North Carolina Wine TV Review
The Biltmore Reserve 2008 Pinot Noir is made in North Carolina from Russian River, California grapes. It has a classic Pinot Noir nose of strawberry and cherry, and it also has a hint of pipe tobacco. This wine is very tannic, bone dry and very acidic. It definitely needs food to improve it. It tastes of strawberry, cocoa, coffee and oak. Although it is well-made and well balanced, it does seem to be over-oaked. This is a young wine that could do with some time in a cellar. Wine provided by the winery for our review.

Price: $25
Availability: Directly from the Winery and select wine shops

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

About Biltmore Reserve 2008 Pinot Noir (from the winery):
This Pinot Noir thrived in the cool climate of California’s Russian River Valley, resulting in a complex expressive wine with an elegant, almost delicate mouth-feel. Strawberry, raspberry, vanilla, and well-integrated oak aromas give way to supple fruit flavors.

About Biltmore Estate (from the winery):
The most visited winery in the United States isn’t located in Napa Valley. It’s at Biltmore in the mountains of North Carolina, where approximately 1 million visitors stop by to sample award-winning estate wines each year. The first vineyards at Biltmore were established in 1971 in an area below Biltmore House. French-American hybrids were planted initially, with vinifera plantings following in a few years. Inspired after several years of experimenting, William A.V. Cecil, then president and owner of Biltmore, decided that a winery was the natural outcome of ongoing research and a logical extension of his grandfather’s intention that the estate be self-supporting.

North Carolina Wine TV Review:
Carolina Heritage Chamborcin-Cynthinana is a blend of vinifera and muscadine grapes, both grown in the Yadkin Valley. There is some red fruit and cinnamon on the nose of this light to medium body wine, but no strongly pronounced smells. The wine starts with a bit of sweetness and fruit that transitions to oak, but the end of finish is very harsh. The harsh finish takes this average wine to something that is not very good.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: $10

Availability: From the winery and select wine stores

About Chambourcin-Cynthiana (from the winery):
Dry red wine made from a blend of Chambourcin (French-American hybrid) and Cynthiana/Norton (native American) grapes. Both varieties grow well in the Yadkin Valley and, when blended, produce a rich red dry wine with a fruity, nutty taste. Wonderful with red meats, cheeses and dark chocolates.

About Carolina Heritage Vineyard (from the winery):
Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery is the first USDA-Certified Organic Vineyard & Winery in NC. The self-contained operation includes 9.5 acres of vineyard, a fully-functioning estate winery and tasting room.

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North Carolina Wine TV Review:
The Banner Elk 2008 Marechal Foch is dark red in color with sawdust, herbs, blackberry, forest on the nose. This is a big, dry wine that really tastes like the land on which the grapes were grown. This wine has a dry fruit or sour cherry or blackberry flavor on the finish, which is not where you expect the fruit to be. There is also some cocoa, with a sharp oak flavor that is a little different that traditional French oak. A winter wine that would pair with rich and hearty food. Put it away for 5-7 years before drinking.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: $22.95

Availability: From the winery

About 2008 Marechal Foch (from the winery):
A single varietal Cabernet Hybrid developed for a Cabernet to grow at high altitudes and withstand cold winters. It is fruity, jammy and considered to be a “grapey” wine. It is very food friendly, but pairs exceptionally well with red-sauced pasta dishes.

About (from the winery):
Banner Elk Winery marks the genesis of the wine tradition in the High Country of North Carolina as the first commercial winery built in Avery and Watauga counties. In July 2006, the age-old winemaking tradition officially made its debut in a corner of the New World previously overlooked for the craft.

The creations of Vintner Dr. Richard Wolfe pay tribute to the rugged mountain landscape and capture the delicate nuance and character of the fruit. Processing locally grown grapes into excellent wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the Appalachian Mountains, Dr. Wolfe provides guidance and encouragement to local farmers planting vineyards with the new French-American and American varieties of grapes. This fruit is hearty enough to survive the harsh winters of the High Country.

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Today we taste the Grove Winery Eno River White, with grapes grown in northern Durham County, in the Triangle’s only commercial vineyard. It is field blended from nine different grapes. The earthy nose is dominated by mud and straw, mushroom, with a touch of kiwi after extra swirling. The finish is short, but focused on this dry wine, which is made in the style of other Grove wines we have tried. There is a strong earthy flavor with a bit of apple, tropical fruit tastes. It lacks acidity which makes the wine taste a bit flat. It could use some spicy food to prop up some of the flavors. This is well-made wine and worth a try if you are looking for a different kind of dry white wine. Something that is savory. Wine provided by the winery for review.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: $13

Availability: Directly from the winery

About Grove Winery Eno River White (from the winery)
The only commercial wine grown in the Triangle. The grapes for Grove’s Eno River White comes from Jim Ward’s award winning Eno River Vineyards in northern Durham County. This wine is a true field blend, the 2008 vintage is made with nine varieties of grapes picked and fermented together. Varieties include: Melody, Taminga, Villard blanc, Symphony, Rkatsiteli and Petit Manseng. This dry, white wine is aged in stainless steel tanks and has a limited production of less than 70 cases. Nicely balanced and crisp, this wine is excellent with high butter-fat cheeses and rich deserts.

About Grove Winery (from the winery):
Grove Winery is located 7 miles northeast of the Greensboro city limits and about 20 minutes from downtown Greensboro. From award winning vineyards, first planted in 1993, exceptional wines are grown and crafted. The 44 acre Guilford County farm features a small, artisan winery and the estate vineyards which are located on sloping, mineral rich land in the Haw River Valley wine country. The estate vineyards feature wine grapes that thrive in this microclimate: Merlot, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Cab Franc, Traminette and Tempranillo. We also own a mountain vineyard 65 miles north of the winery near Smith Mountain, VA where we grow grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Norton which benefit from cooler weather.

All grapes are hand harvested and used for a limited production of about 3000 cases of premium wine each year. A short drive from anywhere in the Triad or Triangle, our tasting room is located at the winery and is open year-round for tours, tastings, picnics and special events.

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North Carolina Wine TV Review:
Today’s wine is different. While it was produced in North Carolina, it wasn’t made by a winery. Instead it was made by students in the Viticultural Degree Program at Surry Community College.

Now onto the wine! The Surry Cellars 2008 Chardonel is great on the nose with apples dipped in honey and a vanilla custard scent. A little bit of heat in the mouth but otherwise, this is a very well made wine with notes a granny smith apple and fresh cut grass. Overall this is a great spring and summer white wine and a good example of chardonel for those who haven’t had this hybrid grape before.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Availability: From Surry Community College

We love food Fridays here at North Carolina Wine TV! We don’t often do muscadine wine with food, but today we are going to have some fresh pineapple with some Sanders Ridge 2008 Carlos Muscadine and see how the pair works. Watch today’s episode to see what we thought of the combo!

North Carolina Wine TV Review:
This Carlos muscadine wine from Sanders Ridge blew us away. It is easily the best example of muscadine wine we have tried to date, and the grapes were grown in the Yadkin Valley. This North Carolina State Fair winner has an incredibly complex nose for a muscadine wine with earth and fruit perfectly balanced. In the mouth it has the perfect blend of sugar, acidity and tannins. Do whatever you can to give this a try if you are a muscadine fan.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale

Price: $14

Availability: Directly from the winery

About Sanders Ridge 2007 Big Woods Red (from the winery)
A Bordeaux blend of the Cabernets – Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, and a dab of Syrah suggests rich black cherry with light licorice and pepper and a smooth velvety finish. A great food wine.

About Sanders Ridge Winery (from the winery):
In the late 90’s, after 40 straight tobacco crops along with corn, soybeans, cattle, and timber, it was becoming ever clearer to Neil that the conventional farming of his day would not offer his 2 sons and daughter and their families – the livelihood that it had afforded him. With the realization that he was going to probably be “it” (the last Shore to farm this special place), he started researching alternative cash crops and implementing a more forward thinking farm plan which he hopes will sustain the land and all of the natural resources it supports (including his children and grand children!) for years to come…

Between 1999 and 2001, he laid the groundwork and established the vineyard for the Sanders Ridge Vineyard and Winery. (View photo diary). In December 2005, he began producing USDA certified organic vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers at the Farm at Sanders Ridge and in June of 2009 he opened the Winery and The Big Woods Restaurant – in a rustic and towering post and beam structure built from lumber and stone he harvested right off the farm.

Neil’s goal has always been to make Sanders Ridge a place where folks can laugh, relax, and experience the farm and the special places within it. He and his family invite you to visit the Winery and The Big Woods Restaurant for a taste of a simpler time and place. And, if you are so inclined, to wander…

Locate Sanders Ridge Winery:

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Thanks to Earthfare in Raleigh for hosting our dinner and Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery for providing the wine for today’s episode.

Now that you have feasted on your Thanksgiving meal, please join North Carolina Wine TV for a special day food Friday episode. Take minute from your busy Friday shopping to see how a medium bodied red fine goes with all of the Thanksgiving trimmings!

Thank you for talking time from your holidays to watch North Carolina Wine TV!

Thanks to Earthfare in Raleigh for hosting our dinner and Shelton Vineyards for providing the wine for today’s episode.

Thanksgiving and wine have long been a tradition for many families. This year we start a new tradition here at North Carolina Wine TV. We made a Thanksgiving for some friends and fans and paired it with a couple North Carolina wines. In today’s episode you will see some of the cooking behind the meal as well as our traditional episode, but with a special guest!

Happy Thanksgiving from North Carolina Wine TV!

Wine and cheese is about as classic of a pair as food and wine get. On this Food Friday we mix it up and drink some North Carolina wine with some bread, that maybe not everyone has had. Want to see how this big and bold white wine went with the bread and cheese? Please check out today’s episode!