North Carolina Wine TV Review:
The Stony Knoll 2005 Cabernet Franc is a bottle of wine we bought on clearance, so we didn’t know what to expect. Kipp is initially overwhelmed with the smell of buttered popcorn, and Jeff describes it as old nothing. This wine has very little flavor and no fruit. It is as if you added sour flavor to a glass of water and put in a drop of diet cranberry juice for color. We cannot recommend this wine. We also talk about how to know if a wine should be put away or enjoyed now.

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: Winery: $15 Clearance: $5.99

Availability: From the Winery and Select Wine Shops

About Stony Knoll 2005 Cabernet Franc (from the winery):
A medium-bodied dry wine with 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 18 months in new Hungarian oak and neutral French oak barrels. Has a velvety smooth finish that tastes great with all meats and vegetables.

About Stony Knoll Vineyards (from the winery):
Stony Knoll Vineyard’s first harvest took place in the fall of 2002. We have planted Cabernet Savignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Syrah and they are currently available for purchase. You may purchase our wines from this website, local vendors, restaurants and at our winery. Private tastings are also offered by appointment and the facility can be reserved for special events.

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The Shelton Vineyards 2005 Merlot is from the same vintage year as one of our higher rated wines, the Shelton Vineyards Cabernet Franc. The Wine-o-meter on the label tells us this is medium bodied and bone dry. There are wild blackberries, rosemary and toasted coconut on the nose. There is some creaminess on the nose too, almost like a snowball cake. There are blackberries and blueberries in the front, with a bit of hollowness in the mid-palate. The body is a little thin and there is too much oak, especially on the finish. We found this to be over-oaked, but if you are an oak fan, you may want to seek this out. Wine provided by the winery for our review.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Availability: Directly from the winery and select wine shops.

About 2006 Merlot (we reviewed 2005) (from the winery):
Merlot is probably the most consistent of the red wine varieties in the Yadkin Valley and this Merlot is reminiscent of previous vintages. Very hot and dry late-summer early fall weather allowed for full ripening resulting in rich, intense flavors of cherry, tea, and vanilla. A pleasing texture that is soft and round helps create a very approachable Merlot. This wine is superb with Duck, Filet Mignon, Chateaubriand, veal and a host of other beef dishes.

About Shelton Vineyards (from the winery)
On the estate, several varieties of grapes are grown. A few of those are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Viognier. Virtually all vitis vinifera wine producing grapes are of European ancestry. Interestingly, all varieties of vitis vinifera grown at Shelton Vineyards–and throughout the world for that matter–utilize bud wood of European origin grafted onto Native American rootstocks to create a more disease resistant vine.

Shelton Vineyards’ belief is that fine wine begins in the vineyard. The location, in the heart of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, provides the ideal climate and soil conditions. Shelton Vineyards’ commitment to sustainable farming practices and hands-on attention enables the vineyard to produce the highest possible quality of grapes. The Shelton Vineyards’ wines are reflective of the terroir of the Yadkin Valley. Along with expert winemaking techniques, enhancing what our land has given us, Shelton Vineyards has produced many award-winning wines.

Locate Shelton Vineyards

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On today’s special New Year’s Day episode of Food Friday, affectionately called the Hangover Edition, we pair leftover wine from yesterday, Shelton Vineyards 2005 Family Reserve Chardonnay with leftover food from our New Year’s Eve sandwich tray. We ate a roast beef sandwich on a croissant to see how the buttery, flaky bread changed the rich, bold, buttery nature of the Chardonnay.

North Carolina Wine TV Review:
The Shelton Vineyards 2005 Family Reserve Chardonnay is luxury in a bottle. If you like crisp, unoaked white wines, then this is not the wine for you. Though if you like bold, thick, and rich white wines then this is a great non-sparkling option to drink to ring in the new year. The nose is full of dense apple and toasted coconut. In the mouth this wine is big, and while it is balanced, it still shows some of it 14.5% alcohol on the finish. If you love buttery, rich Chardonnay, then this is the wine for you.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: $35

Availability: Directly from the winery and select wine shops.

About Shelton Vineyards (from the winery)
On the estate, several varieties of grapes are grown. A few of those are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Viognier. Virtually all vitis vinifera wine producing grapes are of European ancestry. Interestingly, all varieties of vitis vinifera grown at Shelton Vineyards–and throughout the world for that matter–utilize bud wood of European origin grafted onto Native American rootstocks to create a more disease resistant vine.

Shelton Vineyards’ belief is that fine wine begins in the vineyard. The location, in the heart of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, provides the ideal climate and soil conditions. Shelton Vineyards’ commitment to sustainable farming practices and hands-on attention enables the vineyard to produce the highest possible quality of grapes. The Shelton Vineyards’ wines are reflective of the terroir of the Yadkin Valley. Along with expert winemaking techniques, enhancing what our land has given us, Shelton Vineyards has produced many award-winning wines.

Locate Shelton Vineyards

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We decided that on this North Carolina Wine Food Friday that this complex yet slight spicy wine needed a dish with salt, sweet, and a little dairy to help bring out the true flavors of this wine. Check out today’s episode to lean how this North Carolina Mourvedre goes with a BBQ Pork Quesadilla!

North Carolina Wine TV Review:
Mourvedre is a grape that is not widely grown in North Carolina’s vineyards, but very popular in France. The Hanover Park 2005 Mourvedre has an added level of spice and complexity from the Syrah blended with it. On the nose it is fruity and smokey. With pepper and complex flavors layered in the mouth. Watch today’s episode to get the full description of this wine.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: $17

Availability: Directly from the winery and select wine shops.

About Hanover Park Vineyard 2005 Mourvedre:
Our love of wines from the Rhone Valley of France has influenced this earthy red wine blended with less than 20% Syrah and aged in oak almost 3 years.

About Hanover Park Vineyard:
A month-long honeymoon in the south of France in 1996 changed the lives of these former art teachers. Michael and Amy Helton returned home with a love of old world wine and the countryside, and by December, Hanover Park Vineyard in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina began. Two artists and teachers took a chance, worked very hard, and turned an old farm into a thriving vineyard.

They began planting vineyards in the spring of 1997 and 1998. The farmhouse, built in 1897, was transformed into the tasting room and winery in 1999 for the first harvest producing 375 cases with the tasting room opening July of 2000.

Michael’s education in Viticulture and Enology has been independent and self-directed. As a former educator and researcher, he understood how to learn from universities, seminars, interviews, and websites involved with wine and grapes. In the summer of 2002, they returned to the south of France with appointments with winemakers in order to further understand the older French methods and blends.

Retiring from teaching in 2004 has provided Amy a new career filled with adventures and new experiences running the tasting room, planning all events, as well as developing a marketing and branding program.

Interview with Amy Helton, Owner of Hanover Park Vineyards

Locate Hanover Park Vineyard:

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Port is a classic after dinner wine and so it is only fitting to give it a try with something sweet to match its own sugar level and flavor profile. Today we are trying the Shelton Vineyards 2005 Port along side a slice of chocolate chess pie. How does the pairing stack?

What do you normally eat with port?

Check out today’s episode to learn more about the pairing.

North Carolina Wine TV Review:
This North Carolina port smells of brandy, caramel, toffee, and some vegetable scents on first approach. In the mouth this Shelton vineyards port starts with strawberry jam and candied cherry along side some caramel flavor. Though this wine is very young and needs to age longer it is still very complex and tasty in its young stage. This is a great dessert wine for the price that would be a crowd pleaser.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: $16

Availability: Directly from the winery and select wine shops.

About Shelton Vineyards 2005 Port (from the winery):
Our 2005 Yadkin Valley Port was produced from Cabernet Franc grapes in the time-tested traditional Oporto method and aged for one year in neutral Brandy barrels. A ruby-styled Port, this dessert wine is characterized by lush flavors of ripe berries, chocolate, vanilla, and toffee. Our port is a wonderful accompaniment to cheeses, fruits, cheesecake, or chocolate desserts.

About Shelton Vineyards (from the winery)
On the estate, several varieties of grapes are grown. A few of those are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Viognier. Virtually all vitis vinifera wine producing grapes are of European ancestry. Interestingly, all varieties of vitis vinifera grown at Shelton Vineyards–and throughout the world for that matter–utilize bud wood of European origin grafted onto Native American rootstocks to create a more disease resistant vine.

Shelton Vineyards’ belief is that fine wine begins in the vineyard. The location, in the heart of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, provides the ideal climate and soil conditions. Shelton Vineyards’ commitment to sustainable farming practices and hands-on attention enables the vineyard to produce the highest possible quality of grapes. The Shelton Vineyards’ wines are reflective of the terroir of the Yadkin Valley. Along with expert winemaking techniques, enhancing what our land has given us, Shelton Vineyards has produced many award-winning wines.

Locate Shelton Vineyards

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We probably have the most fun, recording food Friday videos, and of course that is because we get to eat and drink wine! One of our favorite foods is chocolate, so for this food Friday we decided to try a simple Dove milk chocolate bar with the Klondike Farm Guernsey Red from yesterday to see how it was. Check the video above to see how a $1 candy bar and wine that is packaged in a milk bottle go together!

North Carolina Wine TV Review:
From first look the packaging makes the Klondike Farm 2005 Guernsey Red standout on the shelf from all other North Carolina wine, however, the wide mouth of the milk bottle makes it slightly harder to pour. On the nose this red blend has flavors of cinnamon, clove and cherry. In the mouth the wine shows good balance and tannins structure, but is very simplistic with some blackberries and sweet grape juice flavors.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: $11

Availability: From the winery and select wine shops.

About Klondike Farms 2005 Guernsey Red (from the winery)
Our Sweet Red is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carlos and Noble grapes. This sweet wine from North Carolina is flavorful and a perfect refreshment for a warm, sunny afternoon.

About Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery (from the winery)
Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery. Founded in 2003 by Derrill and Lori Rice, and Jim and Cynthia Douthit, the two couples realized that they had a unique opportunity to combine a love for the local history and a passion for wine. The historical grounds and buildings are situated in one of the United States newest and most exciting wine-growing regions, the Yadkin Valley.

Klondike Farm 2005 Guernsey Red on 12seconds.tv

Locate Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery:

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