Food Network star Bobby Flay announced he will open one of his iconic Bobby’s Burgers restaurant’s in Charlotte.
Charlotte, N.C.
The burger joint will open Spring of 2024 in Charlotte’s Southport neighborhood.
Bobby’s Burgers currently operate six locations in Las Vegas, New Orleans, New Jersey, and New York.
On the Bobby’s Burgers website, it also announces a location coming in 2024 to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
The website further credits Bobby Flay stating, “Bobby’s Burgers is where craveability and approachability intersect to create the ultimate burger experience. We’re extremely relatable, yet an element of surprise is infused in every bite. Other concepts simply can’t achieve the culinary creativity of Bobby’s Burgers.”
The website claims the restaurant’s concept as, “The Ultimate Burger Experience.”
Bobby Flay is the current star of the Food Network show, Beat Bobby Flay.
Exciting news for burger lovers and fans of Bobby Flay!
Let’s take a look at several wine competition award and medal presentations in 2023!
Organizing wine competitions takes so much work, time, and energy.
However, the reward is traveling the Southeast for medal presentations! This is the fun!! 🥇
Celebration of Chambourcin Wine Comp presentation at Broken Horseshoe Vineyard in North Georgia Celebration of Chambourcin gold medal at Baker Buffalo Creek Vineyard in North Carolina Great White 🦈 Wine Competition awards presentation at Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville North Carolina Great White 🦈 Wine Competition awards presentation at City Scape Winery in Greenville South Carolina Great White 🦈 Wine Competition Best-in-Show awards presentation at Golden Road Vineyards in the Yadkin Valley North Carolina Great White 🦈 Wine Competition medal presentation at Kennington Family Winery in Marietta, South Carolina Palmetto Wine Competition Best-in-Show awards presentation at Deep Water Vineyard on Wadmalaw Island outside of Charleston SCPalmetto Wine Competition medal presentation at City Scape Winery in Greenville SC
Seriously, look how photogenic Josh and Deb are from City Scape? Larry and Mandy from South Bend Winery continuing that theme! 📸
Palmetto Wine Competition Medal Presentation at South Bend Winery in Greenwood SCAlways fun Palmetto Wine Comp medal presentation at Fat Ass Heifer Cidery in Campobello SC
Indeed these pictures represent the fun of what we do!
They also represent award-winning wineries in the Southeast worthy of a visit!
Elwood Prison WineCandy at Old Rock Quarry Winery in Enoree, South Carolina taking five. deals in the 2023 Palmetto Wine Competition
Get out and support these regional vineyards and wineries! We guarantee you’ll find the joy supporting these amazing small businesses!!
Simply Sangria Wine Company Bee Town Mead and Cider in Bluffton, SCPenny at Elevation 966 Winery in Greenville SCAdkins Family Vineyards Lodi California Best-in-Show 2023 The Wine Natty!
Tryon Foothills set to become the newest American Viticulture Area established in North Carolina.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau announced on Friday, January 5th, 2024, four proposed new AVA rules.
The announcement proposed to change the name of the established Mendocino Ridge AVA, and to establish three pending American Viticulture Area’s. The three new AVA’s proposed are Conneaut Creek, Nashoba Creek, and Tryon Foothills.
Mountain Brook Vineyards
The announcement from TTB is copied below.
This week we proposed to change the name of the established Mendocino Ridge American viticultural area (AVA) and to create three new AVAs called Conneaut Creek, Tryon Foothills, and Nashoba Valley. We are making these proposals in response to petitions from local wine industry members. All comments on these proposals are due to TTB by March 5, 2024.
Mendocino Ridge Name Change. We propose to change the name of the established Mendocino Ridge AVA, located in Mendocino County, California, to “Mendocino Coast Ridge.” The AVA is located within the established North Coast AVA.
Conneaut Creek. We propose to establish a new 70,437-acre AVA called “Conneaut Creek,” in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and within the established Lake Erie AVA.
Tryon Foothills. We propose to establish a new 176-square mile AVA called “Tryon Foothills,” in Polk County, North Carolina. The proposed AVA is not located within any other AVA.
Nashoba Valley. We propose to establish a new 18,367-acre AVA called “Nashoba Valley,” in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The proposed AVA is not located within any other AVA.
We wrote back in October, 2021 that the proposed Tryon Foothills AVA was pending approval by the TTB.
Parker-Binns Vineyard
Current wineries within the AVA boundaries are Parker-Binns Vineyard, Overmountain Vineyards, Mountain Brook Vineyards, and Russian Chapel Hills Winery.
After a lengthy wait as pending, the process is finally nearing approval for the establishment of the Tryon Foothills AVA.
An established AVA allows wineries to label their wines with the designated region. The AVA further gives credibility to an established and unique grape growing region.
“The more legitimate and defendable appellations we can get, the better off we are. It solidifies the areas personality(TERROIR), memorable varietals and helps engender a sense of community among the wineries. Plus, the areas can form their own internal “quality alliances” for the betterment of the wines and promote the appellations. Good for us all”, stated David Coventry, winemaker at Mountain Brook Winery,
Years of research, documentation, and lobby by the established growers of the Tryon Foothills led to this remarkable success. The establishment of the Tryon Foothills AVA will further distinguish the region as an area producing high quality award-winning fine wines!
Cheers 🥂 to the Tryon Foothills American Viticulture Area!
Wadmalaw Island may seem a world away from the bustling streets of historic Charleston, however, the scenic drive only takes a leisurely thirty minutes. Wadmalaw Island is quiet, tranquil, without major department stores or chain restaurants, and only sporadic homes and local establishments along the winding two-lane country highway.
What you will find on Wadmalaw Island are marshes, pluff mud, old growth majestic oak trees draped in Spanish Moss, a historic tea garden, and Deep Water Vineyard; a forty-eight-acre property showcasing a twelve-acre muscadinevineyard, growing four different varietals originally planted twenty-two years ago by Jim Irwin of Firefly Distillery fame. Since 2015 the vineyard and winery has been owned by self-confessed Northern transplants, Jesse and Andrea Freiwald.
Deep Water produces dry and sweet muscadine wines, fruit wines, and several vinifera wines from juice sourced in California and other more traditional wine growing regions, plus a rotating staple of award-winning draft meads.
In 2022, Deep Water Vineyards earned six medals in the Palmetto Wine Competition. In the 2023 Palmetto Wine Competition, their Lowcountry Red won Best-in-Show honors!
Lowcountry Red is a dry red wine produced from the 20 plus year old estate grown Ison Muscadine. This award-winning wine is full-bodied with a fruit forward flavor profile.
The Magnolia, a sweet Scuppernong wine, produced from the twenty-two-year-old estate grown Carlos vines, has won multiple awards and accolades. One judge in the Palmetto Wine Competition called Magnolia the best scuppernongwine he had ever tasted.
High Tide is a lighter bodied red wine produced from the estate grown Noble Muscadine. This one is your traditional Muscadine red wine.
Low Tide is a semi-dry white wine produced from the Tara Scuppernong grape.
A few other creative wines offered include Driftwood, a Chardonnay and Tara Scuppernong blend. Sea Island Red is a unique red wine blend of Noble Muscadine and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winter Blues is a fruit wine made with local blueberries and Have a Ball, Lucile is a very popular seasonal strawberry wine.
The draft mead flavors on tap are always evolving. The also make a mean Bloody Mary concocted from their Jalapeñowine and Charleston Bloody Mary Mix. Too late for a Bloody Mary? Then sip on a freshly made mimosa from the sparkling Sweet Caroline Rosé wine. On cool days you will find mulled wine and for those hot summer days, several flavors of wine slushies are always available.
Deep Water Bloody Mary
The vineyard property is home to many farm animals including chickens, roosters, ducks, bunnies, pigs and one cherished Brahma cow named Ida Claire. Deep Water offers live music and a food truck on most Saturdays for a weekend wine-down celebration. On the hour wine tastings are available in the tasting room, which includes a fun quirky gift shop. The property offers a vast array of outdoor seating options under the many large oak trees to leisurely relax and enjoy a bottle or glass of your choice.
Imagine spending a leisurely day sipping award-winning wines, estate produced from twenty-tow year old vines, listening to local musicians, while lounging under Spanish Moss draped hundred-year-old oak trees. Indeed, a visit to Deep Water Vineyards is certainly a most unique experience.
A wine brand just launched in early 2022. Partners and Grapes based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the idea born of two friends vacationing in Spain.
The two perhaps enjoyed the native Spanish wine just a bit too much. The next morning, both had a headache and generally just felt drained, as explained to us by co-founder and owner Mary Anna Ossa.
An idea was born, for an old-world high quality fine wine which is clean and organic. Free of sugar and sulfite additives that generally can be pinpointed as the culprit of why one feels such harsh effects the morning after.
Two years of investment in research and development ensued prior to the brand launch, which now includes three wines in the portfolio. The fruit is certifiably organically grown in a partner vineyard in Spain. The result is an organic, vegan, and artfully crafted and deliciously clean wine. All three wines are organic certified by the Catalan Council of the Organic Production, and vegan certified by the European Vegetarian Union.
The signature Red Blend is well-balanced, consisting of eighty-five percent Tempranillo and fifteen percent Syrah. Produced with carefully selected grapes, lightly crushed before cold fermentation. This dry blend is aged four months in second-year French oak barrels. The nose and palate are lively with red fruits and subtlehints of spice.
Partners and Grapes Red Blend
The White is fermented of one hundred percent Xerel-lo organic farmed grapes. Xerel-lo is a lesser-known grape variety native to the Penedes in Catalonia, Spain. The White is produced using old-world techniques of cold fermentation and stirring of the lees, producing a clean structured white wine expressive with citrus notes and minerality.
Partners and Grapes White Blend
Rosé is a blend of fifty percent each Tempranillo and Garnacha. Produced utilizing the saignée method, which bleeds the free-run juice off the skins prior to the pressing of the fruit. The nose exhibits an expressive floral bouquet. Dry and delicate on the tongue while intense on the palate with layering notes of red fruit.
Partners and Grapes wines can currently be found in retailers around Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Indian Land, South Carolina. New retailers are aggressively being added and the list is continually updated on their website at partnersandgrapes.com. All three wines retail at $28.99 per bottle.
Mary Anna is determined for Partners and Grape to be more than just a wine brand. She aims to create a platform to support other woman-owned small businesses and start-ups. Her consistent drive and high level of excitement has the brand on a delicious and organic path toward success.
Celebrating the Best in Show winners for all five 2023 wine competitions organized by JenNis Beverage Marketing.
Starting the year in February with the judging of The Wine Natty! Our inaugural National Estate Grown Wine Competition! All wine entries were estate grown and produced.
Our Best in Show was the 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Adkins Family Vineyards in Lodi, California!
Adkins Family Vineyard
In April, we hosted the judging for the 2nd biannual American Sangria Challenge! Our 2023 Best in Show was awarded to the Blackberry Sangria from Simply Sangria Wine Company in Wichita, Kansas.
In June was the annual Palmetto Wine Competition, our original competition featuring only South Carolina wineries!
Our Best in Show for the Palmetto was the Lowcountry Red from Deep Water Vineyard on Wadmalaw Island, just outside of Charleston. The dry Lowcountry Red is produced from twenty plus year old estate grown Ison muscadine vines!
Deep Water Vineyard
Come August we hosted our newest national competition, The Great White 🦈 Wine Competition. We excitedly received entries from California to the Carolinas! The Best in Show was awarded to the 2022 Traminette from Golden Road Vineyards in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley AVA.
Golden Road Vineyards
In November was the judging for our final 2023 wine competition, our second annual Celebration of Chambourcin! The Best in Show was awarded to the 2022 Chambourcin from Broken Horseshoe Vineyard in North Georgia.
Wow! What a year for celebrating so many amazing award-winning wines!
Cheers to a very successful 2023 and onward to a great 2024! 🥂
Scroll down to find the Shop button! 🍻 ! MUST BE 21 YEARS OLD
From the Website: Island Brands USA enhances living through super-premium products that are proudly American-made and American-owned. Using only high-quality, all-natural ingredients, Island Brands makes crushable beverages favored by socially conscious, digitally savvy consumers who lead an active, adventurous lifestyle.
Crisp, Clean, Crushable – not just a slogan , it’s spot on! Try for yourself!!
Island Coastal Lager
You also have to try the line of CRUSH flavored beverages! Oh man the Strawberry Lemonade!!
Our 3rd annual Show Us Your Grapes North Carolina…….. 🍇
Celebrating the 2023 harvest!! 🥂
Childress Vineyards got off to an abundant start!
Childress Vineyards
John Wright and winemaker George Bulter were ultra pumped to get the Sanctuary Vineyards harvest under way!! 🤣
Sanctuary Vineyards
Straight from the field to the press! Did you know Pinot Grigio can have a dark color skin! 🤷 So yeah no skin contact for this juice!
Feeding the Press at Haze Gray Vineyards
Typically the whites are harvested first!
Surry Cellars
Mother Nature 💨🌧️ is always a consideration one harvest season!
Many vineyards rely on volunteers to assist with the hand harvesting of the years fruit!
Overmountain Vineyards
2023 has delivered a bountiful crop!
No time to waste!!
The red grapes are left to hang a while longer!
A Family Affair! Parker-Binns Vineyard @Parker-Binns Vineyard – Photo Credit: Dawn Foster
Typically in Southern regions it can be a challenge to get Cab Sauv fruit to fully ripen. However, the recent dry weather has allowed some vineyards to leave the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to hang on the vine to continue to ripen!
The benefit should be a banner vintage for the 2023 North Carolina red wines!
Hand Sorting this Berries!
Indeed it looks as though 2023 has been a banner year in the North Carolina vineyards!
As we give high praise and thankfulness of heart for this bountiful harvest….We await your bottled fermented juice #NCWine!
The vines will now move into winter dormancy and no further above ground growth will occur during colder months. The vines will however start to expand their root systems to further seek needed nutrients and water!
Furthermore vineyard management doesn’t end with harvest, as winter pruning is critical to the next growing season!
It’s the cycle of wine! Cheers! 🍷🍷
Disclaimer: All pictures posted on social media by the respective vineyards….except where credited.
The inaugural Great White Wine Competition was judged in Asheville, North Carolina.
Our panel of judges were led by WSET Diploma and Certified Wine Educator John Zimmerman, along with WSET Diploma Candidate Mary Montalvo.
Judging The Great White Wine Competition
Announcing our Best-in-Show Winner! 🏆
2022 Traminette from Golden Road Vineyards in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley AVA wins Best-in-Show and was further awarded Double Gold Medals. 🥇🥇
The 2022 Traminette was awarded 95 points!!
Upon hearing the news, Co-owner Chad Guebert said of his wife and partner, “Crista just did a back flip!” lol
Truth be told, Golden Road Vineyards has been turning a lot of heads lately. They won a gold for Tinto V in the recent American Sangria Challenge. They were also awarded a Gold Medal in the North Carolina Fine Wines Competition for their 2022 Petit Manseng.
Golden Road Vineyards
The Great Whites coming from the Yadkin Valley didn’t stop there!!
Double Gold Medals 🏅🏅also awarded for 2022 Golden Hallows Reserve from JOLO Vineyards with a score of 94 points!
🏅Gold Medals were awarded for Beach Bubbles from JOLO Vineyards with 91 points, La Crescent from South Bend Winery in Greenwood, S.C. at 90 points, and Sunset Sippin’ from Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville, North Carolina with 90 points!
A few additional highlights, City Scape Winery in Pelzer, South Carolina wins two Silver Medals for Pinot Grigio (89 points) and Viognier (87 points). Kennington Family Winery in Marietta, South Carolina awarded five medals including two silver medals.
Parker-Binns Vineyard in the Tryon Foothills awarded a Silver Medal for the estate-grown Petit Manseng (88 points).
Arterra Wines in Delaplane, Virginia awarded a Silver Medal for it’s native yeast Chardonnay (89 points)!
Other notable award winners with a Bronze medal are Mazzaroth Vineyards in Maryland for their 2022 Traminette, Riley’s Row of California for the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, and from Big Sipper California the Tropical Chardonnay.
The inaugural Great White Wine Competition was a resounding success and we looking forward to growing this competition for many years to come!
Additional photos will be added as medal presentations are completed!
JenNis Beverage Marketing and it’s brand JBM Wine Competitions has organized wine competitions since 2016!
Wine Competitions and Marketing! 