Best of the Appalachians
The French Broad Vignerons sponsors a Best of The Appalachians program (BOTA) as a way to differentiate and celebrate grape and orchard products from Western North Carolina and surrounding areas. BOTA wine award winners may be wines made from vinifera, hybrid, native, or muscadine grapes; fruit wines; country wines; or meads.
How it works:
The process involves our trained wine judges evaluating wines using a modified Davis Card under stringent conditions to assure the best wine evaluation climate. Our judges are trained to evaluate all types of wines. Submitted wines will be judged blind with only the vintage and type of wine known to the evaluators. Results will be tabulated and measured against our standards matrix. Those wines and beverages deemed to be of sufficient quality will be eligible to display our BOTA Seal on their bottles to assist with sales.
All wines will be evaluated in private. Only the Head Judge will know the specific wine details. At the conclusion of our periodic evaluations, those wines, ciders, and other beverages attaining the right to display the BOTA Seal will be announced to the public, publicized, and listed on our website. Only those wines selected for the BOTA Seal will ever be discussed publicly, privately or in press releases.
Congratulations to all of the 2017 BOTA designated wines!
DOUBLE GOLD
Burntshirt Vineyards, NC Cabernet Franc Reserve – 2015
Goodwater Vineyard, TN Corot Noir – 2014
Parker-Binns Vineyard, NC Chardonnay – 2016
Sanctuary Vineyards, NC Whalehead White – 2015
Sanctuary Vineyards, NC OBX Ice – 2016
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm, TN Riesling – NV
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm, TN Moscato – NV
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm,TN Southern Belle – NV
Watauga Lake Winery, TN Duncan Hollow – 2015
GOLD
Burntshirt Vineyards, NC Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – 2015
Burntshirt Vineyards, NC Meritage Reserve – 2015
Burntshirt Vineyards, NC Reserve Chardonay – 2014
Burntshirt Vineyards, NC Gruner Veltliner – 2016
Burntshirt Vineyards, NC Vidal Blanc -2016
Cades Cove Cellars,TN Firefly – NV
Elkin Creek Vineyard, NC Vin Doux – 2011
Elkin Creek Vineyard, NC Viognier – 2016
Fontaine Vineyard, NC Riesling – 2015
Goodwater Vineyard, TN Everything’s Peachy – NV
Goodwater Vineyard, TN Goodwater Raz – NV
JOLO Winery and Vineyard, NC Crimson Creek – 2016
JOLO Winery and Vineyard, NC – Jolotage – 2015
JOLO Winery and Vineyard, NC – Pilot Fog – 2016
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, NC – Tempranillo – 2015
Parker-Binns Vineyard, NC – Pea Ridge Red – 2014
Piccione Vineyards, NC – Nero – 2014
Raffaldini Vineyards, NC – Vermentino Superiore – 2016
Sanctuary Vineyards, NC – Aglianico – 2015
Sanctuary Vineyards, NC – Coastal Collage – 2015
Silver Fork Vineyarda and Winery, NC – Cabernet Franc – 2015
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm, TN – Farmhouse White – NV
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm, TN – Heritage Red – NV
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm, TN – Vineyard White – NV
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm, TN – Royal Blue – NV
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm, TN – Muscadine – NV
Watauga Lake Winery, TN – Bearly Peach – 2016
SILVER
Adagio Vineyards – NC – Vivace – 2016
Adagio Vineyards – NC – Minuet – 2014
Adagio Vineyards – NC – Coda – 2014
Addison Farms Vineyard – NC – Gratitude – NV
Addison Farms Vineyard – NC – Five Twenty Nine – 2015
Addison Farms Vineyard – NC – Red Dress – 2015
Cades Cove Cellars – TN – Chardonnay – 2015Cades Cove Cellars – Tn – Fall Bounty – 2014
Cades Cove Cellars – TN – Riesling – NV
Cades Cove Cellars – TN – Blackberry – NV
Elkin Creek Vineyard – NC – Rossa – 2015
Fontaine Vineyard – NC – Rose – 2014
Fontaine Vineyard – NC – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2015
Goodwater Vineyard – TN – Seyval Blanc – NY
Goodwater Vineyard – TN – Goodwater Black – NV
JOLO Winery and Vineyard – NC – Golden Hallows – 2016
Jones von Drehle Vineyards – NC – Steel Chardonnay – 2015
Jones von Drehle Vineyards – NC – Barrel Chardonnay – 2015
Jones von Drehle Vineyards – NC – Petit Manseng – 2015
Jones von Drehle Vineyards – NC – Cabernet Franc – 2014
Jones von Drehle Vineyards – NC – Petit Verdot – 2014
Mountain Brook Vineyards – NC – Chardonnay – 2014
Mountain Brook Vineyards – NC – Pinot Grigio – 2015
Mountain Brook Vineyards – NC – Cabernet Sauvignon –
Mountain Brook Vineyards – NC – Petit Verdot – 2013
Mountain Brook Vineyards – NC – Magis Red Blend – NV
Parker-Binns – NC – Petit Manseng – 2016
Parker-Binns – NC – Rose – 2016
Piccione Vineyards – NC – Vermentino – 2015
Piccione Vineyards – NC – Unoaked Chardonnay – 2015
Piccione Vineyards – NC – Sangiovese – 2014
Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery – NC – Bella Misto – 2015
Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery – NC – Pinot Grigio – 2016
Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery – NC – La Dolce Vita – 2016
Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery – NC – Sangiovese Classico – 2014
Sanctuary Vineyards – NC – Wild Pony White – 2016
Sanctuary Vineyards – NC – The Triangle – 2016
Sanctuary Vineyards – NC – Pearl – 2016
Sanctuary Vineyards – NC – Chardonnay – 2016
Sanctuary Vineyards – NC – Handcrafted Cab Franc – 2015
Sanctuary Vineyards – NC – Double Barrel – 2015
Sanctuary Vineyards – NC -Shipwreck – 2015
Silver Fork Vineyard and Winery – NC – Chambourcin – 2015
Silver Fork Vineyard and Winery – – NC – Four Dog Red – NV
Sprout Springs Estates – TN – Smoky Mountain Rose – 2015
Sprout Springs Estates – TN – Blackberry – 2016
Sprout Springs Estates – TN -Cabernet Franc – 2015
Sprout Springs Estates – TN – Chardonnay – NY
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm – TN – James’s Peach NV
The Winery at Seven Springs Farm – TN – Red Muscadine – NV
Watauga Lake Winery – TN – Tart N’ Blue – 2015
2015 BOTA Designated Wines
St. Paul Mountain Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Viognier 2013
St. Paul Mountain Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Laurel Hill – Vidal Blanc 2014
Burntshirt Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Burntshirt Vineyards Estate White -Vidal Blanc 2013
Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery, LLC, Ronda, NC – Vermentino Superiore – Vermentino 2014
Watauga Lake Winery, Butler, TN – Fox Hollow – 50% Chancellor, 50% Steuben 2014
Parker-Binns Vineyard, Mill Spring, NC – Rose – Merlot 2014
GOLD
Watauga Lake Winery, Butler, TN – Duncan Hollow – Chancellor 2013
Biltmore Estate Wine Company, Asheville, NC – Biltmore Estate Chateau Reserve Sparkling Blanc de Blanc, North Carolina – Chardonnay 2011
Adagio Vineyards, Elkin, NC – Vivace – 94% Traminette, 3% Muscat, 3% Chardonnay 2014
Russian Chapel Hills Winery, Columbus, NC – Chardonnay 2013
Treehouse Vineyards, Monroe, NC – Windy Hill – Muscadine
Burntshirt Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – O Cellars Reserve Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Franc 2013
Fair Game Beverage Company, Pittsboro, NC – Ferris – 22.5% each Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Norton. 5% Touriga
Parker-Binns Vineyard, Mill Spring, NC – Loco Lulu – Soft Red Wine – Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot 2014
Treehouse Vineyards, Monroe, NC – Sunset Hills – Muscadine
Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery, LLC, Ronda, NC – Montepulciano Riserva – Montepulciano 2013
Jolo Winery & Vineyards, Pilot Mountain, NC – Jolotage – Petit Verdot, Petit Sirah, Cynthiana
Shelton Vineyards, Dobson, NC – Port – Cabernet Franc – 2006
Biltmore Estate Wine Company, Asheville, NC – Biltmore Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, North Carolina – Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
St. Paul Mountain Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Homeplace – Blackberry 2014
Treehouse Vineyards, Monroe, NC – Crystal Creek – Muscadine
Jolo Winery & Vineyards, Pilot Mountain, NC – Pilot Fog – Cynthiana 2014
Silver Fork Winery, Morganton, NC – Four Dog Red Blend – Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot – 2013
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Viognier Estate – Viognier 2014
Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery, LLC, Ronda, NC – Sangiovese Riserva – Sangiovese 2013
St. Paul Mountain Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Lower Vineyard – Riesling 2014
Russian Chapel Hills Winery, Columbus, NC – Merlot 2013
Treehouse Vineyards, Monroe, NC – Liquid Sunshine – Vinifera Blend
Shelton Vineyards, Dobson, NC – Two Five Nine Petit Verdot – Petit Verdot 2011
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Cabernet Franc Estate – Cabernet Franc 2012
Treehouse Vineyards, Monroe, NC – Just One More Thing “Merlot” – Merlot
Russian Chapel Hills Winery, Columbus, NC – Muscadine – Carlos -2013
South Creek Vineyards & Winery, Nebo, NC – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2010
Burntshirt Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – O Cellars Reserve Chardonnay – Chardonnay 2013
Parker-Binns Vineyard, Mill Spring, NC – Moscato – Muscat – 2014
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Rosa Dia Estate – Grenache 2014
St. Paul Mountain Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Wallace – Apple 2014
Treehouse Vineyards, Monroe, NC – “Her Way” Cabernet
Mountain Brook Vineyards, Tryon, NC – Pinot Grigio 2014
Biltmore Estate Wine Company, Asheville, NC – Biltmore Estate Riesling – Riesling 2013
South Creek Vineyards & Winery, Nebo, NC – Cabernet Franc – 2011
Burntshirt Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Riesling 2014
Biltmore Estate Wine Company, Asheville, NC – Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay, North Carolina – Chardonnay 2014
Fair Game Beverage, Pittsboro, NC – Scuppernong Tipper – Scuppernong
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Chardonnay Barrel Estate – Chardonnay 2013
St. Paul Mountain Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Chestnut Gap – Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Mountain Brook Vineyards, Tryon, NC – Magis – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot 2012
South Creek Vineyards & Winery, Nebo, NC – Duet – 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot 2011
St. Paul Mountain Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Centennial Farm Heritage – Riesling 2014
Russian Chapel Hills Winery, Columbus, NC – Tosca Heritage – 80% Merlot, 20% Sangiovese 2013
Burntshirt Vineyards, Hendersonville, NC – Gruner Veltliner 2014
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Petit Manseng Estate – Petit Manseng 2014
Lake James Cellars, Glen Alpine, NC – Cabernet Franc 2013
Parker-Binns Vineyard, Mill Spring, NC – Loco Lulu – Soft White Wine – Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Viognier 2014
Shelton Vineyards, Dobson, NC – Bin 17 Unoaked Chardonnay 2014
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Tempranillo Estate – Tempranillo 2014
Adagio Vineyards, Elkin, NC – Harmony – 50% Merlot, 50% Petit Verdot 2014
Lake James Cellars, Glen Alpine, NC – Chardonnay 2013
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Malbec Estate – Malbec – 2013
Biltmore Estate Wine Company, Asheville, NC – Biltmore Estate Pinot Noir – Pinot Noir 2012
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Merlot Estate – Merlot 2012
Silver Fork Winery,Morganton, NC – Nonsense – Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot NV
Jones von Drehle Vineyards, Thurmond, NC – Petit Manseng Estate -Petit Manseng 2013