I made a second visit to Silk Hope Winery (http://www.silkhopewinery.com/index.html) outside of Pittsboro recently and my second visit reinforced my first impression (check out my post on Chatham County Wineries from July 14, 2009) that Wally Butler and and family are making some of the most intriguing wines in North Carolina!
A visit to Silk Hope Winery will take you down some roads you may not otherwise travel, but you will not be disappointed. Wally is knowledgeable about his wines and the North Carolina wine industry. The grapes are grown on site or purchased in state--mostly from vineyards in the Haw River American Viticultural Area (AVA) (http://www.hawrivervalley.com/)! A visit to Silk Hope is not about a gift shop or a fancy tasting room. It is about the wine! It is about wine which is extremely good! This is wine for wine drinkers--even red wine drinkers! A tasting is an educational experience. We learned not only about the wines, but about the land and the process of growing the grapes and the effects of weather, timing, etc. on the taste of the grapes and ultimately the wines.
We tried two vintages of Chambourcin--both good, but with different characteristics. As we did before, we loved the Red Roots--a blend that seems to go well with a variety of foods! We brought home a bottle of that and one of a wine called Grand Vista! The Red Roots is long gone and the Grand Vista is waiting on the counter for the perfect meal to do it justice! We enjoyed a picnic outside. Silk Hope is a real getaway for people like us who live with the traffic and fast pace of the Triangle every day! The view is nice at Silk Hope from one of the highest elevations in Chatham County. Sitting outside the winery drinking Silk Hope wine is truly drinking in the local flavor and tasting the land in a direct way! This is what the North Carolina wine industry is all about!
In addition to the great, "big" reds, Wally is also making some quality white wines. We had a great time at Silk Hope and I know that the second visit will not be the last! When we drink the Grand Vista, we will have to go back for more!
As always, I am not a wine professional; I am just an enthusiast who loves wine tasting, road-tripping, and experiencing local flavor in North Carolina! Check back soon as I continue to take you on the journey through North Carolina wine country! My goal: Visit ALL North Carolina wineries! The NCWinerider's Official NC Winery Count: 50 Enjoy the NCwineride!
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