[guitars, fiddle and singing]
- [Narrator] Good music and good friends make for good times
at Jones von Drehle Vineyards near Elkin.
- This is the Cabernet Franc.
As I said it was a Best of Class in
the Grand Harvest Competition in Sonoma.
- [Narrator] But here good times
are secondary to great wine.
- Probably the biggest satisfaction point I get,
is when I'm back behind the bar and I'm pouring for folks.
And they swirl the glass and they take a sip
and they lean back and they go, wow, this came from here?
And I say yeah, it came from right out there.
- [Narrator] Right out there
on 30 acres of rolling vineyards.
It all began when Jones and his wife Diana
decided to leave their busy life in Atlanta
and return to their home state of North Carolina.
They decided they wanted to find land for a vineyard.
- And all the research indicated that
this part of North Carolina, particularly up against
the ridge here at Roaring Gap, would be
an ideal place to grow grapes, to make great wine.
- [Narrator] They found this land
on an exploratory drive in 2007.
- This land is rolling, it's got
elevation, it's got a creek.
- [Narrator] And most importantly, it had a for sale sign.
They partnered with friends Ronnie and Raymond von Drehle
from Hickory and purchased the land.
- And so Jones von Drehle was born.
- [Narrator] Rock removal came before vineyard planting.
- Lot of rock, when we first bought this property
they laugh and tell me we bought
eight inches of dirt, 80 miles of rock.
- [Narrator] They planted their vines in 2009,
carefully selecting the types and their location.
- As the saying goes, you cannot make great wine
with good grapes, it takes great grapes to do that.
- [Narrator] Jones says the cool breeze
descending from the mountains helps keep the grapes
disease and frost free, the soil helps, too.
- The soil type here is called woolwine,
which is a very great soil for grapes.
- [Narrator] The grapes are used to make
seven red wines, six whites, and two rosés.
- Chuck Jones has always emphasized we want the fruit
to show through, more than anything else.
We don't want to over manipulate, we don't want to over oak.
- [Narrator] The Petit Manseng is a crisp,
lush white with hints of tropical fruit.
It's great with a variety of foods.
- But primarily seafood, cheeses, pastas with cream sauce.
- [Narrator] The Rosa Dia is a rosé
made from Grenache grapes.
- Very floral, fruity, wonderful summer wine
drinking with light picnics and cheeses.
- [Narrator] And the Petit Verdot is a bold red wine.
- It looks like ink and it smells like
everything from blackberries to blueberries.
- [Narrator] It's the perfect pairing with steak,
prime rib, wild game, or chocolate.
- Tremendous amount of time and effort
goes into producing a nice blend.
- [Narrator] On this busy day, Diana Jones
and Ronnie von Drehle are offering up samples
in a tasting room with a view of the vineyards.
And they're getting good review of both.
- It's delicious, really, even with bottles
and a lot of variety and the great view to boot.
- Oh, it's beautiful, it's so pretty.
- Atmosphere is fantastic, there's a ton of people here.
It's a good vibe for sure and it definitely fits the area.
- [Narrator] In addition to the tastings,
winemaker Dan Tallman offers tours of the winery
with insight into the wine making process.
There are special events here, too.
But for Chuck Jones, it's all about the wine.
And Jones says he's happy to be a part
of a North Carolina wine industry that he says
it's on its way to having a Napa like reputation.
- The quality of wines are just getting way up there.
And we hope that we provide the quality
of wine for the state as well.
[laughter]
- Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery
is at 964 Old Railroad Grade Road in Thurmond,
and their tasting room is open Wednesday
through Sunday from 12 pm to five pm.
For more information, give them a call
at 336 874-2800 extension three,
or go online to jonesvondrehle.com.