>>> HENDERSON COUNTY IS WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS APPLES BUT
NOT SO MUCH FOR ITS WINE GRAPES.
PRODUCER CLAY JOHNSON SHOWS US HOW A WINERY THERE MAY HELP
CHANGE THAT BY HELPING THE AREA GAIN A REPUTATION FOR GREAT
GRAPES AND THE FINE WINE THAT'S MADE FROM THEM.
>> NO COUNTY IN OUR STATE PRODUCES MORE APPLES THAN
HENDERSON.
ABOUT 5,000 ACRES OF APPLE ORCHARDS COVER THIS COUNTY, BUT
THERE'S A NEW FRUIT TAKING ROOT HERE --
WINE GRAPES.
THESE ARE THE GRAPES OF HENDERSONVILLE'S BURNTSHIRT
VINEYARDS.
OWNERS SANDRA AND LEMUEL OATES SAY THIS LAND HAS BEEN IN THEIR
FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS.
>> AND WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD KEEP IT KIND OF NATURAL, AND WE
LIKE THAT IDEA OF JUST DOING SOMETHING IN THE AGRICULTURE
FIELD THAT WAS NOT PUTTING UP A BUILDING OR SOMETHING.
>> THE OATES DECIDED TO GROW WINE GRAPES ON THEIR LAND, BUT
RIGHT BEFORE THEIR FIRST HARVEST, A DROP IN GRAPE PRICES
PUT A SQUEEZE ON THEIR PLANS TO SELL THEM.
>> THAT WASN'T A GOOD OPTION, BUT THE QUALITY OF OUR GRAPE WAS
REALLY GOOD, SO WE BOTH DECIDED WE'D BOTTLE IT AND SELL IT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE GOT IN IT.
WE KIND OF BACKED INTO IT.
>> THE OATES NAMED THEIR VINEYARDS BURNTSHIRT AFTER A
NEARBY MOUNTAIN OF THE SAME NAME.
THEY HAVE A VINEYARD ON THE MOUNTAIN'S SUMMIT TOO.
THE NAME COMES FROM A LEGENDARY TRADITION OF AREA FARMERS
BURNING THEIR FIELDS BEFORE PLANTING THEM AND THROWING THEIR
SHIRTS IN THE FIRE.
>> WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS THE MAJORITY ON THE FLOOR
HERE ARE THE BARREL-FERMENTED CHARDONNAYS.
>> ASSISTANT WINEMAKER JUSTIN TAYLOR SAYS THAT'S ONE OF
BURNTSHIRT'S MOST POPULAR WINES, A CHARDONNAY THAT'S BOTH
FERMENTED AND AGED IN THE SAME BARREL.
>> WE DO USE NEW AND ONE-YEAR-OLD OAK BARRELS, SO YOU
CANNOT MISS THAT TOAST AND VANILLA CHARACTERISTIC, ALMOST A
SMOKINESS THAT COMES ACROSS IN SOME OF THEM.
>> THE WINE PAIRS WELL WITH CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES ROASTED
ON A GRILL.
>> IT'S A VERY VERSATILE WHITE, AND IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A
FULLNESS TO IT THAT I THINK LENDS ITSELF TO BEING MORE OF A
NICE HARDY ENTREE STYLE OF WINE.
>> A HARDY WINE ALSO DESCRIBES BURNTSHIRT'S RICHEST RED, THE
CABERNET FRANC.
>> FOR US IT PRODUCES A WINE STYLE THAT DEFINITELY FALLS INTO
THAT ROSY, ALMOST GRAPHITE CHARACTERISTIC THAT I THINK IS
UNIQUE TO THE VARIETAL.
>> PERFECTLY PAIRED WITH DARK MEATS LIKE DUCK AND LAMB.
AND HOW CAN YOU HAVE A WINERY IN THE HEART OF OUR STATE'S APPLE
COUNTRY WITHOUT MAKING AN APPLE WINE?
>> AND IT IS MADE FROM 100% HENDERSON COUNTY APPLES.
WE FINISH IT WITH JUST A TOUCH OF RESIDUAL SWEETNESS.
SO ANYBODY WHO ENJOYS A GERMAN OR AN AMERICAN STYLE OF RIESLING
WOULD RELATE REALLY WELL WITH THE APPLE WINE.
>> WITH AN APPLE TASTE AS CRISP AS TAYLOR'S WINEMAKING
PHILOSOPHY.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF SMILES IN BURNTSHIRT'S TASTING ROOM.
IT CAN HOST A CROWD WITHOUT FEELING CROWDED.
IT FEELS COZY INSTEAD.
THE STAFF MEMBERS ARE TEACHERS IN TASTING WITH ONE LESSON IN
MIND.
>> TO KNOW THAT THIS PART OF NORTH CAROLINA CAN GROW REALLY
GOOD GRAPES AND MAKE A GREAT PRODUCT.
>> THE WINERY, JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM THE TASTING
ROOM, OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO HOW THAT PRODUCT IS MADE.
>> SO WINE KIND OF TELLS YOU.
>> THERE ARE DAILY TOURS OF THE WINERY AND ITS WORKS FROM ITS
OAK BARREL ROOM TO ITS STAINLESS STEEL TANKS THAT HOLD MOST OF
ITS WHITES AND ITS APPLE WINE TOO.
OUT ON THE PATIO, VISITORS CAN SIP THEIR WINE, AND THERE'S NO
WHINING ABOUT THE VIEW.
THEY CAN LOOK OUT OVER BURNTSHIRT'S VINEYARDS ON
HENDERSON COUNTY'S ROLLING HILLS, SOMETIMES TO THE SOUND OF
MUSIC.
>> ♪ WASTED AWAY AGAIN IN MARGARITAVILLE ♪
>> I THINK THEY LOVE COMING AND SITTING ON OUR PATIOS AND
TASTING A WINE THAT'S MADE LOCALLY.
>> THAT'S WHAT BRIAN AND KACY BLACK ENJOY.
>> A FRIEND HAD SUGGESTED TO COME HERE FOR MY BIRTHDAY, AND
FROM THAT WE CAME, HAD THE WINE TASTING, REALLY ENJOYED THE
SETTING AROUND THE WINE TASTING COUNTER, AND THEN WE JUST
REALIZED THE SETTING WAS SO INVITING AND FRIENDLY THAT WE
DECIDED TO COME AND MAKE IT A REGULAR OCCURRENCE.
>> THE ONLY CHALLENGE THE BLACKS FACE IS PICKING THEIR FAVORITE
WINE.
>> IT CHANGES FROM SEASON TO SEASON, BUT I THINK THE CAB
FRANC AND THE GRUNER HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD.
>> WHETHER IT'S SIPPING WINE ON THE PATIO OR A SPECIAL EVENT
LIKE A WEDDING, FAMILY REUNION, OR CORPORATE RETREAT, THE OATES
WANT ONE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF THEIR GUESTS.
>> JUST A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE TO ENJOY A GLASS OF WINE AND BEING
OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, GET THE CARES OF THE WORLD
BEHIND THEM.