McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks - A Decade of Taste

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Everytime we walk into McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks, we get a friendly welcome. Hannah's usually working the tasting room and helping people enjoy their visit. And we've met a lot of people from out of state loading up on wine. We have had some great conversations with people who have discovered McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks. They've come from New York, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and have worked their regular McRitchie visits into their North/South travel plans on Route 77. It isn't hard to understand why. The wines and ciders are well crafted, affordable, and showcase the abilities of the Blue Ridge area to produce outstanding North Carolina Fine Wines.

You'll never hear that coming from the staff or owners at McRitchie. They're a very modest group

who pour and say things like "We hope you'll like this...". And they've been doing this in Thurmond for over a decade now. The wines speak for themselves. The owners Sean and Patricia have created a winery and environment that welcomes modesty and tranquility. Their tasting bar has room for about 10 people, and then there are tables both under cover and outdoors that you can select depending on your preference. If it gets really busy, they open another tasting area in the front entrance.

Sean's wines are elegant, full of flavor, and dry. From their whites, I've always loved their well made Traminette and their Chardonnay. The reds are something we drink year round. And even though I still can't pronounce it, Sapere Aude is one the stars in the lineup along with Ring of Fire and Arcturus Red.

Depending upon the season, they'll have 8-10 wines tasting and a few Ciders. I really enjoy the ciders, and it's a great addition to the wines.

So, while I've never been the quietest guy in the room, I've tried McRitchie's subtle approach a couple of times. We've often brought the Ring of Fire (a red blend) to parties, and it is always a pleasant surprise for people who aren't familiar with North Carolina Fine Wines when they enjoy it and go back to look at the bottle. "This is a North Carolina wine?" is a common, perplexed response. Yes it is. Yes it is.