Yesterday I visited the St. Paul Mountain Vineyard. Officially it opens at 11 am, I arrived about 11:30. No other visitors were present. The farm atmosphere was definitely in the air - rows and rows of grape vines undulated the hilly terrain. A modest building was set off the road with two entrances into a gravel parking lot that formed a L shape around the building. Existing cars parked at an angle. Since it was not crowded, it was easy to maneuver when exiting. I suspect on crowded days, of which there are many I presume since this is North Carolina's #2 vineyard, it will not be easy to turn around. There is a tall delivery door on the building's front side. The bar and customer lounge are on the building's back half.

The bar front entrance was locked, so I went out back. A large patio with about 15 large round tables settled amongst the vineyard trees was the first enticement. Later I noticed an elevated fire pit on the patio to enable a longer outdoor drinking experience for cool fall nights.

I stepped inside and was impressed by the welcoming atmosphere. A huge roaring fireplace alerted me with a large crackle. A real fire, not a phony gas log - nice touch. I was expecting quality, and before I even tasted the wine I knew this place had it.

I have always been a Merlot fan. The bartender was a young woman with a fascination for the wine industry. She explained the soil & climate conditions are just perfect for Merlot in Henderson county. She poured a small sample and I was immediately enticed by the strong aroma. She said the present Merlot is a 2017 vintage. She said in 6 months the tanins in the bottle will be softer. The bottle should be consumed within 4 years - be sure the cork stays moist during storage.

The young lady explained to me that Crest of the Blue Ridge is very young. Napa Valley is well established. I understand the article I read may have been hype that Henderson County may become better than Napa Valley. But to give a baseball analogy, "build it and they will come." It is a field of dreams in baseball. For wine "it" is the aroma, the taste, and the euphoria that wine provides. Look out Napa, Blue Ridge is building "it".

I paid $33 for the Merlot bottle. Typically I have never paid more than $10 for a wine bottle. I will wait at least 6 months unless a special occasion occurs.

Next I plan to visit Burnt Shirt Vineyard. I am still expecting quality since this vineyard is #8 in North Carolina. Looking at their website I expect a more commercial enterprise. Variety is the spice of life, and these two vineyards appear to offer variety - let's see how my observation will compare to present expectations.

I am just amazed that such a high quality vineyard is so close. Henderson County is rising to a level of sophistication I would not have expected. I am proud to call it home.