Last Monday, while on vacation, my Mom and I took some “Girly” time to visit a local winery.  We went to Silver Coast Winery.  We got to tour the area where they make wine, though they weren’t making any on this day in particular.  They also don’t grow the grapes there on the property, but in the mountains of North Carolina, where it is cooler. 

After our tour, we were led to the bar to sample some of the wines.  We chose to sample both red & white.  There were 6 red wines & 5 white wines. 

Reds

• Calabash Red ~ The dark ruby color provides a hint of the black cherry, plum and floral notes that entertain the nose of this vibrant red. The palate is offered red cherry violets, a hint of currant and plum. The finish is enhanced with a hint of spice. Pastas and red meats are complimented by this wine.
• 2002 Merlot ~ Dark and rich in color, with a leather, smoke, and black pepper nose. This wine has tastes of black current and leather, and a touch of licorice on the finish. Aged 14 months in oak. A fantastic wine when paired with a delicious grilled steak!
• 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Dark garnet color entices the eyes with licorice, black cherries, vanilla, and violets on the nose. This medium body wine offers lush mouthfuls of black raspberry, cranberries, and rich dark fruit. Balanced acidity contributes to a long, lingering finish with hints of smoke and rich berries.
• 2006 Touriga ~ Deep berry and plum ,with subtle dark cherry and lavendar notes, accent this rustic style Portuguese varietal. The palate is treated to dark cherry and deep plum with smokey overtones and soft tannins..The deep color of this wine enhances it’s presentation.
• Holiday Red ~ Aromas of nice fleshy cherry fruit with hints of apice lead to roasted sugar plum flavors accented with a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon. Soft and sensual, this is a nice wine to enjoy next to the fireplace!
• 2007 Cabernet Franc ~  Intriguing aromas of blueberries, dried leaves and cedar leads to complex flavors of ripe black plum and cherries. Rich and full bodied with a long lingering finish marked by leather, dried cherries and vanilla.

My Mom

Me (disregard my Rudolph the Reindeer sunburned nose)

Whites

• Stainless Chardonnay ~ Straw in color, hints of green apple skins, pineapple & minerals are surrendered to the nose of this wine.   The palate is entertained with Granny Smith apples, pineapple & tropical citrus.  Hints of minerals and of well balance acidity beg this chardonnay to be paired with food in cream sauces, salads, cheese & poached salmon.
• Calabash White ~ The eyes are greeted with green highlighted straw color. The nose is treated to apple and pear. This soft, round, well balanced wine seduces the palate with spiced pear and lemon grass. A hint of sweetness and acidity make this wine a perfect pairing for seafood or poultry.
• 2008 Seyval Blanc ~ Delicate, smooth and crisp with hints of pineapple and apricot. Great with creamy cheeses and light meals.
• Rosé ~ A crisp, fruity style that exhibits multiple layers of berry and tropical fruit flavors. A complex blend of grapes with a slightly sweet, medium body. Ideal for sipping or when paired with appetizers, sharp cheeses and smoked meats.
• 2005 White Merlot ~Ripe strawberry and rose petal aromatics, immediately on the nose of this vibrant, lighter bodied sipper. This wine also shows some subtle white pepper spice on the back palate. Delightful as a dessert wine.

The Bartender

Bartender teaching us how to “swish” the wine

After sampling all of the wines, my Mom and I decided to split a glass of one of the top wines on our list: 2008 Seyval Blanc.  I can’t put into words how amazing this wine tasted!! 

My favorite red was probably the Calabash Red (odd because I always end up liking the most expensive wines and this was the least expensive!  HA!).  I also really liked the Cab Franc & Merlot.  I didn’t care for the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is again, odd, because it is one of the only reds I drink at home.  If you were to come over to my house, you would always find a bottle of Cab Sauvignon and most likely Pinot Noir.  The Touriga (which has won a double gold), was good, but not as good as I expected.  It is a different grape, though, so we were told up front that it is almost an acquired taste.  Also, they recommend opening the bottle & letting it breathe for 45 minutes before drinking and also placing in the fridge for 15 min to get the temperature to about 64 degrees.  The Touriga we sampled was not prepared like that. 

My favorite white was probably the Chardonnay with the Seyval Blanc coming in a very close second or tie.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that I really like the Rosé and White Merlots, as blushes are usually not my thing.  The bartender asked if the blushes that I had had in the past were white zins and I said “yes” and he said that was what he thought. 😉  LOL!  He recommended having the Seyval Blanc with Chocolate Covered Apricots.  Too bad I didn’t have any in my purse. 😉

After our tasting my Mom & I wandered around in the gift shop.  This place has the right idea…..offer you alcoholic beverages & then set you free in the gift shop!  Aside from my buying 2 bottles of wine, my Mom bought several & we had to have these sparkly t-shirts, too!  Mine says “Save  water, drink wine” and hers says “Group Therapy”. 

In the garden finishing up our wine

We had a wonderful time!!  🙂  We hope to make this one of our new vacation “traditions”, just like the ice cream trips I posted about last week. 

I will leave you with one last picture….this is my attempt at a self portrait of my Mom & I.  Fortunately, our designated driver arrived & took a picture for us.  🙂  Thanks, honey!