Zimmerman Vineyards - Not a Greek Myth

Zimmerman Vineyards - Not a Greek Myth
October 20th, 2015

Zimmerman Vineyards
Dry White Merlot (Rosé)

Zimmerman Vineyard
Trinity, NC

This past Sunday, a group of friends got together at Zimmerman Vineyards in Trinity, North Carolina.  The air was crisp and the temperature was hovering just above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius).  However, when we arrived we were greeted with a warm welcome in the tasting room. We both took a glass of their dry White Merlot out to walk through the sunny vineyards. When we returned, we were happy to see an outdoor fire was started for us to gather around.

There is nothing like an adult campfire to start enjoying wine, food, and friends.

Zimmerman Vineyards
Enjoying a Tasting

At Zimmerman Vineyards they say "Great Wines...No Myth".  The myth refers to their logo (see their wine glass) where the punishment of Zeus to the disrespecting Sisyphus was an eternity of pushing a rock up a hill, only to have the rock roll back down the hill before reaching the top.  To me, it alludes to the life of a farmer.  Each season their challenge is to deal with what nature has created and the struggle to do their best.  And then, as the seasons change, you're back at it again.

We enjoyed the tasting with our group of twenty, and everyone went away with wine they enjoyed. Outside we gathered with shared dishes to celebrate friendship and watched the sun start to slip behind the hills.   Thanks to Norm and Leslie Zimmerman, who should be proud of their destination vineyard.  Cheers!

Zimmerman Vineyards - Outdoor Terrace

NC Swan Creek AVA - Piccione Vineyards

NC Swan Creek AVA - Piccione Vineyards
October 12, 2015

Piccione Vineyards - L'Ottimo

Have you ever just finished a project, only to have to go back and do it again? Well this isn't something that is always a bad thing.  In fact, we're happy about adding on to our NC Swan Creek AVA Vineyards story - because Piccione Vineyards is now officially open for business in the North Carolina Swan Creek AVA.

Piccione Vineyards Tasting Room 2015

This past weekend we attended the Grand Opening of the Piccione Vineyards in Ronda, North Carolina.  Located right next door to Raffaldini Vineyards, Piccione shares the same beautiful vistas. These two vineyards could be making this North Carolina's Italian Hills.

Piccione Vineyards Tasting Room

Piccione Vineyards has Italian roots that go to back to Marsala, Sicily in Italy.  Bill Piccione is the grandson of Giuseppe Piccione who came to the United States in 1921. Bill started the vineyard in 2010 when they planted 1 year old vines, mostly Italian varietals. Their current offering consists of 4 styles of white and 4 styles of red wines, all estate grown.

In their tasting room, you're likely to meet Hailey, who will pour, answer questions, and delight you with stories of the harvest, the wines, and the bottling processes.  The tasting room was crowded with people lined up 3 or 4 deep, while she was deftly pouring across the tables and the bar without a drop being lost.

Piccione Vineyards - View from the Patio

As you drive up the long drive, you'll be rewarded with the views looking back down to the vineyard and beyond to the mountains.  We're looking forward to more growth in the Swan Creek AVA.  It's always a pleasure to add to the list of our North Carolina destinations with stories.

Vignoble Les Trois Clochers - Three Steeples Winery

Vignoble Les Trois Clochers

September 30, 2015

Vignoble Les Trois Clochers - Welcoming

During August, we took a short hop from Montreal to the quaint town of Dunham, Quebec.  We brought our map with La Route des Vins du Quebec with us and stopped at the three oldest vineyards in the area.   We met with Robert and Nadège who started their winery in 1997.  

Vignoble Les Trois Clochers - View of the Grapes

Question:  What happens when you mix a Geologist and a Biologist in a vineyard? 

Answer:  You get a great selection of wines, from dry reds, whites, and rosé, to sweet desert ice wines.

Vignoble Les Trois Clochers - View of the Winery

Their location is beautiful, and on a clear day you'll see the three steeples for which the vineyard is named. While an hour from Montreal on a weekday afternoon, once you're in Dunham, you'll be able to visit several wineries only a few minutes apart - some just across the street or right next to each other.  

But enough of us chatting.  We made a quick video for you to enjoy Robert and Nadège's vineyard. Their English is so much better than my French.  Merci Beaucoup! 

NC Swan Creek AVA - Raffaldini Vineyards

NC Swan Creek AVA - Raffaldini Vineyards
September 23, 2015

Raffaldini Vineyards
February 21, 2015

Raffaldini Vineyards Terrace as viewed
from the Tasting Room Balcony

Raffaldini Vineyards is a landmark in the Swan Creek AVA, and is certainly a destination with a story.  The Raffaldini family can trace its roots back to Italy and Italian winemakers as far as the 1400s.  Their tasting room reflects the Chianti Region's styling, and their vines are primarily of Italian varieties. 42 acres of land were planted, and sometimes replanted more than once - as the owner and winemakers experiment with varieties and how they adapt in this area.

Raffaldini Vineyard
Shaded Wildlife Habitat

As you slowly drive up to the Villa on a crushed gravel road, you'll feel time slow down and your stress unwind.  On your way, you'll pass a picnic area where you can bring your own food to pair with their wines and views.  In the Villa-styled Tasting Room, you'll experience Italian graciousness, with friendly staff who have been well trained on their wines and the wine-making process.  The tasting room is large enough to handle a crowd, yet you'll have the opportunity for a more private visit on a covered upstairs porch overlooking the vineyard and the Brushy Mountains; or stroll to an outside patio with a four tiered fountain; or hike up the hill to a tree shaded spot with Adirondack chairs, or stay inside and mix with other guests who are coming from all over to visit. 

Raffaldini Vineyards
Festa Italiana - 2015

Raffaldini VineyardsFesta Italiana - 2015

With a multitude of events, weddings, and friends gathering, it's likely you'll find a group of people like yourself either tasting Raffaldini wines for the first time, or Club members who have returned to stock up on their favorite bottles.  Make sure to do a quick check of  their calendar of events (Raffaldini Vineyards Event Calendar) to help plan your visit.


The Swan Creek AVA has many delightful surprises for you now, and it's getting better all the time.  The Vineyards of the Swan Creek Association each has its own unique story, but they are tied together by a five mile drive that makes it an easy way to spend a rewarding day.  Their destinations, vineyards, and wines have a strong tailwind to success.

NC Swan Creek AVA - Shadow Springs Vineyard

NC Swan Creek AVA - Shadow Springs Vineyard
September 4, 2015

Shadow Springs Vineyard
Enchanting Entrance

Shadow Springs Vineyard

Shadow Springs Vineyard
Lookin' Good

All the wineries in the Swan Valley AVA in North Carolina are just a few miles apart.  You can get to them all in a day, but why just run around with a check list? It's about enjoying your time too. We pulled into Shadow Springs Vineyard on a beautiful day, only a short 40 minute drive from downtown Winston-Salem.  An extra benefit to the day trip is the beautiful scenery that you'll get on the way - rolling hills, beautiful trees and wildlife will help you to get into a relaxed state of mind.

Shadow Springs Vineyard
Overlooking the Vines

Shadow Springs Vineyard
We arrived early!

We arrived early and walked around the vineyard's grounds and then headed to the Tasting room. The vines were coming along nicely, and we were glad to have the place to ourselves. We were able to enjoy our flight and find out what was new since our last visit.  The Petit Verdot here is doing well, and they're looking to increase their vines. We enjoyed a French Oaked, Barrel Fermented Chardonnay that was chilled perfectly to counter the warming day. 

Start your day early, and your reward will be shorter lines, a more relaxed visit, and your pick for the views.  You'll also get time to talk and listen to the wonderful tasting room staff who have all kinds of knowledge of the area's food, wine and events.  Next week is our last, but not least connection in the Swan Creek AVA of North Carolina.  Until then - Ciao!

Shadow Springs Vineyard
A Nod to their French Style Wines...

Shadow Springs Vineyard
Views of the Vines

NC Swan Creek AVA - Laurel Gray Vineyards

NC Swan Creek AVA - Laurel Gray Vineyards

Laurel Gray Vineyards
Enjoying the back patio

August 28th, 2015

Laurel Gray Vineyards

Laurel Gray Vineyards
Tasting Rooms

As we continue on our circuit of the Swan Creek AVA, we stopped at Laurel Gray Vineyards. It's less than 3 miles down the road from Windsor Run Cellars. 

We stepped inside their tasting room to a wide variety of wines that are grown in their vineyard.  The grapes won't have far to go to be pressed, tanked, and bottled.  The Yadkin Valley Wine Company is right behind their tasting room and handles all their bottling needs, and they too have their own wines. 

Laurel Gray Vineyards
Anticipation...

Laurel Gray Vineyards - Protected Grapes

Yadkin Valley Wine Company
as seen from the Back Porch

Laurel Gray Vineyards
Side Porch

Laurel Gray's cozy tasting room expands into a second room for overflow on the weekends. You'll get to choose from 10 dry wines and 4 sweeter varieties.  Find one you like and sit and sip out on their covered porches complete with ceiling fans to keep the heat away.  Or wander onto the grounds and pull up an Adirondack chair to relax.

Laurel Gray Vineyards
Tasting Room Entrance

Their wines will impress you - as do the dozens of awards that are placed around the tasting room. Awards from International, Finger Lakes, INDY, Mid-Atlantic, and NC wine competitions attest to the quality of the wine here.  Next door in the Yadkin Valley Wine Company, you'll find wines that will surprise you in their fruit flavors with both dry and sweet varieties.  During the summer they offer tastings in their barn styled plant.  Their sipping wines will keep you refreshed on a hot summer day.   Grab one for your "porch".