana & Chuck from Jones von Drehle Vineyards. Diana and Chuck discuss how they discovered a prime vineyard location in Thurmond, North Carolina. Learn how they work hard to socialize their brand and expand into restaurants and wine stores across the state. We talk about wine club events, driving more than 1 million miles in the pursuit of wine, and the future holds for Jones von Drehle and North Carolina Wine.

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Sep

2014

Jones von Drehle Petit Manseng — Wine Review

Tonight’s wine caused us a bit of a problem. We weren’t sure which glass we should use to fully enjoy this unique wine. I would hesitate to say we are glass “snobs”, but we definitely know that the glass has a major impact on the wine. We ended up going through three different options before finally settling on the fourth (it ended up being the Syrah glass). If you don’t have a Syrah, you shouldn’t worry. The Jones von Drehle Petit Manseng is one wine that will not disappoint, regardless of the glass you use. Continue reading →

Dec

2020

In the Wine Light – Cabernet Franc Day

In the Wine Light is Cabernet Franc Day. This wine holiday is celebrated annually on December 4th.

According to the Cab Franc Day website, Cabernet Franc is believed to have been established in the Libournais region of southwest France sometime in the 17^th century, when Cardinal Richelieu transported cuttings of the vine to the Loire Valley. December 4th is the anniversary of Cardinal Richelieu’s death which is why we celebrate Cab Franc Day on that date.

Cabernet Franc is also the parent grape of at least three other Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère. It is also the parent to an obscure Spanish variety known as Hondarribi Beltza found mostly in the Basque Country.

In addition to its native Basque region in France, Cab Franc is planted elsewhere in France in Bordeaux and most famously in the Loire Valley. There are also significant plantings in the Italy, Spain, Chile, and the US.

Cabernet Franc has gained a large footing on the East Coast of the US. It’s popular in the Finger Lakes and on Long Island in New York as well as Virginia. Cab Franc continues to gain footing in North Carolina as well. It’s one of our favorite varieties and pairs wonderful with North Carolina BBQ, either Lexington-Style or Eastern-Style.

One of the largest planting of Cabernet Franc in North Carolina is the six acres at RayLen Vineyards in Mocksville. We reached out to winemaker Steve Shepard for some thoughts on growing Cab Franc in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina. Steve tell us, “Cab Franc has been a work horse for us in that we utilize it in many ways.”

Steve goes on to tell us that RayLen’s vineyard is planted with 3 of the highest rated French clones, 214, 327, and 312. He gave us more detailed information on each clone:

Clone 214 is known to express raspberry and violet flavors and recommended not to exceed more than 50% of the planting.
Clone 327 recommended not to exceed 30% of the planting as it produces structured and powerful wines. Our block is 52% clone 214 and 48% clone 327. The fruit from these clones are used to produce Cab Franc varietal, and in blends Carolinius, Category 5, Eagle Select.
Clone 312 is known as a higher yielding than average so it sets the stage for a Rose. Our Cab Franc Rose is produced from this block, clone 312.

RayLen 2018 Cabernet Franc

Steve mentions that “Generally, Cab Franc in the vineyard preforms better than most other vinifera reds.” It is more tolerant of heat, wet and disease. In the winery, on bountiful years, Steve is able to separate the clones throughout the aging process before he establishes the final blend. He says, “It’s interesting to note the unique characteristics of each and how they knit together.”

In addition to RayLen’s Cabernet Franc varietal, Cab Franc based blends, and Cab Franc rosé, there are many other delightful Cabernet Francs in the state. Just a few of our favorites include (but not limited to) Cab Francs from Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery, Laurel Gray Vineyards, South Creek Vineyards and Winery, Hanover Park Vineyard, Burntshirt Vineyards, and Childress Vineyards.

Do you have a favorite Cabernet Franc? How are you celebrating?

#CabFrancDay #CabernetFrancDay #InTheWineLight

Nov

2020

In the Wine Light – International Merlot Day

Merlot Growing at Laurel Gray Vineyards
Photo provided by Kim Myers, Co-Owner, Laurel Gray Vineyards

In the Wine Light is International Merlot Day. This wine holiday is celebrated annually on November 7th.

Merlot is one of the most widely planted and noble wine grapes in all the world. It typically is one of first red grapes to bud break, so it sometimes has issues with the late spring frosts we see here in North Carolina. Due to the earlier bud break, it’s often one of the first red grapes to be harvested.

Merlot hails from Bordeaux and is an offspring of Cabernet Franc making it a sibling to Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, and Malbec. It wasn’t until around 2009 that Merlot’s other parent was discovered via DNA testing. This obscure variety, Merlot’s mother, is formally known as Magdeleine Noire des Charentes.

Sales of Merlot increased in the 1990s along with other red wines following the airing of the 60 Minutes segment on the French Paradox. Then sales fell nearly 2% following the release of the 2004 movie Sideways which unfairly degraded Merlot. Merlot has since made a comeback.

Even babies love merlot! This is Baby Jack with merlot from Laurel Gray Vineyards in 2007. These grapes made a 100% estate wine that later won Best in Show at the NC State Fair Wine Competition.
Photo provided by Kim Myers, Co-Owner, Laurel Gray Vineyards

Merlots are often known for being full bodied with medium tannins. Classic flavors are black cherry, raspberry, and plum.

There are many delightful Merlots in the state. Just a few of our favorite include (but not limited to) Merlots from Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery, Laurel Gray Vineyards, South Creek Vineyards and Winery, and McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks.

What do you like about Merlot? How are celebrating this iconic variety?

#MerlotDay #InTheWineLight

Sep

2020

In the Wine Light – International Grenache Day

Grenache growing at Jones Von Drehle Vineyards and Winery – Photo Courtesy of Jones von Drehle

In the Wine Light is International Grenache Day. This wine holiday is celebrated yearly on the third Friday in September. In 2020, that falls on September 18th.

Grenache Day celebrates the red grape Grenache as it’s known in France. In Spain, it’s known as Garnacha and is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world.

Grenache typically thrives in a hot, dry climate and is believed to have originated in what is now northern Spain. It is also widely grown in the southern Rhône Valley in France where it makes up to 80% of Châteauneuf-du-Pape blends along with primarily Syrah and Mourvèdre. Grenache is also used to make rosés with is being the predominant variety in the famous rosés of Tavel.

Grenache is not widely grown in North Carolina. Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery currently uses their Grenache solely for their dry rosé, Rosa Dia. Hanover Park Vineyard has a small planting used for blending. Junius Lindsay Vineyard uses Grenache as an occasional standalone wine but mostly for blending in both reds and rosés. MenaRick Vineyard and Winery also grows Grenache and has a single varietal of Grenache available.

What do you like about Grenache? Would you like to see more Grenache grown in North Carolina?

#GrenacheDay #InTheWineLight

Sep

2020

In the Wine Light – International Cabernet Day

Cabernet Sauvignon at Hanover Park Vineyard – Yadkinville, NC

In the Wine Light is International Cabernet Day. This wine holiday is celebrated on the Thursday before Labor Day. In 2020, that falls on September 3rd, but it can occur in late August or early September depending on the year.

So, is Cabernet Day for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or both? It seems that most folks celebrate Cabernet Sauvignon on this day, but we don’t see any reason why we can’t celebrate Cabernet Franc too. After all, without Cabernet Franc crossing with Sauvignon Blanc, we wouldn’t have Cabernet Sauvignon!

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most widely planted and noble wine grapes in all the world. It typically bud breaks later, so it isn’t subject to as many issues with the late spring frosts we see here in North Carolina. Due to the later bud break, it’s often one of the last grapes to be harvested.

Cabs are often known for being full bodied with big tannins. Old World Cabernets and those we find on the East Coast tend to be softer and more delicate. Both have should have their place in your wine rack.

There are many delightful Cabernet Sauvignons in the state. Just a few of our favorite include (but not limited to) Cabs from Overmountain Vineyards, Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery, Laurel Gray Vineyards, South Creek Vineyards and Winery, and Hanover Park Vineyard.

What do you like about Cabernet? How are celebrating this iconic variety?

#CabernetDay #InTheWineLight

Dec

2018

North Carolina Wines for Your 2018 Holiday Table

The holidays are here! It’s a time for celebration with family and friends which often means good food and good drink. With a growing industry and higher quality of wines, it is time to consider adding North Carolina wine to your holiday table. But where do you start? What should you pair with classic holiday foods? We’re back this year with some updated suggestions!

Biltmore Estate 2015 Chateau Reserve Blanc de Blancs

Appetizers – Start your holiday meal with an array of appetizers. What pairs best with appetizers? Sparkling wine! Sparkling wine is a versatile wine choice that pairs with just about anything. We suggest the 2015 Château Reserve Blanc de Blancs from Biltmore Estate Winery in Asheville. It’s a beautiful wine full of tropical notes with a yeasty undertone.

McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks 2016 Muscat Blanc

Winter Salad with Oranges – Oranges and spicy greens are perfect this time of year. Add some feta cheese, walnuts and a tangy vinaigrette and you have magic! To further that magic, pair the salad with the 2016 Muscat Blanc from McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks in Thurmond. Made in the Alsatian style this wine is dry with notes of citrus and honeysuckle.

Junius Lindsay Vineyard Viognier

Cypress Bend Vineyards Christina’s Magnolia Estate

Ham – Ham is a classic main course for any holiday. We love ham studded with cloves and topped with pineapple and brown sugar. We have two recommendations.

The first is the 2015 Viognier from Junius Lindsay Vineyard in Welcome. White peach, tropical fruits and a clean, crisp finish pair beautifully with ham.
The second is Christina’s Magnolia Estate from Cypress Bend Vineyards in Wagram. This dry Magnolia wine has a grassy undertone with nice citrus notes.

Overmountain Vineyards King’s Mountain Rosé

Turkey – Roast turkey is versatile. You can pair with a white wine or a lighter red wine, but rosé is the classic pairing. This is especially true if you have your turkey with cranberry sauce. We recommend the 2017 King’s Mountain Rosé from Overmountain Vineyards in Tyron. This wine is bright and crisp with notes of strawberry, watermelon, and lime.

Dover Vineyards 2015 Cabernet Franc

Duck – Ah, duck! It is poultry that has the umph of a steak! Classically you would pair duck with a Pinot Noir. This year we’re going with the 2015 Cabernet Franc from Dover Vineyards in Concord. Spicy and peppery, pair this wine with duck breast seasoned with salt and pepper with an onion marmalade.

Sanctuary Vineyards 2015 Double Barrel

Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery 2013 Steel & Stone

Roast Beef – Roast beef is another holiday classic. Of course, this calls for a hearty red wine! We have two best in show winners for you!

The first recommendation is the 2015 Double Barrel from Sanctuary Vineyards in Jarvisburg. A blend of Petit Verdot and Tannat, this wine definitely meets the qualifications of a hearty red. It wine was Best in Show at the 2018 NC Fine Wines Competition.
The second recommendation is the 2013 Steel & Stone from Jones von Drehle in Thurmond. This is a blend of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s lush and rich with notes of fig, blueberry, and blackberry and was 2018’s Bunch Grape Wine Best in Show at the NC State Fair.

Laurel Gray Vineyards Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

Seafood Lasagna, Roast Chicken or Roasted Vegetables – Any of these dishes make for a great additions to your holiday table. For pairing with all of these, we recommend the 2015 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay from Laurel Gray Vineyards in Hamptonville. This wine is oaky and buttery yet retains good fruit.

Piccione Vineyards 2014 Sangiovese

Any Tomato Based Dish – Are you having a dish with tomato sauce and maybe a little spice? We recommend the 2014 Sangiovese from Piccione Vineyards in Ronda. This wine has notes of oak, caramel, vanilla, and bright red cherry with balanced acidity.

Lazy Elm Vineyard and Winery 2013 Selfish Port

Chocolate Desserts – Decadent chocolate desserts call for port-style wines. They are perfect with rich chocolate or just by themselves on a cold night. We recommend the 2013 Selfish from Lazy Elm Vineyard and Winery in Mocksville. This fortified wine is made from Cabernet Franc. It’s rich and decadent and pairs perfectly with chocolate!

Parker Binns 2017 Petit Manseng Dessert Wine

Pumpkin, Apple, or Pecan Pie – Fruit or nut pies pair wonderfully with white dessert wines. We recommend the 2017 Late Harvest Petit Manseng from Parker-Binns Vineyard in Mill Spring. This wine is warm and rich with notes of pear. At 18.5% alcohol, a little bit is all you need.

These are our recommendations for 2018. We’d love to hear your recommendations, so leave us a comment!

Happy Holidays!

Dec

2018

NC Wine Guys Present: Cork Talk

We’re excited to announce we are starting a podcast! Join us as we chat with vineyard owners, winemakers, and other key people in the industry. Each month will feature a new guest. As we start off, we’re interested in exploring the unique stories behind each vineyard or winery. If you like what you hear or if you have any suggestions, please send us your feedback. Leave a comment below to let us know your thoughts.

Want to know how you can help? Click the Become a Patron button for early access to episodes and many other patron-only posts.

Become a Patron!

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Episodes

Elevating Muscadine Part 1
June 23, 2021
In this episode, we sit down with Tina Smith and Nadia Hetzel of Cypress Bend Vineyards! Located in Wagram, NC, Cypress Bend is in a unique location in North Carolina where the Muscadine grape grows [listen now]
Growing for Future Generations
May 19, 2021
In this episode, we sit down with Cynthia and Jim Douthit from Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery in State Road, North Carolina! Cynthia and Jim are two of the owners of Grassy Creek Vineyard. They [listen now]
A Grower’s Favorite Day is Harvest
April 21, 2021
In this episode we talk with Wendy and Kelvin Wooten of Moon Lake Vineyards in Olin, North Carolina! Wendy and Kelvin are grape growers in part of the Swan Creek AVA. The Wootens planted their grapes [listen now]
Women in the Wine Industry
March 16, 2021
We’re honoring women in the wine industry. We take a look back at our earlier episodes and found clips that highlight the importance of women in the industry. We would like to thank all of the [listen now]
Mountain Grown & Mountain Made
February 17, 2021
In this episode we feature Linville Falls Winery in Linville Falls, NC! We talk to Linda Wiseman and her two daughters, Jessica and Lindsay, about all things that make Linville Falls Winery Mountain [listen now]
Haze Gray & Underway
January 13, 2021
Welcome to Cork Talk Season 3! In this episode, we talk with Deane and Becky Muhlenberg of Haze Gray Vineyards in Dobson, North Carolina. Deane and Becky have a long history of military service, and [listen now]
Exploring Viticulture Enology
December 16, 2020
In this episode we interview David Bower of the Shelton Badgett NC Center for Viticulture and Enology at Surry Community College! David holds the position of Winemaker and Enology Instructor at the [listen now]
A Pretty Hill in Polk County
November 18, 2020
This episode features Sofia Lilly of Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon, North Carolina! We visited Sofia at the vineyard on a sunny day in October. Their extensive patio and spread out seating allowed [listen now]
Relaxing, Casual, and Fun
October 14, 2020
In this episode, we sit down with Ken Gulaian and Kari Heerdt of Round Peak Vineyards in Mt Airy, North Carolina! Ken and Kari moved to North Carolina in 2008. Before landing in North Carolina, they [listen now]
Preserving the Family Farm
September 16, 2020
In this episode, we interview Shruthi Dhoopati and Jeff Frisbee of Addison Farms Vineyards in Leicester, NC. Jeff tells us about the history of the vineyard and how it started out as farmland for his [listen now]
The Grape Pack
August 19, 2020
We’re celebrating North Carolina Grape Month with a special episode featuring two grape experts. We interview Dr. Sara Spayd and Dr Mark Hoffman of North Carolina State University (Go Pack!). [listen now]
Great Wines No Myth
July 15, 2020
This episode takes us to Trinity, North Carolina where we recorded with Leslie Zimmerman and Christie Otranto of Zimmerman Vineyards! The vineyard and tasting room sit on a portion of the 140 acre [listen now]
A Haw River Hot Spot
June 17, 2020
In this episode, we interview Max Lloyd of Grove Winery in Gibsonville, NC. Max originally started a vineyard up in Virginia back in 1995. His family has been growing gapes and making wine for [listen now]
Giving Back to the Community
May 13, 2020
In this episode, we’re featuring Shelton Vineyards! Mandy Houser, Chip Shelton, and Ethan Brown join us in our second virtual recording episode. Mandy and Chip take us back to the early [listen now]
Give it a Try: Dover Vineyards
April 22, 2020
This episode features Elizabeth Anne Dover of Dover Vineyards! We took a slightly different approach to recording this episode as we’re still observing social distancing. Elizabeth Anne talks [listen now]
Learning from Nature: Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery
March 25, 2020
This episode features Pat and Clyde Colwell of Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery! Pat and Clyde both ended up in North Carolina for work. When they met they soon started looking for land for a [listen now]
Following in the Footsteps of the Rhone
February 19, 2020
This episode features Michael Zimmerman of Junius Lindsay Vineyards! We talk with Michael about why he’s growing grapes and how he first conceived of the idea. As he tells it, he has a love [listen now]
Wine & Cider: Family Style
January 22, 2020
This episode features Sean and Patricia McRitchie of McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks! This family business has deep roots in the wine industry on the west coast. After settling in North Carolina, [listen now]
A Special Place Where Dreams Come True
December 18, 2019
This episode features the team from Elkin Creek Vineyard in Elkin, North Carolina! We met up with Louis and Carrie Jeroslow and Jennifer and Nick White one evening. In our discussion we listened as [listen now]
Mead Making Starrs
November 20, 2019
This episode features Ben and Becky Starr of Starrlight Mead in Pittsboro, NC! Ben and Becky caught the mead making bug after falling in love with it at a Renaissance faire. For the past 8 years, Ben [listen now]
Wright Wine Sanctuary
October 23, 2019
In this episode we sit down with John Wright of Sanctuary Vineyards in Jarvisburg, NC. Growing grapes on the coast may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Currituck and the [listen now]
All You Mead is Love
September 19, 2019
In this episode, we sit down with Diane Currier of Honeygirl Meadery in Durham, NC! Diane was turned on to mead making in her early days as a home brewer. She talks about her surreal experience of [listen now]
NC Wine Goes Urban
September 4, 2019
This conversation takes us to plēb Urban Winery in Asheville, NC to celebrate their 1st anniversary party! Learn about what it means to truly be an urban winery and make wine more accessible to the [listen now]
From the Board Room & Classroom to the Farm
August 21, 2019
This episode features Chuck and Jamey Johnson of Shadow Springs Vineyard and Windsor Run Cellars. We discuss how the they traded in the 8 to 5 corporate job for something they’re more [listen now]
Wine, Sangria, and S’mores!
July 31, 2019
Bonus Episode! Banner Elk Winery & Villa is a mainstay of the High Country of North Carolina. No matter the season, this winery is always a popular destination. The wines are delicious, the [listen now]
Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do
July 19, 2019
Laurel Gray Vineyards is located in the Swan Creek AVA, part of the Yadkin Vally in North Carolina. Listen to the story of Kim and Benny Myers about how they transform Benny’s family farm into [listen now]
From Shine, to Milk, to Wine
June 20, 2019
We sit with Charles and Ann Edwards of Baker Buffalo Creek Vineyards on a warm spring evening. Listen as they tell us how a family farm transitioned from moonshine to dairy, and is now producing [listen now]
Cork Talk with Raffaldini Vineyards
May 22, 2019
This episode we chat with Jay Raffaldini from Raffaldini Vineyards. We discuss how Jay discovered his property and has put a lot of effort into bringing a bit of Chianti to North Carolina. Jay wants [listen now]
Cork Talk at the 2019 #NCWine Blogger Summit
May 8, 2019
As a special treat, we bring you the panel discussion from the 2019 #NCWine Blogger Summit held on March 25th, 2019. On the panel we interviewed four winemakers about some of the challenges of making [listen now]
Cork Talk with Silver Fork Vineyard & Winery
April 6, 2019
Episode 4 takes us to Silver Fork Winery & Vineyards. We sit with owners Jennifer and Ed talking about their love of wine and how they are making Silver Fork part of their authentic lifestyle. [listen now]
Cork Talk with Piccione Vineyards
March 20, 2019
Our third episode of Cork Talk brings us to Piccione Vineyards. We chat with Bill and Hailey about why Bill decided to start a vineyard here in North Carolina, how he caught the wine bug, and how [listen now]
Hanover Park Vineyard
February 20, 2019
Episode two finds us sitting down with Michael and Amy Helton of Hanover Park Vineyard. Michael and Amy truly are pioneers in the North Carolina wine industry having planted the first vineyard in [listen now]
Jones von Drehle
January 23, 2019
Join us for our first episode! We sit down with Diana & Chuck from Jones von Drehle Vineyards. Diana and Chuck discuss how they discovered a prime vineyard location in Thurmond, North Carolina. [listen now]
Cork Talk Kicks Off
December 9, 2018
We’re excited to announce that we’re starting a podcast! We’re calling it Cork Talk. We’ll be meeting with important people in the wine industry starting with our [listen now]

May

2018

Sensoria Food and Wine Festival 2018

We recently were invited to attend the Sensoria Food and Wine Festival. This festival was a one day event to conclude “Sensoria: A Celebration of Literature and the Arts” at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. The food and wine festival was presented by the Piedmont Culinary Guild with sponsorships from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s #GotToBeNC Program and Springer Mountain Farms.

The day featured classes ranging from Riedel glass seminars to turning wine into vinegar to blind tastings just to name a few. Another part of the event was a food and wine pairing. Food from Charlotte area chefs was paired with North Carolina wine!

Below are photos from the event. We hope this event is held again next year! We also appreciate the complimentary tickets for this event!

Charlotte / NC / United States - 4/15/18

From Wine to Vinegar Class – We learned about the science behind how vinegar is made. We also got to taste a variety of wines and vinegars made by the instructor. The fennel vinegar and carrot wine were very interesting!

Wine Line Up / A Blind Tasting – We blind tasted Chardonnays and Cabernet Franc. This lineup included the Jones von Drehle‘s Steel Chardonnay and Dover Vineyards‘ Cabernet Franc!

The highlight of the festival was food and wine pairing featuring Charlotte area chefs and North Carolina wines! Photos below show all over the beautiful and tasty creations!

Our first pairing turned out to be the winner of the votes for best pairing. It featured Chef Greg Collier of the The Yolk in Rock Hill, SC paired with Biltmore Estate. Chef Greg’s cornbread toast, smoked trout and apple salad, meyer lemon hollandaise, and charred strawberry espelette spice was paired with Biltmore’s 2015 North Carolina Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling.

Next up was Chef Chris Coleman of Stoke. His smoked and fried chicken wing with spicy peach and jalapeño chow-chow was paired with Laurel Gray Vineyards‘ 2015 Viognier!

Duck pâté en croûte from Chef David Quintana of dot dot dot was our next bite. This was paired with Shelton Vineyards‘ 2016 Reisling.

Chef Justin Solomon from Foxcroft Wine Company paired cured salmon with celeriac remoulade, fennel chutney and duqqa with Shelton Vineyards‘ 2016 Bin 17 Unoaked Chardonnay.

Surry Cellars‘ debut Albariño was paired with beef heart carpaccio, apricot mustard, pickled green strawberries, beet and petite greens from Chef Matthew Krenz of The Asbury.

Chef Joe Kindred of Kindred was next on our list. His pasta with green garlic, spring greens and lamb was paired with the 2016 Rosé from Dover Vineyards.

Jones von Drehle‘s 2014 Cabernet Franc was our first red. It was paired with rabbit-mushroom bolognese, grits and green garlic from Chef Clark Barlowe of Heirloom.

Chef Bruce Moffett of Stagioni was next up with his prosecro-battered crab-stuffed squash blossom, ramp aioli and red pepper agro-dolce paired with Piccione Vineyards‘ 2014 red blend, L’Ottimo.

Fahrenheit Chef Dave Feimster paired his kalua pork and pickled cabbage slider with RayLen Vineyards‘ 2016 Category 5 red blend.

RayLen was up again with their 2016 Petit Verdot paired with a cherry-smoked chicken thigh croquette with green chili mole, spring asparagus, and aji amarillo from Chef Blake Hartwick of Bonterra Dining and Wine Room.

Last but not least was Childress Vineyards‘ 2012 Finish Line Cabernet Sauvignon port-style wine paired with dark chocolate crémeux, coffee crunch, hibiscus and port gelée from Chef Ashley Boyd of 300 East!

This event was a fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Dec

2017

North Carolina Wines for Your 2017 Holiday Table

Off Dry Pear Mead from Starrlight Mead in Pittsboro

Winter Salad with Pears – Pears and spicy greens are perfect this time of year. Add some blue cheese and a tangy vinaigrette and you have magic! To further that magic, pair the salad (pun intended) with the Off Dry Pear Mead from Starrlight Mead in Pittsboro. This mead is made with diluting the honey with fruit juice rather than water. The palate begins with pear moves to honey and finishes with more pear.

Riverton Estate from Cypress Bend Vineyards in Wagram

Carlos in the Buff from Dennis Vineyards in Albemarle

Ham – Ham is a classic main course for any holiday. While Riesling is a classic pairing with any ham, we’re recommending two excellent muscadine wines this year.

The first is the Riverton Estate from Cypress Bend Vineyards in Wagram. This dry Carlos wine is tart yet fruity. It tastes very much like a Riesling with great acidity!
The second is Carlos in the Buff from Dennis Vineyards in Albemarle. Also, Carlos this wine was made with no skin contact. It’s also only lightly sweet also with great acidity and less of the foxy quality often found with muscadine.

Grüner Veltliner from Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville

Chambourcin from Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery in Elkin

Turkey – Roast turkey is versatile. You can pair with a white wine or a lighter red wine.

For the white wine, we recommend the 2015 Grüner Veltliner from Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville. This wine is always stellar. It has notes of citrus, apple. and peach. This would match well with turkey and cranberry sauce.
For the red wine, we recommend the 2015 Chambourcin from Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery in Elkin. This Chambourcin is lightly oaked with flavors of dark cherry and warm spice. This would also pair well with turkey and cranberry sauce or turkey and gravy.

Provencia from Hanover Park Vineyard in Yadkinville

Duck – Ah, duck! It is poultry that has the umph of a steak! Classically you would pair duck with a Pinot Noir. But, if you can’t find Pinot Noir, Chambourcin is a great substitute! We recommend the 2014 Provencia from Hanover Park Vineyard in Yadkinville. This Chambourcin is a step above. It was so special that it got a special name! It’s smooth and bold with no hybrid bite.

Reserve Syrah from Junius Lindsay Vineyard in Welcome

Lamb – Lamb is one meat where you either love it or hate it. We happen to love it. A classic pairing with lamb is a wine from the Rhône Valley of France. We recommend the 2013 Reserve Syrah from Junius Lindsay Vineyard in Welcome. With warm oak and smooth cherry, this wine is easy drinking with light black pepper notes.

Tannat from Shelton Vineyards in Dobson

Reserve Merlot from Jones von Drehle in Thurmond

Roast Beef – Roast beef is another holiday classic. Of course, this calls for a hearty red wine!

The first recommendation is the 2013 Tannat from Shelton Vineyards in Dobson. This is a big, bold red. Yet it’s also smooth and balanced. It’s perfect for beef or any red meat!
The second recommendation is the 2012 Estate Reserve Selection Merlot from Jones von Drehle in Thurmond. Aged in French oak for forty months, this wine has soft tannins with cherry and cocoa. It also pairs well with duck confit.

South Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay from RayLen Vineyards in Mocksville

Seafood Lasagna, Roast Chicken or Roasted Vegetables – Any of these dishes make for a great additions to your holiday table. For pairing with all of these, we recommend the 2015 South Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay from RayLen Vineyards in Mocksville. Sourced from a vineyard near the South Mountains in Burke County, this wine is barrel fermented. This wine is oaky and buttery yet retains good fruit.

Barbera from Brandon Hills Vineyard in Yadkinville

Any Tomato Based Dish – Having a dish with tomato sauce and maybe a little spice? We recommend the 2010 Barbera from Brandon Hills Vineyard in Yadkinville. This wine is earthy yet with good cherry flavors. It’s very smoothed and well balanced.

Finish Line Dessert Wine from Childress Vineyards in Lexington

Chocolate Desserts – Decadent chocolate desserts call for port-style wines. They are perfect with rich chocolate or just by themselves on a cold night. We recommend the 2012 Finish Line from Childress Vineyards in Lexington. This fortified wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon. It has strong notes of coffee and cocoa which pair perfectly with chocolate!

These are our recommendations for 2017. We’d love to hear your recommendations, so leave us a comment!

Happy Holidays!

Jul

2017

A Spotlight on Petit Manseng in North Carolina

Continuing with our series of bringing lesser known grapes into the spotlight, we take a deeper look at Petit Manseng. This small cluster and small berry grape make a very interesting wine that most people have never heard of. This grape has great potential here in North Carolina and there are already a few vineyards who have jumped on the Petit Manseng bandwagon. One of which is Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery in the Yadkin Valley.

Continue reading →

Mar

2017

Showcase of North Carolina Fine Wines

In mid-March, the North Carolina Fine Wines Competition took to the road and held its first showcase event. The showcase had on display all 12 of the winning wines from North Carolina. This first showcase was at the Duke mansion in Charlotte. The doors opened and the crowds made their way in to pick up their Riedel glass and make their way through the tasting sheet. Continue reading →

Feb

2016

Food Pairings With North Carolina Wines

Food and wine have been enjoyed together throughout the ages. Each enhances the flavors and richness of the other. From holidays and other special occasions to a weeknight meal, food and wine are matches made in heaven.

Some of the NC Wines suggested for Food Pairings

We always pair our wine and food, but sometimes the task is not easy. In an attempt share some of our pairing experiences, here are some suggested food and North Carolina Wine Pairings (in no particular order).

BBQ – Lexington Style – If you’re a fan of Lexington Style BBQ, we recommend pairing it with the Barbera from Hutton Vineyards or the Barbera from Brandon Hills Vineyards.
BBQ – Eastern Style – If you prefer Eastern Style BBQ, we recommend the award winning Syrah from Misty Creek Vineyards.
Spicy Thai – Do you like spicy Thai? If not this pairing works with any spicy Asian food (Chinese, Thai, Indian). We recommend pairing it with the Estate Grown Dry Riesling from Dobbins Creek Vineyards or the Dry Muscadine from Overmountain Vineyards.
Lamb – Lamb is one of those meats that you either love or you hate. We love lamb. It’s unique from beef and is great as turned into meatballs or grilled or roasted. We always have our lamb with the Mourvèdre from Hanover Park Vineyard. It’s a classic pairing that you’ll love!
Chicken with Creamy Sauce – Chicken with a rich buttery sauce demands a buttery, barrel aged/fermented Chardonnay. Our go to Chardonnays are either the Barrel Aged Chardonnay from Baker Buffalo Creek Vineyard & Winery or the Chardonnay from Mountain Brook Vineyards.
Steak – Steak calls for a big wine! Petit Verdot is one of those wines. We recommend the Petit Verdot from Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery.
Pasta and Tomato Sauce – Who doesn’t love pasta with a classic tomato sauce? Chianti is a classic pairing with tomato sauce, so why not have Chianti made in the Carolinas. Try the Sangiovese Riserva from Raffaldini Vineyards.
Grilled Sea Bass – Sea bass is a decadent fish. It’s rich and flavorful. Grill it with some olive oil and herbs, and you have perfection! A full-bodied white wine goes perfectly with the grilled sea bass. We recommend the Roussanne from Junius Lindsay Vineyard.
Chili – Chili with tomatoes, beans and a good bit of spice is a perfect meal for the cooler months. A big wine is the perfect accompaniment. We suggest the Estate Grown Zinfandel from Rag Apple Lassie.
Grilled Shrimp – Lightly seasoned and grilled shrimp are perfect on their own or in a nice, fresh salad. This calls for a light and delicate wine! We suggest the Pinot Gris from Laurel Gray Vineyards.
Soft White Cheese with Fig Spread – Ok, this one might seem a little odd, but trust us! Grab yourself a mild, soft white cheese. We recommend Yancey’s Fancy Champagne Cheddar. Get some fig spread or fig preserves. Slice the cheese and spread just a bit of the fig spread on top. Pair this was the Stainless Steel Chardonnay from Silver Fork Vineyard & Winery. Prepare to be amazed!
Brownies – Brownies are one of life’s simple pleasures. Chocolate that’s rich and slightly chewy. There’s not much better. A sweet chocolate treat calls for a warm, rich and slightly sweet wine. We recommend the Estate Bottled Port from Shelton Vineyards. This pairing is a great way to end a long day!

Try some of these and let us know what you think!

Sep

2015

NC Wine Month Week 2 Recap

Week 2 is now behind us and we’re now half way through the month and #WineChat with #NCWines is tomorrow! The wine selections last week were just as good as the previous week. Here’s what we had. Don’t forget, you can also follow our progress on the NC Wine Month 2015 Challenge page.

Continue reading →

Mar

2021

Women in the Wine Industry

We’re honoring women in the wine industry. We take a look back at our earlier episodes and found clips that highlight the importance of women in the industry. We would like to thank all of the women who help to make North Carolina Wine what it is today.

In this episode we feature:

Amy Helton of Hanover Park Vineyard
Leslie Zimmerman of Zimmerman Vineyards
Diana Jones of Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery
Kari Heerdt of Round Peak Vineyards
Sofia Lilly of Overmountain Vineyards
Kim Myers of Laurel Gray Vineyards
Diane Currier of Honeygirl Meadery
Patricia McRitchie of McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks
Elizabeth Anne Dover of Dover Vineyards
Pat Colwell of Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery
Hailey Klepcyk of Piccione Vineyards

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This episode they discuss Cabernet Sauvignon and some of its interesting backstory. For more information about the Wine Mouths, head to https://www.winemouths.com/ or find them on Facebook and Instagram @Winemouths. The Wine Mouths theme was written and performed by Joshua Morris. You can find him at twitter.com/joshtimejosh.

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If you like this episode, please leave us a rating and review. It really helps spread the word. Subscribing and sharing with a friend is another great way to support Cork Talk.

Did you know we have a Patreon page that offers Patron Only content, early access to episode, blooper reels, and more? Head to patreon.com/CorkTalk to learn more and sign up!

This episode was made possible in part by a grant from the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council. For more information, please visit https://www.ncwine.org/

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Oct

2015

NC Wine Month 2015 Listing

It’s a wrap! North Carolina Wine and Grape Month is now over! We had a great month filled with NC wine. Here’s the list of what we had:

North Carolina Wine and Grape Month

9/1: Grüner Veltliner from Burntshirt Vineyards
9/2: Raylen Tasting @ Crafty Beer Guys
9/3: Cabernet Franc from Silver Fork Vineyards & Winery
9/4: Selfish from Lazy Elm Winery
9/5: Pinot Grigio from Mountain Brook Vineyards
9/6: Nebbiolo from Grove Winery & Visit to Morgan Ridge Vineyards
9/7: Warrior Red from Cellar 4201
9/8: Sauvignon Blanc from Iron Gate Vineyards
9/9: Chardonnay from Laurel Gray Vineyards
9/10: Petit Verdot from Shelton Vineyards
9/11: Cabernet Sauvignon from Parker-Binns Vineyards
9/12: Blanc de Blancs from McRitchie Winery, Dry Riesling from Dobbins Creek Vineyards, Chambourcin from Misty Creek Vineyards, Barbera from Brandon Hills Vineyard, Apple Tipper from Fair Game Beverage Company
9/13: Petit Manseng from Jones. Von Drehle
9/14: Girasole from Raffaldini Vineyards
9/15: Vineyard Brothers-Satisfied from Silk Hope Winery
9/16: Cabernet Franc from South Creek Vineyards
9/17: Vivace from Adagio Vineyards
9/18: Special Delivery from Junius Lindsay Vineyards
9/19: Soft White from Elkin Creek Vineyards
9/20: Traminette from Misty Creek Vineyards
9/21: Mourvèdre from Hanover Park Vineyard
9/22: Sangiovese from Childress Vineyards
9/23: Grey Ghost from JOLO Winery and Vinayards
9/24: Barrel X from Stonefield Cellars Winery
9/25: Centennial Farm Heritage from Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards
9/26: Traminette Divine from Divine Llama Vineyards
9/27: Taste of Our Carolina Foothills featuring Overmountain Vineyards, Mountain Brook Vineyards, Parker-Binns Vineyards, and Russian Chapel Hills Winery
9/28: Shipwreck from Sanctuary Vineyards
9/29: Tannat from Hererra Vineyards
9/30: Red Bud Ridge from Brushy Mountain Winery

"Jones von Drehle"

Jones von Drehle Petit Manseng Revisited

Jones von Drehle

Jones von Drehle Petit Manseng — Wine Review

In the Wine Light – Cabernet Franc Day

In the Wine Light – International Merlot Day

In the Wine Light – International Grenache Day

In the Wine Light – International Cabernet Day

North Carolina Wines for Your 2018 Holiday Table

NC Wine Guys Present: Cork Talk

Episodes

Sensoria Food and Wine Festival 2018

North Carolina Wines for Your 2017 Holiday Table

A Spotlight on Petit Manseng in North Carolina

Showcase of North Carolina Fine Wines

Food Pairings With North Carolina Wines

NC Wine Month Week 2 Recap

Women in the Wine Industry

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NC Wine Month 2015 Listing

North Carolina Wine and Grape Month

The Latest Episode of Cork Talk:

Elevating Muscadine Part 1

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