Bernd W. Herrmann's Wine Journal Entries
Sanders Ridge Vineyard and Winery (written Dec 23, 2011)
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Favorite Wine: Chambourcin
How can I begin to describe a location that is a cross between a vineyard, a winery, and a gorgeous mountain lodge? It would take awhile really, but suffice to say that if you haven't visited Sanders Ridge Winery in Boonville, NC, you better make it a future visit destination. We first discovered the Sanders Ridge Winery back in 2009 when thanks to other folks, who highly recommended the place, we decided to visit. And we've been hooked ever since. The main building is a huge post and beam "mountain-lodge" type of scenario that houses the wine tasting area and a gorgeous restaurant called the Big Woods Restaurant. In the basement are the various barrels housing the wine. When you first enter the winery, you are greeted by a massive stone fireplace, with the wine tasting area to the right of that and the restaurant to the left. You are immediately put at ease by the superb (warm) ambiance that this interior creates. You feel "at home" all at once and you wind up staying for a few hours. Neil and Cindy Shore, the owners, are remarkable folks. Witty, indefatigable, exceptional planners, and downright friendly folks, they make it a point to make each guest feel as though they were a long lost friend - heck, their warmth tends to disarm even the most cautious visitors. They are to be commended for all they've done with this place. But Sanders Ridge is more than a winery and fantastic restaurant. It also has a wildly successful zip line course, has organized nature and bird trailwalks, a cute pond with huge gazebo, and so much more. You could wind up spending a day here as many folks have. If you're going to eat in the Big Woods Restaurant (by all means make it a point to do so), you must sample Chef Starr Johnson's cuisine. This awesome culinary chef produces some of the tastiest "new south" cooking that you'll come across and folks just keep coming back. Her wit, culinary talents (and instincts) have folks raving - and the ambiance in that dining area is second to none. So what else could I possibly say about this wonderful location - it's that good and we've been there now on 4 different occasions. And keep in mind we've now visited 48 different winery locations....and Sanders Ridge is one of the few that we keep returning to. And oh yes, their wines are fantastic also (I'd be remiss in not saying that).
