October is North Carolina Wine and Grape Appreciation Month
October is North Carolina Wine and Grape Appreciation month. So if it is surprising to learn that NC is 10th for wine production in the US, sit back and prepare to be educated. The 350 individually owned grape vineyards created close to 70 wineries in 34 counties, the number doubling since 2002. The first commercial vineyard was founded in 1835 in Halifax county, Medoc Vineyard. The official fruit of North Carolina is the Scuppernong grape. It’s the first grape cultivated in the US and the mother vine ( this is the original vine that all clones are clipped from) is 2 feet thick and covers half an acre. It is 400 years old and is the oldest known grapevine in the US. Muscadine grapes (which include the Scuppernongs) are native to Eastern North Carolina. The bunch grapes like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grow in clusters in Western North Carolina. It would be surprising to know that the Biltmore Estate Wine Company is the most visited winery in the US with nearly 1,000,000 visitors annually. So as you see, North Carolina has quite a wine history.
So, enough facts. Lets start with what’s most important, “where do I go to taste some wine?!”. Probably the most prolific area for wine production is the Yadkin Valley wine region in northwest NC. It’s a great place for your first venture. They make several types of wine including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. Sangiovese grapes are the ones they use for Chianti, but only wine from Italy using these grapes can be called Chianti. There are well over 20 wineries in the area, but a few really stick out. One of the largest and most successful is the Shelton Vineyards in Dobson, NC. It is beautifully placed among the vineyards with lush landscaping. The tasting room is a large store with lots of fun things for sale, including a nice selection of their wine. It all begins with a tour of winery where you hear the long history of the Shelton family and then continues on to how the wine process is done. You see how gravity (a slow descent from the beginning of the process) moves the wine along. Eventually it settles into stainless steel canisters and wood barrels. .After the tour, the tasting begins. The tour guides are very good about explaining what you may want to know about each of the wines. If you’re a beginner it’s okay. They are always very helpful and no question is a dumb one. The Shelton Vineyards has a wonderful upscale restaurant called the Harvest Grill. There is an outside patio with a spectacular view of the Vineyards. It is a great way to enjoy a glass of Shelton wine and a lunch.
The next stop should probably be a smaller vineyard called Raffaldini Vineyards (www.raffaldini.com) owned by an Italian family whose roots date back to the 1300’s in Italy, the Northern Province of Lombardy. This small winery has so much beauty and charm it would be a crime to miss it. When you pull up the driveway, the first thing you notice are the lines of vines. You’ll notice that each row has a rose bush that stands guard ,which they say helps with pollenization. To the right is a huge Tuscan Villa under construction ,“Villa Raffaldini“. It’s definitely Italian influenced and will house not just a new tasting room with a stone fireplace but also a catering kitchen. It overlooks a glorious view of the mountains and the rolling hills. Unfortunately, that won’t open till winter but for now you will have to do the tastings in the smaller house with an outdoor patio and a spectacular view of the vineyards. With such a peaceful setting you could sit for hours drinking wine and eating cheese. The tasting there is distinctively southern with all the charm and grace you would expect, but don’t get comfortable. There is still one more to try.
Elkin Creek Vineyard (www.elkinmill.com) in Elkin, NC is one special place. Not only is it overlooking Elkin Creek but it is next to the old Elkin Creek Mill (where the owner resides). The building that houses the tasting room, which is in the basement, also houses a restaurant that is so special that the New York Times sent the food editor to review it. It’s not just the rustic look or the views of the creek but the quality of the chef that attracts people from all over. The wonderful meal, the fabulous wine, and the view make this a stop you can’t miss. As enjoy a glass of Elkin Creek wine you will wonder how you will ever leave. If you’re lucky, the owner will come by to tell about the history of his vineyard. He may explain that the gentleman who owns the property next door has cabins for rent. So, you can rent a cabin for the weekend and stroll across the small wooden bridge and dine at the Creek again and again.
No, this isn’t Napa Valley. It’s better . It’s North Carolina at it’s best.
Robin Gardner, Editor At Large
North Carolina Wineries
So, enough facts. Lets start with what’s most important, “where do I go to taste some wine?!”. Probably the most prolific area for wine production is the Yadkin Valley wine region in northwest NC. It’s a great place for your first venture. They make several types of wine including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. Sangiovese grapes are the ones they use for Chianti, but only wine from Italy using these grapes can be called Chianti. There are well over 20 wineries in the area, but a few really stick out. One of the largest and most successful is the Shelton Vineyards in Dobson, NC. It is beautifully placed among the vineyards with lush landscaping. The tasting room is a large store with lots of fun things for sale, including a nice selection of their wine. It all begins with a tour of winery where you hear the long history of the Shelton family and then continues on to how the wine process is done. You see how gravity (a slow descent from the beginning of the process) moves the wine along. Eventually it settles into stainless steel canisters and wood barrels. .After the tour, the tasting begins. The tour guides are very good about explaining what you may want to know about each of the wines. If you’re a beginner it’s okay. They are always very helpful and no question is a dumb one. The Shelton Vineyards has a wonderful upscale restaurant called the Harvest Grill. There is an outside patio with a spectacular view of the Vineyards. It is a great way to enjoy a glass of Shelton wine and a lunch.
The next stop should probably be a smaller vineyard called Raffaldini Vineyards (www.raffaldini.com) owned by an Italian family whose roots date back to the 1300’s in Italy, the Northern Province of Lombardy. This small winery has so much beauty and charm it would be a crime to miss it. When you pull up the driveway, the first thing you notice are the lines of vines. You’ll notice that each row has a rose bush that stands guard ,which they say helps with pollenization. To the right is a huge Tuscan Villa under construction ,“Villa Raffaldini“. It’s definitely Italian influenced and will house not just a new tasting room with a stone fireplace but also a catering kitchen. It overlooks a glorious view of the mountains and the rolling hills. Unfortunately, that won’t open till winter but for now you will have to do the tastings in the smaller house with an outdoor patio and a spectacular view of the vineyards. With such a peaceful setting you could sit for hours drinking wine and eating cheese. The tasting there is distinctively southern with all the charm and grace you would expect, but don’t get comfortable. There is still one more to try.
Elkin Creek Vineyard (www.elkinmill.com) in Elkin, NC is one special place. Not only is it overlooking Elkin Creek but it is next to the old Elkin Creek Mill (where the owner resides). The building that houses the tasting room, which is in the basement, also houses a restaurant that is so special that the New York Times sent the food editor to review it. It’s not just the rustic look or the views of the creek but the quality of the chef that attracts people from all over. The wonderful meal, the fabulous wine, and the view make this a stop you can’t miss. As enjoy a glass of Elkin Creek wine you will wonder how you will ever leave. If you’re lucky, the owner will come by to tell about the history of his vineyard. He may explain that the gentleman who owns the property next door has cabins for rent. So, you can rent a cabin for the weekend and stroll across the small wooden bridge and dine at the Creek again and again.
No, this isn’t Napa Valley. It’s better . It’s North Carolina at it’s best.
Robin Gardner, Editor At Large
North Carolina Wineries
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