On the Wine Trail – Haw River Valley

Brian and I enjoyed a wine outing with family members from Mebane and Brown Summit. We visited wineries in the Haw River Valley AVA, located in North Carolina’s Piedmont Region and a short drive from the Triad and Triangle.

We started the day at the Grove Winery and Vineyards in Gibsonville, NC. The Grove is located 7 miles northeast of Greensboro, off Highway 150 near the border of Guilford and Alamance counties. We all enjoyed a wine tasting, with most preferring the dry reds. My favorite wine was the Niagra. We all agreed on a bottle of Rosso Dolce, an estate grown, semi-sweet blend of Sangiovese & Cabernet.

Mary Ann displays a bottle of wine in front of the Grove Winery & Vineyards

The owner, Max Lloyd, a high-tech entrepreneur, fell in love with fine wine in Sonoma, CA in 1992. He planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines on family land near Smith Mountain, VA and began growing commercial wine grapes part-time. In 2001, Max and his wife Denise purchased the Grove farm, a 44-acre farm on the banks of the Haw River. Grapes were originally planted on the estate vineyards in April, 2002. The 2005 Grove Estate Merlot won Grove’s first Gold Medal in the fall of 2006. Wines made by Grove Winery from locally grown grapes have won more than 200 medals in local and international competitions.

The Grove specializes in growing and crafting exceptional European-style wines, with 80 percent of the grapes grown at the estate vineyards. These grapes include:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Traminette, and Tempranillo. Grapes are hand harvested for a limited production of about 3,100 cases of wine annually.

The Lake Stage is used for concerts at the Grove Winery & Vineyards

The Grove tasting room is open from noon to 6 p.m. daily for tasting, or enjoying a glass of wine on the patio overlooking Lake Cabernet. Events at the Grove Winery include:

• Wine & Song Concert Series at the Lake Stage – Doors open at 6pm and
the music starts around 7pm. A food vendor, Natty Greene’s craft beer,
and Grove wines are available.

• NC Food Rodeo – the best food trucks in NC meet at Grove Winery
on the 2nd Sunday of each month from noon to 4pm.

• Art Classes at Grove – the staff from Bottles & Brushes lead this casual
art class, generally on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

• Upper Haw River Paddle & Patio Pizza Parties – Haw River Canoe
Company offers a paddle trip down the Haw River followed by a
patio pizza party at Grove Winery.

Check the Grove Winery website for the events schedule.

We also visited The Winery at Iron Gate Farm in Mebane, NC. The event center was being used for processing grapes, so we enjoyed a seated wine tasting in a private room. Then our group relaxed on the rocking chairs on the cozy front porch, where we had cheese and crackers with a glass of wine. The courtyard overlooking the vineyard would be perfect for a picnic. The main tasting room has a gift shop with homemade jams & jellies, fruit ciders, herb-infused vinegars, wine accessories, handmade crafts, and art by Kenny Glenn, the artist for Iron Gate labels.

In 2000, Gene and Debbie Stikeleather bought the 60-acre farm in Mebane with a homeplace known as the “Rock House”, a landmark in the community. Debbie had passed the farm for years on her way to work, and had a dream of living on the farm. The property had been abandoned and was falling into disrepair. Debbie was determined to purchase the farm and restore the buildings and revive the farmland. They wanted to continue the tradition of farming the land on small family farms, and they decided to grow grapes.

The wine barrels at The Winery at Iron Gate Farm

Debbie Stikeleather attended Surry community College from 2000 to 2002. She was the first graduate of the Viticulture and Enology program. She worked for RagApple Lassie in Dobson, as an apprentice for their winemaker. Debbie is now one of the few female winemakers in the state of North Carolina. The Stikelaeathers grew a few varieties of grapes, which they sold to wineries across the state. They decided to have a winery themselves, and The Winery at Iron Gate Farm opened in July, 2004.

Relaxing with a glass of wine and cheese & crackers on the porch at The Winery at Iron Gate Farm

The Stikeleathers practice sustainable farming, which is a way to grow crops at a profit, while minimizing the negative impact on the environment. The approach focuses on the long-term health of the land. There are three objectives to be sustainable: environmental health, economic profitability, social and economic equity.

Gene Stikeleather developed Smart-Net Systems Agricultural Netting, to protect the grape harvest with anti-bird netting. This netting system can be used for other crops, such as: strawberry plants, blueberry bushes, and fruit tree orchards. They now sell the netting system, as well as provide customization and installation services.

Smart-Net Systems Agricultural Netting

The sandy loam soil of Northern Alamance County, carefully tended vines, and hand harvested grapes produce wines with unique aromas, textures, and flavors. Iron Gate’s award-winning wine list includes Sauvignon Blanc, Carolina Gold, Country Blooming, Chambourcin, Merlot, Rustic Blooming, Sweet n’ Sassy Cherry, Flue Fire, Iron Gate Green Apple, and Iron Gate Blackberry. They also have seasonally available wines.

Iron Gate has partnered with local causes and charities to donate 20% of proceeds from special collection wines.

Wines For A Cause support Conservators’ Center Inc. Wildlife Conservation, with proceeds benefiting the animals living at Conservators’ Center near Mebane. In honor of the animals, the wines have been named for each of the animals:  Arthur, Savannah, Naja, and Trekkie.

Wines For A Cause support Conservators’ Center Inc. Wildlife Conservation

Wines for a Cure support The Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina to support lung cancer research, awareness, and education. There are four wines in this collection:  Lunge Forward, Create Hope, Ribbons of Hope, and Survivor Spirit.

The Winery at Iron Gate Farm is opened daily for wine tastings, and they have events throughout the year. Upcoming events include:

• Music on certain Sunday afternoons
• Breast Cancer Awareness Yard Sale (Oct 17 @ 8:00am – 2:00pm)
• NC Author Event featuring Michael Malone (Oct 25 @ 2:00pm – 5:00pm)
• Christmas at the Vineyard – Open House & Food Drive

Check the Iron Gate website for the events schedule.