South Carolina Wine Trail »
Recently Denise and I took our second wine trip. This time we decided to head south rather than North. Unfortunately, South Carolina doesn't have a whole lot of wineries that we could find.
Our first stop was Carolina Vineyards, outside Chester, roughly 45 minutes from Charlotte. While we weren't initially impressed with this winery, we were pleasantly surprised by both the proprietor and the quality of his wines. Even though it is a smallish winery by most standards, the quality was quite good. The prices were even better. We bought a bottle of the 1999 Chambourcin and also a bottle of the 2002 White Catawba.
Unfortunately, that was the high point of this trip.
The first of the two other wineries we visited, the Aiken Winery, was a bit more difficult to find, nestled inside a courtyard in downtown Aiken. Frankly, we're content to leave them there, as the wine wasn't to our liking. We didn't buy anything and in fact frantically struggled to come up with an excuse to get out of there without having to taste any more of their product. Why is it that those who offer the largest samples have the worst tasting wine?
The other winery we visited in Aiken, the Montmorenci Vineyards, was also disappointing, but for entirely different reasons. This place was not nearly as difficult to find, but the service was atrocious. Apparently this is only a small side business for a family of peanut farmers. I don't think they like the wine business much (at least, the wife doesn't seem to care for it).
In any case, they only had white wines, which we generally don't like. Still, we tried a couple to be polite, but when we didn't enjoy what we tried, we desperately searched for something else. The hostess assured us that she had no red wines, and in fact even the wine-based foods (jellies, mustards, etc) could not be opened for sampling. With such an obvious display of customer disinterest, we decided to move along.
While we'll be returning to the Carolina Vineyards, I doubt that we'll visit those wineries in Aiken again. First, they are pretty far away from us to just drive by to pick up some wine. Second, the wine isn't really very good, so even the thought of such a thing is out of the question.
Comments (6)
My grandfather used to grow grapes on our farm in Moonville near Greenville. I was too young to remember much but my uncle said that we had Catawba, Delaware, and Niagra grapes. None of those make very good wine.
I have heard that there are some vineyards along the coast that, like Duplin winery in North Carolina, make wine from scuppernong or muscadine grapes. These are odd grapes indeed for they hang singly from the vine rather than in a cluster. Still they are no doubt suitable to the weather there.
Perhaps you will find drinkable wines in South Carolina made from French Hybrid grapes like Chambourcin. These hybrids combine American hardiness and disease resistance with European flavors. But there are not many persons in South Carolina growing vitis vinifera (old world European grapes). It's probably too hot for, for example, Riesling. It would grow there but the wine would not taste like an Alsatian Riesling. Humidity is not a problem since you can spray the grapes to control fungal diseases. But since there are not too many grape farmers in Carolina they don't have too many peers to network with. I think a certain critical mass is required before a state gets into winemaking. That's why my vineyard is planted in Virginia.
Posted by Walker Rowe on December 2, 2003 3:19 PM
Hi---Just ran across your site! My husband and I just opened IRVIN-HOUSE VINEYARDS AND WINERY this past November. Only kind of wine in our climate is muscadine. Look at our web site ---come to see us---tell me what you think!
Ann Irvin
Posted by Ann Irvin on January 26, 2004 9:39 PM
Thanks for the good comments about our wine. We strive to make a good quality product from South Carolina fruits. We have added Blackberry and Elderberry to our list and of course they are sweet. As we build our wine association here in South Carolina maybe some will learn that real southern hospitality and good southern fruits can make for a good product. I just hope that some are capable or learning either.
Posted by Tim Walker on March 18, 2004 12:43 PM
If you're interested in heading a little ways north of South Carolina, I'd recommend you spend some time in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina. This is 7-county region was recently awarded a special appellation (Yadkin Valley American Viticulture Area - AVA). The region has gone from 1 to 13 wineries since 1998, with more coming on line this year. The wineries in this region are fully cognizant of the importance of hospitality in order for the wine and tourism industries to continue to grow. And we make pretty good wine, too.
The wines in the Yadkin Valley include a wide variety made from vinifera and French Hybrid grapes, and some specialty fruit wines. Several have won awards at national and international competitions.
Unique among the wineries is Old North State, a cooperative owned by 38 family vineyards, some of whom are 4th and 5th generation farmers making the transition from growing tobacco to winegrapes. (www.oldnorthstatewinegrowers.com) Many of the members have pursued further education in neighboring Surry Community College's viticulture and enology curricula, the only 2-year degree program on the east coast.
Come to the Yadlin Valley Wine Festival in Elkin, NC on May 15. http://www.allamericanwineries.com/nc/yvwf/
Posted by Susan Harris on April 5, 2004 3:13 PM
My husband and I have visited the wineries in Aiken and Montmorenci many times and we have always enjoyed the wines and the conversation.
Posted by Janice Matthews on April 24, 2004 2:54 PM
Try this website for wine tastings.
Posted by B&J on January 15, 2005 4:41 PM