12
Aug
2016
Matt Kemberling
16
Jul
2016
July Tour of Five Yadkin Valley Wineries
The first weekend in July, we decided to make our way to a few Yadkin Valley wineries. Although we didn’t get to wine each day of the weekend, we were able to make it on Friday and Saturday. Read on for a recap of our visits to Hanover Park Vineyards, Childress Vineyards, Junius Lindsay Vineyards, RayLen Vineyards, and Misty Creek Vineyards.
After an evening of tasting library wines, there’s bound to be a few empty bottles.
01
Jul
2016
What We’ve Been Drinking: June 2016
Summer is officially here! As the weather heats up, we normally shift to the whites and rosé wines. Normally we would be full force into the North Carolina white wine scene, but slightly cooler weather and some rain toward the middle of the month allowed for a few red wines to slip in our mix. Notable June happenings included our trip to the Finger Lakes, a visit to a West Virginia VIneyard, and a first visit to Shadow Line Vineyards right here in NC.
10
Jun
2016
What We’ve Been Drinking: May 2016
Summer is almost upon us and the North Carolina wine has never tasted better! May was warm and our selections were a bit heavier on the whites and rosés. But still, each bottle showed what NC can produce and how it really is an exciting place to be for new wines.
09
Jun
2016
What We’ve Been Drinking: April 2016
Where has the time gone! As we were preparing the What We’ve Been Drinking for May, we realized we never posted April’s recap. April was quite the month. We had a good sampling from around the state. Also worth mentioning, we had the opportunity to travel out to the Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA out near Murphy, NC.
21
Apr
2016
Spring Wine Dinner at Raffaldini Vineyards
It was a perfect spring day, bright and sunny with moderate temperatures. It was the perfect day to visit Raffaldini Vineyards for their spring wine dinner. Sticking with the Four Seasons theme, Raffaldini Vineyards offers a wine tasting dinner four times a year, each pairing with the season. This past weekend, they celebrated spring with four courses both inside and out, paired with four wines that show what it means to be “Chianti in the Carolinas”.
04
Apr
2016
North Carolina Wine vs the World — a Blind Tasting at RayLen Vineyard
All too often we get the question “is North Carolina wine any good” or “how does North Carolina wine compare to California wine?” Most of the time we encourage people to try North Carolina in for themselves. In reality, this could be a little daunting to some as they may not know where to start. And to answer the question of North Carolina versus California on your own would require you to go out, buy a lot of wine, and sample them side by side. To the average consumer, this may seem a little overboard and quite frankly, a little scary.
How do you know which wines to buy? How can you get a bottle that’s close enough in composition and profile to accurately compare the two wines?
01
Apr
2016
What We’ve Been Drinking: March 2016
It’s hard to believe how fast the months go by. March brought with it warmer weather and the beginning of spring. Many of the grapes in the vineyards have already seen bud break and are well on their way to getting ready for their prime growing season.
During March we drank a bit of North Carolina Wine (26 bottles according to our Instagram). Some notable wines included our first wine of the 2015 vintage, the Barrel Chardonnay from Hanover Park, and the new 2014 Grenache from Junius Lindsay. Both were exceptional when we tasted them. We know that these will only improve over time and can’t wait for more!
Check out our feed below for more details on what we had. Cheers!
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13
Mar
2016
Sunday Adventures #6
Sundays are wine adventure days for us. We typically invite a few friends to join us as we expand their horizons of the NC wine scene. Since we haven’t been out wining in several weeks, we decided to go it alone and take our time. Our options were nearly limitless, but we decided on three wineries in the Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek regions. Read on for an account of the day and our tasting notes for each stop.
29
Feb
2016
What We’ve Been Drinking: February 2016
Another month has come and gone. Even though we got a late start to the month, we still ended up with 11 North Carolina wines! This February marked the first time we participated in Open That Bottle Night! We also had the opportunity to pour three wines for Hanover Park at the Shoppes at Home, Heart and Soul.
We look forward to March and hope it brings with it more NC Wine. Click on the pictures below for more details on our month in wine.
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27
Feb
2016
Childress Malbec – Open That Bottle Night 2016
Tonight we’re taking part in our first Open That Bottle Night. The annual event is dedicated to the old and dusty bottles that happen to stick around after all of these years. The bottle we chose for tonight is the 2008 Childress Malbec from Childress Vineyards. Continue reading →
31
Jan
2016
What We’ve Been Drinking: January 2016
It’s hard to believe that we’re already one month in to 2016! So far this month, we’ve posted about 16 wines from across the state. Also worth noting was the North Carolina Winegrowers Conference that took place January 22, 23, and 24. This annual meeting of wineries, vineyards, and wine fans in Winston-Salem is a great opportunity to talk wine with the experts. This year we actually had the opportunity to lead a session on how wineries can make the most of their social media outlets. It was a lot of fun and we can’t wait until next year.
Back to the wine. Our January wine summaries are found below. Click on a picture to expand and read more about the wine.
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A quick note: We have taken a short break this past week that will continue into the early part of next week. Never fear, we’ll get to posting soon and will have a great recap when the month is over.
31
Dec
2015
A Look Back at 2015
It’s hard to believe that we’re already at the end of 2015. Looking back at the past year, we’ve accomplished quite a bit and drank quite a lot of NC wine — 2015 was pretty big for the NC Wine Guys. As we close out the year, we take a look back at some of the highlights of the year.
10
Dec
2015
Holiday Dinner at Hanover Park
Another weekend, another wine dinner. This time we had the pleasure of attending the annual holiday dinner at Hanover Park Vineyard. Each December, Hanover Park throws a holiday celebration for its wine club members as a thank you for their loyalty and for always being there to support the winery.
02
Dec
2015
Flint Hill Vineyards Autumn Wine Dinner
This past weekend, we had the pleasure of attending the Autumn Wine Dinner at Flint Hill Vineyards. There are several reasons why you should consider going to events like these. Not only do they offer a unique experience of the winery after hours, they also give you the opportunity to see what the winemaker feels would be a good pairing for their wines. This dinner didn’t disappoint on either expectation.
09
Nov
2015
All good things must come to an end: #AWS2015 Recap
The American Wine Society 2015 National Meeting concluded Sunday and a new week has begun. The AWS 2015 conference was the first national meeting we attended. We weren’t sure what to expect but we were pleasantly surprised! The conference started Thursday evening with the first timers reception and the grand showcase of Virginia Wines. The following two days were filled with educational sessions, wine tastings, and a lot of fun.
05
Nov
2015
Part 1 Ends, Part 2 Begins: AWS We’re Here!
The first part of our vacation has come to a close. While we were making our way up to the American Wine Society Annual Conference, we decided to visit the Charlottesville area wineries and breweries. All things considered, the first part of the week have been a welcome relaxing getaway. We discovered several new favorite spots and will be making plans to rerun in the near future.
02
Nov
2015
On the Road to AWS 2015
It’s that time of year again where we take a few days off and enjoy a wine adventure. This year, we’ll be attending the American Wine Society annual conference in Tysons Corner Virginia.
While we’re headed north, we’ll be stopping at several Virginia wineries, breweries, and ciderworks along the way. With a stop in Charlottesville early in the week, we’ll be in a great spot that has a variety of options.
Keep checking back here for more updates. You can also follow our trip on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Twitter: @NCWineGuys
Facebook: NC Wine Guys
Instagram: @ncwineguys
16
Oct
2015
Piccione Grand Opening
This past weekend was the grand opening for Piccione Vineyards. The newest vineyard in Wilkes county is keeping it close to their Italian neighbors (Raffaldini Vineyards, that is). Established in 2010, Dr. Bill Piccione of Chicago decided to embrace the red clay terrain and plant primarily Italian varietals. With 16 acres under vine and plenty of room to expand, Piccione Vineyards has helped expand the Little Italy of the Appalachian foothills.
01
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
28
Sep
2015
NC Wine Month Week 4 Recap
It’s hard to believe that the end of the month is already here. This past week brought with it more reds and a scattering of whites to change things up. Here’s our list. Don’t forget, you can also follow our progress on the NC Wine Month 2015 Challenge page. Also, we’ll be posting a Month in Review list shortly.
25
Sep
2015
NC Wine Month Week 3 Recap
Another week has come and gone. We’re almost to the end of September and soon October will be upon us. Week 3 brought with it slightly cooler weather, so we had a few more reds but still made room for some excellent white wines. Here’s our list for the week. Don’t forget, you can also follow our progress on the NC Wine Month 2015 Challenge page.
15
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.
08
Sep
2015
NC Wine Month Week 1 Recap
It’s hard to believe that the first week of September is already over! Last week we enjoyed a delicious selection of NC Wines. You can keep track of our progress over on our NC Wine Month 2015 Challenge page. –check out our new map, too!
01
Sep
2015
NC Wine & Grape Month 2015 Intro
Last year we made a daily posting on the blog with either a wine or winery review. This year we’ll be using our social media pages and then posting a summary on the blog.
Head on over to our 2015 NC Wine Month Challenge page to see what we’ve been up to.
Check out our other NC Wine Month postings:
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Update: Originally this article referenced September as being the official month to celebrate North Carolina Wine. in 2020, the state officially changed it so that NC Wine Month is celebrated in May!
21
Aug
2015
Sunday Adventures #5
Sundays are wine adventure days for us. We typically invite a few friends to join us as we expand their horizons of the NC wine scene. Although we did invite a friend, we didn’t get a confirmation. So instead of letting a Sunday go to waste, we continued on ourselves.
09
Aug
2015
Summer Wine Pick Up at Raffaldini
This past weekend was the wine pick up for Raffaldini Vineyards. Over the past seven years, Raffaldini has grown a loyal following. This is due not only to the great wine that they produce, but also because owner and winemaker Jay Raffaldini shows such passion for what he does. Twice a year, Jay and his team holds a wine pick up party for his wine club members. At each pick up there are six bottles of wine, a sampling of new releases paired with authentic Italian food, and a short info session about the happenings at the winery and what’s next.
06
Jun
2015
Salute! 2015
We’re headed off to Salute! The North Carolina Wine Celebration in downtown Winston-Salem. We’ll be posting updates and pictures throughout the day as time allows. Check back often and we hope to see you there!
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31
May
2015
Sunday Adventures #4
Sundays are wine adventure days for us. We typically invite a few friends to join us as we expand their horizons of the NC wine scene. Today we were joined by our friend Susan.
27
May
2015
Burntshirt Vineyards
Western North Carolina is surely one of the most picturesque regions of the state. The Blue Ridge Mountains tower over the western part of the state creating an isolated feel that is truly relaxing. One of the many benefits of the mountains is that it also creates a unique climate that sees moderately short winters with long summers. The summer days are hot, but the evenings are cooler making this a great area to grow wine grapes. Burntshirt Vineyards is one of the few that are taking advantage of this unique area. We recently received an invitation to visit the vineyard and winery to take a detailed look at their process and taste their offerings.
11
May
2015
Virginia Adventures Day 4
Day four brought us to the close of our journey in
Virginia. As we made our way back down the highway from Northern
Virginia through the Appalachian Mountains in the Shenandoah
Valley, we decided to make a few last stops. Although we didn’t
stop at many wineries, we were still able to make it to three.
All three are great locations and you should plan a visit
if you’re in the area. Our first stop was Cave Ridge Vineyard.
There we were presented with two tasting options. We
could either taste the standard offering, or we could extend the
tasting and enjoy their port-style and dessert wines. Being port
lovers, we naturally decided to try it all. On the standard
tasting, there were a few wines that stood out. One of our
favorites was the 2013 Viognier. This particular wine was barrel
aged, which gave it a nice oaky nose and flavor with a drop of
vanilla. Also notable was the 2013 Riesling. This French style
Riesling was slightly carbonated, giving it a crisp and dry body.
There was a bit of acidity to the wine that gave it a nice firm
backbone. The port-style wines were tasty as well. They offered a
red made from Chambourcin and a white made of Viognier. Both were
quite tasty and complex with the red showing toasty butterscotch
and the white being smooth and tropical. Our next stop
was just down the road at the Winery at Kindred
Pointe Still slightly young, this winery is
doing well. They offer a wine tasting as well as a cider tasting.
We opted for the wine tasting and were eager for the first pour. On
the menu were two Chardonnays. The first was bright and
acidic with a hint of oak and a mellow buttery flavor. The second
was more traditional with a bigger oak nose and a creamy and nutty
flavor. Our favorite was the 2013 Malbec. This light red had cherry
and vanilla on the nose. It was slightly jammy with a red currant
finish. The light tannins were vibrant and playful and lingered for
only a minute before finishing cleanly. Our last stop of
the day was a bit farther down the highway in Staunton,
Virginia. Ox Eye
Vineyards Ox Eye Vineyards is one stop we will
always try to make whenever we’re in the area. Their new releases
are coming soon, but their current offerings are at also great. The
2013 Dry Riesling is ripe with a honey nose and has really mellowed
out since the last time we tasted it (just last year). It has a
good balance of acids and honeysuckle with a light citrus finish.
Their 2012 Pinot Noir was mild and jammy with a hint of
strawberries and black cherries. Finally their 2012 Cabernet Franc
had a rich nose with a delicate spice on the mid-palate. With each
sip, the spices continued to build until it faded into a long and
lingering finish.
04
May
2015
Virginia Adventures Day 3
Day three brought us to familiar wineries once again. These were the wineries that we marked on our “go back to” list. We were in the northern part of Virginia with Winchester as our base. All of the wineries were within an hour drive from Winchester and if you were to drive the whole circuit without stopping, it would only take about three hours. We made our way to a fair number of wineries. Below are the notes of our journey. The next time you’re in the area, you should make it a point to check out these great wineries.
02
May
2015
Virginia Adventures Day 2
Day two brought us to five wineries before ending up at our final destination. We started in the Charlottesville area and made our way northward. After our second stop, we quickly found oursves in the middle of the mountains with no cellphone service in sight. The only saving grace for communication with the outside world was the free wifi that the wineries offered.
The view from Moss Vineyards.
Stop one was at Stinson Vineyards. We arrived right at opening and were the first ones in the tasting room. Our favorite wine here was the 2014 rosé made from the Mourvèdre Grape. The wine was dark in color with a outstanding earthy nose. The flavors were deep and complex with a mild mushroom flavor. Also worth noting was the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, showing a grapefruit nose and citrus flavor with a nice mineral finish.
Stop number two was just around the corner from our first stop. Grace Estate Winery had just opened their new tasting room the day before we arrived, and it is coming along nicely. The furniture should be arriving within the next week or two, but they have wine and glasses so that’s enough to keep the tasting room running. They had six wines up for tasting. We particularly enjoyed the 2012 Cabernet Franc which had about 10% Petit Verdot blended in. The finished product is a dark red wine with a good tannic structure. There is a nice pepper flavor on the mid-palate and it finishes almost sweet with a hint of caramel.
Stop number three took us slightly off the beaten path. Mountfair Vineyards produces red blends and caters to a dedicated group of followers. Their current offerings are the 2013 Epiphany and the 2013 Complicated. The Epiphany is a Cabernet Franc blend that is light and even with an ample display of dark fruits. The Complicated is a Petit Verdot blend that is dark in color and flavors with notes of cherries and spices. In addition to their own wines, they offer a great selection of wines and ciders from smaller producers who don’t always have tasting rooms. One of the ciders that we enjoyed was the Potters Farmhouse Dry. It was bright and fruity with a crisp finish. The concept here is great and the setting ales you feel like you’re tucked away in the mountains (because you are!).
Stop number four was around the base of the mountain and further into the heart of the cell phone dead zone. Glass House Winery is so named because of the large glass conservatory that is onsite. The owners are not only winemakers, but they are also a certified chocolatier and a conservatory enthusiast. They pair the dessert wine with a handcrafted espresso chocolate that melts in the mouth. Our favorites here were the 2013 C-villian (Chambourcin) and the 2013 One Lane Bridge (Lemberger). The Chambourcin was fruity with a light pepper spice. The Lemberger was dark and fruity with hits of clove and cinnamon. After the tasting, we hopped on the wifi for a quick second and then we were back on our way.
Our final stop for the day was at Moss Vineyards. Although this winery is truely off the beaten path, down a winding gravel road and up a mountainside, it’s worth the visit. We had a few favorites that we sampled. The 2013 Viognier had a nose of lightly toasted honey with a big honeysuckle flavor. The 2012 Vino Rosso was soft and smooth with a tomato jam nose and a smokey finish. Our overall favorite was likely the 2010 Achitectura. This red blend was immensely dark in color with a rich nose and a well developed flavor. It was full in body and had a great complex flavor that lingered in the mouth for a good long while.
All of the wineries we visited on day two were part of the Monticello Wine Trail on a smaller trail called the The Appellation Trail. For more details and to plan a visit, head to the trail’s website or click the wineries above to go directly to their sites.
01
May
2015
Virginia Adventures Day 1
We’re back on the road again, this time heading to the wineries in northern Virginia. On the way we stopped in Charlottesville to visit a few new locations.
Day 1 took us to five wineries and two breweries.
Our first stop was Lovingston Winery. Located just outside of Lovingston, Virginia this winery provides a quiet escape from the daily hustle and bustle. The winery is a small family run operation. Their tasting room is right in the middle their gravity fed production room. (When I say right in the middle, I mean you climb a half flight of stairs to get to the tasting bar that’s at the same level as the tanks. The experience was quite unique.) The tasting usually consists of six wines, but we also had a sneak peak of two new releases. Here are the notes for the verticals. The 2013 Seyval Blanc offered a bright and crisp profile with a great citrus finish. The 2014 was a bit lighter on the nose settling in the honeysuckle family. The flavor was also more mellow with a bigger mouthfeel. The finish was clean with a great mineral note. The 2013 Petit Manseng was done in more of an off dry style with big tropical flavors and aromas while still keeping a nice acidic finish. The 2014 was a bit different in style, but still slightly sweet. The flavors teetered on smokey with hints of herbs and spices on the nose. Also of note here are the 2013 Pinotage and the 07 Reserve Merlot. Both were full in body and flavor and had a lot to offer.
Stop two was somewhat unexpected and was the result of us looking for lunch. Our food plans changed somewhat last minute (I’m not the best navigator sometimes). So we had to hunt for an alternate. Luckily for us, a new boutique winery just popped up on the way to Charlottesville. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards is just a quick turn off highway 20 and is worth the slight diversion. They’re tucked away on the side of a hill with an unobstructed view of the blue ridge mountains and all of its little valleys. The setting is gorgeous, the wines are quite good and locavores will love the food as well. Of interest here was the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc done more in the New Zealand style rather than New World. It was grassy and balanced with a nice profile of minerals and fruit. Also worth noting is the 2013 Petit Verdot, a dark leathery wine with hints of spice, smoke and cherries. Stop in, wine, dine, and enjoy the view!
Stop number three was the Virginia Wineworks. The winemaker, Michel Shaps, is regional presence in the Virginia wine making world. He produces wines for several vineyards in the area as well as running a custom crush operation. There were several wine tasting options available. We decided to stay local and go for the Virginia tasting. The wines were all delicious, but we particularly liked the Odette, a white blend that was light and balanced. The unique thing about this wine is that you could almost taste every grape in this wine. It started with an appley Chardonnay, moved into a floral/tropical Viognier which rounded into an acidic Petit Manseng before finishing with a note of Riesling. The winery itself is picking up on a new trend in the industry: growlers and boxes. Many of the wines here are for sale in a 64 oz growler. The Chardonnay also comes in a 3-Liter box. New things on the horizons here, worth keeping an eye on.
Stop four took us to Blenheim Vineyards. The setting is rustic barn meets modern tasting room. They also have hopped onto the growler bandwagon and offer a few of their wines in a larger size. They have two white blends that use a good amount of red grape in them. They didn’t impart any color, but it did add to the flavor and body of the wines. Of interest here was the 2013 Grenache, a GSM blend that was full of pepper and dark fruits. Also worth noting is the 2013 Painted Red, a blend of Petit Verdot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. It was bright and fruity that quickly moved into a smooth and even texture.
Our final winery of the day was Jefferson Vineyards. Conveniently located just outside of Monticello, this winery should be on your list if you’re in the area. The winery itself has been family run for over three generations. Many of the red wines shared similar characteristics of toasted caramel, but each was unique in its own right. Our favorites were the 2012 Petit Verdot which was dark and fruity with a nice toasty finish and also the 2012 Meritage which was smooth and silky with a delicious flavor.
After a long day of winery stops, we headed to our hotel and looked for dinner options. We decided to eat in downtown Charlottesville. But first, we made a quick stop at Champion Brewing Company where we had an overly delicious imperial coffee stout. After our beer flight, we went on to South Street Brewery for some DIY Mac & Cheese and another beer sampler. The kolch and the red IPA were very good and worth searching out.
If you’re thinking about a trip to Charlottesville, the numerous wineries and breweries definitely make it worth it.
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25
Apr
2015
Fair Game Beverage Company
Tucked away just outside Pittsboro, NC is a great little distillery that is making fortified wines and spirits. The name of the place is Fair Game Beverage Company. We made a visit during their Spirit Release party. We’re talking distilled spirits here, not the metaphysical spirits. Chris Jude, the head distiller, gave us a detailed tasting of his fortified wines. Also as part of the festivities, we tasted the two new spirits which were incredibly fresh and unique.
22
Apr
2015
Honeygirl Meadery
Before I knew about artisan mead, my mind always imagined a dark sweet drink that people in the middle ages drank in their local pub or in a grand hall. This may well be what many people think of when you mention mead. However, mead is making a come back. Nowadays mead can range from super sweet to bone dry with flavors galore. In our modern world of gluten-sensative diets, mead provides a great alternative to beer. For those who enjoy wine, mead is essentially a wine of a different flavor. We’re fortunate in North Carolina as we have several meaderies throughout the state. One of the newest is Honeygirl Meadery in Durham, North Carolina.
12
Apr
2015
Sunday Adventures #3
Sundays are wine adventure days for us. We typically invite a few friends to join us as we expand their horizons of the NC wine scene. Today were joined by our friends Susan and Candyce.
On the schedule for today, we have Lazy Elm, Hanover Park Vineyard, and Medaloni Cellars. More updates later on. Check back often!
12
Apr
2015
Upcoming Projects
- Finger Lakes Wine Highlights
- Baker Buffalo Creek Vertical Tasting
- Upper Hiwassee Highlands Wineries
- Bull City Ciderworks Review
- NC Wine and Grape Guide
- Winery Trails and Maps
27
Mar
2015
Black Mountain Beer & Cider
This past weekend we took an overnight trip to Asheville. On the way, we decided to stop in Black Mountain. If you’ve never been to this small town, it’s nestled right at the foot of the Black Mountains (part of the Appalachian mountains). It is a quaint town just off I-40 with most of the business district straddling US Highway 70. At first glance, the artistic charm of this town might be seen as the main draw. However, there are a few hidden gems in this town.
15
Mar
2015
Sunday Adventures #2
Sundays are wine adventure days for us. We typically invite a few friends to join us as we expand their horizons of the NC wine scene. Today were joined by our friend Susan.
Today’s adventure takes us to three wineries in the Yadkin Valley: Ragapple Lassie Vineyards, Divine Llama Vineyards, and Cellar 4201. We’ll be sampling a few new wines and will post the notes as soon as cell service allows.
Keep checking throughout the day for updates!
08
Mar
2015
Sunday Adventures: Part 1
Today, like most Sunday afternoons, we’re headed out to visit a few wineries. Our destination is part of the WNC Wine Trail, specifically the Tyron area wineries, previously reviewed during NC Wine Month. We’re taking a different approach today as I plan to make live updates (as cell service allows).
Our first stop is Mountain Brook Vineyards where we will be joining up with some friends for a birthday celebration. From there we plan on going to at least two other wineries, possibly three, ending at Parker-Binns Vineyard to relax with hot woodfired pizza.
Keep coming back for more updates!
26
Feb
2015
New Brews Defeat Winter Blues at D9 Brewing
A few weeks ago, D9 Brewing in Cornelius released a new line up of beers to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The new lineup has been long in the making. A few months of plumbing issues kept the brewmasters from running at peak efficiency. Yet still, the beer was flowing as fast as the customers could drink. On our visit we decided since there was so many new options, we had to get a flight.
08
Feb
2015
The Proof is in the Glass: Riedel Wine Glass Tasting
When it comes to drinking wine out of the appropriate glass there are several schools of thought on the subject. Many believe that the glass doesn’t make a terrible amount of difference to the wine tasting experience and when you do use a higher quality glass, it’s really just the perception of having the wine taste better. Still others believe that the wine glass itself can make or break the wine.
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20
Jan
2015
Vintage Tasting at Hanover Park
Whenever you have an opportunity to sign up for a vintage wine tasting, you should really consider it. Oftentimes when you read about vintage tastings in wine literature, they span decades usually marked by significant events in the history of the sponsoring winery. Here in North Carolina, most of the wineries haven’t been open for decades like you might find in California. One of the only wineries that comes close to this is Hanover Park, which is where our most recent vintage tasting took place.
06
Jan
2015
New Reviews for the New Year
Well 2014 has come and gone. While it was a good year for wine, 2015 promises to be even better. We have a number of events planned for January alone. One of our New Year Resolutions is to post more reviews more often. We also have a few things planned for the site under the Resources section that we hope people will find useful.
Come back often and keep an eye out for updates on our Facebook page and Twitter feed!
09
Oct
2014
September in Review: NC Wine and Grape Month
We’re now well into October, so I thought it would be good to recap our September experiences with a quick month in review. The mini challenge we set for the blog has concluded successfully: Review 30 wines (or wineries) in the 30 days of September. NC Wine Month is a time where the wineries and vineyards in the state are recognized for their contributions. Our goal was to feature a wine or winery each day and write-up a little review of the selection we made. In total we reviewed 28 North Carolina Wines and 8 North Carolina Wineries. For a full account of our challenge, click on the NC Wine Month link in the menu above. Continue reading →
30
Sep
2014
Daveste Rkatsiteli — Wine Review
To finish up our last wine review of the North Carolina Wine & Grape Month, we decided to finish with one of the oldest grape varietals known to man-kind, Rkatsiteli. The Daveste Rkatsiteli from Davesté Vineyards, is one of only a handful of vineyards in the US that grow and produce a wine from the grape. Rkatsiteli is a grape originating from Georgia (the country, not the state) where it is a fairly common grape. The grape reportedly dates back to 3000 B.C. making it one of the oldest grapes that have been cultivated for wine making purposes. The pale skinned grape produces a white wine ranging from dry to sweet. Some European countries even produce Port, Sherry, and dessert style wines from the same grape. Continue reading →
29
Sep
2014
Hanover Park Mourvèdre — Wine Review
Tonight’s wine comes from a winery that we’ve already reviewed, but we wanted to review another wine from them as our last one was more of a dessert wine. For dinner we had grilled lamb meat balls, which is what we normally have when we are opening a bottle of Hanover Park Mourvèdre. It is also known as Monastrell and is usually a darker wine with heavy tannins and an earthy complex profile. The wine is common in France, however it is often found in red blends of both French and Spanish origin, usually blended with Grenache and Syrah.
28
Sep
2014
High Country Wineries — Winery Reviews
Today we traveled to the High Country Wineries of North Carolina to visit three unique wineries, each with stunning vistas and delightful wines. The wineries, Linville Falls Winery, Grandfather Vineyard, and Banner Elk Winery, are located in the western North Carolina mountain area nestled in with the ski resorts and smaller mountain towns. The journey to get there is full of winding roads, steep inclines and fantastic views. Continue reading →
27
Sep
2014
Junius Lindsay Roussanne — Wine Review
Tonight we decided to open a bottle of something very familiar, the Junius Lindsay Roussanne from Junius Lindsay Vineyard. Roussanne is typically found in many French white blends, especially those produced in the Rhône style. As a straight varietal wine it makes for a unique wine, making it a refreshing option from the run of the mill white wines. Continue reading →