General Info:
Today the 84-acre Laurel Gray Estate is planted with over 10 acres of rolling vineyards, containing French Vinifera varieties: Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Pinot Gris. The soil is a sandy loam, produced from the weathered rock of one of the continent's oldest mountain ranges, which provides a well-drained foundation on which our vines prosper. Laurel Gray Vineyards is located within the Swan Creek region of the Yadkin Valley. Elevation is 1100 feet above sea level at the southern base of a small mountain the owners have dubbed "Scarlet Mountain". The climate of the Swan Creek area during the growing season is different than other portions of the Yadkin Valley featuring warm days, cooler nights, and often, a nice breeze. Benny Myers theorizes: "With the Brushy Mountains to the southwest and the Blue Ridge chain to the northeast, this works as a natural funnel sending cooling winds through the vineyard. This wind dries the vines of early morning dews and temperatures are consistently 3 to 5 degrees cooler than locations even 1 mile away. As a result the harvest is later, allowing the fruit more time on the vine to develop complex varietal flavors". The agricultural, artistic, scientific, and business backgrounds of the Myers are reflected in the vineyard. Vertical shoot positioning and balanced pruning practices are used to create the highest quality fruit. Vigorous shoot thinning and leaf positioning are other common practices to ensure high air flow and sunlight to the berries. During the pruning and growing season, each vine is visited an average of 8 to 10 times. Pruning, thinning, and harvesting are all done by hand to guarantee the highest quality vines and fruit. The philosophy at Laurel Gray is to concentrate the flavors within the berries while keeping the vines in balance for future years in order to consistently produce high quality wines. Laurel Gray Vineyards produces handcrafted Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Scarlet Mountain (Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend), Sultry (Syrah/Cabernet Franc blend), semi-sweet pink Rose 1773, sweet white Nectar, sweet Encore. In 2010 Laurel Gray released the first in a series of holiday wines called "Carolina Christmas". Total production varies from 1500 to 1800 cases depending on the year. The wines are crafted under the direction of our winemaker Dan Tallman at our onsite processing facility Yadkin Valley Wine Company. Dan came to the YVWC in August of 2010 after 10 years as Director of Winemaking for Chateau Morrisette in VA. Prior to moving to the east coast, Dan spent 20 years in Sonoma California working for some very well known wineries such as: Clos Du Bois and Simi. Dan received his degree in Fermentation Science from UC Davis. He brings to the table a nice blend of science, analytics, and artistry. We feel those qualities are exactly what we need in a winemaker to continue our commitment to quality wines".