Two North Carolina vineyards – wineries bookend the state!
Jarvisburg, North Carolina and Murphy, North Carolina are five hundred and fifty-one miles apart.
An almost nine hour drive!
Location
Sanctuary Vineyards – Jarvisburg, North Carolina along North Carolina’s OBX coast.
Nottely River Valley Vineyards – Murphy, North Carolina in the Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Elevation/Terroir
Sanctuary Vineyards is a seaside vineyard just off the Outer Banks of Eastern North Carolina and nestled along the sandy shores of the Currituck Sound.
Nottely River Valley Vineyards is nestled atop a mountain terrace in Murphy, North Carolina. The elevation exceeds 1600 feet and offers views of mountain tops in three states, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. The soil is rocky and the vineyard slopes Northwest toward the nearby Nottely River.
Growing
Sanctuary Vineyards has ten acres under vine, with Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Syrah, Albariño, Traminette, and Chardonnel. The cool sea breezes coming off the Sound allow traditional European Vinifera and French-American Hybrids to thrive in the sandy soils.
Nottely River Valley Vineyards with ten acres under vine grows many traditional European varietals. The mountain cold challenges the vineyard Winter after Winter; An original planting of Cabernet Sauvignon was lost four years ago. Current varietals are Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Primitivo, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and French American Hybrids Chambourcin and Syval Blanc.
From the Website
Sanctuary Vineyards is located on a quaint seaside farm where you are likely to see rows of corn competing with Cabernet and migratory snow geese nesting among the Sangiovese. Ten acres of grapes are nestled among hundreds of acres of farmland and wildlife impoundments that we like to call “The Sanctuary.”
Nottely River Valley Vineyards strives for minimal intervention throughout the wine making process. We strive to fashion our wines after the “Old World Style, Hand-Crafted” wines of Europe. The first harvest was in the fall of 2011. The 2011 vintage was released November 1, 2012.
Recommended Wine
The Pearl from Sanctuary Vineyards, an Albariño led white blend was highly acclaimed by world renowned wine critic James Suckling. We also like the 2020 Shipwreck, a red blend of mostly Syrah complimented with Tannat and Petit Verdot. Another must try is the Outer Banks Ice, An ice wine (frozen post harvest) blend of Viognier, Vidal Blanc, and Petit Manseng.
As one of North Carolina’s few vineyards growing Riesling, one must try the semi-sweet Fault Rock 100% Southern Riesling. We also recommend the Rosé of estate grown Chambourcin.
We have to wonder just how many have enjoyed the pleasure to visit both of these bookend North Carolina vineyards. We have!
If you haven’t yet the experience, put both of these incredible North Carolina destination vineyards & wineries on your bucket list!
Cheers!
Wine Competitions and Marketing! 