Western North Carolina has long been known for its beautiful mountains, great hiking, camping, and watersports, but now the region has a growing international reputation for producing fine wines. Rumbling Bald Resort makes discovering some of these celebrated vintages easy with our weekly wine tour every Wednesday from 10am to 5pm. The area is home to many vineyards, and each tour features three different wineries. As an aperitif, we thought this would be a good place to introduce you to three of our favorites.
Mountain Brook Vineyards treats wine making as a labor of love, and that love has allowed this 7.5 acre vineyard to achieve in impressive collection of awards, including the 2016 San Francisco International Wine Competition’s Gold Medal for their 2013 Chardonnay Reserve Sur Lie. Located just outside of Columbus, NC, Mountain Brook is owned by Dennis and Miriam Lanahan, who take tremendous joy in their small vineyard where the crop is picked by family friends and a small group of hired hands every year. Besides their chardonnay, Mountain Brook also produces award-winning Pinot Grigios, Rosés, Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons, and a Bordeaux-style Red Magis.
Overmountain Vineyards dedicates seventeen acres to the growth of French vinifera, and specializes in artisanal, old world-style wines using the latest techniques in both the vineyards and winery. Overmountain focuses on Petit Manseng, an aromatic white originally produced in southwest France. Their current offering, the Epic Petit Manseng is a golden hue aged in stainless steel, and boasts a deeply layered flavor using only estate-grown grapes. Overmountain is also currently offering an estate grown Revolutionary Red Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak. Frank and Sofia Lilly, a father-daughter team, have been making wine together since Overmountain’s first planting in 2000. Overmountain Vineyards continues to be one of the most innovative wineries in North Carolina, and their dedication to excellence is evident in every sip.
Parker-Binns Vineyard is what Karen and Bob Binns decided to do when retirement proved a bit too boring. Beginning in 2007, the Binns planted their 7.5 acre vineyard in Polk County with a variety of grapes, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chambourcin, Petit Manseng, and Muscat. Their current offerings include a Moscato, a lightly sweet white with a clean, citrus finish with a wonderful effervescence. Also be sure and try Parker-Binns’ 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon for a deep, dark journey with notes of dark chocolate among the smoky oak and fruit. A young winery, Parker-Binns is set to delight the taste buds for decades to come.
Western North Carolina has been growing wine grapes for over a hundred years, and the wines produced here continue to delight even the most discerning palates. Rumbling Bald Resort is pleased to offer our guests the opportunity to discover some of these amazing wineries for the first time, or to return to an old favorite. Rumbling Bald’s weekly wine tours include lunch, personalized tours at three of the region’s wineries, and – of course – tastings. For more information, and to make your wine tour reservation, call us at 828.694.3005.
