We continue our Yadkin Valley, North Carolina wine series with Diana Jones, of the remarkable 35 acre estate vineyard, Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery.
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In this interview, I share my conversation with Diana Jones, one of the proprietors of Jones Von Drehle, located in Thurmond, North Carolina. I have visited hundreds of vineyards throughout the world in my life, but there is magic in the air at Jones Von Drehle. Its isolated location, the serendipitous even fateful beginnings for this property and this vineyard, the working relationship between two sisters and their husbands in growing this winery, and their philosophy, of place, of authenticity, and of excellence, combine to make this one of the most memorable visits to a vineyard in my life. There is no pretension here, just slow and steady dedication to an ancient craft, one that requires hard work, but that promises a delightful reward. Diana and her husband Chuck discussed the history of the winery with me, tasted me through whatever I was interested in from their portfolio, and showed me around the winery. It was a taste of home as the tanks were all manufactured by Vance Fabricators, a metal engineering firm located in Geneva, New York, just down the road from the podcast studio. Their wine tanks adorn my own cellar, and their quality is second to none.
The property itself is dedicated to 30 acres of grapes, and we’ll discuss the varietals in the interview. The banquet room is now complete where they will host wine dinners and special events, the commercial kitchen is small, but can handle everything a chef needs, and the new amphitheater is ready to entertain. Set in a location that abuts the vineyards, this location will feel like magic for both musicians and entertainers, and the guests visiting the winery. As we were speaking throughout my tasting, the song “It’s a Great Day to be Alive,” came on over head. The Travis Tritt classic always brings a smile to my face, and I could tell Chuck noticed it. Although not in the interview, Chuck shared a story with me that I wanted to relay. His father, who had been a small business owner, had told him years ago about a delivery driver he had, a hard worker, but a guy with an amazing voice and a pretty good guitar player too. Travis was a great worker, but eventually went on to other things. It was until after his father passed away, until Chuck and his brother were sharing old stories about their dad. As Chuck was recounting the story, his brother interrupted - you know that was Travis Tritt, right? Chuck was aghast, and excited. He’s made it a priority to try and book Travis Tritt for an upcoming show, and quite frankly, listening to his songs, sipping on Jones Von Drehle, and enjoying a North Carolina evening, truly sounds like it would be a great day to be alive.
S2 EP0035 - Diana Jones of Jones von Drehle Vineyards and Winery in the Yadkin Valley - Thurmond, North Carolina