Our Winemaker
Kent Smith of
Yadkin Valley Wine
Company is our Wine Maker. |
| Our Red Wines |
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Cabernet Franc
is one of the five major grapes of the
Bordeaux region in
France.
Cabernet Franc is actually one of the
parents to Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Sauvigon Blanc.
Cabernet Franc is fruitier, less acidic and
less herbal in taste and hence a bit milder than Cabernet Sauvignon. It
has black cherry flavors. The wine has aged in used French oak barrels
and new Hungarian oak and American oak for 18 months.
While this wine pairs well with red meats
and pasta dishes, it also works well with most vegetables, especially
with stronger tasting ones like zucchini.
Hence, Cab Franc is a very popular wine for
vegetarians.
We have about 1.5 acres of Cab Franc
growing in the field to the south of the tasting room toward
Macedonia Road.
Cabernet Franc is used also in blending of
our “In a Heartbeat”
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In a Heartbeat is the
name of one of the over 40 llama owned by the West family.
Heart Beat was the third best female llama
at Grand Nationals in 2006. This is a red wine blend of 2007 Cabernet
Franc and 2007 Merlot.
These wines have aged
for 18 months in a combination of new American oak, new Hungarian oak
and used French oak barrels from different forests in France
and from different vintages.
This is an off dry blend with 1% residual
sugar added to produce an easy sipping wine that pairs well with meat
loaf, beef stew, pasta dishes, and Italian foods, but is also excellent
for just sipping on the porch.
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Merlot
The history of Merlot can be traced back to the first century in France.
These grapes are large and thin skinned,
which makes them vulnerable to birds.
The history of Merlot is dotted with
stories of crops being destroyed by flocks of hungry birds.
The most famous home of Merlot is the
Bordeaux
region in France.
Our Merlot was fermented for 18 months in a
combination of various used French oak barrels, new American oak and new
Hungarian oak barrels.
The wine is made from 100% Merlot grapes
and is also used in the “In a Heartbeat” red blend. It is a full bodied
dry red with tastes of pepper and flavors of plum. Merlot pairs well
with steaks, pasta dishes such as lasagna or stuffed shells and even
chocolate.
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| Our White Wines |
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Traminette Gold
is made with 100% Traminette grape
varietal. Traminette Gold is finished dry in stainless steel
tanks. It still has the floral aromas of our regular Traminette.
"You are the daughter of that spicy bad girl of the royal vinifera clan,
Gewurztraminer, and that dependable hard working fellow Seyval Blanc.
Your father's restraint and strong backbone are clearly evident, but you
have your mother's zest for life. You are a perfect spring garden
of floral scents whipped by the winds of enchantment. A Princess
Diana of the grape world. On the outside, you appear to be the
quiet and obeying wife, but on the inside there is a fire that longs to
seduce all who venture to know you." Varietal Character by Robin
Lane |
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Chardonel
is a hybrid white grape and was the result
of a cross between Seyval and Chardonnay in 1953 in Geneva,
NY.
It is a late ripening grape and has a bit
higher productivity and more cold hardiness than Chardonnay.
We have about ½ acre of Chardonel planted
west of the Hughes house and south of the West house.
The wine is a blend of 75% Chardonel and
25% Chardonnay.
This wine was produced in seasoned (used)
oak barrels and recouped oak barrels and has a slightly buttery
sensation. Only one other vineyard in
North Carolina
offers a varietal Chardonel wine.
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Chardonnay
There is a village called Chardonnay in the
Maconnais in the southern portion of France’s
burgundy region.
Chardonnay most likely originated there and
was spread throughout
France
by the monks.
Earliest recorded reference to Chardonnay
was 1330.
Our Chardonnay grapes were acquired through
leased grapes in several vineyards in the Yadkin Valley Appellation.
From these grapes we developed our wine,
which is 100% Chardonnay and is fermented in stainless steel only, with
no oak.
Wine produced is a light, crisp, slightly
fruity finish which pairs well with salmon on the grille and chicken
wrapped in bacon. The Chardonnay is also used in blending with the
Chardonel and the blending of our Red Rita Rose.
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Traminette
is a hybrid white grape of more recent
origin, which was released by
Cornell
University in
1996.
It is a cross between Joannes Seyve and
Gewürtraminer.
The wine produced is distinctively spicy
and fragrant with floral aromas and has some characteristics of German
wines.
We have approximately one acre planted in
the field to the west of the tasting room. The wine is finished
semi-dry, with about 2% residual sugar to balance the acid and flavor in
the palette with the initial distinctive aromatic experience.
The result is a crisp, balanced wine which
pairs well with spicy foods such as Thai or other Asian dishes.
The wine is fermented in stainless steel
tanks with no oak.
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| Our Rose Wines |
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Red Rita Rose
is named for the llama herd matriarch. The
rosé wine was produced by blending 90% of the 2008 Chardonnay and 10% of
the 2008 Cabernet Franc.
The blend has about 3% residual sugar,
which enhances the fruitiness in the Franc, creates an aroma of
strawberries and provides a light crisp wine which pairs well with
desserts.
The Chardonnay is finished in stainless
steel and the Cabernet Franc is a combination of used French oak and new
Hungarian oak, so there is a subtle effect of the oak on the palette.
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