Hamptonville, N.C.--It's hard to find red wine vinegar made on a vineyard in the United States. But at Laurel Gray Vineyards in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina that's exactly what they have done. This 84-acre, former dairy and tobacco farm, vineyard has been growing French Vinifera grapes on 10-acres of land since 2001.
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| Laurel Gray Vineyards, Hamptonville, NC |
In 2003, they opened their tasting room, a former milking parlor, and started selling their wines. In 2007 they expanded and opened a winery with a 20,000 case capacity. They now produce many award wining wines from dry red & whites to sweet selections.
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| Red wine vinegar by Laurel Gray Vineyards, Hamptonville, NC |
Several years ago they started experimenting with red wine vinegar production. "It took four years from grape to bottle for my father to develop the vinegar," said Ashley Myers, daughter of owners Benny and Kim Myers.
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| Kim Myers, co-owner of Laurel Gray Vineyards, Hamptonville, NC |
There was a limited supply of vinegar in November when I went to the vineyard. I had a choice of two herbed styles: fresh rosemary or thyme. I chose the thyme ($6 for 12oz.) because according to Ashley it was the one that had the strongest characteristics of their wine.
I also bought a bottle of 2011 un-oaked Chardonnay and a bottle of 2011 Barred Fermented Chardonnay after taking a $7 wine tasting tour.
To buy Laurel Gray Vineyards' red wine vinegar you have to go to their tasting room which is open Wed to Sat, 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm. They are located at 5726 Old Hwy 421, Hamptonville, NC 27020.
You can contact them by phone 336-468-9463 or 888-769-4635.
To find out more about their wines you can go to their website
www.laurelgray.com
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