Where I am now!!

My first vineyard for this blog has to be the wonderful place that I have the privilege to work at.  Overmountain Vineyards (OMV) in North Carolina’s Polk County is owned by Frank and Lita Lilly.  Their daughter Sofia, assistant wine maker to her pop Frank, has become a friend and has already taught me so much about wine, winemaking, and the vineyard.

I began this journey by searching for a winery, any winery, near our new home in South Carolina.  Little did I know then that I would stumble across this diamond in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountain foothills.  After my first visit, I was hooked.  Not only by the wines, which are amazing, but by the incredible atmosphere that they have created on their farm.  The staff was warm and inviting, the family genuine and friendly, and their Great Danes just beautiful.

 

I am reminded each time I arrive that a vineyard is a farmers dream.  Not only do they get to be in nature cultivating what the earth provides, they get to use their passion to create a wonderful product for all to enjoy.  For the Lilly family, it all begins on the 70 acre farm with 17 acres of French vinifera.  Learning what grows best and how to grow it in their climate is a skill that they have perfected.  Each year brings it’s own challenges and they are up to it.

When you arrive at the vineyard, you will be stunned by its beauty.  Numerous vines fill the rolling terrain, a cozy tasting room with an impressive patio sits on the hilltop, and the winery and barrel room are next door.  The amazing views of the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains make this a place everyone would love to call home.

Two gentle Great Danes may greet you as you make your way to the tasting room.  Once inside this boutique winery, you are offered a generous tasting of the French-style wines they are known for. Their current menu includes:

• 2016 Chardonnay
• 2016 Epic Petit Manseng  Estate Premium Wine
• 2016 Camelia (blend of Chardonnay and Petit Manseng)
• 2016 Rose (from 100% Petit Verdot) Estate Grown
• 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown
• 2015 Cabernet Franc Estate Grown
• 2015 Revolutionary Red ( 80% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon) Estate Grown

You can’t go wrong with any of the above offerings.  These artisanal wines are handcrafted in the Old World Style using a minimalist approach, giving them all a wonderful flavor and smell.  They also make a killer sangria if you are after something sweet and you even get to keep your OMV water glasses as a souvenir.

To go with your wine, you may bring a picnic lunch or choose from their light selection of crackers, meats, and cheeses.  Seating is both inside at the bar and outside on the patio, under one of two outdoor pavilions, or by their fire-pits with a borrowed blanket.

 

 

A bonus when visiting is that there is a two-mile certified segment of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail on the property.  This was the route used by patriots during the 1780 King’s Mountain campaign.  You can hike this trail during business hours and enjoy the wooded area surrounding the farm, Mill Creek, and use picnic tables along the route.

For more information please check out their website at: overmountainvineyards.com