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Great grape getaways
Thursday, May 14 (updated 3:00 am)
By Jennifer Bringle
Italy. France. Napa Valley.
When most people think of wine, these regions usually come to mind. But Triad wine connoisseurs needn't travel halfway around the world to wander fields of grape-laden vines and savor rich wines.
One of the nation's top wine-producing regions lies right in our own backyard.
North Carolina ranks 10th in the nation in wine and grape production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There are more than 80 wineries in North Carolina, a number that has tripled since 2001. The state's climate and varied geography make it ideal for wine production.
"Vines have been planted on sand dunes by the ocean, on slopes in the mountains and in every county in between," says Joseph Mills, a faculty member at the UNC School of the Arts and co-author of "A Guide to North Carolina Wineries." "It's a matter of finding the right varietal for the right spot."
The state's industry mostly focuses on two types of grapes: native muscadine grapes and European-style vinifera grapes. Also known as scuppernongs, the muscadines thrive in the warm, sandy soil of the coastal region, while the European-style vinifera grow well in the piedmont, particularly in the Yadkin Valley region of the northwest piedmont. These grapes are used to make Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier.
"The diversity of North Carolina wines is fairly special," Mills says. "Across the state, you can taste wines ranging from A to Z, apple to Zinfandel. For open-minded drinkers, it is a tasting bonanza."
Although picking up a bottle of North Carolina wine at the grocery store gives wine drinkers a taste of what the state has to offer, visiting the wineries affords the opportunity to learn about those wines and the people who make them.
In the Triad and surrounding areas, local wineries have opened their doors to the public, offering tours, tastings and even live entertainment. With a short drive, and often for a nominal fee, visitors can tour vineyards and wineries and get an up-close look at the wine-making process. And with tastings, wine lovers can sample the vineyard's offerings, making it easy to choose a favorite without forking out the cash for an entire bottle. In difficult economic times, when long trips have become too great an expense for many, these wineries offer North Carolina residents and visitors an affordable getaway.
"I like the wineries where you're greeted when you come through the door, and where the people behind the tasting counter use the word 'we,' as in 'we made this,'" Mills says. "You can buy wine in almost any grocery store; you don't have to go to wineries to get it. So, I go to wineries to have an experience, to spend the day out, to learn about other people's lives.
"A trip to a winery is a mini-vacation."
WANT TO GET A TASTE OF NORTH CAROLINA WINE?
These vineyards offer tours, tastings and live entertainment -- all within an hour's drive of the Triad.
Childress Vineyards
1000 Childress Vineyards Road, Lexington
Information: 236-9463; childressvineyards.com
Tasting room hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Tours: noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Monday.-Friday; noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; free
Tasting fee: $10 to $15 depending on the number of wines tasted
Wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinnacle (Bordeaux varietal blend), Syrah, Blush, Scupperdine
The name Childress may be best known in NASCAR circles, but the racing family's winery off U.S. 52 has quickly become a center for North Carolina wine connoisseurs with its massive tasting room and acclaimed restaurant.
Upcoming events:
* "Music in the Vineyards Series;" free live performances on the vineyard lawn, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October
* "Childress Vineyards Wine Down Thursdays Series;" wine, food and live music 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays, June 4 through August.
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