North Carolina

North Carolina North Carolina

STAYING AFLOAT STAYING AFLOAT AMIDST A PANDEMIC AMIDST A PANDEMIC By Jeff Price, Master Commander

The North Carolina Chapter of the Brotherhood of and restoring it to its former status as one of the largest the Knights of the Vine began the 2020 calendar year KOV Chapters in the nation. Alas, if only we knew what poised for a stunning year! The Chapter was coming lay ahead – for us and for the rest of the Nation! off an exciting year in 2019 when the Chapter, like the Phoenix bird, had reemerged from the ashes to be Plans were made in January for the NC KOV Chapter to reborn with enthusiastic members dedicated to pre- begin the 2020 NC KOV season with a grand wine tastserving the Chapter’s mission and with the full support ing at the home of Master Knight Jeff Price and Gentle of KOV leaders and members from Lady Lisa Tillis, the Chapter’s Master across the nation. The Chapter re- Commander and Master Scribe, versed the flow of attrition and, for respectively. A grand tasting of some the first time in years, acquired new of the world’s most amazing and members, allowing the Chapter to stunning wines was just days away in hold its first Grand Assemblage in late March when the COVID pansix years. Chapter members closed demic hit, forcing the nation to shut out 2019 with several additional down and sending everyone inside to wine related events and Chapter shelter at home. Hosting such events leaders had laid out an ambitious plan for the chapter to grow in 2020, planning a number of events Jeff Price and Lisa Tillis attending the Titanic Dinnerfor the membership.

First off, several NC KOV members accepted the Houston’s Chapter’s invitation to attend that Chapter’s Grand Assemblage in January. Commander Jeff Price and Gentle Ladies Lisa Tillis, Holly Tillis, Kathleen Conn and Denise Hill all traveled to Houston in January 2020 for what can only be described as a spectacular Assemblage! There was so much food, so much fun and so much wine. The NC Chapter has decided that what the KOV offers to its members more than anything is FAME – Friends Are Made Everywhere! The NC KOV made many new friends in Houston and we all returned determined to continue building our own Chapter

became a recognized health risk and, in fact, a violation of law.

As spring turned to summer, it became clear the pandemic was not going away any time soon and chapter leaders, who had hoped the many wine events we had planned for our members would only require temporary postponements, would, in fact, require cancellations and that a spectacular Grand Assemblage planned for the Graylyn Estate (www. graylynestate.com) in October, would become a victim of the pandemic. Still, we sought to utilize email and social media (www.Facebook.com/KOVNC) to advertise the few opportunities that remained available for our members which included sharing wine information and articles on wine education. The Chapter’s leaders organized a campaign to keep our members informed of virtual wine tastings that were available and several members met in small groups (4-6 members) for these events.

Several North Carolina wineries, among them, Jones Von Drehle (www.jonesvondrehle.com), offered free door-to-door delivery of wine purchases (one case minimum) and our Chapter was quick to advertise this offer to our members and many seized on the opportunity to restock their homes with great wines. The NC KOV has been proud to support NC wineries and NC wine-related businesses during the pandemic.

As North Carolina, like the rest of the nation, gradually began to reopen its doors in June for businesses on a limited scale, NC KOV members began to resurface at NC wineries tasting rooms and restaurants. With indoor seating limited to 50% capacity, KOV members were visible at the 60th Anniversary Dinner for the Angus Barn (www.angusbarn.com) in July and then reappeared when the AB, arguably North Carolina’s premier restaurant, hosted its annual Titanic Dinner in August. Both events were held in the restaurant’s truly awesome wine cellar and guests were welcomed to the former event by Ms. Van Eure, the restaurant’s owner, and to the latter event by Captain John Smith of the White Star Line. In addition to great food and great wine, the restaurant’s incredible wait staff provided outstanding service that was second to none! Jones von Drehl delivering wine during Covid 19

The Chapter’s Master Vice Commander, Tom Potter, and his wife, Dawn, the Chapter’s Wine Ambassador, led the Chapter’s grand tour of the State’s reopened wineries, including the newest winery, Pilot Mountain Winery. Other wineries visited on their tour were Flint Hill Vineyards, Cellar 4201 Winery, Ragapple Lassie Winery, Sander’s Ridge Winery, Elkin Creek Vineyards, Midnight Magdalena Vineyards, Brandon Hills Vineyards, West Bend Winery and Brewery, Shadow Springs Vineyards, Roaring River Winery, Jones Von Drehle Vineyards, Adagio Vineyards, Windsor Run Cellars and Haze Gray Vineyards. Our group was welcomed at each location and we left our calling card – The Arbor – everywhere we went.

Our chapter has rescheduled our Grand Assemblage for March 5-7, 2021 at the Graylyn Estate in Winston Salem and we look forward to warmly welcoming KOV members from across the nation to the heart of North Carolina’s wine country!

Tom & Dawn Potter relaxing at Pilot Mountain Winery