Rolling hills and lush, green pastures were among the relaxing scenery that accompanied us to Medaloni Cellars. We were thrilled to have been invited by Joey Medaloni and wanted to visit as soon as we could. Once on the property, we could see the appeal.
This Yadkin Valley vineyard and winery is nestled on 22 acres of land and includes two tasting areas, a variety of fantastic lounging/sitting areas, a playground for kids, three overnight cabins, a wine trail, places for feathered friends, food trucks, and more. With unique spaces for weddings and events, they have so much to offer!
Not only is Medaloni family-owned and operated, but they are a kid-friendly property as well. This works out great for our family of six. Joey shared that sometimes the kids notice all of the changes and upgrades on site before the adults since they explore the grounds more than their parents do.
Greeters stationed throughout the property guide guests to the tasting room parking area. While in the tasting room, attention to detail is evident. Garage style doors open to the side, providing tons of natural light and beautiful views. A long, wooden table drifts down the middle of the room, inviting guests to sit and visit for a while over a glass of wine. If cooling off from a breeze isn’t your cup of tea, maybe getting cozy by the large stone fireplace would be the ideal a spot for you.
It’s obvious that a lot of thought and care went into creating a space that would appeal to many. In fact, we found out that Sundays are typically the day for their “regulars” in which anywhere from 100–200 guests will visit and unwind, about 60% of which are regulars. Although Medaloni was busy, everyone was incredibly friendly and the feeling throughout our visit was one of relaxing with friends.
Barrel Room Tasting
There’s just something special about seeing the space where winemakers create their magic. Listening to their stories and what they’re passionate about when it comes to their craft is a nice window to wines that they produce. Joey opened the tasting with a lovely toast and was ready to share stories and wine.
What makes Medaloni wine special? No chemicals are used. The actual wines and the yeast they create are used to make the adjustments and create delicious wines. The grapes are picked based on pH levels, which lends itself to an earlier picking time. Joey keeps the wine as pure as possible, using basic ingredients with French and Hungarian oak. The oldest barrel used is three years old. This provides a consistency and freshness with the wines. Although he has found his niche with winemaking, Joey isn’t afraid of collaboration and trying new things. He partners with other winemakers within NC as well as in CA. In fact, Joey shared that his winery was one of the first to ship Traminett and Chambourcin to California.
Tasting Experience
- Oaked Chardonnay — smooth, vanilla, creamy. A concrete tank is also used for additional minerality.
- Cabernet Sauvignon blend — cherry, charred, and cocoa notes — six varietals kicking off a true collaboration in a Bordeaux style.
- Oaked Viognier — crisp, light, fruity, and unique
- Signature Series wines are 100% Yadkin Valley fruit. Try the Viognier and the Rosé.
After exploring the wines in the tasting room with Britny, we enjoyed glasses of Entourage, a blend of five grapes, creating a symphony of fruits and spice. It was a perfectly smooth, clean sipping wine for the afternoon. Relaxed conversations with regulars made us feel like we were already a part of the guest family.
Must Try From the Tasting Room:
- Oaked Viognier 2016
- Flight Series Gewurztraminer 2017
- Signature Series Merlot 2015
- Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
- Signature Series Cabernet Franc 2015
Check their calendar of events for live music, food trucks, and other special activities. If you’re able to visit, we’d love to hear about some of your highlights.
Until our next glass…
Go Local. Drink Carolinas. 🍷
All views expressed in this blog post are our own. We were invited by Joey Medaloni to visit Medaloni Cellars, but were not paid for or asked to write this post.
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