Vintage Hill Wine Events

Finally some fun news as I was asked to be a guest writer for screw it wine and their wine 101 section. I say finally because I'm in the middle of moving and it definitely hasn't been fun lately. Anyway, I'm super happy to be a part of their digital magazine this month:)!

For the article, I decided to highlight some of the info from my "Getting Comfortable with the Basics" class. Of course there is basic wine info like the vineyard cycle but also some fun tips & resources at the end as well. They also have a couple other interesting articles on some of my favorite vineyards|.

So grab a glass of wine -you know you want one ;) and check it out, you can subscribe to their email list at www.trianglearoundtown.com/shop or download by going to their home page at www.trianglearoundtown.com and click the button, "Read the Current Issue" - https://www.trianglearoundtown.com/shop/screw-it-wine-issue-12-summer-2024

As always, if you're interested in experiencing a wine event at your home or outside venue, I'd love to help! Go to our experiences page at www.vintagehillwine.com/experiences - cheers!

Screw It Wine, Issue 12, Summer 2024 — Triangle Around Town Discover Triangle Around Town’s Screw It Wine, a digital-only magazine that celebrates the vibrant and thrilling world of wine. After selecting your desired items, scroll back to the top of the page to find your cart and complete your complimentary purchase. Thank you for your support!

Had a full room tonight for our wine basics class at Wynton's World Cooking School -🍷!!! Special thanks to 🙂!!

Come join us on Friday, December 29th at Home for Entertaining as we blindly taste wines from Italy, Spain, South Africa, France, Germany, Argentina & the US. You don't want to miss this interactive, fun experience where you'll be mingling, learning & pouring wine for each other!!! Sign up now at https://homeforentertaining.com/collections/classes/products/new-years-interactive-wine-tasting-party.

Merry Christmas!!!

Hey come join the wine party on December 29th before your New Years' party & learn about wines from all over the world during a blind tasting! You'll have a great time meeting others who are interested in tasting and learning more about wine. Not sure what to buy a fellow wine lover, give this experience and not only will have checked someone off your gift list, you'll also have someone to come with you!!! I would love to see you there as I introduce you to ten new wines - you don't want to miss it!!! Register at Home for Entertaining!

The last couple weeks have been wine wonderful!!! I was so excited to host my first interactive blind tasting experience at Home for Entertaining, had dinner at Eataly in Chicago & fell in love with their Italian wine selection, visited Gravity Vineyards in Michigan, attended a Tempranillo tasting party hosted by my wonderful friends at Merlot Muscadine, stopped by Niche Wine Lounge with good friends, attended the grand opening of Castello Barone Vineyards and Winery, took my sister to visit Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery for her first time & stopped by Medaloni Cellars which I haven't been to in a while!!

What is so wonderful is just getting out there...learning and experiencing as much as you can by visiting wineries, going to wine classes, buying something new at the wine shop. I try to go to as many as I can and always take away something new and have so much fun learning and experiencing. Your appreciation & knowledge will keep expanding and you'll meet others who are just as excited about wine as you are. Cheers to as many wine events as you can attend next year!!!

Please join us for our next interactive wine party on December 29th at 6:00 at Home for Entertaining - you WILL walk away with a few new favorites:) Register at the link below!!

New Years Interactive Wine Tasting Party December 29th Friday, December 29th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Join us as we immerse ourselves in an unforgettable evening of mystery, indulgence, and most importantly- wine! Kimberly Williams of Vintage Hill Wine Events will lead guests through a unique evening of wine tasting, exploring 10 different wines from around th...

I'm visiting my daughter in Chicago, and last night she said she bought me a Vermentino (as you know one of my favorites) for my birthday! I immediately noticed the label and knew it wasn't a vermentino because it's from Sicily not Sardinia, but was intrigued🙂 Turns out it was from Sicily and the main grape is Carricante & it's called Etna Blanc - one I haven't tried before and was so excited. I embrace finding new wines as much as I suggest others do. It's a DOC wine & according to italianwine.guide - aroma is delicate and typical for the Carricante grape. The taste is dry, fresh and balanced. All in all, a fresh wine with an aroma of apples, pears, citrus and flowers. Now, my notes were sour apple, lemon, quince & good acidity. I thought it was yummy and so happy to try a new grape varietal🙂

I really ❤️ introducing people to new wines! Everyone has their own personal journey with wine. Whether you only drink white, red, sweet or dry, at some point you expanded your comfort zone - at a party where you tasted something new or you decided to buy that bottle with the pretty label or you just bought something new out of boredom. Some even decide to visit vineyards (we have some amazing ones in North Carolina) and try new wines.

The whole benefit of exploring is when you find a wine that surprises you and makes you think "wow" why haven't I tried this before or how many more are out there that I haven't experienced yet.

It's a jouney - let's connect & put together the next experience on your journey!!

What a fun time hosting the mystery wine experience tonight at .for.entertaining !!! Good wine & even better wine enthusiasts. They were so much fun & focused on figuring out the 10 blind tastings - they were all winners in that they found new wines to enjoy!!! Join us next time & see what you missed:)

What a fun time hosting the mystery wine experience tonight at Home for Entertaining!!! Good wine & even better wine enthusiasts. They were so much fun & focused on figuring out the 10 blind tastings - they were all winners in that they found new wines to enjoy!!! Join us next time & see what you missed:)

This is it - wine glass, list of wine options & a pen ... So question is have you ever tried Chinon, Valpolicella or Rioja? If not or even if you have, join us on Friday, October 20th at 6:00 for our mystery wine experience & you'll try these wines plus several others. These reds are quite unique and it will be fun trying to guess what's in your glass. Get your BFFs together & join us for a night of friendship, blind tasting & a little competition. There's no other class/event like this...who's in??

Register at https://homeforentertaining.com/collections/classes/products/mystery-wine-tasting-october-20th

Have you ever tried Vermentino, Torrontes or Chenin Blanc? These are three white wines that we'll be tasting at the mystery wine night next Friday in Cary - register at .for.entertaining

I’m hosting a wine night! In partnership with Home for Entertaining in Downtown Cary on September 30th, we’ll be enjoying up to a dozen different wines throughout the evening. It’s a wine tasting event with a twist, with hidden labels and tasting notes offered as we go. It’s a great opportunity to leave your preconceptions at the door and find your next favorite bottle ahead of the holiday season! There are just a few spots available, and I’d love to see you there. Find out more and book your ticket here:

https://homeforentertaining.com/collections/classes/products/mystery-wine-night-september-30th?fbclid=IwAR3wWDZ0Vig3zWVQOxKF5tidlPYjrIkMP1EOWqMvvRCm0EboexcW6RHHbIc


Mystery Wine Night September 30th

Mystery Wine Night September 30th Saturday, September 30th 6:00pm-8:00pm Step into a world of suspense, complexity and fine wine as you immerse yourself in an unforgettable evening of mystery and indulgence. Kimberly Williams of Vintage Hill Wine Events will lead guests through a unique mixture of intriguing and delightful flavors,....

Such an amazing write-up ... had to share🍷🥰!!!

Embarking on a Mystery Wine Experience with Friends — Triangle Around Town Our friend, Kimberly Williams of Vintage Hill Wine Events, recently hosted a mystery wine experience for friends and wine enthusiasts with simple goals in mind - for guests to expand their wine knowledge, discover new favorites and have fun!

I hosted a mystery wine experience for some of my friends who are also "wine enthusiasts" on Saturday. My goal was for everyone to experience three things: expand their knowledge of obscure wines, discover one or two newfound favorites, and benefit from the overall knowledge of everyone's tasting.

While I don't want to give too many details about my wine experience itself, it is an interactive event where everyone pours wines for one another, discuss what each is tasting and then attempt to guess which wine is in your glass. I provide tasting notes throughout the event which gives more details on the wines being poured; however, this sometimes helps and other times confuses guests in their decision-making process. It's just a friendly little competition;)

It's crazy to think that almost fifteen years have passed since I first hosted one of these mystery wine experiences. Is there anything better than sharing wonderful wines with great friends!!

I'll add details tomorrow but what a fun night!!!

Great wrap-up on the Nero vertical tasting!!

A Vertical Tasting with Piccione Vineyards’ Negroamaro — Triangle Around Town If you consider yourself an average connoisseur of wine, you know, the kind that comprehends a Cabernet Sauvignon with your steak or a Chardonnay while gossipping with the girls – then you probably aren’t familiar with the Italian grape varietal known as Negroamaro.

2nd winery of the day!!! 🍷💕🍇🙂

One of the ways people learn about wine is by going to wine events! I go to as many as I can because wine is always changing so you are always learning and tasting something new.

On Sunday, I was invited to a vertical Nero tasting (official grape name is Negroamaro) by my good friends, Jen & Dathan Triangle Around Town. It was such a fun experience with lots of vibrant discussions. When you participate in a vertical tasting, you have a new appreciation for the varietal and learn about the differences that can happen year over year. Some years the wine changes a lot and sometimes not too much.

Several things come into play which answer the question ... why is the same wine my favorite one year and not the next? Conditions like the weather - temperature, soil, amount of rain in any given year - plus the winemaker's decisions as to when grapes were harvested, how long the wine was on oak, if any, and when it was bottled. When you consider all the factors that contribute to what's in the bottle, wine is pretty amazing!!

I encourage everyone to explore a vertical tasting at home or find one to attend even if it's just two or three different years of the same wine - you'll be amazed with the experience!

It's also a great experience sharing your opinions with your friends & learning together. I met some new friends last Sunday & also tasted with old friends ... never a dull moment in the world of wine!

If you would like to try a Nero locally, visit Piccione Vineyards - it's only a two hour drive from the Triangle 🙂🍷

Thanks Jennifer Primrose for the unopened wine photo!! Loved spending the afternoon with you, Dathan, Gina Bailey Sanders, Gary, Arthur & Mary!

Arrived in Traverse City last night just in time for a quick wine tasting! My favorite was the Island View Pinot Blanc but my husband preferred the Blaufrankisch!!🍷🍇💕

Left Foot Charley Winery

Cute shirt design too!!!

Popped in to the NC Wine Festival for about an hour yesterday. Favorite tasting was JOLO Winery & Vineyards and most surprised tasting was Hinnant Family Vineyards - while their focus is muscadine wines, they also offer a few wines made with grapes from Columbia Valley, Washington which were yummy!

There were a few distilleries and other beverage companies as well which made for an interesting tasting day!!

Spotlight on NC Grape: Crimson Cabernet

Just want to share one last blog from our collaboration series for - Arthur at Merlot2Muscadine wrote a very informative piece on Crimson Cabernet which I hadn’t heard of before. Lots of great info so pour yourself a glass of wine & read on!!

https://www.merlot2muscadine.com/post/north-carolina-make-way-for-crimson-cabernet

Triangle Around Town
Tarheel Taps & Corks

HOME | Merlot2muscadine

Spotlight on North Carolina Grape: Vermentino!

My last unusual grape for ! Again, another one of my favorites - I’ve definitely been loving on the whites lately:)

So Vermentino….I went to Italy about ten years ago and ordered a glass of Vermentino and was asked how I knew about it. Sad thing is that I can’t remember the first time I had it, but I do know that I kept buying more!!

I want to highlight Vermentino on the last day of NC Grape Month. Over the last couple of years, I’ve purchased several bottles of Vermentino there, and I just tasted the most recent last week. All I can say is that it is really yummy & refreshing…so sad I know, but my friend & I were having such a good time that I forgot to take proper tasting notes. I guess you’ll have to purchase one for yourself and let me know.

Tasting notes can vary widely but it’s usually aromatic, citrus, apple, pear, sometimes described as stone or having mineral notes and low-medium acidity. I know everyone has a different palate and can get different flavors on the nose and associate past memories of smells & tastes, but I would definitely say it’s an easy drinking wine😉

I also want to mention where I tasted my first NC Vermentino. Since I used to coordinate weddings there with my business Weddings by the Vine, I have a soft spot for Raffaldini Vineyards and their staff…and just have to say that the Vermentino was on many wedding wine lists over the years.

Well, it’s certainly been a fun month discussing wine and educating a little with the other Triangle area collaborators on the Spotlight series for NC Grape Month!

I encourage everyone to visit a NC vineyard soon and if you’ve already been to some of them, try one of the new ones. It will be a fun, relaxing experience, and I’m sure you’ll find a wine to enjoy!!!

Spotlight on North Carolina Grape: Gruner Veltliner!

So another unusual grape for .

This wine has been on my wine shopping list for a couple years now, and I still love it!!! I was super excited when I saw it on the tasting menu at a couple vineyards who are giving it a go here - it’s bound to gain some attention!!!

One is Marked Tree Vineyard in Flat Rock where my husband and I first tried the Gruner last Fall. My good friend Arthur Arthur Barham] was gracious enough to share a bottle of his Marked Tree Vineyard Gruner Veltliner a few weeks ago. What a treat! I was happy to try it again:)

Dathan and Jennifer at TriangleAroundTown & Screw_it_Wine had a chat with Tim Parks and Lance Hiatt of Marked Tree Vineyard recently. I really like Tim’s statement because with the growing number of NC vineyards, you really need to have something unique, something different to make guests want to visit again and again, and I think he’s on to something. "We really want to experiment with some things that would be unique to us … Lance, who is also the winemaker, said “It's been a learning process, especially the Gruner Veltliner. Our first Gruner was a beast. It's just a tough grape to work with. We're getting the right yeast and the right enzymes. We're doing many things ahead of time to end up with a good wine in the end. That's why our Gruner Veltliner was best in its class this year (at the 2021 NC Fine Wines Competition).

Gruner Veltliner is actually Austria’s signature white grape – described as dry with high acidity, white pepper notes, with citrus/lemon focus and mineral characteristics. Tasting notes from Marked Tree - notes of apple, citrus, celery, white pepper and peach. I got a little floral on the nose - could have been the peach? - crisp, citrus, some herbal notes and just a tad lighter than I was expecting from the nose but overall nicely balanced.

*The other Triangle area collaborators on our Spotlight series for NC Grape Month: Triangle Around Town Tarheel Taps & Corks Screw It Wine

Spotlight on North Carolina Grape: Viognier!

Finally time for unusual grapes in our collaboration series. I’m going to start with Viognier which used to be more unusual in NC but now a number of the vineyards are focusing on growing this particular grape. One of my favorites, Viognier makes a beautiful wine with low to medium acidity, usually higher in alcohol, floral on the nose with stone fruit on the palate, typically dry, medium-full body. It can be used as a single varietal or blended with other grapes. Most widely known in the Northern Rhône area of France.

I’m highlighting the Brandon Hills Vineyard’s 2020 Viognier which was awarded a silver medal in the 2021 Great American International Wine Competition. They describe their viognier as a medium bodied wine with a perfumed and lightly floral nose. Flavors of apricot and white peach…a touch of white pepper.

I shared a bottle with my sister last week, and we both enjoyed it. It was nice to drink on a hot afternoon while catching up on the back deck! I thought it was very aromatic - floral, honeysuckle on the nose and definitely some stone fruit on the palate. It had medium-acidity, was pretty balanced and the alcohol content was 12.5%. I would definitely have it again!

I also want to mention the 2019 Laurel Gray Vineyards Viognier. I’ve been visiting their tasting room longer than I can remember, and I always bring home a bottle of Viognier! It was awarded a bronze in the same competition. Be sure to check it out – always a lovely choice!

If you missed any of the other Triangle area collaborations for , be sure to check out the Chambourcin blog from Natalie Tarheel Taps & Corks, the Petit Manseng blog from Dathan & Jen Triangle Around Town and check out who is always posting something about NC wine as well. Watch out for our next post on unusual varieties in NC.

Brandon Hills Vineyard
Laurel Gray Vineyards