On
Winter 2015
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WineArt Food &
Carolina Wine Country News
Winter Reds highlight in cold months Childers behind success at Hererra Vineyards
Wineries work together for promotion
Winemaker’s corner
OnThe Vine A publication of the Elkin Tribune
contents
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Yadkin wineries celebrate winter reds By Kitsey E. Burns
Childers the winemaker behind Herrera success By Kitsey E. Burns
Surry wineries support one another Staff Report
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Winemaker’s Corner
By Sean McRitchie
Valentine’s pairs wines and chocolates for romance By Karen Holbrook
Uncorked on Main pouring in Wilkes County By Wendy Byerly Wood
Sweet Home Carolina opens its doors By Kitsey E. Burns
On the Cover Aged French oak barrels are found at the Brushy Mountain Vineyard in downtown Elkin, part of the Surry Wineries Group.
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Stony Knoll Vineyards Vineyards Surry Community College Winery Winery Weathervane Winery Westbend Vineyards Slightly Askew Winery 336-835-2700 913 N. Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621
27 Olde Mill Vineyards 28 Sanders Ridge Vineyard 29 River de Vine Vineyards Roaring River Vineyards, LLC 30
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roaringrivervineyards.com
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MOUNTAIN REGION
Adagio Vineyards
(336) 258-2333 139 Benge Drive, Elkin, NC 28621 www.adagiovineyards.com Owners: Drs. Tim and Jan Wahl Winemaker: Sean McRitchie Location: Surry County, I-77 to exit 83 US 21 bypass North, left first traffic light, left on N Bridge Street then right on Carter Mill Road, first left on Benge Drive. Tasting Room Hours: Fri and Sat 12-, Sun 1-5
33 JOLO Vineyards 34 Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery 36 Native Vines Winery
Lazy Elm
(336) 999-4914 523 Danner Road, Mocksville, NC 27028 www.lazyelm.com Open Sat & Sun 12PM-5PM-ish
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ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 336-835-1513
Jonesville
SWAN CREEK AVA
1 Windsor Run Winery & Distillery
1 Banner Elk Winery 2 Calaboose Cellars 3 Biltmore Estate Winery 4 Cerminaro Vineyard 5 Chateau Laurinda 6 Elk Mountain Winery 7 Ginger Creek Vineyards 8 Green Creek Winery 9 Lake James Cellars 10 New River Winery
The Jonesville 2 Dobbins Creek Vineyards
11 Owl’s Eye Vineyard & Winery LLC Welcome cenTer 12 Raintree I-77 at Exit 82, in The Heart of the Yadkin ValleyCellars 3 Laurel Gray Vineyards 13 Rockhouse Vineyards
4 Raffaldini Tourism Specialists On Staff Monday-Saturday 8:30AM-8PM & Sundays 1PM-8PM Vineyards SouthRegion Creek Vineyards providing a wealth of information on the Yadkin Valley, its14Wine and more! 5 Shadow Springs Vineyard
For more information, call the Jonesville Welcome Center at (336) 835-2000
336-835-6000
336-526-6777
336-835-9400
Go Anywhere – Stay Here!
336-835-1994
336-835-3609
00735238
On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 3
Shelton Vineyards 21 336-366-4724 286 Cabernet Lane, Dobson, NC 27017 Owners: Charles M. Shelton and R. Edwin Shelton Winemaker: Gill Giese Website: www.sheltonvineyards.com Location: Surry County — I-77 to Exit 93 Dobson. Turn right, then take first right onto Twin Oaks Rd. Go 2.5 miles to the Shelton Vineyards entrance on the right.
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(336)790-8888 or Toll Free (877)6580370 493 Brewer Mill Road, Traphill, NC 28685 GPS Coordinates: 36.318514, -81.049772 Owners: Josephine & Tom Silvey Luxury Lodgings, Business Meetings, Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners, and Private Events. Website: www.
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On The Vine 214 E. Main St. 11 Elkin, NC 28621 On The Vine 3 is published quarterly 5 by Civitas Media LLC. 1
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Owners: Tim Gentry and Karen Defreitas Website: www.slightlyaskewwines.com Location: Surry County — Take Exit 85 from I-77. West on 268 bypass (CC Camp Rd) .9 miles turn left on S-21 (N Bridge St.) go .8 miles, winery on right (yellow house). Wine List: Large selection of wines. 20+ wines from semi-dry to Dry Whites and Reds, and large selection of Fruit/Sweet wines.
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12 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2 2 tricalendar@civitasmedia.com
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ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Holly Lamm
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kitsey E. Burns Karen Holbrook
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17 RagApple Lassie Vineyards 18 RayLen Vineyards
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Old North State Winery & Brewery 336-789-9463 308 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030 Owners: Ben & Ellie Webb Winemaker/Brewmaster: Ben Webb website: www.oldnorthstatewinery.com Location: Surry County - From I-77 East to US 601, take US 601 to Hwy. 52N. Exit off of Hwy. 52N on the Mt. Airy/Galax Hwy. 89 Ext. Go straight on Independence through 5 lights. Turn right onto N. Main Street, Winery is two blocks on the left.
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Wine List: List: Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Barbera, Sangiovese, Kathryn’s Blush Barbera, Sangiovese, Kathryn’s Blush Website: www.huttonvineyards.com Website: www.huttonvineyards.com Directions from Winston-Salem, Charlote and Mt. Directions from Winston-Salem, Charlote and Mt. Airy/VA available on our website. Airy/VA available on our website.
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EDITOR Wendy Byerly Wood
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A number of Yadkin County wineries converge at RagApple Lassie for a holiday mini wine festival.
4 | On The Vine | Winter 2015
Kitsey E. Burns | On The Vine
Yadkin wineries celebrate winter reds
“
It’s a great way to showcase the wine with a good food pairing and it’s just a really unique experience.
By Kitsey E. Burns
kburns@civitasmedia.com
Many wine lovers may plan to spend the winter months cozied up at home with their favorite vintage rather than out tasting wines like they do in the warmer months. Just because temperatures are chilly, it’s no reason not to come enjoy the bounty that the Yadkin Valley has to offer. This January and February, the Yadkin County Tourism Development Authority and the town of Yadkinville are coordinating the sixth annual Yadkin Winter Reds event. The event is an opportunity wine aficionados won’t want to miss. Organizers said it’s a great chance to plan a day trip or weekend getaway to the area to not only sample wines, but enjoy delectable food pairings as well. “It’s a good opportunity to enjoy rich and spicy reds on cold wintry days,” said Jennifer Hiatt, winery manager at Sanders Ridge. The event will be held Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 and Feb. 28 and
March 1 where all Yadkin County wineries will feature a 2-oz. pour of a selected red wine along with a 4-oz. food pairing. The hours will be Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, per weekend. Each ticket holder will be assigned to a starting winery where they will receive their souvenir glass and a map. Tickets are good for both days on the selected weekend, one visit per winery. Tickets must be ordered by Jan. 28 for the first weekend and Feb. 25 for the second weekend. “The Yadkin Winter Reds event was started because January, February and March are typically slow months of the year and it became hugely popular because as people recovered from the holidays, they relish the opportunity to come out to sample good wines and to have a food pairing with each wine,” said Lenna Hobson, co-owner of RagApple Lassie Vineyard. “It’s a great way to showcase the wine with a good food pairing and it’s just a really unique experience.”
Menu for January Weekend
Menu for February Weekend
(Tickets must be ordered by Jan. 28)
(Tickets must be ordered by Feb. 25)
Allison Oaks Vineyards Country Ham & Smokey Gouda Pimento Cheese Slider paired with Ms. Mimi
Brandon Hills Vineyard Meatball Sliders paired with Raptor Red
Cellar 4201 Herb Roasted Pork Loin paired with Sangiovese
Dobbins Creek Vineyards Grilled Vegetable Pizzetta paired with Cabernet Franc
Divine Llama Vineyards Chocolate Cake made with In A Hearbeat paired with In a Heartbeat Flint Hill Vineyards Chili paired with Tres Cerise RagApple Lassie Vineyards Lamb Meatballs paired with Syrah Sanders Ridge Vineyards Mini NC Grassfed Peppercorn Encrusted Beef Sliders paired with Big Woods Sweet Home Carolina Winery Sweet Home’s Creamy Potato and Sausage Soup with Home Baked Bread paired with Wild Thing
Kitsey E. Burns | On The Vine
Flint Hill Vineyards, Cellar 4201, Sanders Ridge and Divine Llama join together at RagApple Lassie for a holiday mini wine festival.
Windsor Run Cellars Baked Ziti paired with Judge’s Verdict Shadow Springs Vineyards Corn Chowder paired with Crimson Sunset Yadkin Valley Wine Company Cherry Chocolate Bread paired with Cherry Jubilee
For more information about the Winter Reds Event, please contact the Yadkin County Visitors Office at 1-877-492-3546. Kitsey E. Burns may be reached at 336-679-2341 or on Twitter @RippleReporterK.
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Laurel Gray Vineyards Creamy Tomato Basil Soup paired with Scarlet Mountain
On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 5
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Hanover Park Vineyards Lamb French Style paired with Mourvedre
CHILDERS the winemaker behind Herrera success
6 | On The Vine | Winter 2015
Story and photos by Kitsey E. Burns
Herrera Vineyards winemaker Kevin Childers stands with barrels of his creation.
Local winemaker Kevin Childers was first introduced to wine when he worked at an Italian restaurant in college. He quickly learned to love wine and went on to work in retail sales at a wine shop before deciding to move to the production side of the industry. He is now the winemaker at Herrera Vineyards in Dobson, which is slated to open this year. Childers completed his associate’s degree in viticulture and enology at Surry Community College in 2012 and went on to craft his first vintage that same year. The innovative pairing of chemistry and art that comprises what a winemaker does, is what appeals most to Childers. “I enjoy the science side of it and the creative process,” he said. “It’s just a creative release, kind of like cooking.” Having experienced selling wine to customers previously, for Childers, it is an even greater experience to have his own product for wine-lovers to drink. Seeing the entire process from taking the raw ingredients and then having a final product for someone to enjoy is a great feeling, Childers said. “You can hold your work in your hand. You have something to show for it,” he said. “You feel proud and happy that you make something that people enjoy and you’re able to give them some sort of pleasure in their lives.” Though their tasting room is not yet open, baseball fans already have been enjoying Herrera Vineyard wines. The vineyard was selected to be the
exclusive provider of wines for all games and other events held at the WinstonSalem Dash’s BB&T Ballpark. With so many wineries in the area, Childers said it was a great honor to be chosen as the official wine for the ballpark. “It’s gone really well,” he said. “It’s a big validation that our wine is a good product that people are willing to put out there and get behind and it made me feel good.” The up and coming and ever growing wine industry in the Yadkin Valley is something Childers said is a great boon to the region. “I think it’s great for this area to be able to diversify the agricultural products and it’s an interesting draw to get people from other areas to come here and spend money and provide some jobs and a boost to the local economy,” he said. “It’s something for this area to be proud of.” Childers has had the opportunity to visit other wine regions around the world including Oregon, Washington, France and Spain. The south of France and Spain were some of his favorite experiences, he said. He said his personal favorite style of wine to make and to drink are the European style wines. “I like red and white wine more or less the same just depending on what mood I’m in, what season it is, what sort of food I’m eating, but I like the drier, higher acid wines, not so much the
Kevin Childers, winemaker at Herrera Vineyards, pulls a sample tasting from a wine barrel.
jammy sort of fruit. My taste just goes more to the earthier, spicier European style.” While many have compared the Yadkin Valley to the wine boom that happened in California some years ago, Childers said that folks should just be proud of the grapes and the wine produced here and not attempt to emulate other regions. “There’s only one Sonoma Valley because it has particular attributes,” he said. “We can’t be those other places, we have to stay within ourselves and make wines that are more representative of the grapes we’re capable of growing here.” Childers said his main goal is “just to make clean wines that don’t have technical
flaws.” He said his time in the viticulture program at Surry drilled the basics of winemaking into his head. He had high praise for his instructor Dr. Molly Kelly, who now works at Virginia Tech. “She really hammered home the basics and the science side of it to allow you to make clean, stable wines without technical flaws,” he said. “I still build my wine making protocol around that.” Childers’ education and natural instincts for making wine have certainly paid off as his wines are already winning awards. The Herrera Vineyard dry Riesling was honored with a gold medal and best of category out of 63 other wines in the
white vinifera category at the NC State Fair. Childers described the wine as light, simple with just a clean, crisp and slightly tart flavor that is easy to drink. A sweeter version of the Riesling also claimed a silver medal in the competition. In addition to both a white and a red sweet sangria, the vineyard also produces a rosé, a malbec and a tannat, which hails from south western France. The Herrera Vineyard tasting room is scheduled to open later this year and Childers said he is thrilled about sharing his wines with locals and area visitors. Kitsey E. Burns may be reached at 336-679-2341 or on Twitter @ RippleReporterK.
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On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 7
Great Food ...Great Times
Surrysupport wineries one another
Staff photo | On The Vine
The Surry Wineries Group recently collaborated in Dine and Vine Gala at Grassy Creek Vineyard that brought in locals and out-of-towners to taste Yadkin Valley wines.
2014 harvest expected to be beautiful
8 | On The Vine | Winter 2015
Staff Report Collaboration and solidarity has helped to make Yadkin Valley wineries successful and 2014 is expected to be a beautiful year for the wineries, but still full of challenges, said President of Surry Wineries Group and owner of Elkin Creek Vineyard Louis Jeroslow. Back in the fall when the local wineries were in the thick of the harvest, they were comforted by the fact their hearts were with one another. If equipment ever breaks, it only takes a telephone call to see how to help one another, said Jeroslow. With the different Yadkin Valley varietals and grapes, the harvest starts with white, then red, and then, the later reds, such as the grapes used for Cabernet Sauvignon. “This is the rubber meeting the road,” said Jeroslow. Jeroslow said 2014 will be one of those years people will be talking
Staff photo | On The Vine
Louis Jeroslow stands in the center of a gala and wine tasting held by Surry Wineries Group participants at Grassy Creek Vineyard.
about for Yadkin Valley wines for some time to come. He said the Yadkin Valley is much more analogous to areas of Old World Europe, that is why each year is different.
It is for those reasons of climate, soil and latitude that Yadkin Valley wine has been traditionally blended, said the Surry Wineries president, adding it has the potential to be the most enjoyable and have all the qualities, one is looking for. “One of the things that makes Yadkin Valley especially unique is because our combination of latitude and soil is like France and Italy,” he said. The Yadkin Valley climate is most like Bordeaux with varieties so diverse, they include grapes from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Germany. The result is a large palette for wine making, said Jeroslow. After the art and science of the wine gathering, crushing, and the different fermenting processes, the wines will go to barrel, where they will age for a year on average. The individual style of the winery begins to manifest as each winemaker continues to watch and adjust. Wine making techniques and processes continue for a year and even more, said Jeroslow. The Surry Wineries Group is a community resource for exchanging
Staff photo | On The Vine
Jim Douhit with Grassy Creek Vineyard in State Road unveils upcoming wines to be bottled in dairy containers reflecting the Klondike Farm history.
Appellation (A.V.A.) in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Surry Wineries Group website defined their mission: “We collaborate together with the goal of showcasing the wonderful
qualities of the Yadkin Valley wine region. While providing unique events and experiences for our guests, we strive to elevate quality, broaden the regional and national awareness of the Yadkin Valley wine region, provide a friendly atmosphere, and find opportunities to give back to our communities.” Former president of the group and owner of Stony Knoll Vineyards, Van Coe, said for him, it is about being creative and relying on the resources around them and each other. Coe literally went from growing tobacco to grapes, and went to Surry Community College to learn wine making. Jason Wiseman of Brushy Mountain Winery also commented on how the wineries rely on each other, all they way down to tasting for one another with a critical and friendly eye. Wiseman also attended the viticulture program at SCC.
Owner Jim Douthit of Grassy Creek Vineyard said about the close-knit Surry Wineries Group, “When one does well, we all do well.” Participating wineries in the Surry Wineries Group are Brushy Mountain Winery, Elkin Creek Vineyard, Olde Mill Vineyards, Slightly Askew Winery, Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery, Stony Knoll Vineyards, Round Peak Vineyards, Carolina Heritage and Jolo Winery and Vineyards. Jeroslow added the group is considering creating different levels of membership for the wineries group in a very approachable way that takes into consideration of time management. He said they are indeed a “very active” group. Last fall the Surry Wineries also collaborated on a 5K series called the Vineyard Stomp and they have plans to continue this tradition in years to come.
On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 9
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information, comparing experiences and helping one another do better each year, ultimately, said Jeroslow. They share success and failure stories, with a goal to help everybody improve, and are looking to expand their scope. He said cost efficiency results when they order supplies collectively. Jeroslow said doing so helps everyone save cost, and helps the consumer save. By working together in ordering supplies, they can often afford higher quality materials such as French Oak wine barrels, which cost $1,000 each, said Jeroslow. Though they are worth it, he added. He also explained by supporting one another, they are following an example set by Robert Mondavi in the Napa Valley Wine Region. The group of vineyards and wineries are located within the Yadkin Valley
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Brandon Hills Vineyard 336-463-WINE (9463) 1927 Brandon Hills Road, Yadkinville, NC 27055 Owners: David and Pamela Blackwell Winemaker: Dana Acker Website: brandonhillsvineyard.com Location: Yadkin County-From US 421 take US 601 So., turn right on Lone Hickory, 1.2 miles turn right on Neelie Rd., 0.5 mi. turn left on Brandon Hills Rd.
Brushy Mountain Winery 336-835-1313 125 W. Main St., Elkin, NC 28621 Owners: Jason Wiseman and Amy Euliss Winemaker: Jason Wiseman Website: www.brushymountainwine.com Location: Surry County — Downtown Elkin, 1/2 block west of town’s main square. Carolina Heritage 5 Vineyard & Winery 336 366-3301 170 Heritage Vines Way, Elkin, NC 28621 Owners and Winemakers: Clyde & Pat Colwell Website: carolinaheritagevineyards.com Location: From I-77: Take I-77 Exit 85 East (Right) Hwy-268 Bypass/CC Camp Road to Highway 268. Turn Left (East)- Highway 268 for .8 mile. Vineyard is visible on the north side of 268 next to road sign: “Heritage Vines Way.” (10202 E Hwy 268-Elkin) From Hwy 52/Hwy 601: Take Hwy 268 West for 3 miles from Hwy 601. Vineyard is visible on the north side of Hwy 268 next to road sign: “Heritage Vines Way.” (10202 E Hwy 268-Elkin)
10 | On The Vine | Winter 2015
Cellar 4201 336-699-6030 4201 Apperson Road, East Bend, NC 27018 GPS Coordinates: 36D 14M 12S W80D 28M 26S Owner: Greg Hutchins, Donna Carlyle Hutchins Winemaker: Sean McRitchie Website: www.Cellar 4201.com Location: Yadkin County From I-77 Exit 82 Travel East on Hwy 67 to East Bend. Turn left onto Apperson Road. From Winston-Salem, take Hwy 67 West, 1 mile past Yadkin River Bridge, turn right onto Apperson Road, travel 2.6 miles on left.
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Divine Llama Vineyards, LLC 336-699-2525 4126 Divine Llama Lane, East Bend, NC 27018 GPS Coordinates: N36d 13m 10s W80d 20m 03s Owners: Thomas H. Hughes and Michael West Winemaker: Dan Tallman Tasting Room Hours: Fri & Sat: 12:00pm - 5:00pm; Sun: 1:00pm-5:00pm, (Sat & Sun Only, Jan & Feb) Website: www.divinellamavineyards.com Location: From NC Hwy 67, turn onto Macedonia Road in East Bend. Vineyard is .6 mi on left.
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Elkin Creek Vineyard 336-526-5119
Lat: 36.2804452 Long: -80.8763055 10 Flint Hill Vineyards & Century Kitchen
Grassy Creek Vineyard 336-835-4230 Cottage Circle, Elkin, NC 28621 Owners: Derrill and Lori Rice, Jim and Cynthia Douthit Winemaker: Jim Douthit Website: www.grassycreekvineyard.com Location: Surry/Wilkes Counties — West off I-77 at Exit 85 to US 21-Bypass North. left after first traffic light onto Klondike Road. Left into vineyard after about 1/2 miles.
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Hutton Vineyards & Winery 336-374-2621 176 Hutton Vineyards Ln, Dobson, NC 27017 In Historic Olde Rockford, Surry county Owners: Malcolm & Heidi Hutton Tours and Tastings: Open Thursday-Saturday & Sunday by Prior Arrangement
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14 Junius Lindsay Vineyard
318 Elkin Creek Mill Road, Elkin, NC 28621 Tasting Room Hrs: Thursday – Sunday 11AM – 5PM. Wine Tasting & Light Foods Daily, Brick-Oven Pizzas Every Sunday. Available for Weddings & Special Events – Private Luxury Rental Cabins Website: www.elkincrreekvineyard.com
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Wine List: Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Barbera, Sangiovese, Kathryn’s Blush Website: www.huttonvineyards.com Directions from Winston-Salem, Charlote and Mt. Airy/VA available on our website.
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Old North State Winery & Brewery 336-789-9463 308 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030 Owners: Ben & Ellie Webb Winemaker/Brewmaster: Ben Webb website: www.oldnorthstatewinery.com Location: Surry County - From I-77 East to US 601, take US 601 to Hwy. 52N. Exit off of Hwy. 52N on the Mt. Airy/Galax Hwy. 89 Ext. Go straight on Independence through 5 lights. Turn right onto N. Main Street, Winery is two blocks on the left.
17 RagApple Lassie Vineyards 18 RayLen Vineyards 19 Round Peak Vineyards 20 MenaRick Vineyard & Winery 21
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Shelton Vineyards 336-366-4724 286 Cabernet Lane, Dobson, NC 27017 Owners: Charles M. Shelton and R. Edwin Shelton Winemaker: Gill Giese Website: www.sheltonvineyards.com Location: Surry County — I-77 to Exit 93 Dobson. Turn right, then take first right onto Twin Oaks Rd. Go 2.5 miles to the Shelton Vineyards entrance on the right.
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27 Olde Mill Vineyards 28 Sanders Ridge Vineyard 29 River de Vine Vineyards Roaring River Vineyards, LLC 30
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Lazy Elm
(336) 999-4914 523 Danner Road, Mocksville, NC 27028 www.lazyelm.com Open Sat & Sun 12PM-5PM-ish
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Adagio Vineyards
(336) 258-2333 139 Benge Drive, Elkin, NC 28621 www.adagiovineyards.com Owners: Drs. Tim and Jan Wahl Winemaker: Sean McRitchie Location: Surry County, I-77 to exit 83 US 21 bypass North, left first traffic light, left on N Bridge Street then right on Carter Mill Road, first left on Benge Drive. Tasting Room Hours: Fri and Sat 12-, Sun 1-5
33 JOLO Vineyards 34 Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery 36 Native Vines Winery
SWAN CREEK AVA 1 Windsor Run Winery & Distillery 2 Dobbins Creek Vineyards 3 Laurel Gray Vineyards 4 Raffaldini Vineyards 5 Shadow Springs Vineyard
MOUNTAIN REGION 1 Banner Elk Winery 2 Calaboose Cellars 3 Biltmore Estate Winery 4 Cerminaro Vineyard 5 Chateau Laurinda 6 Elk Mountain Winery 7 Ginger Creek Vineyards 8 Green Creek Winery 9 Lake James Cellars 10 New River Winery 11 Owl’s Eye Vineyard & Winery LLC 12 Raintree Cellars 13 Rockhouse Vineyards 14 South Creek Vineyards
On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 11
(336)790-8888 or Toll Free (877)6580370 493 Brewer Mill Road, Traphill, NC 28685 GPS Coordinates: 36.318514, -81.049772 Owners: Josephine & Tom Silvey Luxury Lodgings, Business Meetings, Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners, and Private Events. Website: www.
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Stony Knoll Vineyards Surry Community College Winery Weathervane Winery Westbend Vineyards Slightly Askew Winery 336-835-2700 913 N. Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621
Owners: Tim Gentry and Karen Defreitas Website: www.slightlyaskewwines.com Location: Surry County — Take Exit 85 from I-77. West on 268 bypass (CC Camp Rd) .9 miles turn left on S-21 (N Bridge St.) go .8 miles, winery on right (yellow house). Wine List: Large selection of wines. 20+ wines from semi-dry to Dry Whites and Reds, and large selection of Fruit/Sweet wines.
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MOUNTAIN REGION 15 Thistle Meadow Winery 16 Waldensian Heritage Wines 17 WoodMill Winery
PIEDMONT REGION 1
Autumn Creek Vineyard 336-548-9463 364 Means Creek Rd., Mayodan, NC 27027
Owner: Scott Stanley Website: www.autumncreekvineyards.com Email: info@autumncreekvineyards.com Location: Rockingham County. Take US 220 to NC 770, turn left, Rt. on Glenns Chapel Rd., left on Means Creek Road. 2 A Secret Garden Winery 3 Black Rock Vineyards 4 Cauble Creek Vineyard 5 Chatham Hill Winery
2 Glen Marie Winery 3 Grove Winery 4 Iron Gate Vineyards & Winery 919-304-9463 5 Silk Hope Winery 919-545-5696 701 Duncan Farm Road, Siler City, NC 27344 GPS Coordinates: N35-46-06.6 W 079-1634.8 Owner: Wally Butler Website: www.silkhopewinery.com Location: Catham County - Off U.S. 64 Bypass at Exit 381 North on NC 87 1.8 miles to Silk Hope Gum Springs Road. Left 2.5 miles. Winery on left at intersecion with Emerson Cook Road.
7 Cypress Bend Vineyards
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10 Garden Gate Vineyards 11 Germanton Art & Winery 12 Hinnant Family Vineyard 13 Horizon Cellars 14 Old Stone Vineyard & Winery 704-279-0930 15 Rock of Ages Winery & Vineyard
12 | On The Vine | Winter 2015
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Stonefield Cellars 336-644-9908 8220 Hwy. 68 N., Stokesdale, NC 27357 Owners: Robert and Natalie Wurz Winemaker: Robert Wurz Website: www.stonefieldcellars.com Location: Guilford County — North off I-40 at Exit 210. Take NC 68 north 13 miles. Winery on right at intersection with NC 65 (entrance on NC 65). Stony Mountain Vineyards 704-982-0922 26370 Mountain Ridge Road, Albemarle, NC 28001 Owners: Ken, Marie and Devron Furr Website: www.stonymountainvineyards.com Location: Stanly County — Take Hwy 24-27 East from Albemarle. Turn left at Stone Mountain sign. Turn right on Mountain Ridge Rd.
18 Uwharrie Vineyards 19 Zimmerman Vineyards
The Country Squire Restaurant, Inn & Winery (910) 296-1727 748 NC Hwy 24 & 50 Warsaw, NC 28398 Website: www.countrysquirewinery.com Winery Hours: Tues - Sat 12:00pm - 7:00pm Restaurant: Home of the 72-ounce steak “The Kilt Buster”. Lunch: Sun - Fri 12:00pm 2:00pm, Dinner: 7 days a week 5:30pm - until. Wine List: Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, White Zinfandel, Pomegranate, Blackberry, Blueberry, Peach Winery, Restaurant, Inn, Bed & Breakfast, and Vineyards all at same location. All ABC PERMITS
12 Vineyards on the Scuppernong, LLC 13 Weeksville Vineyards & Cellars
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA REGION 1
Chateau Morrisette 540-593-2865 287 Winery Road SW, Floyd, VA 24091 Owner: David Morrisette
COASTAL REGION
6 Chinqua Penn Vineyards Daveste’ Vineyards 704-528-3882 155 Lytton Farm Rd., Troutman, NC 28166 Website: www.davestevineyards.com Email: info@daveste.com Tasting Room & Art Gallery Open Mon., Thu. & Fri.: 11 am - 6 pm Sat.: 10 am - 6 pm & Sun.: 12 pm - 6 pm Closed Tues. & Wed. 9 Dennis Vineyards
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1 Benjamin Vineyards & Winery 336-376-1080 6516 Whitney Road, Graham (Saxapahaw), NC 27253 Owners: Andy and Nancy Zeman Website: www.benjaminvineyards.com Location: Alamance County — Take Exit 154 off I-40/85 south 8.5 miles. Cross Hwy. 54 and continue 4 miles. Left on Whitney Road. Vineyard 1.2 miles on left.
3 Duplin Winery
Website: www.thedogs.com Location: Milepost 171.5 Blue Ridge Parkway
5 Lu Mil Vineyard
2 Blacksnake Meadery 3 Foggy Ridge Cider
6 Lumina Winery
4 Villa Appalacia
4 Grapefull Sisters Vineyard
7 Martin Vineyards 8 Moonrise Bay Vineyard 9 Sanctuary Vineyards 10
Silver Coast Winery 910-287-2800 6680 Barbeque Rd., Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 Southport Tasting Room 910-777-5151 105 S. Howe St., Southport NC 28461 Owners: John and Maryann Azzato Website: www.silvercoastwinery.com Location: Brunswick County — From Hwy. 17 (7 mi. north of S.C. border) take Hwy. 904 west. After 1.5 miles, take right on Russtown Rd. After 1.5 miles, take 4th right on Barbeque Rd.
If you wish to have an extended listing helping your customers to locate and contact you, please call Holly Lamm with On The Vine Magazine. We will be happy to invoice you annually for your listing in our quarterly publication. Annual Listing with phone number, location, directions, website, owner and/or winemaker names is $100 annually. To add your logo is an additional $50 annually.
Winemaker’s Corner By Sean McRitchie
wants to find the cross-over point where the maximum sweetness is met with high acid levels. Often waiting for optimal sugar will result in less than optimal acid levels. In fact, very few vintages in most growing regions meet these optimal conditions. However, the absence of perfect sugar and acid levels can be adjusted in winery by a savvy winemaker. This brings us to the third consideration: taste. What do we mean by taste? There are hundreds of molecules in grapes and wine that contribute to flavor and aroma. In grapes these flavors will develop over the course of grape ripening, especially late in the ripening process. While many flavors will not emerge until fermentation there are certain tastes that should be avoided. Generally, vegetative flavors develop early and fruity flavors are later. Green or stemmy grapes will never become a great, long-lived wine, nor can a winemaker correct for flavor that is not there. It has taken time for me to learn, and it is a continuing process, what the optimal balance is for our North Carolina terroir*. These environmental conditions, especially soil and climate, affect the grapes and in turn the wines. While certain variables remain more or less static, weather is the variable that changes every vintage and is directly responsible for the development of flavors in grapes. Making wine is never dull. What keeps it from being boring are the new surprises you get every year and the impact on flavor. Sometimes good, sometimes pretty darn good, sometimes awesome. *The complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate. Sean McRitchie is the winemaker at McRitchie Winery and Ciderworks in Thurmond.
On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 13
Why do you drink wine? I hope it is because it tastes good. During the winter months, when the vines are dormant, red wines are in the barrel, and the winery visitors slow, I take the time to reflect back on the current vintage as well as past seasons for lessons learned and what I want to take with me into the new season. 2014 was my 15th vintage in North Carolina and the 38th vintage in my career. As I taste through the wines during the winter months and the character of the new wines develop, I am struck by just how critical to the overall success of the vintage is the challenging and important decision of when to pick the grapes. There are three major considerations in determining when to pick grapes: appearance, numbers, and taste. Rarely do all three factors converge at their optimal level. Instead, winemakers try to find balance when determining the appropriate timing for picking each variety during a vintage. It is my belief that, while all considerations play a role, the most important determinant is taste. If the grapes don’t taste good when they are picked the best winemaker in the world will not be able to produce a flavorful wine. It is easy to determine whether grapes are ripe by appearance: the berry is full and has a distinctive color and the grapes are soft and the stem is brown. The problem with picking by appearance is all grapes in a typical vineyard do not ripen at the same time (even when the same variety) so pickers will need to go through the vineyard multiple times. This is cost-prohibitive for most vineyards and impractical from a processing standpoint at most wineries. The most important numbers a winemaker looks at are sugar and acid. When grapes ripen, the sugar levels rise and the acid levels fall. A winemaker
Calendar of Events Jan. 17 Round Peak Vineyards, 765 Round Peak Church Road, Mount Airy, will host a Signature Series wine blending event during which participants can blend their own wine. The event includes a tasting of all wines to be blended, lunch for two, a case of the wine the participant blends, instruction and all materials needed. There are two sessions available — one in late morning and one in late afternoon. For more information, call the tasting room at 336-3525595.
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Feb. 21 Junius Lindsay Vineyard, 385 Dr. Zimmerman Road, Lexington, will host the Martha Bassett Band. For more information, call 336-7644050. Feb. 21-22 Round Peak Vineyards, 765 Round Peak Church Road, Mount Airy, will host a Winter Wine Passport Food Pairing weekend. It will feature Round Peak pairs port with dessert. For more information, call the tasting room at 336-352-5595. March 21 Round Peak Vineyards, 765 Round Peak Church Road, Mount Airy, will host its Spring Fling event from noon to 5 p.m. on the crushpad. There will be live music, food and wine.
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Valentine’s pairs
s te la o c o h c d n a s e in w for romance
By Karen Holbrook
kholbrook@civitasmedia.com
Creek, Laurel Gray, Shadow Springs and Windsor Run. For more information, visit www.swancreekvineyards.com, www. raffaldini.com, or stop by the tasting room at Raffaldini. Questions about the event may be directed to info@raffaldini. com. Childress Vineyards will host their annual Valentine’s Dinner and Dance on Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Guests are invited to celebrate Valentine’s by spending the day visiting on the grounds and touring the winery and vineyards. Whether guests choose to spend the day with their closest friends or coupled with a significant other, Childress invites them to share in local wine, food, music and of course, dancing. For more information, call 336-236-9463. Many wineries will continue to offer tastings throughout Valentine’s weekend and all winter long. Be sure to check the individual winery website for more events, the On The Vine centerfold map or visit NCWine.org for a complete listing of North Carolina wineries. Karen Holbrook may be reached at 336-258-4059 or on Twitter @KarenHolbrook00.
On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 15
Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day and what better way to celebrate than a great meal accompanied by a delicious North Carolina wine. Many wineries and restaurants, including Shelton Vineyard’s Harvest Grill, will have special wine tastings offered throughout the holiday weekend. From Feb. 13-16, guests can take part in Cupid’s Celebration. There will be chocolate samples and special products available. For the couple that wants to make a weekend of romance, Biltmore Estates is offering a special Valentine’s getaway. Guests that book between Feb. 1-14 receive a dozen red roses, Biltmore red wines and chocolates delivered to the guest room. Along with the wine, chocolate and roses, guests will wake up to a chef’s breakfast buffet daily and enjoy a three-course dinner nightly, both served in The Dining Room. A daytime tour of the estate is valid for the length of the stay at Biltmore. For reservations and booking, call 866-336-1245 or online at
www.biltmore.com. Keeping with the theme of wine and chocolate, Grove Winery & Vineyard in Gibsonville will host a special event featuring delicious truffles. According to Grove Winery & Vineyard, “three gourmet chocolates, made by local pastry chef, Julie Watson, are paired with three award-winning wines during this delightfully, delicious weekend.” The winery warns that chocolates often sell out, so guests should reserve their spot in advance at www.GroveWinery.com. In the Yadkin Valley region, guests are invited to start off their romantic weekend with Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery as they join the vineyards of Swan Creek in their “For the Love of Chocolate and Wine” event. In the event, each vineyard will pair one of its wines with a Valentine’s Day sweet treat. At Raffaldini Vineyards, guests can enjoy a complimentary sample of their famous wineinfused chocolate brownies paired with the tasting of a featured Raffaldini wine. The event is scheduled for Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Feb. 15 from noon to 5 p.m. Other vineyards scheduled to participate include: Dobbins
Dare and Bruce Brinson offer more than 1,000 bottles in 72 types of wines from 21 Yadkin Valley region wineries at Uncorked on Main, part of Key City Antique Mall and Shops, 502 Main St., North Wilkesboro. Wendy Byerly Wood | Elkin Tribune
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16 | On The Vine | Winter 2015
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Uncorked on Main pouring in Wilkes County By Wendy Byerly Wood
wbyerly-wood@civitasmedia.com
Wendy Byerly Wood | Elkin Tribune
Dare Brinson, left, works with B Townes to offer Townes Farm Artisan Honey at her Uncorked on Main shop, which is part of Key City Antique Mall and Shops, 502 Main St., North Wilkesboro.
is an advantage.” She said she was born and raised in the Yadkin Valley and she wanted to keep her offerings close to home. “I want to help the community,” Brinson said. “It’s been an adventure.” And she said Key City has been a perfect fit for her endeavor. “It’s beautiful inside. It’s owned by Tom and Lana Kleeberg of Traphill,” said Brinson of the building that was a furniture manufacturing facility for more than 100 years. “We have people who come in just to see what they’ve done to it.” The mall and emporium features 170 vendors, one of which is Uncorked on Main. Brinson’s spot is just in front of the cash registers at the front door of the store. “It is so unique, very eclectic. There is a lot of repurposing, it is wonderful,” Brinson said of the mall. “We’ve got a constant flow of people coming in.” Uncorked on Main holds a wine tasting nearly every Saturday featuring the wine-
makers or owners of the Yadkin Valley wineries who are part of the store. “They bring all of their wines with them and if there is one customers like, we try to provide it in the store,” Brinson said. Typically the tastings are from 1 to 5 p.m. “What’s amazing to me is the support I’ve gotten from these wineries,” she said. Blue Ridge Mountain Coffees are featured in Uncorked on Main, and Brinson said Dec. 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. owner Barry Bauguess will hold a cupping. He takes four people at a time and does a brew workshop with them. Other items featured in the shop are Ashe County Cheese, Blue Ridge Chocolates, Townes Farm Artisan Honey and a new addition is Amish breads, pies and items from Shiloh General Store. Brinson or her husband make trips to the shop frequently, restocking and making sure there are plenty of items for customers.
“[Bruce] had been in sales all his life. He decided he wasn’t happy, so he took a leap of faith and quit his job,” Brinson said of her husband. “We knew the wine industry was growing here, and he is good at it.” Now Bruce Brinson is the winemaker at Bogg Turtle Farm in Devotion, a private vineyard and winery. Now the couple’s leap of faith in starting Uncorked on Main is one they hope the community will appreciate. “We’re doing really good in wine, but we can’t keep the cheese in. We have about every brick they make and it sells out as soon as we get it,” she said of the Ashe County cheeses. “Once people in Wilkes county found out it was Ashe County Cheese, they went crazy.” Now the nurse of 25 years, who spends her full-time job on the computer consulting patients, hopes she “can be the wine lady.” Wendy Byerly Wood may be reached at 336-258-4035 or on Twitter @ wendywoodeditor.
On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 17
NORTH WILKESBORO — While a plethora of wine varieties fill the Yadkin Valley region, there was no one place where nearly all of them could be purchased at one time — until now. Uncorked on Main opened in the Key City Antique Mall and Emporium on Main Street in North Wilkesboro at the beginning of October, a new revenue venture by Dare and Bruce Brinson of Elkin. “My husband Bruce graduated in 2011 from the viticulture and enology program,” Dare Brinson said of the beginning of the couple’s journey to open Uncorked on Main. “We are big in the wine industry in the Yadkin Valley, but there is no distribution for the small wineries, so his idea was to put them in one place and teach people to find out what kind they like.” She explained that people in the area are familiar with native sweet muscadine wines, but many people don’t know if they like the hybrids and drier wines. There was no distribution of any of the Yadkin Valley wines in Wilkes County, thus the decision to open Uncorked on Main in North Wilkesboro. “We have 21 wineries, 72 different types of wine and over 1,000 bottles, and they are all Yadkin Valley,” said Brinson. “A lot of people have visited the wineries and know what they like, but don’t want to have to keep going back, so it’s good to have them all in one place. You can fix a case and do one from every winery if you want to and get a discount, so there
Sweet Home Carolina opens its doors
Kitsey E. Burns | On The Vine
Tasters line up at the bar to sample the wines at Sweet Home Carolina in Yadkinville.
kburns@civitasmedia.com
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The weekend before Christmas, the newest winery in the Yadkin Valley officially opened its doors. Wine enthusiasts from around the region were able
to experience the magic of Sweet Home Carolina, located at 3423 Old U.S. 421 Hwy. E. in Yadkinville at its official grand opening just a few days before Christmas. Jeanine Brushwood, who lives just down the road, called the new winery “a
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• Historic 1780’s Wine Tasting Room • Romantic, World-Famous Restaurant & Inn • Tour the Vineyards • Relax on the Grounds • Visit our Gift Shop
compliment to the community.” Her favorites during the tasting were a sweet white called “Sweet Dreams” and a sweet red called “Horse’s Tail.” Brushwood was excited to have the new venue right in her own backyard and said it
would be a great place to relax and unwind. “It’s a nice atmosphere,” she said. “A nice, welcoming atmosphere.” Owners John Koren and Lyn Layton-Koren lived in Virginia Beach before retiring to the Yadkin Val-
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By Kitsey E. Burns
Kitsey E. Burns | On The Vine
A Christmas tree creates a festive atmosphere on opening weekend for new winery Sweet Home Carolina.
opening winery, but through word of mouth, Facebook promotions and passersby, people had all taken note and turned out to make the weekend a success. Anamchara, a semi-dry red wine, was the standout favorite during the first weekend, Layton-Koren said. “Our bestseller so far has been our Anamchara, a blend of Catawba grape and Noiret,” she said. “I had seen that a winery out in the mid-west had done it See SWEET | 20
Kitsey E. Burns | On The Vine
Owner and winemaker Lyn Layton-Koren smiles from behind the tasting bar at Yadkinville’s newest winery Sweet Home Carolina.
and had won awards with it and they are the only ones that had done it. I was so intrigued by it I ordered a bottle to try it and I thought it was so good, I thought well I’ve got to make this one because people out here have got to try that and people are loving it.” A perfect red blend with just a hint of sweetness, the name Anamchara is a Celtic word meaning “soul mate” or “soul friend,” LaytonKoren said. “We’re finding even our sweet wine drinkers are liking it a lot,” she added.
Nick Young, tasting room operator, said with a grin that it was the “sweet wine drinkers conversion kit.” Laura Bevis, of WinstonSalem, spent the Saturday before Christmas with friends enjoying a wine tasting at Sweet Home Carolina during its opening weekend. Bevis’ goal is to visit all 130-plus wineries in the state. She was wearing a tiara during her visit to Sweet Home Carolina to celebrate tasting at her 100th winery. Bevis said smaller wineries like Sweet Home Caro-
On The Vine | Winter 2015 | 19
ley. The couple had spent time touring the wineries in the region when they first moved to the area and Layton-Koren’s home winemaking hobby soon grew into something more. “It’s been a great weekend,” Layton-Koren said of their opening weekend. “We really didn’t expect a whole lot because it’s the weekend before Christmas, but Friday was our busiest day. We got a lot more than what we bargained for.” As a new winery, Sweet Home Carolina had done very little advertising for its
Sweet From page 19
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lina were her favorites. “The bigger they are, the less satisfied I’ve been with them,” she said. At some larger wineries in the area, Bevis said it felt a bit like being herded about or like attending a NASCAR race instead of just enjoying a simple wine tasting.” Cameron Whitt, a friend who has accompanied Bevis to 43 of her 100 wineries, said he too liked the atmosphere at the smaller wineries like Sweet Home Carolina. “The smaller ones, they’re more personal,” he said. “The bigger ones, like Childress, it’s beautiful, but it loses some of that personal touch to it.” Creating a warm, inviting
and magical experience for visitors is all a part of Layton-Koren’s mission. She is an artist and creativity is so much a part of her life and she tries to express that at the winery as well. She said she thinks everything about life is magical. Several of the wines at the winery include original artwork of Layton-Koren’s on the label. A family of miniature horses, miniature donkeys and a cockatoo named Baby Bird are a special part of the experience at Sweet Home Carolina as many of the wine labels and names of the wines feature unique pictures of the animals. Animal lovers and wine lovers are sure to have a magical and welcoming experience at Sweet Home Carolina. Kitsey E. Burns may be reached at 336-679-2341 or on Twitter @ RippleReporterK.
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