Spring is blossoming and the warm breeze is beckoning us back to the vineyard! With the tannins of our winery tour season swirling around us, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite WNC wineries. First up, our friends, Jenn & Ed Foulides at Silver Fork Winery. This 32-acre property, just east of Asheville near Morganton, is one of our favorite stops on our Catawba Valley Winery Tour.
This family-owned/operated vineyard & winery just celebrated their 6th Year Anniversary, though their vines have aged much longer. The first planted were red vines (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Chambourcin and Petit Verdot) in 1991 and their Chardonnay was planted in 1992. Today, all of the grapes are grown on 6.5 acres of the property is dry Bordeaux style.
“When you visit, you will get to taste some of NC’s most exceptional award winning wines, learn about how the wines were grown and made, and let the troubles of the world melt away,” Jenn said, adding that her favorite sampling to sip this season are dry rose and chardonnay, while Ed jokes his is whatever is open 🙂
The couple opened Silver Fork in 2013, after trading in their corporate America lives in Manhattan for a more rewarding lifestyle.
“Both of us wanted something more from our lives and from our hard work,” said Jenn. “We both quit our jobs and traveling the world for non-business related purposes.”
On a visit through WNC, they fell in love with Asheville and began to plant their roots. Armed with a vision and a dream, the couple discovered the property and soon after met their mentor Larry Kehoe, who helped grow their grapes and their business.
“We added more vines, started making the wine, added the Tasting Room and a few years back we added The Pavilion at Silver Fork for our growing wedding business,” said Jenn.
If wine is the main course, the scenery is your appetizer and dessert. Nestled in valley beneath the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Silver Fork offers a stunning view – just one of the many unique draws to this Catawba Valley vineyard.
“We believe it’s the energy of our location and the breathtaking view – coupled with our smiling faces and that of our wonderful staff,” Jenn said. “WNC wine/vineyards are a growing industry and each one of us has such a unique story on what brought us here and why we choose to stay and cultivate the land. Also, NC has some of the kindest people in all the world. We really felt at home the moment we arrived and I think more and more people will discover that.”
Join us and Silver Fork Vineyard and Winery on our Catawba Valley Winery Tour – a 5-hour tour that takes you on a journey through the Catawba Valley Wine Country with tastings at two gorgeous wineries: Silver Fork and South Creek.
- Photos courtesy of Silver Fork Winery