We just returned from a trip to the Yadkin Valley, North Carolina wine country. Since, the Yadkin Valley is only 150 miles from home, we have visited the area several times in the past. This trip was less enjoyable for several reasons, including that some of the wineries had sold out of their best wines with new vintages not yet released. The wines we did drink were not as good as we remembered in the past. Here are our reflections on the wineries we visited:
West Bend Vineyards
West Bend was one of the early vineyards in North Carolina and produced some excellent wines. The winery closed a few years ago and reopened in October 2016 under new owners Walt and Sonya Breathwit. The new owners razed the old inadequate tasting room and winery and built a new state of the art facility. The vines were neglected during the closure and the new owners are working hard to restore the vineyard. Some of their current wines are made with grapes from other sources. We were served by Sonya in the beautiful tasting room. We loved learning about their efforts to bring back West Bend, but at this time, their wines are not yet where they will be in a couple of years.
Medaloni Cellars
Medaloni is a winery but not a vineyard. All of their wines are made from grapes grown by others. This winery has a beautiful covered, outdoor tasting area which we enjoyed on a picture perfect spring day. Medaloni has a reputation for excellent wines but we could not confirm that based on the minute samples we were served by a revved up server rushing through the tasting.
Cellar 4201
Do not try to find this tasting room without a GPS. Cellar 4201 is a vineyard but not a winery. All of their wines are made at the Laurel Grey Winery. We had a pleasant server and probably enjoyed the red wines here more than any others on this trip.
Shelton Vineyards
Shelton was having their spring fling celebration which included craft booths, food trucks, live music, free tours of the winery and a free wine tasting. We scheduled our trip to coincide with this event.
The free tasting included 5 wines that you selected out of a list of 12. We especially like the Sauvignon Blanc and the Estate Cabernet Franc.
Elkin Creek Winery
Elkin Creek is one of our favorite stops in the Yadkin Valley. However, this time they were sold out of our favorites and the wines we tasted were not as good. The sample pours here were the most generous on our trip. Our male server was was quite attentive to a table of 5 ladies but far less attentive to us.
Piccione Vineyards
This vineyard is only a few years old and this was our first visit. Piccione is next door to Raffaldini Vineyards and has a fantastic view looking down on acres of vineyards. Piccione specializes primarily on Italian grapes but also grows a few French varietals. We actually enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot better than the Italian style wines.
Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery
We have been to Raffaldini a few times in the past. This time we had a very pleasant server who was not yet as knowledgeable as she will be. I did not think the wines were as good as on previous trips but I did enjoy the 2017 Liguria Verminto/ Pinot Grigio blend.
My observation is that the 2016 vintage wines were not up to earlier vintages. Others may dispute that based on a larger sample than these 7 wineries. For now, I will visit wineries near Hendersonville and Tryon, North Carolina which are much closer to home. The wines I tasted recently at the Overmountain Vineyards were far superior to those I tasted on this trip.
West Bend Vineyards
West Bend was one of the early vineyards in North Carolina and produced some excellent wines. The winery closed a few years ago and reopened in October 2016 under new owners Walt and Sonya Breathwit. The new owners razed the old inadequate tasting room and winery and built a new state of the art facility. The vines were neglected during the closure and the new owners are working hard to restore the vineyard. Some of their current wines are made with grapes from other sources. We were served by Sonya in the beautiful tasting room. We loved learning about their efforts to bring back West Bend, but at this time, their wines are not yet where they will be in a couple of years.
Medaloni Cellars
Medaloni is a winery but not a vineyard. All of their wines are made from grapes grown by others. This winery has a beautiful covered, outdoor tasting area which we enjoyed on a picture perfect spring day. Medaloni has a reputation for excellent wines but we could not confirm that based on the minute samples we were served by a revved up server rushing through the tasting.
Cellar 4201
Do not try to find this tasting room without a GPS. Cellar 4201 is a vineyard but not a winery. All of their wines are made at the Laurel Grey Winery. We had a pleasant server and probably enjoyed the red wines here more than any others on this trip.
Shelton Vineyards
Shelton was having their spring fling celebration which included craft booths, food trucks, live music, free tours of the winery and a free wine tasting. We scheduled our trip to coincide with this event.
The free tasting included 5 wines that you selected out of a list of 12. We especially like the Sauvignon Blanc and the Estate Cabernet Franc.
Elkin Creek Winery
Elkin Creek is one of our favorite stops in the Yadkin Valley. However, this time they were sold out of our favorites and the wines we tasted were not as good. The sample pours here were the most generous on our trip. Our male server was was quite attentive to a table of 5 ladies but far less attentive to us.
Piccione Vineyards
This vineyard is only a few years old and this was our first visit. Piccione is next door to Raffaldini Vineyards and has a fantastic view looking down on acres of vineyards. Piccione specializes primarily on Italian grapes but also grows a few French varietals. We actually enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot better than the Italian style wines.
Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery
We have been to Raffaldini a few times in the past. This time we had a very pleasant server who was not yet as knowledgeable as she will be. I did not think the wines were as good as on previous trips but I did enjoy the 2017 Liguria Verminto/ Pinot Grigio blend.
My observation is that the 2016 vintage wines were not up to earlier vintages. Others may dispute that based on a larger sample than these 7 wineries. For now, I will visit wineries near Hendersonville and Tryon, North Carolina which are much closer to home. The wines I tasted recently at the Overmountain Vineyards were far superior to those I tasted on this trip.
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