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http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=2310472&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TNewsmaker: Richard Childress
Last Edited: Wednesday, 07 Feb 2007, 8:05 PM EST
Created: Wednesday, 07 Feb 2007, 7:59 PM EST
By NEILL McNEILL
FOX8 News
DAVIDSON COUNTY (WGHP) -- Richard Childress is one of the most powerful people in America's largest spectator sport. Richard Childress Racing has championships in all three NASCAR major racing series (including six then Winston Cup championships with Dale Earnhardt) and 125 wins among its various teams.
“Winning championships with Dale and the number 3 black car provided so much for Dale and myself," said Childress.
He has never ventured far away from his Winston-Salem roots. His current home and company headquarters are in Davidson County.
His success on the race track helped launch another career as a winemaker. Childress began building a 35,000 square foot winery several years ago after years of racing through the California wine country.
Neill: “What was it about those places that produced your love of wine?"
"I think the atmosphere, the beauty of the vineyard, the people that were in there tasting wines and the people who ran the wineries,” said Childress. “It was just such a fine experience I said, ‘you know if I ever get the opportunity I'd love to do this.’"
So Childress started growing grapes. He has 100 acres of vineyards surrounding the winery itself and another 45 acres surrounding his massive Hampton Road estate in Davidson County.
Not only is the winery already a popular spot for weddings and social gatherings. It's also a tourist draw. Half the winery's visitors are NASCAR fans who haven't been wine drinkers.
Childress Vineyards produces 31 varieties of wines that range from mild introductory varieties, a racing collection featuring the RCR car numbers, and fine wines for the connoisseur.
"This is where we store our red wines that we'll release in two years,” said Childress. “It's really neat to be able to come in here and be able to taste. And one neat thing about owning a winery is I'll get to taste every one of these barrels at one time or another.”
Childress Vineyards will produce 20,000 cases of wine this year.
Now you might think this is pretty sophisticated talk from someone so vested in auto racing, but NASCAR and the growing sophistication of its fans are never too far away.
With the vineyards and the winery, Richard Childress is looking over a new life chapter, which is, in and of itself, changing. There are already shops on the property that compliment the winery. Plans are also in the works for a hotel and an amphitheatre.
"You know I don't ever foresee myself totally backing off from racing,” said Childress. “But this is in the grand scheme of things is someday to spend more time here."
"I love talking to the people when they come in and sharing wine-drinking experiences and sharing that experience."
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