Welcome. For the last year I've been visiting and sampling the wineries of North Carolina. My conclusion? Not enough people know about these great destinations.
More than just bottles of wine and vineyards, they host marriages and concerts, offer restaurants and bed & breakfast, as well as a pleasant afternoon of sipping their wines.
Wineries often offer a spot in the grass to picnickers that want to spend the afternoon.
I understand what locals raised on the traditional muscadine cultivars, Carlos, Noble, Magnolia, Doreen and Triumph, are looking for. I'll also cover the more traditional 'noble' grapes used in wine making, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah or Shiraz. And some of my new favorites, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, and Traminette
Many of the big festivals are here and gone for the year. But there are still a lot of winery events and upcoming harvest festivals. Here we'll take a look at what's coming down the road.
July 14, 1 - 5 pm River House Winefest on the New
River House Country Inn & Restaurant
1896 Old Field Creek Rd., Grassy Creek, NC 28631
(336) 982-2109
River House Tasting Glass and Buffet Dinner - $50 per person
"Wine, Music, Art, and Food by the Riverside, with wine tastings from fine North Carolina Wineries"
I've visited nine wineries so far and I'm on a mission to visit another 20 over the summer. Someone has to go sample all of that wine.
I'll keep you up to date on where I've been and how I fared.
I drove up the driveway to Moonrise Bay Vineyard in a bit of a bad mood. It was a winter day and things had not been going well. But once I walked into the tasting room my attitude quickly changed. Welcomed with a warm hello and bright smile, things just got better from there.
more...
134 Moonrise Bay Lndg, Knotts Island, NC 27950 • 866-888-9463, 252-429-WINE • Open Daily Noon-5 pm. Open all winter.
