Wine

25
Apr
2015
Fair Game Beverage Company

Fair Game Beverage Company

Tucked away just outside Pittsboro, NC is a great little distillery that is making fortified wines and spirits.  The name of the place is Fair Game Beverage Company.  We made a visit during their Spirit Release party.  We’re talking distilled spirits here, not the metaphysical spirits.  Chris Jude, the head distiller, gave us a detailed tasting of his fortified wines.  Also as part of the festivities, we tasted the two new spirits which were incredibly fresh and unique.

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Posted by Matt Kemberling in featured, Wine, 0 comments
12
Apr
2015

Upcoming Projects

  • Finger Lakes Wine Highlights
  • Baker Buffalo Creek Vertical Tasting
  • Upper Hiwassee Highlands Wineries
  • Bull City Ciderworks Review
  • NC Wine and Grape Guide
  • Winery Trails and Maps
Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
08
Mar
2015
Sunday Adventures: Part 1

Sunday Adventures: Part 1

Today, like most Sunday afternoons, we’re headed out to visit a few wineries. Our destination is part of the WNC Wine Trail, specifically the Tyron area wineries, previously reviewed during NC Wine Month. We’re taking a different approach today as I plan to make live updates (as cell service allows).

Our first stop is Mountain Brook Vineyards where we will be joining up with some friends for a birthday celebration. From there we plan on going to at least two other wineries, possibly three, ending at Parker-Binns Vineyard to relax with hot woodfired pizza.

Keep coming back for more updates!

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Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, Wineries and Vineyards, 0 comments
08
Feb
2015
The Proof is in the Glass: Riedel Wine Glass Tasting

The Proof is in the Glass: Riedel Wine Glass Tasting

When it comes to drinking wine out of the appropriate glass there are several schools of thought on the subject. Many believe that the glass doesn’t make a terrible amount of difference to the wine tasting experience and when you do use a higher quality glass, it’s really just the perception of having the wine taste better. Still others believe that the wine glass itself can make or break the wine.
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Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
20
Jan
2015
Vintage Tasting at Hanover Park

Vintage Tasting at Hanover Park

Whenever you have an opportunity to sign up for a vintage wine tasting, you should really consider it. Oftentimes when you read about vintage tastings in wine literature, they span decades usually marked by significant events in the history of the sponsoring winery. Here in North Carolina, most of the wineries haven’t been open for decades like you might find in California. One of the only wineries that comes close to this is Hanover Park, which is where our most recent vintage tasting took place.

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Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
06
Jan
2015

New Reviews for the New Year

Well 2014 has come and gone.  While it was a good year for wine, 2015 promises to be even better.  We have a number of events planned for January alone.  One of our New Year Resolutions is to post more reviews more often.  We also have a few things planned for the site under the Resources section that we hope people will find useful.

Come back often and keep an eye out for updates on our Facebook page and Twitter feed!

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
30
Sep
2014

Daveste Rkatsiteli — Wine Review

To finish up our last wine review of the North Carolina Wine & Grape Month, we decided to finish with one of the oldest grape varietals known to man-kind, Rkatsiteli.  The Daveste Rkatsiteli from Davesté Vineyards, is one of only a handful of vineyards in the US that grow and produce a wine from the grape.  Rkatsiteli is a grape originating from Georgia (the country, not the state) where it is a fairly common grape.  The grape reportedly dates back to 3000 B.C. making it one of the oldest grapes that have been cultivated for wine making purposes.  The pale skinned grape produces a white wine ranging from dry to sweet.  Some European countries even produce Port, Sherry, and dessert style wines from the same grape.  Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 1 comment
29
Sep
2014

Hanover Park Mourvèdre — Wine Review

Tonight’s wine comes from a winery that we’ve already reviewed, but we wanted to review another wine from them as our last one was more of a dessert wine.  For dinner we had grilled lamb meat balls, which is what we normally have when we are opening a bottle of Hanover Park Mourvèdre.  It is also known as Monastrell and is usually a darker wine with heavy tannins and an earthy complex profile.  The wine is common in France, however it is often found in red blends of both French and Spanish origin, usually blended with Grenache and Syrah.

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Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
27
Sep
2014

Junius Lindsay Roussanne — Wine Review

Tonight we decided to open a bottle of something very familiar, the  Junius Lindsay Roussanne from Junius Lindsay Vineyard.  Roussanne is typically found in many French white blends, especially those produced in the Rhône style.  As a straight varietal wine it makes for a unique wine, making it a refreshing option from the run of the mill white wines.    Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
26
Sep
2014

2005 Hutton Cabernet Franc — Wine Review

This evening we decided to open another red to enjoy with dinner.  We decided to go back to the Cab Franc, this time we selected the 2005 Hutton Vineyards Cabernet Franc. This is one of their first releases as they first planted grapes in 2002.  The time in the bottle has allowed the wine to develop into a smooth and velvety wine, full of character and charm while keeping a mild profile.

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Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
25
Sep
2014

Brandon Hills Raptor Red — Wine Review

Tonight we decided to opt for another Yadkin Valley red blend, this time from Brandon Hills Vineyard.  The Raptor Red is their premier red blend wine that features a different raptor from vintage to vintage.  The current vintage is the 2008 which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Viognier.  The story behind the name is one of true adoration for nature.  The winery partners with the Carolina Raptor Center and features one of their birds of prey on the bottle.  A part of the proceeds goes back to the Raptor Center to help fund a good cause. Continue reading →

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24
Sep
2014

Cellar 4201 Warrior Red — Wine Review

Rain, rain go away!  But at least it makes the choice of red, white or rosé easier.  Tonight we went for the Warrior Red from Cellar 4201 Vineyard.  This red doesn’t disappoint.  It’s a full-bodied red, but it’s not over the top.  The well-balanced nature makes it perfect to pair with food or to enjoy on its own.   Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 2 comments
23
Sep
2014

Laurel Gray Cabernet Franc — Wine Review

It’s cold and raining again today!  That means we get to open a bottle of red wine and enjoy a nice warming dinner.  Tonight we decided on the award-winning Laurel Gray Cabernet Franc from Laurel Gray Vineyards.  This wine received double gold at the NC State Wine Competition and a bronze at the INDY International Wine Competition.

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Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
20
Sep
2014

Carolina Heritage Blueberry Wine — Wine Review

Ten more days left in our September wine month challenge!  Today we took a slightly different approach to our wine.  Usually we pair our wines with dinner and go from there.  However, we will be eating out this evening to celebrate a friend’s birthday and we were unsure if the restaurant offers North Carolina Wines.  To make sure we have our wine of the day covered, we decided to have a small glass of the Carolina Heritage Blueberry Wine from Carolina Heritage Vineyards to help pass the afternoon.   Continue reading →

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19
Sep
2014

Stony Knoll Viognier — Wine Review

Arrrgh, it is Talk Like a Pirate Day!  Although we should have celebrated with rum, we wanted to keep our NC Wine streak going.  This evening we decided to keep it in the Yadkin Valley and went for the Stony Knoll Viognier from Stony Knoll Vineyards.  This light white wine was a welcome addition to our grilled shrimp dinner.

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16
Sep
2014

Huffman Fire Side Red — Wine Review

The weather today was horribly uncooperative with major thunderstorms and heavy showers for most of the late afternoon and evening. The solution to bad weather: red wine.  Instead of going for a lighter more delicate white, we decided to open a nice red and cook inside (we really didn’t have much choice in the cooking arrangement as grilling was out of the question).  Tonight’s wine is the Huffman Fire Side Red from Huffman Vineyards in Richlands, North Carolina.   Continue reading →

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15
Sep
2014

Olde Mill Silver Pines — Wine Review

We’re half way through the month; 15 days down, 15 more to go! To celebrate our half way marker (and to go with dinner) we opened up a bottle of the Olde Mill Silver Pines white wine.  This white wine is mostly a Pinot Gris, so we decided to pair it with a stuffed pork chop and roasted potatoes.  The flavors balanced nicely off each other and made for a nice light meal. Continue reading →

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14
Sep
2014

Divine Llama Traminette Divine — Wine Review

After visiting two wineries this afternoon, we decided it was time to move on from crackers and settle on an actual dinner to enjoy some North Carolina wine.  We made our way home from the south-east part of the Yadkin Valley so we could fix up some sweet potato gnocchi and grilled salmon.  The wine we selected for the evening was the 2010 Traminette Divine from Divine Llama.

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12
Sep
2014

Jones von Drehle Petit Manseng — Wine Review

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

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
11
Sep
2014

Dobbins Creek Rosé — Wine Review

Dinner this evening proved an interesting challenge for the wine pairing.  On the menu was a honey Sriracha fried chicken with cheddar waffles.  This was a somewhat last-minute menu swap, so I was hoping that the Dobbins Creek Rosé  would pair nicely.  And it did, quite nicely.

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10
Sep
2014

Elkin Creek Chardonnay — Wine Review

One third of the way through! Tonight we opened a bottle of the Elkin Creek Chardonnay from Elkin Creek Vineyard.  This Chardonnay is so rich and creamy, I mistakenly thought it was finished in oak and pulled out the wrong glasses for the wine.  After quickly reading up on the wine, we realized it was 100% stainless steel (I was shocked, Joe had a lingering suspicion), and we changed glasses.  While the wine wasn’t bad out of the oaked Chardonnay glasses, it was remarkably better and the flavors were more concentrated out of the stainless Chardonnay/Viognier glasses.   Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
09
Sep
2014

Silver Fork Merlot — Wine Review

Tonight’s wine took us by a bit of a surprise.  The Silver Fork Merlot can definitely change one’s opinion that the east coast doesn’t produce good Merlot.  Normally when you think of Merlot, you imagine a big bold red wine with a complex yet robust profile and distinctive characteristics.  Typically, you would be right.  This particular bottle of the 2012 Merlot from Silver Fork is anything but “typical”.   Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
08
Sep
2014

McRitchie Muscat Blanc — Wine Review

Tonight’s feature is the McRitchie Muscat Blanc.  It comes from a small winery in the Yadkin Valley, McRitchie Winery and Ciderworks.  McRitchie has a small vineyard on property but works with other local farmers to source their grapes for their wide variety of wines.  They are a small-scale winery, selling mainly out of their tasting room but they are expanding as their following grows.  In addition to wines, they also produce a few ciders made from local apples (and this fall, they will have a pear cider too).  Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
07
Sep
2014

White Wines from Native Vines and Adagio Vineyards — Wine Review

Sundays are a special day in our house.  Not only is it the end of the weekend, but it’s also a day where our good friend Susan can join us in our wine adventures.  After a quick trip to the local winery nearby, we came back to enjoy a nice dinner out on the patio accompanied by two delicious North Carolina wines; the Native Vines Sauvignon Blanc and the Adagio Vivace.  Continue reading →

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05
Sep
2014

Misty Creek Cabernet Sauvignon — Wine Review

On a Friday night, one of the first priorities is to relax after a long week of work.  Among other things, that means a bottle of wine that is familiar, reliable and oh so good.  To fulfill all requirements of a relaxing Friday night, we decided to invite over a few friends, make some black bean and sweet potato quesadillas, and we opened a bottle of the 2006 Misty Creek Cabernet Sauvignon. Continue reading →

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04
Sep
2014

Weathervane Ionosphere — Wine Review

Although things were a little rushed today, we were still able to unwind this evening with a delightful wine from Weathervane Winery. Weathervane offers an ample selection of the sweeter wines as well as vinifera. Their wines have a large following and for good reason. Their motto is “wines without the attitude” and they hold true to that image.  Tonight we enjoyed the Weathervane Ionosphere. Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
03
Sep
2014

Raylen Viognier — Wine Review

Continuing with our Yadkin Valley streak, we opened a bottle of the 2012 Raylen Viognier, from Raylen Vineyards.   For those not familiar with Viognier, it is a white grape that produces a wine across a wide spectrum ranging from bright and acidic to mellow and tropical.  No matter what style Viognier you are having, they will all be very aromatic with notable characteristics.   Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 1 comment
02
Sep
2014

Chatham Hill Cabernet Franc — Wine Review

Tonight’s feature is another Yadkin Valley selection; the 2009 Chatham Hill Cabernet Franc from Chatham Hill Winery. This dark red wine is rich with dark fruit flavors and a nice balance of tannins and smoke.  We decided to pair it with a barbecue pork chop, baked sweet potato and corn on the cob.  The dark flavors of the wine really complimented the charred sweetness of the pork.

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Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
01
Sep
2014

Shelton Dry Riesling — Wine Review

To kick off the NC Wine and Grape month, we decided to start with the Shelton Dry Riesling from Shelton Vineyards.  This full bodied white displays characteristics that are typical of a cool-climate Riesling without having to venture to the colder regions of the country.   Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments
04
Aug
2014

Wine Tasting: Mooresville Wine Maestro

We recently did a tasting at the Wine Maestro in Mooresville, NC. They offer tastings most weeks on Thursdays and Fridays. The tastings are $10 per person for six or seven wines and they’re usually heavier pours. This week’s theme was the Maestro’s picks, consisting of a white, a rosé, two light reds and two heavier reds.

First up was the 2013 Gieson Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, NZ. It started off with a crisp clean nose with hints of floral notes. It was a full body white and had nice acids. It started bright then had a nice mineral mid-palate with citrus yet grassy mid tones and a lingering light finish. Continue reading →

Posted by Matt Kemberling in Wine, 0 comments