Yadkin Valley Grape Festival

[tandkvd]

I went to this festival to day. There were 11 NC wineries represinted. For $10 I was able to add to my wine glass collection with a complimentary glass. And you walked to each wineries booth and sampled the wines. A lot of wine was tasted in a little amount of time (there were some food booths which was good to have something to soak up the alcohol), and walking around with a wine glass in one hand and pamphlets in the other made it hard to right many notes. I mostly gave a 1-5 score on each wine tasted.

Most were average wines, although a few stood out. Of cource, there was Shelton who has set a high standard for NC. Hanover Park has some good wines (Cab. Franc & Viognier). RayLen's unoaked Chardonay was as good or better than Sheltons, and their 2003 Category 5 Cab. blend was very good. And Old North State Winery was there, I had spoke about them 2 weeks ago. Their wines are better than most in NC.

One of the bigger name winereies in NC and have won several awards, especialy for their Chardonay, is RagApple Lassie. I just do not see what the hipe is all about these wines. they are not too apealing to me.

And Round Peak's wines were watery tasting. Not much there, although a new wine drinker may find it a good starting wine. They had a long line to the booth.

Then there was a winery that has been open just 2 weeks, Buck Shoals. For a new winery they have produced 3 above average wines. Chardonay, Rocco Red, and Bryons Legacy a sweet red wine. I do not have much info on the grapes used in their wines, they did not have any tasting notes. And their bottles had a plain white lable with black lettering. Their web site has little info but if you want to see it go to www.buckshoalsvineyard.com

[This message has been edited by tandkvd (edited 10-23-2004).]

[wondersofwine]

Thanks for doing the fieldwork. Most of those wineries I have never heard of. (Shelton being the exception)

[glenora]

tandkvd--

Has the Childress Winery opened yet? I know that there has been a significant investment in vineyards, equipment and personel -- it will be interesting to learn how it all unfolds.

[tandkvd]

Yes Gene. Here is their web-site http://www.childressvineyards.com/home.asp

Looks perty good, I'll have to make a trip there and report on the wine.

[dananne]

Sounds like a fun time. Anne and I are heading up to N. GA this weekend to visit a few wineries. We may be heading up to N.C. this fall, too, so thanks for posting this info.

[tandkvd]

Dan, here is a good web site for locations of wineries in NC.

http://www.ncwine.org/wineries.htm

Although, some of the newer ones are not on there. But when you head up I-77 into the Yadkin Valley there are signs at each exit where the wineries are.