If you are looking for a family and dog-friendly winey to enjoy for the afternoon look no further than Davesté Vineyards. On a recent visit to Iredell County’s first winery, we enjoyed an afternoon of great wine and amazing food. The weather couldn’t have been better. Davesté was alive with private parties, groups enjoying lunch from Davesté Kitchen by Flock, and countless dog owners exploring the vineyard with their pets. It was definitely the place to be on a Sunday afternoon. The tasting room is open Thursday- Sunday 12-8. It is one of the few wineries opened later in the evening. They offer guided wine flights that can be booked through their website. For a more casual experience, they offer self-guided wine flights and bottles for purchase. If you have beer drinkers in your group they also sell craft beer by the glass, growler, and flights. They have recently added a permanent food truck serving dishes that will satisfy everyone in your group. They have made it simple to order both beverages as well as food. Outside food is not prohibited by strongly discouraged. We enjoy a picnic lunch at wineries, but when a food truck is on the premises, we try to support them. There is live music on weekends when the weather permits. Walking the property is allowed, but remember the vineyard is a working farm. With several areas allowing privacy for special events Davesté is perfect for private celebrations, bridal showers, and weddings.
I started with a white wine flight. One of the more economical tastings we have found. You customize a flight of 6 wines for $12. My flight was on the dryer side. First was their 2021 Rkatsiteli. It was dry and light to medium body. I picked up some green apple on the nose with a clean finish and just the right amount of acidity. The next wine was their 2021 Sauvignon Blanc. These grapes are grown in the Yadkin Valley and fermented in stainless steel tanks. It is crisp with notes of citrus. This was followed by the 2021 Dry Rose. The first aroma you encounter is strawberry. It is a blend of chambourcin, cabernet franc, petit verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The next wine was the 2019 Dry Riesling. There are not many Rieslings I don’t like. This one was no different with its acidity and citrus on the palate. At the beginning of my wine journey, Viognier was my go-to grape. The 2021 Viognier had aromas of orange blossom and citrus on the finish. The tasting concluded with the 2021 Pinot Grigio. This light-bodied wine started with an aroma of green apple and finished with flavors of pear and peach. I also snagged a taste of their Sangria from Charles. The warmer day was perfect for a carafe of Sangria.
In 2005 Dave and Ester DeFehr purchased 60 acres of land and began planting vines that would become Iredell’s first winery. The next year the white barn was constructed to make their wines that would be made available to guests. Improvements continued to be made in anticipation of opening the tasting room. In 2019 Colin and Caroline Carrick joined the team. The families worked together to create a smooth transition when the DeFehr family retired. The Carrick family brought with them from Scotland their distillery background. They also bring their enthusiasm to create award-winning wines. The artwork on the bottles is original works by North Carolina artists. The final member of the team is the winemaker, Meg Tipton. Having changed careers after raising her children she earned a degree in Viticulture and Enology. Since joining the team in 2020 she has hit the ground running and I can’t wait to see what she creates next.
Be sure to check their website for music and special events. https://www.davestevineyards.com/
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