North Carolina

North Carolina North Carolina

Graylyn Estate; location of the rescheduled Grand Assemblage for October 1-3, 2021. We invite KOV members from across the nation to attend. Graylyn is an American castle located in Winston Salem, NC where knights and gentle ladies belong, so come and join us!

Exploring New Opportunities

in a COVID World By Jeff Price, Master Commander

The second half of the 2020 calendar year saw the North Carolina Chapter of the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine begin to emerge from its COVID enforced cocoon to explore the world of wine through new means. While our plans to host multiple tasting events and wine dinners with our in-state wine partner, the NC Fine Wines Society, failed to develop due to sheltering at home orders, the Chapter did engage in a few wine related events and explored the many opportunities the virtual world offered to wine enthusiasts.

Several members attended a unique wine and food pairing experience in December that was held at Uniquely R’s in Goldsboro. This venue is a custom gift shop located in the former L. D. Giddens and Son Jewelry Store and owned by Ruth Glisson. Once inside you are treated to the most unique gift shop in the area as Ruth strives to bring beautiful and happy things to people’s lives. This famous building has been a conspicuous feature of downtown Goldsboro since the mid-1800s. It is one of the oldest jewelry houses in North Carolina, having been established in 1859 by the late Mr. L.D. Giddens. The shop produced the first watch made in North Carolina and the property was built between 1839 and 1847. It features cast iron ornamentation and a very unique freestanding clock, built in 1877, that measures 14 feet high. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The evening began with a tour of the newly renovated building during which guests were treated to a champagne toast in antique glasses by the host and hostess. Afterwards, guests were escorted to a cozy little Speakeasy in the back where tables were set for two or four people with a wide variety of food parings. The softly lit room surrounded by beautiful wood paneled walls contained an old player piano, lots of mirrors, beautiful tin ceilings, animal trophies, stained glass, a large wooden bar, and manly leather chairs. The room was comfortable, charming and utterly cozy for a cold winter evening.

Uniquely R’s in Goldsboro is a custom gift shop located in the former L. D. Giddens and Son Jewelry Store

During the evening participants enjoyed five wines presented by Manuel Magnani, one of the premier wine experts in the country. The wines were presented in company with a variety of meats, nuts, cheeses, sweets, fruits, breads and a variety of chocolates. The evening offered a delicious treat of great wines, great food and great company with great hosts!

Our members were enthusiastic participants in the virtual wine tasting events sponsored by the KOV National. In addition our North Carolina KOV members dove into the world of virtual wine tastings by actively participating in tasting events sponsored by New York Wine Events and by Three Wine Company in Clarksburg, California. The former has featured a wide array of wines and winemakers from around the world and the latter has featured wines by master winemaker Matt Cline. Events such as these opened the world of virtual wine tasting to our members.

Several members participated in the recent ZAP wine tasting conference. This was also a virtual event this year. ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) is a membership-based organization that advances knowledge and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. Over the course of two days, this conference brought together some of the most knowledgeable Zinfandel wine experts and winemakers in the nation. Conference participants were able to meet each one via online panel discussions and in one-on-one break out meetings to discuss America’s wine grape – Zinfandel. Thirty-four of the nation’s top Zinfandel producers were present during this conference. Sadly, we were forced to reschedule our Grand Assemblage to October 1-3, 2021 and we invite KOV members from across the nation to attend. It will be a super spectacular event held at the Graylyn Estate www.Graylyn.com in Winston Salem, NC. Graylyn is an American castle where knights and gentle ladies belong so come and join us!

Our chapter’s members continue to spread the word about KOV. We hope you’ll stay in touch with us through Facebook at www.Facebook.com/KOVNC.

ABOVE LEFT Matt Cline from Three Wine with Jeff & Lisa

ABOVE RIGHT Tom & Dawn Potter

LEFT Some of the delicious offerings at the wine tasting at Uniquely R’s