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July/August Edition Cabarrus Living
By Sharon Mason
When you think of North Carolina, the image of a Tuscan
villa may not be what comes to mind. But just about 45
minutes away is a winery that captures the picturesque
style of some of the great ones in Europe. Richard Childress has applied the vision and enthusiasm that took him to the pinnacle of the racing world to his passion for wine and built a magnificent facility that combines old-world ambiance with state-of-the-art
winemaking.
Whether it’s racing, hunting, winemaking or philanthropy,
Richard Childress does things in a big way or not at all. Let’s just get the cliché out of the way early; he does everything with the pedal to the metal. The winery is just one example of his knack for taking small experiences and expanding upon them exponentially.
For instance, a 1937 Plymouth Childress purchased for $20
at age 17 was the seed for the Richard Childress Racing(RCR)empire that now includes multiple racing teams that have won
multiple championships. A love of hunting – nurtured during his North Carolina childhood – led him all over the world to chase big game and made him a fervent conservationist. Afternoons spent sipping wine with friends in California were the impetus for an award-winning winery.
For all his thrill seeking and hard-charging competitive drive, Richard Childress remains a devoted family man and the manners instilled during his North Carolina upbringing remain with him.
He appears younger than his 65 years and is gracious and affable,whether he’s greeting admiring fans at a race or discussing wine with visitors to his winery.
In a life filled with excitement, he cites the births of his daughter Tina and grandsons Ty and Austin, as the happiest days of his life. His wife, Judy, was his childhood sweetheart. To Childress,the best part of any of his endeavors is the family connection. He is
proud that his grandsons are following him into the racing business as part of RCR’s Driver Development program, but insists that they prove themselves before they move into the spotlight.
A need for speed
From 1969 to 1981, Childress was a moderately successful
NASCAR driver, finishing in the top ten in the points standings five of the eight full seasons he competed. He decided he’d rather own a race team than drive, so in 1981 he turned the wheel over to fledgling driver Dale Earnhardt, who went on to demonstrate that his early promise was not a fluke. It was the start of a legendary
partnership that led to six NASCAR championships before
it ended with Earnhardt’s tragic death. Today, as president and CEO of RCR, Richard Childress is known as one of those who revolutionized the sport.
A hands-on team owner, he loves to spend hours in the race
shop and is likely to grab a wrench and get under the hood. A Childress team has finished in the top 10 of the NASCAR’s Cup Series point standings in 23 of the last 27 seasons.
A passion for wine, a dream fulfilled
As a driver, Childress often raced in California and enjoyed excursions to the vineyards there. He developed a sophisticated palate and became fascinated by the art of winemaking.
At a stage of life when most people would be stringing up
hammocks and polishing their golf clubs after a formidable body of work, Childress, along with business partner Greg Johns, began to formulate his winemaking operation. After looking in California or New York, Childress decided to build his winery in his home state.
“I knew I’d enjoy it and I wanted to be more hands-on,” he reflects.“It’s good for the economy, since the tobacco industry has been hit so hard.”
Showing the same determination with which he built his
racing teams, Childress set about assembling a veritable dream team of winemament and facilities to assure that the wine bearing his name would be first-rate.
Childress recruited viticulturalist Matt Chobanian from
Virginia to manage the vineyard. Next, Childress sought out award-winning winemaker Mark Friszolowski, an expert in East Coast wines. Initially, Friszolowski was unimpressed by overtures from Childress until Richard convinced him that he was committed to creating a top-notch winemaking operation. When asked for a resume, Friszolowski sent a case of wine as evidence of his expertise. Childress
asked him, “Can we make world-class wines in North Carolina?” The answer was yes, and the men went to work.
In 2005 Childress fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening the
winery that bears his name. The winery has rapidly gained respect,winning more than 500 medals for its wines and was named one of the top 25 tasting rooms in the country according to Wine Enthusiast magazine. With its charming architecture and majestic grounds, the winery has become a destination for sightseers and wine aficionados
and is a popular venue for weddings. Not far from Cabarrus County, guests enjoy a Napa Valley experience, sipping wine while they dine on a terrace overlooking an idyllic view of the vineyard.king talent. He provided them with state-of-the-art equipment.
Making a difference in children’s lives
The ability to build a winning team that has served Richard
Childress so well in racing and winemaking was a valuable asset when he turned his attention to pediatric trauma. After learning that trauma is responsible for the deaths of more children than all other causes combined, he and his wife Judy knew they had to get involved. They founded the Childress Institute for Pediatric
Trauma at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital.
“The statistics are staggering,” he explains. “We’re training first responders and improving care. We want to make a difference in children’s lives.”
He received the Home Depot 2008 Humanitarian of the Year
award for his role in establishing the institute.
Habitat and heritage
Another endeavor dear to his heart is wildlife conservation.
Although he loves to hunt and fish, he is committed to the preservation of wildlife habitats and wetlands. Inside the Richard Childress Racing Museum – about 10 minutes away from the winery in Welcome, N.C., is his Wildlife Conservation Museum. Contained within is an extensive collection of the animal trophies from his
hunting expeditions. A polar bear, a pair of bison and numerous animals from all over the world are displayed almost like a nature museum.
The Childress Racing Museum donates $1 from each
paid admission to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, North
Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited.
Childress sits on the board of the Congressional Sportsman’s
foundation and was recently elected to the board of directors of the National Rifle Association (NRA). “It’s an incredible honor to have been elected to the National Rifle Association Board of Directors,”said Childress. “I want my grandsons to be able to enjoy the hunting
heritage that we’ve been able to enjoy,” he explains.
Richard Childress has come a long way from the $20 Plymouth
of his youth, but there’s always more to do. Just as on a racetrack, there is no end of the road. He keeps going until he achieves all that is possible.
Want to visit?
Free tours of the winery are offered daily and
the Bistro features lunch daily. The winery is also
available for rental for private functions. More
information and directions are available at www.
childressvineyards.com.
Every Saturday and Sunday through the end
of October (weather permitting) the winery will
feature free performances on the lawn beneath the
terrace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June through August, “Wine Down Thursdays” take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Visitors can listen to live music at sunset from the Terrace overlooking
the vineyards while sipping wine and enjoying
food from the Bistro.
The Richard Childress Racing Museum, locatedon Industrial Drive in Welcome, N.C. is open Monday through Saturday. For more information and directions see www.rcrracing.com/museum. |
