Tag vineyards

Roaring River Vineyards, Traphill, NC

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A Hidden Gem!

Tucked away next to the Roaring River in Traphill, North Carolina is a French inspired vineyard.  If you are lucky enough to book a stay at this hidden gem, you are in for a relaxing getaway.  You will find a rustic tasting room, which is also home to Chez Josephine an amazing restaurant.  You can book lodging at one of the 3 room suites that overlook the river or at the cute cabin on the property.

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The tasting room overlooks the tranquil and clear Roaring River!

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Festus and Rusty are the official greeters that welcome guests to their home!

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The tasting room is beautifully decorated and very comfortable.  You could spend hours here.

Staying at the vineyard is like having your own private oasis.  You have a beach to use, stunning views of the river, and an outdoor fireplace to relax.  You can also use the hot tub or play horseshoes.

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The river is full of trout for fly fishing or you can throw for bass in either the river or pond.

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The highlight of this trip is of course the wonderful wines and the amazing food at Chez Josephine.  The chef and her staff really care about your experience and create some amazing menu items.  I really can’t say enough about the food and wine.

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I thoroughly enjoyed all the wines we tasted and purchased.  There is definitely a spirit of France in the air.

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There is also some fascinating history at the vineyard.  The tasting room is built on the site of the former Brewer Mill gristmill and looking across the river you can see the 1870 historic area where there is a cabin and the colums that held up the sawmill.

 

Exploring the hiking paths on the property take you around the vineyards and also to a beautiful cross that has a story attached to it.  Hearing the story from Tom the owner, makes you believe that all things happen for a reason.  You will have to ask him when you go visit.

To plan your getaway to this amazing hidden gem, head to http://www.roaringrivervineyards.com

 

Stone Hill Winery, Hermann, MO

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Preserving History!

A recent road trip took me to the quaint town of Hermann, MO, where I found Stone Hill Winery.  The winery, Missouri’s oldest, was established in 1847.  Prohibition caused the destruction of equipment and vineyards, but in 1965 it was purchased and restored.

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On the National Register of Historic Places

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The vineyards used to cover the town!

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The cellar tour was like walking back in time.  The underground cellars are the largest series in North America and were hand dug over 25 years.

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Endless rows of barrels

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Original bottles of wine

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The original cellar room
History in a bottle!

I hope you are inspired to make your own road trip to Hermann, Missouri!

To make plans to visit, check their website at: http://www.stonehillwinery.com

Winter Wonder!

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My kids during a Wisconsin winter long ago.

It must be the Wisconsin girl in me that still gets excited when it snows.  The wonderful memories that it stirs up of watching the flakes drift softly to the ground and of the fun we had playing and sledding in it.  It probably doesn’t hurt now that I live in an area where the snow doesn’t last long and the cold goes away pretty quickly.  It seems that I remember winters “Up North” lasting six to seven months or more!! OK, not really, but they sure are a lot longer than they are in South Carolina.  I love that I can have a cozy day or two and then get back to my regular routine.

DSC04272Watching the snow also made me start thinking about how winter can affect a vineyard.  Obviously, the climate can be quite different depending on where it is located, but that doesn’t change the fact that vines go through a cycle every year.  After harvest time; the vines turn woody, their roots dive deep into the soil for nutrients and they create carbohydrates that help protect them through the winter.  When the first frost occurs, the leaves fall and the vines go dormant.  Although this is a time of rest for the vines, it is an active time for the farmer.

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Pruning of the vines is done now, either by hand or machine, to shape the vines and create the best growing conditions for that particular variety of grape.  The basic process for this time of year appears quite simple, but every vineyard has different requirements for how things are done based on the climate, the varietals that are grown and the vineyard management preferences.

There is also activity in the winery and tasting rooms.  Since it is a slower time of year, paperwork is done, fun events are scheduled and the winemaker carefully watches over their wine.  Depending on the type of winery, they may tweak it or let nature make the decisions.  A lot more occurs during this time, but that will be left for another article.

DSC04276If you can, try to visit a vineyard in the winter. You won’t be disappointed.  Every season has its reason to visit, the best part of winter is being able to see the beauty in the vineyard while the vines sleep.  You get this time to enjoy the silence, watch the animals, see the farmers working and dream of the magic that will occur once again the next year.
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Thanks to Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon, NC for letting me take these winter photos!

How my Wine Adventures Began

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Let me preface this blog by saying that I am a girl from Wisconsin that grew up with beer, brats, and cheese.

I believed that wine came in three types: Red, White, and Pink, with Pink being the wine of choice. I also did not drink much and was usually the designated driver.

Fast forward a lot of years, a lot of moves, and a lot of changes.  I had two wonderful children, moved with my husband from Wisconsin to Missouri, to Texas, then California, and now South Carolina.  Let me back up a bit to, Ahhhhh, California.  My first taste of real wine, in my mind at least.  No, we did not live in Napa, but between two wonderful wine valleys.  This was my first real taste and a learning experience of what wine could be.  First, however, I had to learn how to taste wine, not just drink it.  Am I a pro yet? Not even close.  This new experience of having hundreds of wineries so close gave us great ways to spend our weekends and learn something new.  California began my love affair with wine, but also taught me to look beyond Napa.  Nothing against Napa, they have some of the best wines in the world, but when you realize that there are other places in the United States that have great wines, the adventure has only just begun.

After California, we moved to South Carolina and I thought the wine adventures were done.  I was soooo wrong; thank goodness.  This move helped me to discover great wine regions exist in all areas of the United States, from South Carolina to North Carolina, Tennessee to Texas, and Missouri to Oregon. I am not a wine critic, but will share my opinions of different wines and what makes wineries and vineyards great places to visit.  I am as much about the atmosphere and location as I am about the wines themselves.  I hope to take you on this adventure with me and to experience areas beyond Napa that produce great wines and provide great adventures for those willing to take the leap.