Feb

2022

Ciders of Opportunity

This episode features Lyndon Smith, Amie Fields, Kether Smith, and Deric McGuffey from Botanist & Barrel Cidery & Winery! Botanist & Barrel has two locations. The farm, production site, and original tasting room is located in Cedar Grove, NC. They opened a second tasting room in Asheville in 2021 which sells their products as well as other natural wines and ciders.

At Botanist & Barrel, they focus on being minimalistic and wild. This means they work with what nature gives them. The only tools they work with are time, temperature, and the barrels they work with. Working in this way, they can produce a wine or cider that is a true expression of terroir. Another philosophy they follow is less is more. This concept lead to their first pet nat cider (also called Less is More) and captures everything they’re trying to do.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. They explore methoxypyrazines and how they impact wines. For more information about the Wine Mouths, head to https://www.winemouths.com/ or find them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @Winemouths. The Wine Mouths theme was written and performed by Joshua Morris. You can find him at twitter.com/joshtimejosh.

Closing Content

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.

This episode was made possible in part by a grant from the North Carolina Wine & Grape Council. You can find out more information about the council by going to their website https://www.ncwine.org

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!

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Feb

2022

In the Wine Light – Yadkin Valley AVA

American Viticultural Areas in North Carolina

In the Wine Light we continue our series on American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in North Carolina. Our focus in this post is the oldest and largest AVA in North Carolina, the Yadkin Valley.

Shelton Vineyards in Dobson, NC

The petition for creating the Yadkin Valley AVA originated from Patricia McRitchie on behalf of Shelton Vineyards. The Yadkin Valley name was chosen because the area had been known as the Yadkin Valley since pre-colonial days with the Yadkin River being a prominent feature.

Vineyard #1 at Westbend Vineyards – The first Vinifera planting in the Yadkin Valley

At the end of the 20th Century, the once thriving tobacco growing region was turning to a new crop, wine grapes. At the time of the petition there were over 30 growers within the original boundaries of the AVA and 3 bonded wineries.

Cabernet Sauvignon growing at Hanover Park – The second winery in the Yadkin Valley

A petition by Alliston Stubbs of Cedar Ridge Vineyards in Reeds, NC asked to include additional land in Davie and Davidson Counties in the new AVA. This petition was accepted. Other petitions to expand the area of the AVA were denied.

Boundaries of the Yadkin Valley AVA

Today the Yadkin Valley is home to some of the most premier wineries in North Carolina. New vineyards are being planted and new wineries are coming online. The region and AVA are fast becoming a wine tourism destination.

Quick Facts

Name: Yadkin Valley

Petitioner: Patricia McRitchie on behalf of Shelton Vineyards

Effective Date: February 7, 2003

Acres: 1,416,000

Counties within boundaries: Wilkes, Surry, Yadkin, and portions of Stokes, Forsyth, Davie, and Davidson

Geography: Elevation ranges from 3800 ft in Northwest Wilkes County to 694 in Northwest Davie County. Latitude is between 36°00′ and 36°30′ N.

Climate: Temperatures and precipitation are moderate as compared to the surrounding areas. The growing season and frost-dates fall within the optimum range for cultivation of premium vinifera grapes.

Soil: Soils are mostly clay with clay or fine Loamy subsoils with good drainage. The tend to be acidic with low fertility.

Source: Federal Register

#InTheWineLight #NCWine #YadkinValley

Jan

2022

In the Wine Light – American Viticultural Areas

American Viticultural Areas in North Carolina

In the Wine Light we’re revisiting our series on American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) with a particular focus on the six AVAs in North Carolina. Over the next few months, we’ll dive into each of these six North Carolina AVAs. We’ll also look at the seventh proposed AVA that’s pending approval.

But we’ll start with what is an AVA. The Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is the government agency charged with approving and designating new AVAs. Per their website:

An American Viticultural Area, or AVA, is a specific type of appellation of origin used on wine labels. An AVA is a delimited grape-growing region with specific geographic or climatic features that distinguish it from the surrounding regions and affect how grapes are grown. Using an AVA designation on a wine label allows vintners to describe more accurately the origin of their wines to consumers and helps consumers identify wines they may purchase.

So, an AVA is a designated grape-growing region within the United States that has specific geographic features or a unique climate that distinguishes it from other grape growing regions. Our AVAs are similar to appellation designations in France (AOC/AOP) and Italy (DOC/DOCG) although not as stringent. For example, American AVAs don’t restrict what grapes can be grown in a given AVA .

An AVA designation allows winemakers to taut the unique terroir of a particular region. Some AVAs come with a level of prestige allowing wines to claim higher selling prices. A wine with an AVA designation must be made of at least 85% of the grapes in the wine having been grown within the AVA.

According to the TTB’s website, to establish a new AVA, you must have these three things:

A proposed name, as well as evidence showing that the name is currently used to describe the region of the proposed AVA.
A description of the geographic and/or climatic features that distinguish the proposed AVA from the surrounding regions and have an effect on how grapes are grown, along with evidence to support your claims of these distinctive features.
A written description of the proposed AVA boundary and the appropriate U.S.G.S topographic maps with the boundary drawn on it.

The petition undergoes a lengthy review and approval process sometimes taking years.

What would you like to know about AVAs in North Carolina? Leave us a comment.

#InTheWineLight #NCWine #AVA

Jan

2022

Roads of Gold – Golden Roads Vineyards

Welcome to season 4 of Cork Talk! This episode features Chad and Crista Guebert from Golden Road Vineyards in State Road, NC! Chad and Christa opened the tasting room at the vineyard just last year. Both of them have a background in IT consulting and decided they wanted to get away from their computer screens and do something they are passionate about.

They purchased Golden Road Vineyard in 2018. At the time, it was an established vineyard which was an important factor in their decision. They began their wine journey in Virginia where they took wine education and winemaking classes through classes offered at a local community college in collaboration with local Virginia wineries. Their search for vineyards in Virginia kept pushing them further south and eventually they found a home just over the border here in North Carolina.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This season, Jesse and Jessica will take us through the different components that go into the flavors we taste and aromas we smell. For more information about the Wine Mouths, head to https://www.winemouths.com/ or find them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @Winemouths. The Wine Mouths theme was written and performed by Joshua Morris. You can find him at twitter.com/joshtimejosh.

Closing Content

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!

We also touch on a very important topic. The Spotted Lantern Fly is an invasive species that is threatening grapes and other food crops on the east coast. For more information, head to YouTube to watch this video from North Carolina Agriculture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIPcYSXsqhk

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Dec

2021

In the Wine Light – Festivus 2021 – Airing of Wine Grievances!

In the Wine Light today, December 23, 2021, is the celebration of Festivus. Created in 1966 by Daniel O’Keefe and popularized during an episode of the hit TV show, Seinfeld, Festivus is celebrated with Feats of Strength and the Airing of Grievances. So, in that spirit, we’re back for the fourth year to air a few wine grievances. This is our one post a year that’s not entirely positive. Many of these grievances are repeats from previous years, but there are a new one or two and some updates. So, sit back, pour a glass, and read on!

These are in no particular order:

Too Busy. Our lives in 2021 were just too busy with other obligations to have much time for visiting wineries and posting about them. 2022 doesn’t appear that it will get a ton better, so bare with us as we do the best we can.

Too many hashtags or using hashtags that don’t apply. This still gets on our nerves. You don’t need 14 million hashtags on your post especially if they’re hashtags no one else uses. And just because you’re drinking wine in a given region, that doesn’t make it a regional wine. So, don’t post about the Apothic Red you’re drinking in Charlotte and call it #NCWine. Wine is about a sense of place. Apothic Red’s place is not in your wine glass.

Poor tasting glasses. We’re still glass snobs. Please no glasses with the “lip” around the rim. These just don’t show wines well. Upgrade the glass and the experience!

Stemless glasses. Some people love them. We hate them. You’re constantly holding your glass by the bowl and then warming the wine with your hand which can then affect the taste. Stick with a stemmed glass which brings us to our next grievance.

Holding a wine glass improperly. You should hold the glass by the stem. We did a whole blog post about it.

“Fruited” wines. We’re still wondering why do we need pomegranate, green apple, cranberry, cherry, pineapple and umpteen other fruits added to our perfectly fruity grape wines? Wine grapes produce wines with an abundance of fruit flavors. Let the grapes speak for themselves. And if you want a fruit wine, then just make it from fruit.

Wine slushies. Seriously, why is this still a thing? Ok, maybe in the summer then it’s 95 degrees and 10,000% humidity, but wine is already extra calories, do you really need all that extra sugar?

Children in at wineries and vineyards. It’s sad that this is still an issue. This is our #2 grievance (behind being too busy) if we had to rank them. Children can’t drink. Don’t bring them with you to a winery. Wining is an adult thing and many of us wish to adult in peace and quiet. But, please bring your well behaved dogs and cats. We love pets!

Farm to fork restaurants who don’t have local wine on their lists. This is probably #3 on our grievance list right after the kids at wineries. Don’t call yourself a farm to fork locavore restaurant if you don’t have local wine on this list. There’s just no excuse! And make those wines available for pick up for those who don’t want to eat inside a restaurant right now.

So, that’s our list for this year. And keeping with this theme, leave us your comments of what’s your grievances are. Just avoid personal attacks.

Cheers and Happy Festivus for the rest of us!

#InTheWineLight #Festivus

Dec

2021

Cork Talk Holiday Episode!

In this episode, we sit down with four of our blogger friends to bring you a special Holiday Episode! In this episode, we feature Pam from Food and Wine Chronicles, Jessica from the Wine Mouths, Arthur from Merlot 2 Muscadine, and Dave from Vino-Sphere! We talk about the things you should look for in a holiday wine pairing. We then move on to suggested wine styles to consider for your holiday table (oh yes, and we do talk about Joe’s mulled wine).

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This time they talk to us about Cabernet Franc. 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.

Closing Content

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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Dec

2021

In the Wine Light – Mulled Wine and Cider

In the Wine Light and just in time for the holidays is Mulled Wine and Cider!

Mulled Wine and Cider are always favorites in the cooler months of the year. We often serve Mulled Wine during the holidays or on days with wintry weather. We have gone through several iterations of recipes. Most have been made just using red wine as a base with bit of bourbon. A few years ago, we found a recipe that incorporated wine, cider, bourbon and tawny port. We have played with it a bit and would like to share it with you.

If you are looking for a warm mulled drink that is just slightly sweet, give this recipe a try. If you would like a sweeter version, you could always add honey or brown sugar to taste or start with a sweeter wine.

Start with spices. You will need cardamom, whole cloves, star anise, whole black peppercorns, whole allspice, cinnamon sticks, and a whole nutmeg.

Crack the cardamom pods. Toast the cracked cardamom pods, star anise, cloves, peppercorns, and allspice berries in a skillet for just a few minutes. Two – three minutes is all you need. Stir constantly to prevent burning. The smell will be divine!

Next, make your cheesecloth bundle with sliced ginger, orange peel, and your toasted spices. Secure with butcher’s twine.

In your slow cooker, pour in your liquid ingredients including the juice of half an orange. Stir.

Add your cheesecloth bundle, cinnamon sticks, and sprig of rosemary. Heat on low for two hours. Then remove cheesecloth and sprig of rosemary. Grate fresh nutmeg. Stir. Heat on low another two hours. Remove cinnamon sticks and turn setting to warm. Serve warm.

Here is the full recipe:

INGREDIENTS

3 Whole Star Anise

5 Whole Green Cardamom Pods, Cracked

1 Teaspoon Whole Cloves

1 Teaspoon Whole Allspice Berries

½ Teaspoon Whole Black Peppercorns

1 Teaspoon Grated Orange Peel

1.5” Fresh Ginger, Peeled and Sliced Thinly

2 cups Apple Cider

1 bottle Dry Red Wine

1 cup Tawny Port

¼ cup Bourbon

Juice of ½ an Orange

6” Sprig of Rosemary

3 Cinnamon Sticks

Freshly Grated Nutmeg

4 Quart Slow Cooker

Cheesecloth

Butcher’s Twine

METHOD

Heat small non-stick skillet over medium heat.
Once the skillet is hot, add Star Anise, Cardamon, Cloves, Allspice, and Black Peppercorns.
Toast for 2-3 minutes stirring constantly to prevent burning.
Place toasted spices in cheesecloth along with Grated Orange Peel and Ginger.
Secure with Butcher’s Twine.
Pour wine, cider, port, and bourbon into slow cooker.
Add cheesecloth bundle, rosemary sprig, and cinnamon sticks.
Stir.
Set slow cooker to low.
Heat for 2 hours.
Remove rosemary and cheesecloth bundle.
Grate a dash or two of fresh nutmeg.
Stir.
Continue to heat on low for another hour or two.
Remove cinnamon sticks.
Set slow cooker to Warm until ready to serve.
Serve warm.

#InTheWineLight #MulledWine #MulledCider

Dec

2021

In the Wine Light – Cabernet Franc Day

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

Origins

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.

Parent Grape

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.

Plantings Around the World

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.

In North Carolina

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

2021

Enjoy Your Path – Marked Tree Vineyard

This episode features Tim Parks and Lance Hiatt of Marked Tree Vineyard in Hendersonville, NC! We visited the vineyard in the early fall (a perfect time of year) and recorded this conversation with Tim and Lance. Their love of wine started when Lance visited Chablis many years ago. Together, the pair visited many wine regions across the globe. It was the east coast wineries that really made them consider running a vineyard as an option.

The story behind the Marked Tree is that Native Americans would use a bent tree to mark a path. These Marked Trees would guide you along a path to different destinations, depending on the type of tree they used. At Marked Tree Vineyards, Tim and Lance encourage you to relax and enjoy the path you’re on.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This time they talk to us about Syrah. 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.

Closing Content

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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Nov

2021

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

Oct

2021

In the Wine Light – Linden Vineyards

In the Wine Light is Linden Vineyards. On our return from our trip to the Finger Lakes this summer, we made a couple of stops in Virginia. Our second stop was at Linden Vineyards in Linden.

We first visited Linden Vineyards in October of 2019. We had tasted Linden’s wines previously at an American Wine Society Conference in 2015. Owner Jim Law led a session on “Site Specific Variations in Wine”. During this session we tasted Chardonnays and Cabernet Francs from various Linden sites.

Hardscrabble Vineyard – Linden Vineyards – Linden, VA

Backstory

Linden Vineyards began in 1985 with the establishment of the Hardscrabble Vineyard. This site, once an apple orchard, had long been abandoned. Eight acres were planted with mostly grafted and propagated in-house from budwood obtained from the few local vineyards in the surrounding area. The first planting consisted of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Vidal Blanc, and Seyval Blanc as noted on Linden’s website. The first commercial vintage was 1987.

There are currently 22 acres under vine across 3 vineyard sites: Hardscrabble, Avenius, and Boisseau. Avenius is a nearby site first planted in 1996. Boisseau, a warmer site, is located in Front Royal, VA.

Jim Law has been a well-respected member of the Virginia Wine community for decades. That respect extends down to North Carolina as we have heard numerous people sing Jim’s praises. Jim willingly shares his knowledge and expertise and is a mentor to many.

Barrel Room – Linden Vineyards – Linden, VA

Winemaking Philosophy

Linden Vineyards has a distinctive winemaking philosophy. A recent social media post described it as palate-based winemaking. Extraction decisions are made solely on taste. They note that taste is somewhat subjective, so the try to discipline their tasting regiment by taking two samples every two days from each lot. In Linden’s library, one of the samples is tasted alongside a sample taken two days previously. They can then taste the progression of extraction. This procedure continues every two days until they decide to drain the wine off its skins.

Another key philosophy for winemaking at Linden is around where the winemaker spends most of his time. At Linden Vineyards, the winemaker spends more time in the vineyard than in the cellar. As they say, good wine starts in the vineyard.

Tasting – Chardonnay

Visits to the Linden Vineyards’ tasting room are by reservation only. Our tasting appointment was at 11am. Jen greeted us and got us started. We began with the 2018 Village Chardonnay. This Chardonnay is a blend of all three vineyard sites and spent 10 months in neutral French oak. The nose gave notes of roasted banana while the palate had crisp pear with some flinty undertones. The acids were pleasing.

Next up, we tasted the 2016 Avenius Chardonnay. 2016 was a warm vintage. Again, this wine spent 10 months in neutral French oak which showed on the nose. Lightly candied pear dominated on the palate. With crisp acids, this wine was full bodied and very enjoyable.

Tasting – Red Wines

After the whites, we tasted three red wines starting with the 2014 Claret. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (44%), Merlot (34%), Cabernet Franc (20%), and Petit Verdot (2%), this wine presented a gorgeous nose with aromas of violets, blueberry, and spice. The palate gave roasted plums, figs, and a hint of spice. The tannins were medium with a balanced acidity.

Next was the 2014 Petit Verdot. Made of Petit Verdot (88%), Cabernet Sauvignon (8%), and Carménère (4%) and aged in older French oak, this wine gave a smoky, toasty nose. The palate was rich with flavors of blueberries, tobacco, and black tea and hints of violets. The oak gave a spicy undertone.

We finished the tasting with the 2016 Hardscrabble Red made from fruit from the Hardscrabble vineyard. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot (41%), and Cabernet Franc (3%), this wine was aged in new and used oak for twenty-two months. Blueberries, black plum, and violets danced on the nose. Roasted black figs, vanilla, blueberries, and a hint of violets showed on the palate. The tannins were bold with a long, pleasing finish.

Bottled Wine – Linden Vineyards – Linden, VA

Tour with Winemaker

After we finished our tasting, Linden Vineyards winemaker, Jonathan Weber, took us for a tour. Jonathan has connections to North Carolina having studied at viticulture and enology at the program at Surry Community College.

We started on the crush pad, talking about the vineyard and harvest. Typically grapes are harvested on day and processed the next. Sorting tables a used to sort grapes saving the best berries for winemaking. Recently, they have moved to more whole berry fermentation. We ended the tour in the cellar further discussing the winemaking process.

View at Linden Vineyards – Linden, VA

Must Visit

If you are a serious wine enthusiast and haven’t visited Linden Vineyards, you should plan a trip. We’re sure you won’t be disappointed.

We look forward to our next visit!

#InTheWineLight #VAWine

Oct

2021

Working Hard to be Found – Hidden Vineyard

In this episode, we sit down with Lisa, Tim, Claudia, and Josh from Hidden Vineyard in Dobson, North Carolina! The Hidden Vineyard family moved from Ohio to an area that they visited on many occasions on their way to family vacations. They were looking for an established vineyard to purchase so they could make wine sooner. With just about 10 acres, they make six estate wines in partnership with their custom crush partners. Each of the owners has one wine that is their favorite and they follow the wine throughout the process. When you visit, you feel like you’re part of the family and they embrace each visitor as if you are.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This time they talk to us about the grape Merlot. 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.

Closing Content

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

2021

In the Wine Light – Glen Manor Vineyards

In the Wine Light is Glen Manor Vineyards. On our return from our trip to the Finger Lakes this summer, we made a couple of stops in Virginia. Our first stop was at Glen Manor Vineyards in Front Royal.

Glen Manor Vineyards – October, 2019

We first visited Glen Manor Vineyards in October of 2019. We’d always heard great things about them and were super impressed with our visit, so it was a priority to visit them again.

Tasting Room and Winery at Glen Manor Vineyards

Scenic Location

Glen Manor Vineyards is located just below Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park. The vineyards are just beyond the tasting room on a steep hills. Visits to Glen Manor are by reservation only – a feature that started during the pandemic and will likely continue thereafter.

Our appointment was a 4:30pm on an absolutely gorgeous day. We were greeted by Kelly, one of the owners, who led us outside for our tasting. We faced the vineyard with Skyline Drive on the mountain above.

Glen Manor Vineyards with Skyline Drive Above

Century Farm

This bucolic location provides a peaceful respite from today’s busy life. Kelly walked us through the history of the estate beginning with the initial purchase of land by the family in 1901. Fast forward to 1995 when Glen Manor Vineyards was born with the planting of a little more than one acre of Sauvignon Blanc.

More vines were planted in subsequent years with the most recent addition in 2017. There are now 17 acres under vine on the 212 acre estate. In addition to the Sauvignon Blanc, varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petit Manseng, and Nebbiolo.

Tasting – Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé

We began our tasting with the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc. Grapes on the west facing canopy were harvested on August 29, 2019, with grapes from the east facing canopy harvested on September 2, 2019. Each harvest was fermented separately in stainless steel at 55 degrees for 30 days using two different yeasts. The separate batches were blended in October, 2019, and then bottled in January, 2020. A grassy, lemony nose gave way to a palate of candied lemon along with a grassy, herbaceous note with a slight minerality.

Next up, we tasted the 2020 Morales Rosé, a blend of Cabernet Franc (45%), Merlot (22%), Petit Verdot (22%), and Nebbiolo (11%). A well balanced wine that presented notes of strawberry and watermelon.

Front of Tasting Room at Glen Manor Vineyards

Tasting – Reds

Time for reds, so we started with the 2015 St. Ruth, a blend of Merlot (72%), Cabernet Franc (14%), and Petit Verdot (14%). Each wine was fermented in small one ton bins with 14 days of post fermentation maceration and later aged for 20 months in French oak. The 2015 St. Ruth had a nose of caramel, vanilla, and roasted plum. The palate had nice roasted plum with leathery and spicy notes.

Fermented in the same manner at the 2015 St. Ruth, the 2016 St. Ruth was next. A blend of Merlot (52%), Cabernet Franc (38%), and Petit Verdot (10%), the nose showed black tea and black cherry with more on the palate along with a bit of spice.

Next, we moved to the 2014 Hodder Hill, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (69%), Merlot (16%), and Petit Verdot (15%). A caramel and toasty oak nose invited you in, but the velvety smooth palate of blueberry, black raspberry made you want more. A hint of violets danced in the background as the Cabernet Sauvignon proved to be a star.

We ended the reds with the 2017 Petit Verdot which had spent 20 months in French oak. Fresh baked blueberries on the nose and a rich palate reminiscent of blueberry pie with hints of vanilla and spice. Glen Manor Vineyards certainly has some impressive reds.

A Fall View of the Vineyards at Glen Manor – October, 2019

Tasting – Petit Manseng

Finally, it was time for Petit Manseng! We tasted three. First, we tasted the 2019 Dry Petit Manseng. Harvested on September 18, 2019, chilled overnight, whole cluster pressed the next day, fermented cold in stainless steel in two batches using different yeasts for 30 days, and finally blended together. Bottled in January, 2020, this wine gave us pear and pineapple on the nose with candied pineapple and pear on the palate. The acids proved to be nice and balanced.

Next up, the 2017 Petit Manseng which was fermented in a similar manner but had Petit Manseng juice added back to raise the residual sugar to 2.8%. Candied pear showed through on the nose. The palate presented golden baked apple and bit of pear. Full bodied, the sugar, acids, and flavors were balanced.

We ended the tasting with the 2016 Raepheus, a late harvest Petit Manseng dessert wine. Grapes were harvested on November 11, 2016, and placed in a walk-in freeze for 12 days. Then, the grapes were whole cluster pressed. The juice was cold settled for 24 hours with sediment racked off and the juice inoculated for fermentation in two thirds new French oak and one third stainless steel. On March 5, 2017, the two wines were blended in stainless steel to age on light yeast lees for ten months. Bottling happened in February, 2018. What a delight this wine is! Roasted pineapple on the nose led to a palate of candied pineapple and toasty oak. A good acid backbone still shown through on the moderately sweet palate.

Wrapping Up

After we wrapped up our tasting, Kelly graciously gave us some recommendations for dinner. We purchased several wines and ended our glorious afternoon at Glen Manor Vineyards. We highly recommend you make a reservation and go visit. You won’t regret it!

#InTheWineLight #VAWine

Oct

2021

In the Wine Light – Virginia Wine Month

RdV Vineyards in Delaplane, VA

In the Wine Light is Virginia Wine Month. October is designated as Virginia Wine Month. Outside of North Carolina, Virginia is one of our favorite American wine regions.

Virginia’s wine history dates back nearly 400 years. Just 12 years after the first English settlement at Jamestown, the Virginia House of Burgesses passed “Acte 12”. This act required each male colonist to plant and tend to grapevines. Later in 1773, the Virginia Wine Company formed and devoted nearly 2,000 acres of land to start a vineyard and winery near Monticello. (Source: VirginiaWine.org)

Today Virginia boasts over 300 wineries, 9 American Viticultural Areas (with two shared with other states), and nearly 3000 acres under vine. Plantings include Vinifera, hybrids, and native American grapes. Much like North Carolina, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc do well in Virginia. Albariño is also another up and coming variety that is getting more attention in Virginia.

We look forward to highlighting a few Virginia wines this month. Do you have a favorite Virginia wine?

#InTheWineLight #VAWine #VAWineMonth

Sep

2021

Reds Through the Years at Zimmerman Vineyards

We recently attended the “Reds Through the Years” event at Zimmerman Vineyards in Trinity, North Carolina. The theme for the evening was Bordeaux, tannins, and vintage wines.

Zimmerman opened on June 1, 2007 and has been producing top quality wines ever since. Wines are made offsite at Childress Vineyards by Winemaker Mark Frizolowski from fruit grown in the estate vineyard. You can learn more about Zimmerman Vineyards in our episode of Cork Talk featuring owner Leslie Zimmerman and Christie Otranto.

Terrace at Zimmerman Vineyards with views of the Uwharrie Mountains

We had visited Zimmerman several times in the past and have always enjoyed our visits, the beautiful grounds, and the wine. This particular event was our first visit since the pandemic began. We arrived on a comfortably cool fall evening. Tables were set under the permanent tent with plenty of room to spread out.

Cabernet Franc and Merlot

2007 Cabernet Franc and 2010 Merlot from Zimmerman Vineyards

We began with the tasting of the 2007 Cabernet Franc and the 2010 Merlot. The Cabernet Franc was produced with secondary fruit only due to a freeze that happened after initial budbreak where primary buds were lost. Paired with dried cherries, this wine is still holding its own. It showed stewed cherries and figs with a hint of leather on the nose. The palate gave notes of cherry and tobacco with medium tannins. Next up was the Merlot which showed a leathery nose. The fig flavors on the palate paired nicely with dried brown figs. The tannins were grippy but not overpowering. Of the two, the Cabernet Franc was the favorite.

Morpheus – Heir of Hypnos

Treats paired with Morpheus, Heir of Hypnos

Tasting notes for Morpheus, Heir of Hypnos from Zimmerman Vineyards’ Website

Next, we moved on to a small food plate with cheese and crackers, an olive medley, and paninos. These treats were paired with Zimmerman Vineyards’ newest red wine Morpheus – Heir of Hypnos. The new wine is stellar. A non-vintaged Bordeaux style blend that is NOT oaked, proved to be a hit. This wine showed violets and red cherry on the nose with a hint of pepper. The palate burst with fresh red fruits with an underlying note of darker fruits. This would be a perfect wine for your Thanksgiving table!

Cabernet Sauvignon

2005, 2006, & 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons at Zimmerman Vineyards

Next up on the tasting list was Cabernet Sauvignon. There were three Cabs to taste 2005 – the first commercial vintage, 2006, and 2007. The 2005 did show its age but was still very drinkable. With caramel, black cherry, and fig on the nose, the palate gave more of the same. The 2006 was more fresh and had more classic Cab notes. With black fruits and a hint of spice, the tannins were firm but not overly bold. Inky dark, the 2007 proved to be the favorite of the vintage wines we tasted. With soft black cherry, blackberry, and smooth tannins, it paired beautifully with a chocolate truffle.

Yummy way to close out the evening at Zimmerman Vineyards

We ended this wonderful evening with the tomato soup, a delightful roast beef crostini set off with caramelized onions, and classic pumpkin roll for dessert. Thanks to Leslie for inviting us and our table mates for wonderful conversation.

If you haven’t visited Zimmerman Vineyards, we highly recommend a visit.

Sep

2021

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 2021, that falls on September 17th.

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

2021

Yadkin Valley Tourism

Welcome to the Yadkin Valley tourism episode! We sit down with Craig Distl and Thomas Salley and talk about all things tourism for the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina. No matter if you’re familiar with North Carolina Wine or if you’re new to the industry, you’ll learn a lot about what the area has to offer.

As North Carolina’s first AVA, the Yadkin Valley is one of the most well known wine country regions in the state. It is well situated in the western part of the state and is an easy day trip from Charlotte, Asheville, the Triad, and the Triangle. While wine is one of the main attractors to the area, the region also has many outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking. Come out for the day or make a weekend trip and stay at one of the many hotels, cabins, or winery lodgings available in the area.

For more information head to:
https://www.wilkescountytourism.com
https://www.yadkinvalleync.com

To see the interactive map of the Yadkin Valley, head to the Yadkin Valley Census page to view the Google Maps overlay: https://www.yadkinvalleync.com/news/how-many-wineries-are-yadkin-valley-nc/

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This time they talk to us about the Italian classic grape Sangiovese. 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.

Closing Content

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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Sep

2021

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 2021, that falls on September 2nd, 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, but it can also struggle to get to optimal ripeness.

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

Aug

2021

Find Your Passion – Kefi Vineyard & Winery

In this episode, we sit down with Bess and Alexa Collins of Kefi Vineyard & Winery in Monroe, North Carolina! Bess has always been fan of being outdoors and growing things has been part of her life growing up. Alexa is her daughter and has been inspired by her mother’s love for building something to pass on to future generations.

Bess had the idea that she wanted to get outside as a way to embrace her passion (in Greek, the word Kefi means passion or calling). In 2008, Bess began to look for rural property and she began her journey. She eventually bought the property in 2010. Kefi Vineyard & Winery was born in 2014 when they planted their first grapes.

At Kefi Vineyard & Winery, Bess’s Greek heritage runs strong. She planted 14 different Greek grapes with 6 more coming soon. Here you’ll grapes like Assyrtiko, Malvasia Bianca, Ribolla Gialla, and Aglianico are finding a home right in Union County.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This time they talk to us about the Muscadine grape and all the great things it has done for the state. 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.

Closing Content

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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Aug

2021

In The Wine Light – North Carolina Grape Month 2021

August is North Carolina Grape Month. Celebrate everything you love about locally grown grapes in the Tar Heel State!

Jul

2021

Elevating Muscadine Part 2

We’re back again 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 well and produces an outstanding wine.

Tina and Nadia talk through their abundant wine list. They tell us about the differences between each wine and how they craft the best expression of the fruit. As you’ll find out, each wine is filled with abundant aromatics and is very food friendly.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. They talk to us about the relative new comer Traminette. 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.

Closing Content

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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Jul

2021

In the Wine Light – #NCWine Digital Media Summit

In the Wine Light is the 2021 #NCWine Digital Media Summit. This is our fourth annual summit and was previously known at the Bloggers Summit.

A Summit is Born

Attendees of the first #NCWine Bloggers Summit

The original Bloggers Summit began as a way to bring together bloggers, digital influencers, wineries, and vineyards to learn about digital media, to connect, and to network. We held that first summit at Hanover Park Vineyard on a cold and dreary Saturday in March, 2018.

Year 2 – Better than Ever

The second #NCWine Bloggers Summit at Hanover Park Vineyard

We returned to Hanover Park for a second year in March 2019. Attendance tripled. Our content level was raised. Everyone had a great time.

Big Plans for 2020

We were on track for another big year in March, 2020. We planned to hold the summit at the Shelton-Badgett NC Center for Viticulture and Enology at Surry Community College. Then COVID-19 hit. We postponed the event in hopes of still holding an in-person event, but the pandemic had different plans, so we did a condensed virtual event in July, 2020.

A Multi-week Virtual Event for 2021

For 2021, we decided to stay virtual again with hopes for an in-person event again for the 5th summit in 2022. We also decided to make a name change from the Bloggers Summit to the Digital Media Summit for a more inclusive feel. But unlike 2020, where we packed the event into a single afternoon, we’ve decided to have one session per week for several weeks on Sunday evenings from August 8 – October 3 with a two week break around Labor Day.

We have great sessions with fun speakers for 2021. Head to our event page to learn more and to buy tickets. A full session package is only $20. Individual sessions are $5 each. The kickoff session is free, but registration is required.

#Blogger #DigitalInfluencer #Media #Wine #WineConference #GotToBeNC

Jun

2021

Elevating Muscadine Part 1

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 well and produces an outstanding wine.

Tina Smith and her husband, Dan, decided to plant grapes on Dan’s family land back in 2001. Over time, they grew from a humble 10 acres to the 35 acres that they now have. For wine grapes, they decided on Carlos and Magnolia for their white grapes and Noble for their red. Each of these grapes has close ties to the breeding program at NC State.

Nadia joined Cypress Bend Vineyards in 2014 as their winemaker. Nadia explains how her training in cold and hot climate grapes helps her craft an outstanding wine. She treats the grapes just like any other wine grape. That process results in a higher quality wine which fully embraces the aromatic profile of the muscadine grape.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. They talk to us about the lesser known Rkatsiteli grape and how it does in North Carolina. 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.

Closing Content

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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May

2021

Growing for Future Generations

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 started the business in 2000 and planted their grapes in 2003. This was Jim’s second vineyard. He first planted 10 acres in the Lake Norman area before buying the State Road property. Those two properties were essential in starting off the early days of the winery. They provided a nice selection of wines to begin their journey.

At Grassy Creek Vineyard, there’s a lot to do at any time of year. The expansive property makes use of many of the original buildings which are important parts of the local history. Everything at the property reflects a sense of place and its connection to the local area. When you visit, you feel like you’re stepping back in time.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This episode they talk about Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. 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.

Closing Content

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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Apr

2021

In The Wine Light – North Carolina Wine Month 2021

May is North Carolina Wine Month. Celebrate everything you love about #NCWine!

Apr

2021

A Grower’s Favorite Day is Harvest

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 in 2007 in a very difficult year. They were up against an late season freeze which put their newly planted vineyard at risk. Through a little bit of luck and a lot of effort, the vineyard survived and their first harvest was in 2010.

Wendy and Kelvin talk to us about the business of growing grapes and selling them to wineries. They talk about some of the more interesting issues a grape grower faces and how important it is to keep up with the vineyard to produce a high quality fruit.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back. This episode they talk about Viognier and how it can sometimes be temperamental. 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.

Closing Content

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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Mar

2021

Open that Bottle of North Carolina Wine Night – NC Wine Month 2021 Kickoff

We hosted our first ever Open that Bottle of North Carolina Wine Nights in 2020 to celebrate our local wine industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic. While the pandemic is still affecting all of our daily lives, things are slowly improving.

To continue to support the industry and to kickoff off North Carolina Wine Month, we’re hosting another Open that Bottle of North Carolina Wine Night. So, join us on Saturday, May 1, 2021, to celebrate our local wine industry and all that we love about North Carolina Wine.

So how can you particpate?

Select a bottle of North Carolina Wine, Mead, or Cider.
Open it on the evening of May 1, 2021.
Take a picture and post on social media.
Share why you chose that bottle, who you shared it with, and more.
Tag the winery, vineyard, meadery, or cidery and tag us too @NCWineGuys.
And use #NCWineNight and #NCWineMonth on your posts!

Wineries and vineyards across the state are planning special events and promotions. Head to our post about NC Wine Month for more information.

And be sure to share our Facebook Event with your friends and family!

And don’t forget to share your love of North Carolina Wine during all of May using hashtags #NCWine and #NCWineMonth!

Cheers!

Mar

2021

In the Wine Light – One Year with COVID

In the Wine Light is one year with COVID. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Stay at home orders soon followed including ours here in North Carolina on March 17, 2020. Life changed drastically overnight.

From March 18 – May 22, 2020, tasting rooms in North Carolina were closed to onsite consumption. Curbside pickup and online sales were still allowed, but visiting a tasting room or having wine on a patio at a vineyard or winery was not. Finally, a new executive order came and on May 23, 2020, onsite consumption was allowed once again but with new guidelines.

Under this new world, businesses adapted. The wine industry in North Carolina did too, and for the most part, it thrived. Some did struggle, but all in and all things weren’t as bad as they could have been.

It’s been a trying year for all of us, but there have been a few positives. We want to highlight a few things we hope will continue in the wine world after things get back to normal:

Continued online sales and shipping. A number of wineries didn’t have this option before COVID, but many pivoted quickly. It’s a wonderful option for getting North Carolina Wine directly for your front door!
More outdoor options. Many wineries and vineyards expanded their outdoor options in the last year. There’s more room and more places to enjoy wine outdoors.
Reservations for tastings or just a table. We hate waiting, so we find this option to be super fantastic. Having a dedicated time to enjoy wine makes for a more pleasurable experience.
Virtual tastings. We have loved participating in these. It’s a safe and fun way to enjoy wine and still connect with others!

And there are a few things we won’t miss when things return to normal. These include:

Disposable drinkware. Not only do they not show wine well, they’re also not great for the environment.
Masked faces. We’ve missed seeing those smiles behind the tasting room bar!

Practice the 3 Ws!

Let’s all continue to do our part to help beat this virus. Practice your three Ws. Wear. Wash. Wait. And when it’s your turn, get your shot! You can find more information at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ website.

Stay safe!

#InTheWineLight #OneYearWithCOVID #NCWine

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.

Closing Content

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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Feb

2021

Mountain Grown & Mountain Made

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 Grown and Mountain Made.

Jack Wiseman, Linda’s father, is the winemaker and the man responsible for the vision that is Linville Falls Winery. Jack fell in love with the wine industry in California and when he came back home to Linville Falls, he wanted to follow his passion. He slowly began to convert portions of his Christmas tree farm into vineyard and how they have 12 acres under vine.

Over the years, Linville Falls Winery has experimented with grape varietals to determine what works best for their property. Their flagship grapes include Marechal Foch, Marquette, Noiret, and Riesling. Being in the Appalachian High Country AVA, they have a vineyard elevation ranging between 3,200 and 3,400 feet. This results in a cozy spot for grapes to grow and produces some excellent North Carolina Wine.

Closing Content

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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Jan

2021

Haze Gray & Underway

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 they honor that in so many ways at Haze Gray Vineyards.

Deane and Becky talk about how they started 5 years ago and what drove them to plant a vineyard and open a winery. At the time of this recording, they have been open for just over a year. They talk about some of the challenges of opening a business during a pandemic and how they adjusted as well as what they’re planning for the future.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back again for another season. This year, they’ll be doing a deep dive on one grape varietal per episode. 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.

Closing Content

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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Jan

2021

In the Wine Light – A Look Ahead for 2021

In the Wine Light is a look ahead at North Carolina Wine for 2021. Let’s be honest. 2020 was a dumpster fire of a year. From COVID-19 to the late spring frosts and freezes that wiped out many spring grape buds and flowers to the seemingly never ending rain, 2020 was a year that we and probably most of the local wine industry is happy to forget.

With the new year, comes the hope of better opportunities and experiences. Here are few things we’re looking forward to for North Carolina Wine in 2021:

2021 > 2020

Improvement of the COVID-19 pandemic. We missed regularly visiting wineries in 2020. We hope the pandemic improves which will allow us to visit more often, taste more often, and share more about North Carolina wine.

NC Wine Guys Present Cork Talk

Season 3 of Cork Talk. We look forward to bringing you more interviews from winery and vineyard owners, grape growers, winemakers and other industry folks this year. And Jessica and Jesse from The Wine Mouths will be back to share more wine knowledge, but we would love to hear from about what we should cover. Head here to take our survey.

Growing our Support Local North Carolina Wine Facebook group. We started this group in 2020, but we really want to see it take off in 2021. Head to Facebook and join via this link.

An In-Person #NCWine Digital Media Summit. We’ve decided to rename the #NCWine Bloggers Summit to be more inclusive. The 2020 version was virtual and the 2021 summit may be as well. Look for more information in the coming months.
More 2019 wines to taste, buy, and enjoy. 2019 was a stellar growing season in much of North Carolina. A number of 2019 whites and rosés have been released as well as a few 2019 reds. 2021 should bring more of them.
More sparkling wines and rosés. Sparkling wines and rosés continue to be popular. We look forward to more of these appearing in tasting rooms and on store shelves in 2021.

What are you looking forward to in 2021? Leave us a comment!

#InTheWineLight #NCWine #2021 #NewYear

Dec

2020

In the Wine Light – Festivus 2020 – Airing of Wine Grievances!

In the Wine Light today, December 23, 2020, is the celebration of Festivus. Created in 1966 by Daniel O’Keefe and popularized during an episode of the hit TV show, Seinfeld, Festivus is celebrated with Feats of Strength and the Airing of Grievances. So, in that spirit, we’re back for the fourth year to air a few wine grievances. This is our one post a year that’s not entirely positive. Many of these grievances are the same as last year, but there are a few new ones and some updates. So, sit back. Pour a glass and read on!

These are in no particular order:

COVID-19. Ok, so there is an order at least for #1. COVID-19 is at the top of our list. While, thankfully we’re well. Our families are well. COVID has seriously cramped our style. It’s kept us in and kept our wine tasting to a minimum. And we’re certainly sad for those who have lost loved ones, jobs, and more due to the pandemic. Here’s hoping COVID doesn’t make the list in 2021.

Folks who carrying on in 2020 like the pandemic doesn’t exist. We’ve kept a lower profile in 2020, so our visits to wineries and vineyards have been less than usual. When we have visited, a number of the visits have been safe and socially distanced. Folks were wearing masks and staying away from others, but there have been a few occasions where masks were few and far between and personal space was not respected. Just be mindful of others when you’re out. And be respectful. And wear a mask when you’re not eating or drinking!

Lack of hashtags in posts on social media about wines, wineries, vineyards. You see we’re big proponents of hashtags as a way to brand. So, all you #NCWine folks out there, USE THE DANG HASHTAG!
Too many hashtags or using hashtags that don’t apply. This still gets on our nerves. You don’t need 14 million hashtags on your post especially if they’re hashtags no one else uses. And just because you’re drinking wine in a given region, that doesn’t make it a regional wine. So, don’t post about the Apothic Red you’re drinking in Charlotte and call it #NCWine. Wine is about a sense of place. Apothic Red’s place is not in your wine glass.

Poor tasting glasses. We’re still glass snobs. Please no glasses with the “lip” around the rim. These just don’t show wines well. Upgrade the glass and the experience!

Stemless glasses. Some people love them. We hate them. You’re constantly hold your glass by the bowl and then warming the wine with your hand which can then affect the taste. Stick with a stemmed glass which brings us to our next grievance.

Holding a wine glass improperly. You should hold the glass by the stem. We did a whole blog post about it.

Too many wines on the list. We see this all the time. Wines lists with 10, 15 or even 20 wines. We feel this is just too many to be able to focus on quality unless you have a large production staff. So, scale it back. You don’t need a new wine for every season.
“Fruited” wines. We’re still wondering why do we need pomegranate, green apple, cranberry, cherry, pineapple and umpteen other fruits added to our perfectly fruity grape wines? Wine grapes produce wines with an abundance of fruit flavors. Let the grapes speak for themselves. And if you want a fruit wine, then just make it from fruit.

Wine slushies. Seriously, why is this still a thing? Ok, maybe in the summer then it’s 95 degrees and 10,000% humidity, but wine is already extra calories, do you really need all that extra sugar?

Children in at wineries and vineyards especially during a pandemic. It’s sad that this is still an issue. This is our #2 grievance (behind COVID) if we had to rank them. Children can’t drink. Don’t bring them with you to a winery. Wining is an adult thing and many of us wish to adult in peace and quiet. But, please bring your well behaved dogs and cats. We love pets!

Parties of 6 or more in tasting rooms who have not called ahead especially during a pandemic. This is annoying for tasting room staff and other customers. If you’re in a group, be courteous! Call ahead! And given, the pandemic, it’s not wise to be gathering in big groups anyway. Save those for later in 2021 or 2022.

Farm to fork restaurants who don’t have local wine on their lists. This is probably #3 on our grievance list right after the kids at wineries. Don’t call yourself a farm to fork locavore restaurant if you don’t have local wine on this list. There’s just no excuse! And make those wines available for pick up for those who don’t want to eat inside a restaurant right now.

So, that’s our list for this year. And keeping with this theme, leave us your comments of what’s your grievances are. Just avoid personal attacks.

Cheers and Happy Festivus for the rest of us!

#InTheWineLight #Festivus

Dec

2020

Exploring Viticulture Enology

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 college.

David tells us about his involvement at the college and how it blends his interested in winemaking and teaching. His background with his family vineyard and some influential professors during college really inspired him to make wine education his passion.

At the college, David has been influential in developing the North Carolina Wine Quality Alliance Program (QAP). QAP is a program that aims to improve the quality of wine across the state by addressing Quality Assurance and Quality Control to identify wine faults and help winemakers correct any issues. Want to know more? Head to the QAP website to find out how you can help support QAP.

The seal of the North Carolina Wine Quality Alliance Program.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back! This time Jesse and Jessica tell us all about sparkling wines and how they’re more than just a party wine. 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.

Closing Content

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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Nov

2020

A Pretty Hill in Polk County

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 us to record this episode while observing social distancing practices.

Sofia talks to us about how Overmountain Vineyards started as a small family farm and still continues to live up to that standard. Over the years, many things have changed. The biggest change of all came in 2014 when Sofia decided to make the family business her career.

With more focus on the vineyard and the wines, they were able to put a greater emphasis on quality. For a before and after photo of the same grapes, check out the cover photo for this episode. Since then, quality has improved and so has their following.

At Overmountain Vineyards, they embrace the cultural fusion that makes up both sides of the family blending Lita’s Cuban heritage with Frank’s Irish background. Everything they do is a reflection of who they are.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back! This time Jesse and Jessica talk to us about some of the things that are added to wine to improve the quality and make it ready for drinking. 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.

Closing Content

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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Nov

2020

In the Wine Light – Sami the Wine Cat

Sami excited about new wines from Défi Wines by Botanist & Barrel

In the Wine Light is our sweet wine cat, Sami. Long time followers know Sami as our little photo bomber in our wine photos. It started by accident, but now, we do try to get her in the shot. Her fans are sometimes concerned if she’s missing from the photo.

Sami relaxing before dinner

You’re probably wondering why we’re celebrating Sami this week. Well, you see, we celebrate Sami’s birthday on November 17th. We don’t actually know when her birthday is or even how old she is exactly. Sami is a rescue kitty. She was saved by the Saving Southern Kitties from a high kill shelter in Greenville, South Carolina. Her vet records listed November 17th as her birthday, but that might just be the day she was pulled from the shelter.

Sami loves her boxes especially when they’re from Chewy.

Saving Southern Kitties is a terrific non-profit organization run by our dear friend, Susan, working to save cats from high kill shelters in the Carolinas. Based in the Charlotte area, this volunteer organization is top notch and does fantastic work. Visit their website to find out how to volunteer, donate money, purchase fun kitty merchandise, or see their list of adoptable cats.

Sami doing on her favorite things – relaxing on the couch

Sami is sweet, a little crazy, and VERY loud. She always has something to say. Sami loves laying the sun, sleeping under her blanket on the couch for hours, cardboard boxes, and sitting outside on the patio with her humans. She adds such joy to our lives. We hope she has a very happy birthday and a PURR-fect day!

#InTheWineLight #SamiTheWineCat

Oct

2020

In the Wine Light – Wine Styles for Fall

In the Wine Light is wine styles for fall. We don’t know about you, but fall is our favorite season. Those warms days and cool nights are a welcome respite from the heat and humidity of the long Carolina summer.

With the change of seasons comes a change in the wines we drink. Here are some of the favorite kinds of wines we like to enjoy as the days get shorter and the leaves turn their brilliant colors.

Linn Cove Viaduct around Grandfather Mountain along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Rosés – Rosés are typically associated with the warm days of spring and the sweltering hot days of summer, but rosé is also perfect for Fall. Whether it’s a warm afternoon in the sun or with your Thanksgiving dinner, rosé is always a perfect pairing.

Sparkling Wine – We’re big fans of sparkling wine anytime of year. Fall is often about celebration with Halloween and Thanksgiving. Bubbles are a perfect way to start any celebration or a Tuesday night dinner.

Full Bodied and/or Oaked Whites – As the days get cooler it’s usually good to move from those crisp and cold wines of summer into a more full bodied white wine. Think Petit Manseng or Viognier. Add a little oak such is in a nice Chardonnay and you have the perfect pairing with fall foods featuring butternut squash or pumpkin.

Light Reds – Light Oaked or No Oak – The weather can still be quite warm in fall and the food typically isn’t as heavy as in winter, so it’s the perfect time for light reds whether they be oaked or not. Think a Loire Valley Style Cabernet Franc or a nouveau style wine. A drier muscadine, Chambourcin or Sangiovese are also good choices.

Cider – Who doesn’t love a good fresh apple in fall? So, why not enjoy a nice cider? Many apples can pack some good tannins, so ciders can be heftier than you might think. Cider also pairs well with Thanksgiving dinner.

Mead – Mead is a perfect fall beverage. From traditional styles to cysers with apple or pear, mead pairs perfectly with warm days, cool nights, sausages on the grill, Thanksgiving turkey and even pumpkin pie.

What wines do you enjoy in fall? Do you have a favorite fall food and wine pairing? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Cheers!

#InTheWineLight #WinesForFall #FallWines

Oct

2020

In the Wine Light – North Carolina Cider Week

Brushy Mountain Limbertwig Apple – This variety is thought to have originated in the Brushy Mountains of NC.

In the Wine Light is North Carolina Cider Week. We celebrate NC Cider Week annually during October or November. This year October 19th – 25th has been designated as a week to honor North Carolina Cider!

So, what is cider exactly? Here, we’re obviously discussing what’s commonly called “hard cider”. This cider at its most basic level is fermented apple juice.

Similar to making wine from grapes, cider is made from crushing apples and fermenting the juice. The sugar content of apples is lower than grapes, so ciders are typically lower in alcohol than wines. To make apple wine, sugar is typically added in fermentation to allow for wine like alcohol.

Here in North Carolina, many cider apples are sourced from the Hendersonville area and from the Brushy Mountains in Wilkes and Alexander Counties. Cider producers range from those in the mountains to the southern piedmont to urban areas like Charlotte and Durham.

So, how do you celebrate NC Cider Week? By drinking a locally grown and produced NC Cider, of course! You can also celebrate by visiting local cideries and by attending the NC Cider Week Sip and Meet on Saturday, October 24th at the Chatham Beverage District in Pittsboro. This event will feature cideries from the Piedmont of NC.

Cheers!

#InTheWineLight #NCCiderWeek #NCCider

Oct

2020

Relaxing, Casual, and Fun

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 lived in California which is where they fell in love with wineries and vineyards in some of California’s most well known regions.

They purchased Round Peak Vineyards shortly after moving. They continued maintain the existing vineyard which focuses on French and Italian varietals. Soon after opening, they noticed an opportunity to release a second line of wines, and Skull Camp was born. This quickly branched out into a brewery and smokehouse restaurant.

As a result, they offer a very well rounded profile sure to meet the palate of any customer. No matter what location you visit, you’re sure to find that each establishment embraces the feeling of being relaxing, casual, and fun.

Closing Content

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

2020

In the Wine Light – Drink Local Wine Week

In the Wine Light is Drink Local Wine Week. Drink Local Wine Week is celebrated annually during the second full week of October, so for 2020, the dates are October 11th – 17th.

This week started in 2008 by the Drink Local Wine organization to encourage wine writers and bloggers to write about and celebrate local wines. The organization has since taken a break, but this week long celebration has continued annually.

Local wine means different things to different people. Some say a wine is local if it’s sold locally. Some say it’s local if it’s produced locally. And still others say it’s local only if it’s both sourced from locally grown products (grapes, other fruits, honey) AND locally produced. We have some thoughts on that in another post.

Whatever you consider a local wine, celebrate with a local wine or two this week and tell others about it.

And if you want to join the conversation about local North Carolina Wine, join our new Facebook group, Support Local North Carolina Wine – #NCWine!

Cheers!

#InTheWineLight #DrinkLocalWineWeek #DrinkLocal

Oct

2020

In the Wine Light – Orange Wine Week

Orange Wine Flavors Courtesy of Wine Folly

In the Wine Light is Virtual Orange Wine Week. This day was originally started by Amanda Clair Goodwin (known at The Real Housewine) in 2018 as National Orange Wine Day to be celebrated annually on October 6th. This year it has been expanded to a whole week to be celebrated from October 5th – 10th.

The goal of National Orange Wine Day and now Virtual Orange Wine Week is to according to the day’s website, “bring greater awareness to this beautiful, yet lesser-known style of wine in a way that is nonjudgmental, unintimidating, and inclusive.”

So, you may be thinking what is Orange Wine? No, we’re not talking wine made from oranges. We’re talking about a white wine made from white grapes. With orange wine, unlike traditional white wine where the skins are removed, the pressed juice remains on the skins to ferment for days to weeks or even months. This gives the resulting wine an orange hue.

Orange wines are more bold and complex than many white wines. They might have flavors not typically associated with white wine. Also, they can be more tannic due to the contact with the grape skins. Orange wines are thought of have originated in what is now the country of Georgia.

Have you had an orange wine? Some past and current producers of orange wine in North Carolina are Sanctuary Vineyards in Jarvisburg, McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks in Thurmond, DéFi Wines (Botanist & Barrel) in Cedar Grove, and Lazy Elm Vineyard & Winery in Mocksville.

#InTheWineLight #NationalOrangeWineDay #VirtualOrangeWineWeek

Sep

2020

In the Wine Light – How to Hold A Wine Glass

In the Wine Light is the proper way to hold a wine glass. Yeah. We know. You’re probably thinking, “There’s a right way to hold a wine glass?” The answer is absolutely YES!

You should always hold your wine glass by the stem near the base. There are two main reasons why this is true.

You won’t get greasy finger prints on the bowl of your glass.
The most important reason though is that your wine will stay cooler longer if you don’t put your warm hands on the bowl.

There may be cases where you do want to warm up your wine. Perhaps you’re drinking an oaked chardonnay that’s been in the refrigerator. A few good swirls with your hands cupping the bowl can certainly make your wine taste better. But as a general rule the stem is the way to go.

So, now you’re probably thinking, “What about stemless glasses?” Well, in our opinion, they make lovely water glasses but terrible wine glasses. So, stick to the stemmed glass!

Cheers!

#InTheWineLight

Sep

2020

Preserving the Family Farm

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 grandparents. After raising tobacco and cattle, Jeff decided that a good way to preserve the family farm would be to plant grapes.

In 2009, he planted his first grapes with subsequent plantings every year until 2013. Now his vineyard contains nearly 6 acres of vines and 5 key varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Petit Manseng, and Sangiovese.

Shruthi tells us about some of the difficulties with managing vines in Western North Carolina and how she’s embracing more traditional vine pruning techniques to bring out different characteristics in the wines. She is excited to see how quickly the quality of the fruit and wine is improving in the state and is hopeful that more people are seeing this, too.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back! This time Jesse and Jessica talk to us about wine faults and how you can spot them. 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.

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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Sep

2020

In the Wine Light – National Honey Month

In the Wine Light is National Honey Month. September is National Honey Month. Started in 1989 by the National Honey Board, National Honey Month celebrates all things honey. September was chosen because honey collection typically concludes in September as honey bees are readying their hives for winter.

You’re probably wondering – what does this have to do with wine? Well, honey can be fermented into wine by adding water and yeast. That’s the traditional recipe for mead. Mead is a fantastic addition to your wine collection whether just to enjoy or to pair with your favorite foods.

Mead is made in a variety of styles from traditional to melomel (a mead that contains fruit) to braggot (a mead made with hops or malt) to cyser (a mead make with apple juice or cider) to pyment (a mead made with grapes or grape juice) and many more. While many people assume mead is always sweet since honey is so sweet, that’s not always the case. Meads range from dry to off-dry to sweet. Alcohol content can range from under 4% to nearly 18% ABV.

We’re fortunate to have many great mead producers in North Carolina. So, check out the NC Mead Alliance to learn more about mead, and be sure to go visit a local meadery!

#InTheWineLight #NationalHoneyMonth #NCMead

Sep

2020

In the Wine Light

An Introduction

In an effort to provide more content to our readers, we’re introducing a new regular feature to our website called “In the Wine Light”. The aim to provide regular wine related content in short posts.

With “In the Wine Light” we will discuss a variety of wine related topics from grape varieties to wine styles to wine and food pairings to wine holidays and more! We’ll also feature the people and places of the local wine scene here in North Carolina.

Let us know what you would like to see In the Wine Light!

Aug

2020

NC Muscadines Delight the Taste Buds

August is now North Carolina Grape Month. To celebrate, the North Carolina Muscadine Association recently hosted a virtual tasting of muscadine grapes and wine with local media, bloggers, and social media influencers. We were fortunate enough to take part on the second day of this event.

The Mothervine on Roanoke Island in Manteo, NC

Native Grape

Muscadines are the indigenous grape variety of the southeast. The oldest known cultivated grape vine in the United States is a scuppernong vine on Roanoke Island in Manteo known as The Mothervine. Scuppernong is a muscadine variety that’s also the state fruit of North Carolina.

The association sent a package that contained seven different muscadine grapes varieties along with a bottle of muscadine wine. The grapes included fresh market as well as wine grapes. Fresh market grapes are grown for eating. Wine grapes are obviously grown for wine. Fresh market grapes tend to be sweeter and less acidic than wine grapes.

Grape Tasting

The tasting was led by Kristen Baughman Taber of Tabletop Media Group and Debby Wechsler, Executive Secretary of the Muscadine Association. Debby walked us through the proper way to eat a muscadine grape. You place the stem scar facing your mouth. Then you squeeze or bite the grape. Next, you decide to chew the skins and seeds or spit them out.

We then tasted through five fresh market grapes. Three were white/bronze grapes: Triumph, Tara, and Hall. Two were red grapes: Supreme and Lane. These fresh market grapes had been sourced from Hinnant Family Vineyards in Pine Level, NC. While all had a common grapey flavor, there were subtle differences particularly when chewing with the skins.

We finished by tasting the two main muscadine wine grapes, Carlos, a white/bronze grape, and Noble, a black/red grape. Carlos is the most widely planted muscadine variety in North Carolina. Both grapes have smaller berries than any of the fresh market varieties we tasted. The wine grapes came from LuMil Vineyard in Elizabethtown, NC.

Wine Tasting

After the grape tasting, we moved on to our favorite part, the wine tasting. Winemaker Nadia Hetzel of Cypress Bend Vineyards in Wagram, NC led us through a tasting of the off dry muscadine wine, Livy Estate. Livy is 100% Carlos and is a beautiful wine. The nose is similar to a Riesling as well as the palate. It is nicely acidic and a joy to drink.

Muscadine Grape Extract Research

Following the wine tasting, Dr. Patricia Gallagher of Wake Forest University School of Medicine talked to us about the research into the potential health benefits of muscadine grape extract. It’s exciting research and holds great promise in helping those with cancer. To learn more about it, visit this link.

Thanks again to the North Carolina Muscadine Association, Tabletop Media Group, Hinnant Family Vineyards, LuMil Vineyards, and Cypress Bend Vineyards for a great tasting and celebration of North Carolina Grape Month!

Aug

2020

The Grape Pack

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!).

Mark and Sara both specialize in growing and researching grapes. At NC State, they hold the title of State Viticulturist. They’re responsible for conducting research on grape growing in the state, coordinating Agriculture Extension activities, and promoting the grape industry throughout the state.

Over the years, their primary goal has been to provide support to the grape growing industry. They identify research opportunities to adapt grape growing to our unique climate here in North Carolina.

One of the surprising topics of this conversation is just how little we know about the science of growing muscadine grapes. Sara and Mark discuss their interests and what they hope can be on the horizon. As you can tell by the length of this episode, we had a lot to talk about and we still had plenty to discuss. We’ll have them back to continue the conversation on future episodes.

Closing Content

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back! This time Jesse and Jessica explain the three types of flavors and what goes into creating the perfect sip. 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.

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 is 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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Jul

2020

Great Wines No Myth

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 homestead that Leslie purchased back in the late 1980s.

Over the years, there have been many things to overcome. Leslie has focused on her three passions: her love of teaching, her family, and the vineyard. All three come together at the vineyard in surprising ways.

You can definitely see it through her unique partnerships with local businesses, restaurants, artists, and musicians. All events at the vineyard create a great experience for visitors highlighting all that the local area has to offer. Leslie recognizes that what she does with wine is the same as what visual artists do in their medium and what musicians do in theirs.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back! This time Jesse and Jessica explore the array of bottle sizes and alternative packaging. 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.

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!

Leslie’s Thoughts

Through the years, I have recognized the connection between this business and the arts. Doing what I do in the world of wine is the same as what visual artists do in their medium and what musicians do in theirs. We all create something new and unique. Not only do I recognize this common thread between these mediums but honor it by hosting a string of top-shelf local songwriters to share their work and a bottle of wine with customers and fans. It’s a perfect blend really!
Leslie Zimmerman, Zimmerman Vineyards

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Jul

2020

Acquiesce Winery – Two Wines for Thought

We do not often post about wines from outside of North Carolina, but occasionally we do make an exception. We were contacted by Sue Tipton, the owner and winemaker of Acquiesce Winery in Lodi, California. She asked us if we would like to sample two of her favorite wines accompanied by two exceptional food pairings. We figured it has been a while since our last visit, so why not take up the offer. The wines in this package were the 2018 Bourboulenc and the 2018 Clairette Blanche. Read on for more about Acquiesce Winery and our thoughts on the wine and food pairings.

Acquiesce

We first heard of Acquiesce Winery when we attended the 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference (now called the Wine Media Conference). At the conference, people highly recommended we make it a point to stop at Acquiesce Winery before we left Lodi. On the last day of the conference, we packed up our things, typed Acquiesce Winery in Google Maps and drove out for our visit. We were so happy we did.

Acquiesce Winery is unique among Lodi wineries. When you think of Lodi, you typically think of Zinfandel or other reds. However, Sue Tipton draws her inspiration from elsewhere. She initially fell in love with the white wines of French Rhone, and her wine offerings reflect just that. Instead of Zins and Cabs, you will find Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Viognier, and a rose made from Grenache (the lone red grape grown just for rose).

When we visited Acquiesce Winery for the first time, we were hooked. We are huge fans of Rhone style wines and Sue does an excellent job of bringing a taste of the Rhone to Lodi. The wines that Sue sent are two varietals that are very uncommon to most wine drinkers. The Bourboulenc and the Clairette Blanche are most found in the Southern Rhone however the combined acreage is right around 10,000 acres.

2018 Bourboulenc

Acquiesce is the first winery in the US to release a single varietal wine. The aromas were perfumed and fragrant highlighting apricots and delicate white flowers. Flavors were lively with candied apricots up front. The mid-palate moved to a rich mineral complexity with tangerine peel and citrus oils coming through. It finished on a long drawn out note. Sue recommended we pair this wine with the tuna pate. When we did, the bright citrus of the wine cut through the richness of the pate. Paired together, the pate elongated the palate and accentuated the flavors even more. Overall an excellent pairing.

2018 Clairette Blanche

Clairette Blanche Vines at Acquiesce Winery

Another rarity in the wine world, this single varietal wine is like the Bourboulenc yet uniquely different. The nose was still perfumed but it was not as floral. Grapefruit and lemongrass came through with hints of white peach. The flavors were much leaner, relying on bigger mineral presence with good acidity. White peaches did come through in the flavors with a refreshing finish that was slightly herbal. Sue recommended we pair this wine with the Spanish anchovy olives. The meaty olives were a great foil to the bright wine. The little salty bites accented the fruits in the wine and left you wanting another sip.

Whenever we are in the region, we will always put Acquiesce Winery on our schedule. The wines are fantastic, and Sue is great at telling her story and creating a wonderful experience. Cheers!

Jun

2020

A Haw River Hot Spot

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 generations, so he was more than happy to carry on the tradition.

Max wanted to expand his vineyards, but there were several factors in selecting his site. Eventually he landed on the primary vineyard site at Grove Winery and planted his first grapes in 2002.

This location is nicely situated in the Haw River AVA, tucked along side a bend in the Haw River. Situated a bit further east than most of the other vineyard locations, the Haw River sees a longer growing season and allows for different conditions that other AVAs in the state.

Grove Winery offers something for everyone with a range of wines to suit all palates. Max feels that his vineyard sites showcase east coast wines. His Malbec and Nebbiolo are two wines that stand out, but the others also highlight the best of the Haw River.

Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back! This time Jesse and Jessica explore the depths of white wine and tells us why we should or shouldn’t oak our wines. 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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Closing Content

Quick Facts

Name: Yadkin Valley

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Origins

Parent Grape

Plantings Around the World

In North Carolina

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Backstory

Winemaking Philosophy

Tasting – Chardonnay

Tasting – Red Wines

Tour with Winemaker

Must Visit

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Scenic Location

Century Farm

Tasting – Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé

Tasting – Reds

Tasting – Petit Manseng

Wrapping Up

Cabernet Franc and Merlot

Morpheus – Heir of Hypnos

Cabernet Sauvignon

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A Summit is Born

Year 2 – Better than Ever

Big Plans for 2020

A Multi-week Virtual Event for 2021

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2021 > 2020

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An Introduction

Native Grape

Grape Tasting

Wine Tasting

Muscadine Grape Extract Research

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Leslie’s Thoughts

Acquiesce

2018 Bourboulenc

2018 Clairette Blanche

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