Yadkin Valley Wine Festival 2004

Yes, there is a country where connoisseurs value the aftertaste of wine as much as they do the aroma of a freshly opened bottle. It is called wine country. In the town of Elkin, the annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival recognizes some of the finest wines foothills vineyards have to offer.

Launched in 2002, the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival brings together enthusiasts from the six counties (Surry, Wilkes, Davie, Stokes, Forsyth and Yadkin) declared to be an American Viticultural area for an annual festival that is as appealing to win novices as it is to aficionados.

This year's event, scheduled for Saturday, May 15, is attracting support from more than a dozen wineries. They include Westbend Vineyards in Lewisville, Raylen Vineyards in Mocksville, Shelton Vineyards in Yadkin Valley, Windy Gap Vineyards in Ronda, Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery in Ronda, Boonville's RagApple Lassie Vineyards and Winery, Black Wolf Vineyards and Stony Knoll Vineyards, both in Dobson, Laurel Gray Vineyards in Yadkin Valley, Hanover Park Vineyard in Yadkinville, Old North State Winery in Yadkin Valley, Round Peak Vineyards in Mount Airy, and Chatham Hill Winery in Morrisville. If you love learning about the historical art of turning fruit into drink for the palette's enjoyment, this is the festival for you.

Last year's festival attracted a crowd of nearly 4,500. With the opening of two new area wineries, the event should draw even more people this year. Merchants who specialize in wine accessories such as wine glasses and bottle stoppers will be on hand during the event. In addition, the festival will host local artists who will perform throughout the day. The Elkin/Jonesville Chamber of Commerce, with support from presenting sponsor Yadkin Valley Bank, will underwrite this year's wine festival.

Dana Theis, owner of Black Wolf Vineyards in Dobson, has been a part of the festival since its beginning in 2002 and looks forward to this year's event. "We love the town of Elkin, the scenic park location and the fun atmosphere the festival generates," he said. "(This year) we will have both a wine tasting booth and a food vending booth." Theis' vineyard restaurant, "The Wolf's Lair," will be on hand to serve various game sausages such as boar, elk, and rattlesnake as well as rabbit stew. In addition, the food booth will offer bratwurst to add a bit of German flair to the festivities.

While the elegance associated with wine suggests the festival may be geared to adults alone, the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival is truly a kid-friendly event. Open to the public, the event invites families with children to watch and participate in the many activities taking place. These include face painting, balloon making and grape stomping - a sure attraction for all ages. Only those 21 years and older can partake in the wine tasting. You do not have to know what wine goes best with what meal, or even how to recognize the smell and taste of a quality wine to have a good time. Suggested attire is dressy casual, so leave your suits and ties and fancy dresses home.

The wineries aren't alone in their enthusiasm for the annual festival. Winemaker and Chatham Hill Winery co-founder Marek Wojciechowski says he loves being a part of the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival. "Every year we see improvements in the way the festival is planned and managed," he said. "We appreciate the organizers getting the wineries involved in the process and considering our suggestions for improving the show."

For those who haven't spent countless hours in Wine 101 class, here are a few terms that you may hear during the festival:


  • An aftertaste (or finish) is the taste that lingers after the wine is swallowed. If the aftertaste stands out without bitterness, then the sample is considered a good wine.


    • If you have ever heard someone refer to wine as being robust then you can be sure that the wine is both intense and full-bodied in flavor.


    • The vintage of a wine is the year it was bottled.


    • When a mature wine has an intricate aroma, it is known as the bouquet.


The ancient Greeks used to praise wine in poetry, song and artwork. And since their very beginning, many different wines were created to satisfy varying tastes throughout the world. Today there are several types of wines available including sparkling wine (or Champagne), rosé, white, light sherry, red, fortified, and dark sherry.

Lillian Kroustalis, owner of Lewisville's Westbend Vineyards, said, "We are always looking forward to the (festival). This year, we will bring wines from our standard tasting batch, plus assorted T-shirts and gift items." Some of the traditional Westbend samples include premier white wines: Seyval Blanc, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Cluett-Davis Chardonnay, Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Carolina Blush, Yadkin Fume, Riesling and Muscat Canelli. Among its red wine selections are Chambourcin, Carolina Cuvee', Merlot and the trusty Cabernet Sauvignon.

Set for the third Saturday in May, this year's festival will be at the Elkin Municipal Park in Elkin (take exit 82 off Interstate 77 and follow the signs) from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission to the festival is free and open to the public. However, access to the wine tasting will require you to buy a $15 ticket at the gate; advance tickets for $10 are available through the Elkin/Jonesville Chamber of Commerce at 336-526-1111 by May 7.

Why is the Yadkin Valley so important to the future of the Blue Ridge Foothills and North Carolina?
Sidebar article by: Carol Bracewell

In February 2003, thanks in large part to the hard work of Shelton Vineyards, Patty McRitchie and the geographic research of Matthew Mayberry, six North Carolina counties - Surry, Wilkes, Davie, Stokes, Forsyth and Yadkin - were officially designated an American Viticultural Areas (AVA). It's important to note that the Yadkin Valley appellation - encompassing 1.4 million acres or 2,000 square miles - forms one of the largest AVAs in the nation. Patty McRitchie is quick to point out size is not the most important factor to an AVA.

Each AVA possesses its own unique growing qualities that reflect the taste and quality of the wines. The AVA clearly specifies the amount of appellation grapes bearing the "Estate" label must 85 percent of grapes grown in the designated AVA area. The Yadkin Valley AVA is producing very distinct wines that are spectacular and high quality.

Last year, Ed Shelton stunned the North Carolina Wine Growers Association with his observation: "Eleven million people live within a 150-mile radius of the Yadkin Valley." The valley is perfectly located as a potentially prime agritourism destination for travelers coming from both the North and South. "This could be a billion dollar industry at some point," Ed pointed out, "with a trickle down economic impact of $540 million for the area."

by Suzanne T. Jackson