Epicure
his is the tale of two men from the same southern city: Lexington, North Carolina. The little town, population less than 20,000, Tis best known as the Barbecue Capital, but also boasts two world famous entrepreneurs. The two Tale of Two Men residents manage global businesses from their hometown. Pretty impressive, I’d say.
Richard Childress owns a NSCAR racing team as well as a prospering Richard Childress and vineyard, and Bob Timberlake ranks as a top American realist artist and marketing genius. Both men support the community in numerous ways, especially the annual Lexington Barbecue Festival held every October. I was most fortunate Bob Timberlake to meet both of them during a recent visit. By Debi Lander Childress started as a race car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in . e recorded six top five and top finishes in starts. However, he decided to retire as a driver in mid , naming ale Earnhardt to finish the season in Like his RCR Racing team, Childress his car. Childress’ real success came employs top personnel and the best from building race cars and teams e uipment at hildress Vineyards. e and sponsoring Earnhardt. Their lured award-winning winemaker Mark legendary partnership continued Friszolowski and put him in charge until Earnhardt’s tragic death on of the winery production. Childress the last lap of the aytona Vineyards was recently selected hampionship. as one of merica s top tasting rooms by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Childress continues to run his racing business and displays many he tasting room offers two choices of the famous cars and memorabilia to help customers learn and select from that enterprise in the RCR wines. The Cellar Select Tasting Racing Museum, located in nearby offers predominantly off dry wines Welcome, NC. and the Barrel Select Tasting features dry full bodied wines. In , ichard hildress fulfilled Both tastings includes eight half- a longtime dream when he opened ounce pours and a souvenir glass. Childress Vineyards. His passion for wine began back in his early I took the Barrel Select Tasting and days of auto racing in California. sipped Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve He visited many estates and Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Pinnacle became absorbed in fine wine. (a Bordeaux-style red blend), Merlot, BELOW Although he considered building Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Three RCR Museum a vineyard in California and New Red (the vineyard best seller named York, he chose to grow his grapes after the famous race car number) in hometown Lexington. The and a Finish Line Port. All were terroir, with its combination of superb but my taste buds preferred humid climate, long growing season the Reserve Cabernet. A special and gravely, red clay soil are key appearance by Richard Childress, natural features of the vineyards. himself, was a most unexpected and delightful surprise. He was The estate house at Childress totally charming. Vineyards is a commanding , s uare foot building, The gift shop sells wine related reminiscent of a Tuscan villa and products and Childress vintages features state-of-the art wine are generally priced between operations, educational tours, lunch per bottle the special at The Bistro, a seasonal concert select 2010 Richard’s Red goes series, and elegant ban uet and for a bottle. meeting rooms.
70 71 Epicure
his is the tale of two men from the same southern city: Lexington, North Carolina. The little town, population less than 20,000, Tis best known as the Barbecue Capital, but also boasts two world famous entrepreneurs. The two Tale of Two Men residents manage global businesses from their hometown. Pretty impressive, I’d say.
Richard Childress owns a NSCAR racing team as well as a prospering Richard Childress and vineyard, and Bob Timberlake ranks as a top American realist artist and marketing genius. Both men support the community in numerous ways, especially the annual Lexington Barbecue Festival held every October. I was most fortunate Bob Timberlake to meet both of them during a recent visit. By Debi Lander Childress started as a race car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in . e recorded six top five and top finishes in starts. However, he decided to retire as a driver in mid , naming ale Earnhardt to finish the season in Like his RCR Racing team, Childress his car. Childress’ real success came employs top personnel and the best from building race cars and teams e uipment at hildress Vineyards. e and sponsoring Earnhardt. Their lured award-winning winemaker Mark legendary partnership continued Friszolowski and put him in charge until Earnhardt’s tragic death on of the winery production. Childress the last lap of the aytona Vineyards was recently selected hampionship. as one of merica s top tasting rooms by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Childress continues to run his racing business and displays many he tasting room offers two choices of the famous cars and memorabilia to help customers learn and select from that enterprise in the RCR wines. The Cellar Select Tasting Racing Museum, located in nearby offers predominantly off dry wines Welcome, NC. and the Barrel Select Tasting features dry full bodied wines. In , ichard hildress fulfilled Both tastings includes eight half- a longtime dream when he opened ounce pours and a souvenir glass. Childress Vineyards. His passion for wine began back in his early I took the Barrel Select Tasting and days of auto racing in California. sipped Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve He visited many estates and Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Pinnacle became absorbed in fine wine. (a Bordeaux-style red blend), Merlot, BELOW Although he considered building Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Three RCR Museum a vineyard in California and New Red (the vineyard best seller named York, he chose to grow his grapes after the famous race car number) in hometown Lexington. The and a Finish Line Port. All were terroir, with its combination of superb but my taste buds preferred humid climate, long growing season the Reserve Cabernet. A special and gravely, red clay soil are key appearance by Richard Childress, natural features of the vineyards. himself, was a most unexpected and delightful surprise. He was The estate house at Childress totally charming. Vineyards is a commanding , s uare foot building, The gift shop sells wine related reminiscent of a Tuscan villa and products and Childress vintages features state-of-the art wine are generally priced between operations, educational tours, lunch per bottle the special at The Bistro, a seasonal concert select 2010 Richard’s Red goes series, and elegant ban uet and for a bottle. meeting rooms.
70 71 Epicure
ABOVE & ABOVE-LEFT anti ues and end tables that Barrel Room showcase Timberlake lamps. The highlight, other than the artwork, LEFT is the fully rigged, anti ue sailing Debi Lander, Judy Wells & Bob canoe suspended in the main Timberlake gallery. Timberlake has cleverly combined his artistic view to design lines of home furnishings Another day I stopped into the Bob and rugs. He has even licensed his Timberlake Gallery, expecting to see name on an array of items like so Bob’s paintings and reproductions. many clothing designers, sports Oh my, I was wrong. The Gallery is figures and chefs. But his look stays much more than artwork. I learned true everything that bears the that the structure is the culmination Bob imberlake name re ects a of the artist’s dream and was ten comfortable, casual and slightly years in the making. It includes his elegant touch. own line of finely crafted furniture inspired by th century craftsmen I meandered around and was and arranged in ways that make you surprised to find a coffee shop and want to sit down and linger. the artist in person. Bob Timberlake However, it is certainly not presented himself as a down to a typical a furniture store. earth friendly man. He is primarily known for his watercolor paintings The sprawling building is light and which I would describe as realistic airy, dominated by a huge stone country scenes or refined folk art. chimney. The inviting rooms seem ou can clearly see the in uence of to go on forever. The walls are hung Andrew Wyeth in his work. Although with decorative accessories, Timberlake was self-taught, he was mentored by the famous artist. Another surprise: Timberlake didn’t Estate House at Childress Vineyards begin his professional career until 1970, when he was 33 years old.
Having met both unassuming men, I can understand how they would be friends. They both support the Lexington Barbecue Festival. Childress Vineyards is a primary sponsor of the annual event held in October. Artist Bob Timberlake designs a label and Childress bottles a special vintage called Fine Swine Wine. Bottles go on sale the morning of the estival and sell out uickly. The extravaganza attracts 200,000 people and has been called one of the op en ne ay estivals in the U.S. Mark your calendar to attend the Lexington BBQ Festival on ctober , . ou just might meet these two men as well.
To learn more go to www.childressvineyards.com.
73 Epicure
ABOVE & ABOVE-LEFT anti ues and end tables that Barrel Room showcase Timberlake lamps. The highlight, other than the artwork, LEFT is the fully rigged, anti ue sailing Debi Lander, Judy Wells & Bob canoe suspended in the main Timberlake gallery. Timberlake has cleverly combined his artistic view to design lines of home furnishings Another day I stopped into the Bob and rugs. He has even licensed his Timberlake Gallery, expecting to see name on an array of items like so Bob’s paintings and reproductions. many clothing designers, sports Oh my, I was wrong. The Gallery is figures and chefs. But his look stays much more than artwork. I learned true everything that bears the that the structure is the culmination Bob imberlake name re ects a of the artist’s dream and was ten comfortable, casual and slightly years in the making. It includes his elegant touch. own line of finely crafted furniture inspired by th century craftsmen I meandered around and was and arranged in ways that make you surprised to find a coffee shop and want to sit down and linger. the artist in person. Bob Timberlake However, it is certainly not presented himself as a down to a typical a furniture store. earth friendly man. He is primarily known for his watercolor paintings The sprawling building is light and which I would describe as realistic airy, dominated by a huge stone country scenes or refined folk art. chimney. The inviting rooms seem ou can clearly see the in uence of to go on forever. The walls are hung Andrew Wyeth in his work. Although with decorative accessories, Timberlake was self-taught, he was mentored by the famous artist. Another surprise: Timberlake didn’t Estate House at Childress Vineyards begin his professional career until 1970, when he was 33 years old.
Having met both unassuming men, I can understand how they would be friends. They both support the Lexington Barbecue Festival. Childress Vineyards is a primary sponsor of the annual event held in October. Artist Bob Timberlake designs a label and Childress bottles a special vintage called Fine Swine Wine. Bottles go on sale the morning of the estival and sell out uickly. The extravaganza attracts 200,000 people and has been called one of the op en ne ay estivals in the U.S. Mark your calendar to attend the Lexington BBQ Festival on ctober , . ou just might meet these two men as well.
To learn more go to www.childressvineyards.com.
73