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.