While driving from Asheville, NC, on a beautiful, clear fall day, I decided to stop at a winery I had noted from the North Carolina Winery Guide, ncwine.org, (877)-3NC-Wine. To get there, I took Exit 100 off I-40 and drove two and a half miles to the town of Glen Alpine. It’s a quaint small town nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There, a few miles from the pristine waters of Lake James, as promised, I found the Lake James Cellars and The Old Mill Antiques.
It’s a destination for wine and antiques lovers. I like antiques, love wine, and the combination of both kept me occupied longer than planned. Even if you only enjoy one or the other, the visit is well worthwhile. And, the venue is in a 1915 textile mill building, full of historic charm, making me very glad that the mill has not succumbed to demise. I noticed some other buildings and a very interesting house I’d like to know more about, but that will be for another visit.
After browsing among the antiques, and not to forget to mention items made by local artisans that make gifts for others and one’s easy to find, I began the wine tasting. The award-winning NC wines are produced from locally grown grapes. The wines range from bold, dry reds and whites to the sweeter wines.
As always, tasting the wines with an open mind and pallet, I chose a white wine, Southern Magnolia, as an inspiration for my song titled after the wine. I composed this piece in mind with a bit of mystery, blended with bold southern hospitality, and the longevity and exquisite fragrant blooms of the magnolia tree.
As the Southern Magnolia wine label notes “the luscious scent of ripe peaches explodes from this crisp, flavorful wine. It blends the varietal notes of Chardonnay with the natural sweetness of juicy peaches. Pale straw in color, this wine is a natural addition to a lazy afternoon by the lake or an evening barbecue”. Or for me, anytime you are in the mood for a crisp, flavorful white wine.
For more information contact:
Lake James Cellars Winery
Website: www.lakejamescellars.com
Email: wineworx@bellsouth.net
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