Tucked into rolling acres of Amish country, Shadow Springs Vineyard takes advantage of a terrain and landscape conducive to grape growing. Its tasting room, unassuming from the front, is a two-story technology friendly venue, designed with business meetings and catered weddings in mind.
Owners, Chuck and Jamey Johnson, purchased the land from Laurel Gray Vineyards owners Kim and Benny Meyers in 2005, planting 10 and a half acres of French varietals.
Johnson, an amateur architect, collaborated with Thomas Hughes of DiVine Llama to design the new tasting room.
"The main reason for the size is party capability," Johnson said of the 5,000 square foot building. "There's wi-fi, projection screens, computer capable televisions, karaoke and cordless mics." The technology is not obvious, surrounded by breathtaking views of the Amish countryside and the two ambrosia maple tasting bars that were milled from trees on the Shadow Springs property.
"I was away and they called me to say they ran into the ambrosia maple," Johnson said. "When they said it was the most beautiful piece of maple, it was an obvious choice for the bars." The striped bars, oak panels and cherry cabinets were all made from trees on the Shadow Springs property.
Surrounding the vineyard are horse and chicken farms, dirt roads and a simpler way of life. Winemaker Kent Smith came to Hamptonville from Georgia when asked to make wines for the Yadkin Valley Wine Company located at Laurel Gray Vineyards. The winery is a collaboration of several Swan Creek Vineyards, and where Shadow Springs is bringing their grapes for production.
Smith got a good feel for the area upon meeting the Johnsons and Meyers before the winery's completion.
"They showed me their plans for what they envisioned," Smith said. "The winery was built, operational, and now I make wines for five of the vineyards."
Smith also works in the vineyard at Shadow Springs and said that the grapes are looking really great this year.
"I really like the way the vines are situated," Smith said. The sloped hills and pond shine light up at north and south facing vines where Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow.
"Some people just take whatever land they have and hope for the best," Smith said. "This vineyard is well planned and laid out." Smith added that it is nice being surrounded by agriculture, with horses on three sides and chickens on one, with nothing to take away from the beauty.
Chuck Johnson retired from a career in transportation where he worked in an office for 23 years, traveling far from home, where he said one year he traveled on 167 airplanes.
"I needed to retire, but with something to do," Johnson said. "We loved wines, and Napa Valley and when we met Kim and Benny Meyers with all the others, we fell in love."
Johnson said they put all of their eggs in one basket and moved east to start Shadow Springs. He admits that he didn't realize there would be so much work involved, but is happy he made the move.
Shadow Springs will have seven wines available at its July 12 Grand Opening- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Crimson Sunset, Shadow Mist, a Seyval Blanc blend and two Chardonnays.
The first 2006 red wines were made at neighboring Buck Shoals winery with winemaker Dana Acker. Acker said that he is very happy to have the new neighbors and glad to see more people coming into the area to grow grapes.
"Every acre you see with a vineyard on it, isn't a Wal-Mart," Acker said. "It keeps the land from becoming commercial development."
Swan Creek AVA is now composed of five members, Laurel Gray, Buck Shoals, Raffaldini, Dobbins Creek and now Shadow Springs. Acker said that he hopes people will now have a chance to visit one area, with gas prices high, and have a day's worth of wineries to go to.
Shadow Springs will join the double AVA of Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek newly established this year. A soft opening was held June 21, with the recommendation of Swan Creek Vineyards driving visitors to their new establishment. Plans for the soft opening will be minimal, Johnson said he's just hoping local vineyards will send visitors his way.
July's grand opening will include a Christian band, Under the Cross, and free barbeque.
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