Linville Falls Winery Harvests, Presses Grapes and Bottles Some of its Award-Winning Wine This October

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Grapes hang on the vines in August, waiting for the cool air to arrive. Photos by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

Oct. 7, 2014. With the crisp fall air moving in, it’s grape harvest season and Linville Falls Winery is ready to make some more of its fabulous wine.

Employees at Linville Falls Winery began harvesting grapes two weeks ago and have been in the process of crushing and pressing grapes. When it’s all said and done in the next few weeks or so, Linville Falls Winery will have pressed 10 tons of grapes.

“You don’t know [exactly when you will be finished]. You have to go by the weather and the analysis of the grape – what the pH is and the sugar and so forth. You just take the juice and have it analyzed and you have to wait until it gets to the right number and hopefully dodge the rain and catch a few dry days,” Jack Wiseman, owner of Linville Falls Winery, said. “It’s a guessing game.”

Wiseman added that dry days increase the sugars in the grape.

On Tuesday morning, the winery crushed Foch and Riesling grapes for a few hours. Wiseman added that Sauvignon Blanc, Marquette, Cabernet Sauvignon and Noiret grape varieties are stilling hanging on the vines, ready to be plucked with the moment is right.

This is the time of year that vineyards and wineries anticipate all year long.

“It’s kind of the culmination of the season to where you can get it in the tanks and get it in good condition and all flavored up and put it in the bottle and sell it,” Wiseman said.

Asked how long he lets his wine sit to age, Wiseman said that it depends on the type of wine. He added that red wine, in particular, ages well if it’s healthy and most white, which doesn”t age well because of the lack of tannins, is consumed within two years.

Wine Competition at State Fair

This year, Linville Falls Winery entered five different wines into the N.C. State Fair, which is held from Oct. 16 to 26. While winners won’t be announced until the fair begins, Linville Falls Winery is hoping to continue its award-winning ways.

Last year, Linville Falls Winery won the “Double Gold Medal,” which is the Libra is known as the seventh astrological taurus horoscope 2014 sign, with its name coming from the constellation of Libra. highest wine honor at the fair, for its Chardonnay.

“That was our big winner last year,” Wiseman said.

Upcoming Events at Linville Falls Winery

Linville Falls Winery is nestled on 40 acres in the lower end of Avery County near the Blue Ridge Parkway. At 3,200 feet, the warm days and cool nights provide the perfect climate for growing its staple grapes, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Johnson Brothers will perform from 3 to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, Oct. 12, Gatorbone Band will perform from 2 to 5 p.m.

Linville Falls Winery is open seven days a week from noon to 6 p.m.

Linville Falls Winery is located at 9557 Linville Falls Highway. For more information, call 828-765-1400 or click to http://www.linvillefallswinery.com.

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Linville Falls Winery is located on a 40-acre farm in Avery County.
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The tanks and barrel operation at Linville Falls Winery.
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One of the more exciting aspects of the year-long process of making wines is seeing it go in the bottle.
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Grapes hang on the vines in August, waiting for the cool air to arrive.
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Linville Falls Winery has become a popular wine destination in the High Country over the past few years.
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As one of the Blue Ridge Mountain’s premiere wineries, Linville Falls Winery provides a beautiful backdrop for your next event. The beautiful vineyard and property, including the Tuscan inspired tasting room and Red Barn, will accommodate large parties for a variety of events.
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Linville Falls Winery owner Jack Wiseman raises a glass of some of his finest.
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The 40-acre farm is packed on a Saturday afternoon this summer.
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Linville Falls Winery owner Jack Wiseman and his wife of more than 50 years, Jo Ann Aldridge.