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Local Wineries – Linville Falls, Grandfather Vineyard and Banner Elk – Haul In 19 Medals at the N.C. State Fair

By Jesse Wood

Oct. 17, 2014. Local wineries backed up the truck at the 2014 N.C. State Fair, which began on Oct. 16 and runs through Oct. 26 in Raleigh.

Between Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, Linville Falls Winery and Banner Elk Winery, the three wineries won 19 medals in all.

Grandfather Vineyard and Winery took in the biggest haul, which included two “Double Golds” in the Red Vinifera category.

Grandfather Vineyard and Winery opens up a bottle for a tasting at a recent wine growers' meeting in Boone.
Grandfather Vineyard and Winery opens up a bottle for a tasting at a recent wine growers’ meeting in Boone. Winning this many medals will sure put a smile on your face. Photo by Jesse Wood

“That’s the first time we’ve ever done that, and I noticed they were kind of slow giving those medals out – lots of gold, silvers and bronzes,” Grandfather Vineyard and Winery owner Steve Tatum said. “The Double Golds must be harder to come by and we are really proud of those. That was a big deal.”

Tatum added that “without a doubt” this was Grandfather Vineyard and Winery’s best showing at the N.C. State Fair since it started making wines in 2011.

“It takes a few years to get up and going and get the wine the way you want it, and we’re learning to. We’ve only been in the wine business since 2011, so we are just happy to be there,” Tatum said.

For Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, this summer has been quite the haul. At the Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition during the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem, Grandfather Vineyard and Winery also won gold for its Pearls of the Vine, Legacy Cabernet, Scholar White, Terraced Gold, 58* Fusion, Legacy Winemakers Blend and Red Scholar wines. In addition, it won silver for its Profile Red and Watauga River White wines and a bronze for its Legacy Chardonnay wine.

Check out all of the winners below:

Grandfather Vineyard and Winery

  • Double Gold for Red Vinifera (2)
  • Gold for Red Vinifera (2)
  • Silver for Red Vinifera (2)
  • Silver for White Vinifera (2)
  • Silver for Sparkling
  • Silver for fruit/other wines
  • Bronze for White Vinifera
  • Bronze for White Hybrid

Linville Falls Winery

  • Gold for Red Vinifera
  • Gold for Fortified/Dessert
  • Silver for White Vinifera

Banner Elk Winery

  • Silver for Red Hybrid Wine (2)
  • Silver for Red Vinifera
  • Bronze for White Hybrid

See all of the competition winners here.