BANNER ELK WINERY GRANDFATHER VINEYARD & WINERY WATAUGA LAKE WINERY
LINVILLE FALLS WINERY
ur local wineries
are offering some creative
and delicious options for wine
drinkers this season. Be sure to visit each of their tasting rooms for a sip of some classic flavors, as well as one-of-a-kind blends.
Watauga Lake Winery
“Watauga Lake Winery is excited to share two special releases for spring: Tramanto and Cold Springs Rose. Tramanto is a blush wine with a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. With notes of raspberries, strawberries, and pomegranates, this wine pairs perfectly with sunshine! Come grab a bottle to enjoy on our deck or to take along for a spring picnic. Our second featured wine is our Cold Springs Rose. This dry rose is crisp with citrus notes of grapefruit and blood orange. Enjoy it alone or pair it with one of our flatbreads for your optimal tasting pleasure!”
Grandfather Vineyard & Winery
“The complement to our Appalachia Bubbles, Blue Ridge Brut is a dry sparkling white wine—a brand new creation by our Winemaker, Dylan Tatum. Ever since he produced the Pearls of the Vine many years ago, he’s enjoyed experimenting with carbonation. The white hybrid grapes that
grow best in the Appalachian terrain contain high acidity making these varietals prime candidates for sparkling wines. Comprised of locally grown Chardonel and Marsanne, flavors of lemon and apricot dance on the palate with tiny bubbles in each glass of the Brut. Grandfather Vineyard’s premier blend, the 2018 Fusion, perfectly marries the classic aromas and flavors of the Malbec varietal and the Barbera varietal, one of the world’s oldest grapes used in wine making. A medium bodied dry red, dark cherry and plum flavors flow smoothly across the palate, while nutmeg and vanilla linger on in the aftertaste. The Fusion makes for an excellent pairing with lean red meats and dishes with blue cheese.”
Banner Elk Winery & Villa
“Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Banner Elk Winery & Villa is the oldest winery of the North Carolina High Country, located on the site of a historic blueberry farm. With our Tuscan-inspired 8-bedroom Bed and Breakfast located on site, the Banner Elk Winery & Villa is a must-see for beautiful views, knowledgeable staff, and fantastic wines. Our spring season wine releases include two special but different blueberry wines. Our Banner Elk Blueberry Wine is an intense expression of bush-ripened blueberries without any grape additives. It is fermented at a lower temperature resulting in
a tart, fruit-forward aromatic style. It pairs well with vegetarian entrees, fresh fruits, and desserts. Our Banner Elk Blueberry Ice Wine is a unique example of what a dessert wine should be. With its silky taste, decadent fullbodied fruit flavor, and a thick, pleasing sweet finish, it’s a perfect ending to a well enjoyed meal.”
Linville Falls Winery
“Spring is in the air around the winery! Small wildflowers carpet our vineyards while buds swell on the vines and it’s a race to finish pruning. To welcome spring, we are featuring two wines that not only showcase pretty spring appearances with their colorful hues and floral-themed labels, but also boast lively and vibrant flavor that reminds us of the season. Our Dry Riesling features notes of citrus and mango, reminding us of warmer days ahead, and the dry finish makes it a really versatile option for many wine drinkers. Then there’s our Rose´—we can’t think of a better wine to capture the season of spring. This Rose´ boasts juicy notes of lemon and wild strawberry, perfect for pairing with soft cheeses. These selections each feature bright acidity thanks to their roots in our Blue Ridge Mountain soil, and they will awaken your palate as nature awakens around us, bringing new life into spring.”
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Spring 2021 —
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WINE
Fresh Releases from Our Local Wineries O