The First Annual North Carolina Fine Wines Competition

"Winston-Salem, NC, January 22, 2016:  The North Carolina Fine Wines Society, an organization that conducts competitions and events to promote the quality of North Carolina viticulture, wine, and agritourism to fund educational training and scholarships, announced the First Annual North Carolina Fine Wines Competition to be held in Feb. 2017. 

The NC Fine Wines Competition was unveiled at the North Carolina Winegrower’s Association Annual Meeting & Conference at the Marriott Hotel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  The judging will be conducted by Master and Advanced Sommeliers, professionals trained to judge the quality and characteristics of wine.  All wines entered into the competition must be from grapes 100% grown and vinified in North Carolina.

Fine Wines are those wines made from vinifera and hybrid varieties of grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Traminette, and Riesling. The competition judging will take place in early 2017 followed by an Awards Gala to be held on February 18, 2017 in Winston-Salem. NC. The winning vineyards will be invited to showcase their award winning wines to the public across the state at events to be held in the Asheville, Charlotte, and the Triangle areas following the Awards announcement.  These events will be in locations that reflect the best that North Carolina has to offer.

Jay Raffaldini, Owner and Winemaker of Raffaldini Vineyards, said “People shouldn’t be surprised by the quality of the wines coming from North Carolina.  This high profile event is more than a competition, it is intended to raise the stature of North Carolina Wines so they can rightly take their place alongside some of the finest wines grown in the United States if not the world.”

“A Sommelier guides you in discovering a wine that delivers on expected quality and value while perfectly complementing your meal – said Chuck Jones, Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery, “and that’s exactly why we’re excited to have this competition judged by these professionals.”

 If you would like more information on the competition, please visit www.NCFineWines.com, email competition organizers at info@NCFineWines.com, or call 336.499.2045."

- A Press Release