Our wine tonight is the Black Rock from Sawyer Springs Vineyard in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Black Rock
Dirty Boots, Stained Hands, Classic Wine.
AVA – Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County.
Inky in color with a beautiful garnet rim.
A special field blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
Decanted for 30 minutes before pouring first glass. However by the second glass, had decanted for 60 minutes and it opened up expressively and mellowed on the finish.
Nose of black cherry, blackberry, bell pepper, butterscotch, charred oak, and black licorice.
Medium plus body with unresolved chalky tannins.
Dry on the palate with black cherries, red and black currants, red plums, dark coffee, and vanilla rum, lingering finishing of black pepper, spices, leather, and pipe tobacco.
13% ABV
Sawyer Springs Vineyard
Sawyer Springs Vineyard is just outside of Hendersonville, North Carolina in the Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA.
The tasting room is a hundred plus year old remodeled barn. Ample seating is outside though some indoor space is available.
This is the wine rack we got for free from Wandering Bard Meadery when they were moving from their original location in Mauldin to the current taproom at Hampton Station in Greenville, South Carolina.
The rack was unfinished and I spent a Saturday morning staining it to match our antique dining table.
The rack is secured to the wall….you know to prevent the dogs from knocking it over.
In one quick moment, a bottle slipped and must have hit just right on the bottle below. That bottle below, a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon from CityScape Winery in Pelzer (Greenville County), South Carolina.
OMG what a mess. Red wine everywhere!! So many bottles…their labels…required cleaning.
I know, don’t cry over spilled wine! Yet, losing that bottle got me to thinking about how much I appreciate these bottles. They mean something more, some bigger than just a bottle of wine.
Some of these bottles we never plan to drink….there’s simply a sentimental connection.
Such as this 2015 Chardonnay from The (tiny) Winery at Judd’s Peak in Saluda, North Carolina. This bottle from the last vintage produced before all the vines were uprooted. No chance to get another….
Some which are very important to us such as this 2015 Meritage from Burntshirt Vineyards and Winery. Meritage was the toast wine at our wedding.
Meritage
A few that bought at the recommendation of our friend Jeff at Bond Street Wines in downtown Spartanburg
Pinot Noir
Plus many which were medal award winners in our Palmetto Wine Competition.
While these may not be $80 collectible bottles of wine, all are special to us in some way. I know many of you are likely thinking that it’s just a bottle of wine. It may be, just a bottle of wine….
Yet to us it represents our passion. What we do together as a couple. So yeah, just a bottle of wine….but one of OUR bottles of wine!
Our passion as a couple is promoting locally craft produced wines, meads, ciders, beers, and spirits! The fun we enjoy together, as we travel and visit these small businesses all over the Southeast, is immeasurable to the strength of our marriage.
Our Wine Tonight is the Rustic Red (Chambourcin) from Wellborn Winery in the Woods located in Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
Rustic Red
Produced of locally grown South Carolina Chambourcin. Roughly 75% Estate grown at Wellborn Winery Vineyard and 25% grown at Calico Vineyards in Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
Chambourcin is a French-American hybrid with deep purple skins.
Aerated. Did not decant.
Indigo in color with a bright purple rim.
Aromatic nose of fresh baked blueberry muffins, elderberries, raspberries, mocha, and chocolate covered cherries.
Semi-sweet with a medium-light soft mouth feel, featuring juicy acidity and a low tannin structure.
Fruit forward with layered notes of tart raspberries, red currants, cinnamon spice, pepper sauce, and a fresh hot cherry tart, slight smokiness on the finish with a lingering tartness of a Christmas fruitcake.
12% ABV
This wine is racking up awards. Gold medal winner in the prestigious 2019 Wines of the South Competition.
Silver medal winner in the 2018 Palmetto Wine Competition.
Chambourcin
Sold locally only. Pick up at the winery.
Wines to be featured on our site may be sent via UPS to Winery Escapades, 102 Scenic Cir, Boiling Springs, SC 29316.
Our Holiday wine tonight is the Burch-Bleu from Carolina Heritage Vineyards in Elkin, North Carolina
Burch-Bleu
Yadkin Valley AVA
USDA-Certified Organic vineyard.
50-50 Blend of estate Blueberry and Chambourcin wines.
Dark purple almost indigo in color with a bright short rim.
Long slowly cascading legs.
Takes some time to properly open up.
Serve at cellar temperature.
Nose of blueberry jam, boiled peanuts, and lavender.
Semi-sweet yet fruity with a medium-soft mouthfeel.
Complex on the tongue with flavors of dark cherry, black tea, prunes, raisins, jam on toasted wheat and finishing full on expressive of wild blueberries.
Our wine tonight is the Loco Lulu Soft Red Wine from Parker-Binns Vineyard in the Tryon Foothills wine region of Western North Carolina.
Loco Lulu – Soft Red Blend
Non-vintage.
Blend of estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chambourcin.
Nose expressive of fresh Bing cherries, think of a freshly baked hot out of the oven cherry pie, red plum, mocha, violet, honeysuckle, vanilla, and smoke.
Medium purple in color with a bright garnet rim.
Decanted for 30 minutes.
Medium-light bodied, medium-light tannins, medium acidity, medium alcohol with beautiful cascading long legs.
Flavor notes of red currants, cherries, red plums, and baking spices, finishing toward more subtle notes of cedar, vanilla, black pepper, and pipe tobacco.
12.8% ABV
Winemaker: Justin Taylor
$20 a bottle.
Lulu’s paw of approval is stamped on the cork. LuLu is of course the famed winery dog.
Our wine tonight is the Bitchin Blackberry from Douglas Vineyards in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Bitchin’ Blackberry
Grape wine with natural and artificial blackberry flavor.
Not sure of the base. Likely Merlot.
The nose is reminiscent of blackberry Kool-aid.
Sweet on the tongue.
Bursting with blackberry flavor on the tongue, reminiscent of a hot blackberry cobbler right out of the oven, fading with a slight tartness and subtle earthy tones.
9% ABV.
The owners suggested this one for us to take home as it is always one of their top sellers.
It did not disappoint. Very easy drinking.
Great summer sippin wine.
Our wine tonight is the Bitchin Blackberry from Douglas Vineyards in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Grape wine with natural and artificial blackberry flavor.
Not sure of the base. I’d guess Merlot.
The nose is reminiscent of blackberry Kool-aid.
Sweet on the tongue.
Bursting with blackberry flavor on the tongue, just like a hot blackberry cobbler right out of the oven, fading with a slight tartness and subtle earthy tones.
9% ABV.
The owners suggested this one for us to take home as it is always one of their top sellers.
It did not disappoint. Very easy drinking.
JenNis Score: 84 points
We also operate professional and amateur wine competitions. Email WineryEscapades@Gmail.Com to get on our competition mailing list.
We have heard the news that Doc Collier has been sold to the The TN Shine Company. What does this mean for the Buckeye flavored moonshine? We’re just not sure….but it appears to be no more. That saddens us…but hey we’re willing to try some flavors…time for a road trip!
Our wine tonight is……well uh…..moonshine.
Buckeye is a Chocolate – Peanut Butter flavored moonshine from Doc Collier in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Milk chocolate on the front palate and a long distinctive peanut butter finish.
This one’s about 40 proof so yeah it’s good sippin’ shine.
It’s seasonal so buy it when in stock.
Buckeye Moonshine is The Smokey Mountains best kept secret sitting right along the curve on the Gatlinburg Main Strip.
Doc Collier Moonshines are produced using pure Smokey Mountain spring water.
Around $35 a bottle at the distillery.
Great as a straight shot or blended in hot chocolate.
Additional drink recommendations are to blend a splash of banana flavored Doc Collier “Nanna” moonshine into the Buckeye. So chocolate peanut butter banana moonshine? Sounds like a Winning combination to us!
We also highly recommend the chocolate peanut butter martini! So Yum!!!
Our wine tonight is the Petite Sirah from CityScape Winery in Pelzer (Greenville County), South Carolina.
Petite Sirah
Winemaker’s Reserve
Double Gold medal award winner in 2020 Palmetto Wine Competition.
Deep purple in color with a bright garnet rim.
We decanted for one hour and it opened up expressively on the nose.
Nose exhibits blueberries, red currants, cocoa, toffee, and dark coffee.
This Petite Sirah has great mouth feel, dry yet fruity, with a structured medium-full body. Front palate is expressive of blueberry, red plum, dates, fig preserves, and finishing with hazelnut and a complex earthiness.
Fruit imported from Paso Robles.
14.5% ABV
Incredible red from winemaker Josh Jones.
Excellent representation of some the excellent vinifera red wines being produced from imported fruit and juice by several South Carolina winemakers.
Our wine tonight is the Reserve Merlot from Parker-Binns Vineyard in Tryon, North Carolina.
Reserve Merlot
Estate grown Merlot.
Decanted 30 minutes.
Deep maroon in color with a short purple rim.
Aromatic bouquet of red plum, bing cherry, fresh blueberry, vanilla extract, black tea, and mocha.
Dry, medium-plus bodied, pleasantly sultry with long cascading legs.
Fruit forward with notes of black currants, pomegranate, raspberries, cherries, blackberries, and fresh figs, gently fading with hints of cedar, cigar box, black licorice, and leather.
13% ABV.
Winemaker Justin Taylor.
Parker-Binns Vineyard
Just of note….The Parker-Binns 2017 Merlot was a Showcase winner for Best Merlot in the prestigious NC Fine Wines competition.
Wine Competitions and Marketing! 