Grape Updates

Updates extended from Tania Dautlick, the Executive Director of
the North Carolina Grape Council!!

Winston-Salem Journal 7/25/01

NEW YADKIN VALLEY WINERY READY FOR TOURS, TASTERS

"RayLen Vineyards & Winery near Mocksville, the Yadkin Valley's newest winery, is now open to the public. The winery, owned by Joe and Joyce Neely and managed by winemaster Steve Shepard, recently released its first vintages. These are two French oak-aged chardonnays, merlot, shiraz and carolinius, a red cabernet blend from red Bordeaux varietals. To get to RayLen from Winston-Salem, take Interstate 40 West to Exit 180. Turn left on N.C. 801 South, then right on N.C. 158 West. The winery is four miles ahead on the right. RayLen's sales and tasting room is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (336) 998-3100."


BICYCLE TOUR SHOWS OFF NC WINE COUNTRY FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE;
WINSTON-SALEM -- Carolina Tailwinds of Winston-Salem is pleased to offer bicycle tours of the wineries and vineyards of the Yadkin River Valley.

The 2-day, 1-night tours feature bed & breakfast accommodations and gourmet meals while offering guests an active way to travel between several of the region’s new wineries. So far, only one date is scheduled for 2001: September 15-16. For details, visit http://www.CarolinaTailwinds.com/winetour.htm, or call 888-251-3206.

Tribune, Elkin-Jonesville
June 27, 2001
Vineyard plants for the future

By Carrie J. Sidener
Staff Reporter

SWAN CREEK – Audentes Fortuna Invat – Fortune favors the daring.

The line from the Latin poet Virgil serves as a motto Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery will try to live up to.

"It’s the model of the winery," Stephen Lyons, vice president and general manager of the vineyards said Monday. "It’s a bit of a daring operation."

The land, located in the Swan Creek Valley of Wilkes County, is being landscaped for the first planting season which is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2002. Lyons said the vineyard will have around 50 acres of grapes.

"It takes a while to build up to that," said Lyons. "As the grapes grow, the capacity of the winery grows."

Lyons said 15 acres will be planted next year, then five more acres a year until the 50-acre mark is reached. The planting is staged, Lyons said, because of cost.

"It’s an expensive endeavor," said Lyons. "It costs $10-$12,000 per acre to plant."

Lyons said the vineyard will be laid out so that the road up to the winery will be surrounded by grapes. He adds two ponds will be visible to the left of the road, one with a waterfall. The winery, which Lyons said will be situated at the top of the hill, will be Italian in design.

"It will have a balcony where people can have a picnic, "said Lyons. "It will overlook the vineyard, Swan Creek and the Blue Ridge Mountains – 270-degree view. It’s going to be quite spectacular."

When it’s constructed, Lyons said the winery will have a catwalk that visitors can look down and see the activity of the winery. He said customers will also be able to see the hundreds of oak barrels that will be stored in a cave below the winery while the grapes ferment.

"We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel," said Lyons. "It will have an Italian feel to it with a
courtyard and Italian architecture."

Lyons said the vineyard will grow both Italian grapes, like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Primitivo and French grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

"The style of wine will attract different tastes," said Lyons. "Some with sweetness, some with dryness, and some will reflect the Italian name."

Lyons said the Swan Creek area was chosen because of the exposure to the sun, the air and water drainage and the composition of the soil.

"Mr. Raffaldini asked me to look for land," said Lyons. "I spent three months looking through four different counties. I finally settled on this one."

Lyons said Jerome Raffaldini, II, president and CEO of the vineyard, lives in Connecticut, but plans to retire to the valley in three or four years.

According to Lyons, a number of vineyards have settled within an eight-mile radius of the area.

"The area really picked up," said Lyons. "There’s quite a few vineyards in a small area because the availability of good land in the area."

Lyons said the wineries in the area will help boost the economy of the neighboring towns because tourists as well as localpeople will visit the wineries.

"If a place has one winery, it’s kind of a novelty," said Lyons. "If you have a few vineyards and wineries, it becomes a destination because people like to compare. People will need to be fed or a place to stay for the evening. You’ll have auxiliary businesses picking up."

Vineyards also give tobacco farmers an alternative that keeps them and their land in agriculture, said Lyons. With tobacco allotments being cut, Lyons added, farmers are trying to find ways to use their land.

"A lot of farmers are looking to it for an alternative, "said Lyons. "It has as good or sometimes a better return and you don’t have to plant every year. [The plants] get 45 to 75 years old. Once you get the vine in the ground, you don’t have to do a lot of replacing like with other crops."

One acre of grapes will yield 600 gallons of wine – and 3,000 bottles – Lyons said.

"People have asked us if they put in a few acres of grapes if we’d be interested in purchasing them," said Lyons. "Of course we would if they’re grown correctly."

Lyons, who’s a California native, said he has worked for a consultant and managed vineyards in California as well as in North Carolina. He said he has helped people from farmers to businessmen grow grapes.

"One thing I tell people is it’s not a question of whether you can grow grapes here," said Lyons. "It’s how you do it."

Lyons said the construction for the winery will begin in 2003 and is expected to be completed in 2004.