We recently attended the Taste of N.C. event in Winston-Salem, sponsored by the N.C. Winegrowers Association. Held at the Benton Convention Center right downtown, Taste of N.C. showcases wines and food from the around state, and provided a good glimpse into some of the best it has to offer, certainly on the wine side. Over 20 wines and 20 restaurants/chefs were there. It was a good format, as there was a restaurant/chef paired with a winery at each table, and clearly thought went into the pairings. Unlike some wine tasting events, there was a lot of food, and a lot of good food.
We’ve been working our way to some of the wineries around the state, slow but steady. We saw many of those we had previously visited, as well as some exciting new discoveries. If you like wine and food this is a great little wine event. We’ll keep it on our list for the future. As a side note, if you do go and are staying over for the night, we recommend the downtown Marriot. You can walk to the convention center via a tunnel and never have to go outside. On this particular night it was raining hard, but we left our raincoats and umbrellas in the room. While having a nightcap at the hotel bar we saw several groups dash in through the side door fairly drenched. They did not, apparently, discover the tunnel.
Wine tasting events with multiple wineries are always a great place to make new discoveries. This was no exception. Let’s take a look at a few:
Raffaldini
Not really a new discovery, as they are one of our favorite wineries. They make rich red wines and crisp whites. For the reds they use the appassimento method, similar to what you’d find in the Veneto region of Italy. The grapes are dried before pressing, which concentrates the flavors. We’ve reviewed Raffaldini before, and you can read the details here. At this event they brought their best two wines, and it was a treat. Especially the Patrimonio.
If we’re being honest, we haven’t always had good luck finding really great wines in N.C., so Raffaldini was a surprise when we visited them. Here are the two other wineries from this event that really stood out and which we had never had any previous experience with:
Dynamis – Jonesville, NC – Dynamis has a range of red and white wines available. The Bordeaux varieties make their way into the reds, with a good dose of Cabernet Sauvignon. Whites include Sauvignon Blanc and there are rosés. The wine below was one that caught our atention.
2021 Dynamis “The Mountain” Red Wine: this contains all five of the traditional Bordeaux red grapes, grown at 1640′ in elevation. It’s a deep purple red in color, with a rich nose of blackberry and currant. The fruit is brighter than you would expect in a top Bordeaux, but the overall profile is similar. A little wood is also present. On the palate it is medium+ in body, and quite rich with texture and a long finish. This really is an excellent wine, and worthy of a place with great wines from around the world. It is a bit pricey, but it’s hard to make a wine this good anywhere, never mind on a small vineyard (relatively) in North Carolina. We’re planning to visit soon and see what the rest of the story looks like.
Parker -Binns Vinyards – Mill Spring, NC – this winery produces a range of whites and reds, both single varietals and blends. They also have an on-site restaurant with food available Thursday through Sunday. We tried two of their wines and definitely will be heading there for a more in depth visit. This region is about to get an American Viticultural Area designation, the Tryon Foothills. Here’s the standout wine:
2021 Parker-Binns Petit Verdot: this is 100% Petit Verdot. It is made with the first havest from these vines, which is staggering. They achieved 23.5 brix and 13% alcohol, although it seems a bit bigger than that. Finished for 18 months in neutral french oak, this wine carries a ton of fruit and complexity. It has depth and balance. We love it. The Petit Manseng they were pouring was also excellent.
Finding these two wineries just reinforces what we’ve always encountered, there are suprises and good wine almost everywhere. You’ve got to get out and try them. We suggest both of these wineries if you are in their area, or on a winery weekend. We’ll be stopping in.
A votre santé!
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