giradman
iPad Fan
I love these labels! I am so glad you added the history along with the photo's! Beautiful graphic work! Was the wine as good as the design and history? Squib.
Hi Squib - North Carolina is a rising wine producing state w/ over 100 wineries now (doubling in the last 6 years or so!) - there are 3 AVAs (American Viticultural areas) w/ the first and largest being the Yadkin River Valley (see map below - the cluster in the middle is its locale and near us in Winston-Salem).
The grapes used are now mainly the Vitis vinifera varietals (Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, etc.), French hybrids (like Seyval Blanc, Chardonel, Chambourcin, etc.), and the native local grapes, SO a wide assortment of wines are being made to suit many tastes. As to quality - improving over the years, but many are still rather mediocre - this is still an 'experimental' process here in that the 'right' vines need to be found that adapt best to the climate - I feel that the southern European grapes and the hybrids will eventually produce some of the better wines in North Carolina.
But there are some impressive properties w/ LOTS of $$$ invested - just to mention a few that are w/i a 45 minute drive: 1) Raffaldini Winery - tasting room shown in the 2nd pic w/ the mountains of western NC in the background; emphasis on Italian & Mediterranean island grapes; 2) Shelton Winery - now a restaurant on the property (Harvest Grill) which is excellent (ate there last month) - mainly European grapes w/ some hybrids; and 3) Childress Vineyards (owned by the NASCAR driver, Richard C.) - beautiful property largely w/ an emphasis on the European varietals. Dave
