Volume 2 Wine Trail Traveler Issue 10 October 2008 Newsletter North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek Wineries We had the opportunity to visit wineries in Yadkin Valley AVA and the newly formed appellation of Swan Creek within the Yadkin Valley. The bucolic atmosphere of the Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek areas made a very relaxing and pleasant time. The areas are located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In September the foliage of the valley was green and one can imagine that the fall foliage must be majestic. We visited three wineries in Swan Creek AVA and eight in Yadkin Valley AVA. In Swan Creek Raffaldini was the largest. Surrounded by rolling hills of vineyards, the Tuscan-styled building offered beautifully landscaped gardens, a large tasting room and patio area with plenty of tables and chairs. Raffaldini’s setting appears to have been transported from Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery’s tasting room appears to have been transported from Italy. Italy. Laurel Gray’s tasting room is a a homey feeling to it and the owner Vineyards & Winery was named after the renovated and expanded milking parlor, and winemaker has wide experience owner’s daughters Rachel and Helen. a Southern term for dairy barn. It too in producing wine. Old North State Round Peak Vineyards was the result offered an ideal setting for relaxation Winery, an urban winery, is located in of two couples on vacation who decided while overlooking the vineyards and Andy Griffith’s hometown, Mt. Airy. This they wanted to own a vineyard and a large pond. Buck Shoals offered a urban winery has been able to combine a winery. Shelton Vineyards is another charming country setting with rocking tasting room with a restaurant making dramatic winery with lovely landscaping. chairs on a wood porch overlooking the a delightful place to get together with We also visited Westbend Vineyards, the vineyards. friends. We loved the story behind oldest vineyard in Yadkin Valley. RagApple Lassie, a winery named after The other wineries we visited in Yadkin a young boy’s (now owner) calf. Visitors Most of the grapes grown in this region Valley included Childress, winery of have a unique opportunity to visit a of North Carolina are the vitis vinefera. the famous NASCAR racer. This winery winery where they discover the winery Many wineries and vineyards plant tends to be opulent. McRitchie Winery before the tasting room and feel the French and Italian varieties. Enjoy a & Ciderworks is the first winery in North experience behind the wines. RayLen week exploring the wineries here. Carolina to produce hard cider. It has K.S. In This Issue North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek Wineries Regional Wine Week Tasting Notes Virginia Wine Month Partners 2009 Cruise 2009 Beer, Wine & Spirits Expo Wine Trail Traveler: a Winery and Childress Vineyards offers an oppulant tasting room with beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards. Vineyard Virtual Visitor Center Regional Wine Week Virginia Wine Month The concept of terroir or “taste the place” With the growing number of wineries is taking front stage during the week of in Virginia, there is increased interest The Winery at La Grange October 6th. Wine bloggers, newspaper in visiting those wineries in one’s Event: Movie Night columnists and online newsletter region as well as throughout the state. Date: October 10, 7pm – 9:30pm publishers will write about wines from October 2008 is the 20th anniversary of Two adults can relax with a picnic basket local regions. Some of the states that will Virginia Wine Month. There are more and watch a movie outdoors. be covered include: Arizona, Colorado, than 60 special events that will take Fee: $35 for a basket with cheese and Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, place at wineries throughout the state. crackers or $60 for a basket with New York, North Carolina, Ohio, October in Virginia is simply stunning. gourmet food. Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and An afternoon taking in the beauty at a Reservations required, Adults only the province Ontario in Canada. winery is even better. Tasting rooms come in all shapes and sizes from Event: Crush Monkey Fridays Wine Trail Traveler will blog each day small log cabins to large chateaus. Visit Red Winemaking about Colorado wineries and wines. Virginia wineries during October for an Date: October 17 (Check times) Check the blog daily from October 6th – opportunity to taste the place with local Fee: $125 per person – includes lunch 10th. foods and wines. Check websites for and souvenir t-shirt T.S. dates, times, fees and reservations. Reservations required Information: Virginia is for Lovers’ Event: Movie Night Tasting Notes website Date: October 24, 7pm – 9:30pm Two adults can relax with a picnic basket I haven’t had an oaked Chardonnay for a Some events at Wine Trail Traveler and watch a movie outdoors. while and I found Davis Valley Winery’s Virginia partners: Fee: $35 for a basket with cheese and (in Rural Retreat, Virginia) 2005 crackers or $60 for a basket with Chardonnay to be particularly good. It Barrel Oak Winery gourmet food offered an apple and tropical fruit aroma. “Benefit for the Lance Armstrong Reservations required, Adults only The taste was apple with unobtrusive oak and it finished with butter and fruit. This Foundation” Fighting Cancer to Win was not a heavily oaked Chardonnay. It Date: October 2– 5 11am-6pm Event: Haunted Wine Maker’s Dinner was nicely balanced between oak and Date: October 25, 6:30pm-9:30pm fruit for my taste. Event: “Ellen Crosby Book Signing” Fee: $99 per person, plus tax and Meet the author of the Wine Country gratuity Reservations required Another enjoyable white wine, this time Murder Mysteries! from North Carolina, was Childress Date: October 4 (check for time) Event: Halloween Celebration Vineyards 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. Weekend This wine with a citrus and tropical Columbus Day Weekend Winery Walk Date: October 25-26, 11am - 6pm fruit aroma had a very fruity taste with ASNV naturalists will lead wildflower different fruit appearing at different and wildlife walks at 11am and 4 pm Event: Halloween!! times. The finish was crisp with citrus Date: October 11-13 Date: October 31 giving way to melon. Come in costume for a treat One red of interest was RayLen Vineyards “Halloween and Election Fright Fest!” and Wineries 2006 Category 5. This wine Friday move fright nite (not for the Veritas Vineyard & Winery was named for a hurricane and since its faint of heart) and Haunted Forest Hike Be sure to stop by for a delightful tasting production there have been no category Saturday and Sunday nights. during October. 5 hurricanes making land fall in North Date: October 31 – November 2nd, 11am Carolina. People visit the winery and til the ghouls go home! ask for hurricane juice. Category 5 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Chateau O’Brien at Northpoint Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Event: Murder Mystery Night The aroma had a black berry aroma and Date: October 18, 7pm – 10pm Limited taste with a very smooth mouth feel. The Seating finish was crisp with soft tannins and a long fruit aftertaste. Fall Murder Mystery Flyer Fee: $65 per person I had to try McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks Hard Cider. They are the Pearmund Cellars only producers of hard cider in North Event: Become a Crush Monkey Carolina. I was surprised at the lightness Date: October 10, Check times. and crispness of this sparkling cider. Fee: $125 with Souvenir T-shirt and Although you notice the apple aroma Lunch and taste it was not over powering. It reminded me of a blanc de blancs. The Trick or Treat with Cab Frankenstein Chateau Morrisette, off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Southern Virginia, looks like a finish was crisp and cleansing. Date: Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, 10am – 6pm T.S. fairytale setting. Wine Trail Traveler Partners Our Winery Partners Stop by these wineries that advertise with Wine Trail Traveler. Pennsylvania Colorado Pickering Winery Rt. 187 Between Wysox and Rome Two Rivers Winery & Chateau 2087 Broadway Wysox, PA 18854 Grand Junction, Colorado 81503 Virginia Maryland Barrel Oak Winery (check Wine Trail Traveler website for a tasting coupon) Dove Valley Vineyards and 3623 Grove Lane Winery Delaplane, Virginia 20144 645 Harrington Road Rising Sun, MD 21911 Chateau O’Brien at Northpoint 3238 Rail Stop Road Fiore Winery Markham, VA 22643 3026 Whiteford Road Pylesville, MD 21132 Pearmund Cellars 6190 Georgetown Road Michigan Broad Run, VA 20137 Black Star Farms Veritas Vineyard & Winery 10844 E. Revold Rd. 145 Saddleback Farm Suttons Bay, Michigan 49682 Afton, Virginia 22920 Chateau Chantal The Winery at La Grange 15900 Rue de Vin 4970 Antioch Road Traverse City, MI 49686 Haymarket, Virginia 20169 New York Three Brothers Wineries & Estates 623 Lerch Road, Join Pearmund Cellars on a 10-Day Luxury Cruise of the Geneva, NY 14456 Mediterranean! North Carolina Set Sail with Pearmund Cellars on June 17, 2009 Grove Winery and Vineyard June 17-27, 2009, Aboard Oceania Cruises, 7360 Brooks Bridge Road a 10-night cruise with 11 ports of call Gibsonville, NC 27249 Chris Pearmund will host two onboard wine Oregon tastings along with a food and wine pairing dinner. He also will provide a lecture on the history of winemaking. The cruise will Kramer Vineyards provide optional shore side excursions to 26830 NW Olson Road delightful, less public wineries in Italy and Gaston, OR 97119-8039 France. Redhawk Winery For more information about this opportunity, contact Bob Miller at 866-368-7327 or 2995 Michigan City Lane NW [email protected]. Salem, Oregon 97304 Wine Trail Traveler Partners Our Lodging Partners Our Artists Partners Ontario, Canada New York Hilton Garden Inn, Masten Designs Niagara-on-the-Lake 2710 Astoria Blvd.