Weekend Escapade - Week 42

Thinking we'd view some Fall foliage, Saturday we headed toward Andrews  and Murphy, N.C.  This area is part of the Upper Hiwassee Highlands American Viticultural Area. This AVA of the Southern Appalachian Mountains straddles the North Carolina and North Georgia Mountains around the state line. It is one of the nations newest American Viticultural Area. We have visited several in this area on previous trips, though still a few in North Carolina to partake.

Our first stop was Callaboose Cellars. The winery is located in a 100 year old stone building which was once used as a jailhouse. It's the smallest Winery in the country according to their website. Offering only a few wines, tastings are offered at no charge. Their nearby Vineyard supports over four acres under vine. There is a small porch and a big yard with beautiful mountain views. We took a bottle of the Revinoors Red home with us. This one is extremely unique. Can't wait to get back this way and spend a little more time just hanging out and enjoying the views.

 

In quest of visiting a few more in the AVA, we then made our way downtown Andrews to visit Ferncrest Winery. Ferncrest has a small off site vineyard which lies on the crest of a hill and thereby harnesses the power of the sun, much like a fern will. This is a true urban winery, perfect for a quick drop in when exploring the town of Andrews and surrounding mountains. We brought a bottle of the Silver medal winning Autumn Rosé, a semi-sweet made from Cynthiana grape, home with us.

We then headed toward Murphy with the intention to visit Valley River Vineyards. Except we found this winery closed. After checking their website, I see they are closed for the season and will reopen in March. I did find this cute plant growing in a wine glass on top of a barrel.

Quick to regroup, we headed towards downtown to Cherokee Cellars. This one is another true urban winery. Glad we made it as the owners informed us they are closing up as of end of October.  We did find several wines we enjoyed and took four bottles home with us. They are pretty much selling everything, so the have a few wine barrels on sale for $150 each.

Sunday we headed up to Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon.  We wanted to try the 2016 vintage of Camelia. Camelia is a very light white blend of Chardonnay and Petit Manseng. It's really crisp with a depth of floral aroma.  We enjoyed a bottle on the patio. It was so nice to speak with so many others enjoying a beautiful Fall day. Sophia was really busy but even so took a few minutes to speak with us. The winery Great Danes, Maximus and Shamus, are always up for some attention.

  

I made my way down toward the winery, and snapped a few pictures. Fortunate for me, owner and winemaker Frank Lilly approached and we were able to speak for a few minutes. Frank studied wine making in the Sonoma Valley, and he and Sophia are trying to emulate a Sonoma-Like experience at Overmountain Vineyards. From the looks of the crowd, and the taste of the wine, I'd say they are doing a darn good job. 

Upon leaving, we decided to stop by and see our friend Andrey at Russian Chapel Hill Winery as we know the winery is open until 6pm.  We've visited and written about RCHW many times, yet it is always nice to visit. The winery just offers a relaxing spot to have a good glass of wine and reflect on the past weekend. We met this pair of sisters who were just enjoying an outing and we enjoyed talking with them about wine and travel and fun. Oh by the way, check out the gelato which is offered at the winery. 

 

 

Another Weekend escapade comes to close. Happy weekend wining!

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Mountain Brook Vineyards - Tryon, NC

Enjoying a bottle of Rosè while watching numerous hummingbirds floating around multiple feeders. That was a recent afternoon at Mountain Brook Vineyards in Tryon. The octagon shaped tasting room sits at the top of the foothill and offers excellent views of the Vineyards and surrounding mountains.

The original tasting room was back down the gravel entrance road and a good bit smaller. With steady growth, owners Dennis and Miriam Lanahan made the wise decision to relocate the tasting room into the larger former residence on the highest point of the beautiful mountain foothill property. Several hummingbird feeders hang upon the surrounding porch offering sweet nectar to these magnificent creatures. We must have seen ten plus hummingbirds one afternoon.  Horses are also stabled just beside the winery and always enjoy a little attention from the visiting wine lovers.The winery is open Most Thursday's, and every Friday and Saturday. On Thursday evenings the winery host either trivia night or girls night out, check out their website for details.  The winery will often host musical talent on Friday and Saturday. Seven plus acres under vine and only North Carolina grown grapes are used in the formulation of their wines. Wines offered include a Chardonnay,  Pinot Grigio, Petite Verdot, Merlot, Cab Sauv, Magus which is a Bordeaux style red blend, and a true European style semi-dry Rosè.

You'll almost always find Dennis and Miriam in the tasting room. They are both very welcoming and always willing to spend a little time chatting. Dennis offers a charming dry sense of humor. I recently asked him about how he got started. Long story short, once at an extended family gathering he was offered a taste of some homemade wine. His interest piqued, he would spend his free time working and learning at a couple different wineries in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Once he decided the time was right, he and Miriam retired to the North Carolina foothills purchasing the property that is now Mountain Brook. The name derived from the beautiful mountain brook which flows along the foot of the vineyard and can be seen as you ascend up the gravel entrance road. Mountain Brook Vineyard offers a very relaxing atmosphere, beautiful views of nature, and really good wine.

Happy Weekend Wining!
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Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend Dennis and I went to  Flint Hill and Sweet Home Carolina. Both were quiet but we attributed that to it being the first week of college football.

Flint Hill is in a lovely restored home that was the owner's childhood home. The ladies that were working were so lovely. We enjoyed our time there very much. We brought home a bottle of their 2013 Chambourcin and shared it at a get together. It was very lovely with smores! 

We left Flint Hill and headed over to Sweet Home Carolina. Again, the lady that waited on us was super sweet and very knowledgeable. Others came in as we finished up our tasting so we got a bottle of the Twisted Pear and enjoyed their beautiful outside area. The owners arrived and sat outside with us for quite awhile. They are both so very sweet. The wife is practically blind, yet she paints some amazing pictures that they use as the artwork for some of their bottles and they also have them on display in the tasting room. The parrot on the glass is the winery mascot. We brought home a bottle of the Moonstruck Malbec.

Sunday afternoon we went to Parker Binns. Wine, live music (by Brinn), my fabulous hubby, animals, butterflies and pizza, who could ask for more?! We love Sundays at Parker Binns so much! Dee is such an asset to Karen and Roberto. Greets us with a smile and a hug! 

All in all I'd say we had a pretty great weekend! 

#ncwine #ncwinemonth #wineryescapades

Thoughts from Dennis:

This weekend's escapade kept us on the go as Saturday we headed up towards the Yadkin Valley AVA in North Carolina. As Jenni mentioned, we first stopped at Flint Hill Vineyards. Flint Hill had participated in the NC Wine Month Kickoff event at Childress, so we were excited to visit. 

The restored 100+ year old house is really beautiful. A framed picture on the wall shows the house before and after restoration. 

Check out this tranquil outside sitting area.

We took home the chambourchin, and as we were invited over to a cousin's house for smores, we gladly shared our bottle. Yes, the chambourchin paired really well with smores!

Once we arrived at Sweet Carolina Home Vineyards and Winery, I was a little unsure what to expect. This small rural farmstead winery far exceeded my expectations. 

After our tasting, we sat outside on the back porch overlooking a small onsite vineyard of Diamond grapes. The winery has additional vineyards at a separate location.  The owners John and Lyn each spent a long time just sitting and chatting with us. We also met a couple of other new friends. By the way, Lyn is the self taught winemaker. 

Sunday we  first headed to Hendersonville for the Apple festival. A friend warned us it would be crowded, it was.

We did get to sample some hard apple cider from Flat Rock Ciderworks. 

We then headed over to Parker-Binns in Green Creek, just outside of Columbus/Tryon area. Parker-Binns is one of our local favorites.  They serve up free brick oven pizza on Sundays, live entertainment as well. Our joke is a bottle of wine, live entertainment, and dinner for about $20. That's what I call an unbeatable deal!

Lulu always greets us!

The gardens are always in bloom. 

Love the wine cork wallpaper. 

Monday we spent the day at Grandfather Mountain  The views from the mile high swinging bridge are simply amazing. 

Enjoyed a picnic and saw the bears and other animals (see my twitter feed)

Drove home for a while along the Blue Ridge Parkway and then the gorgeous wife and I finished off the long weekend relaxing and enjoying a bottle of the Lulu Red from Parker-Binns Vineyard

Happy Weekend Wining!

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