Take in the storied history that makes us one of North Carolina’s premier vineyards.

The Vineyards

Land, location and elevation: ideal conditions for ideal grapes.

We couldn’t have found a better place to grow our European varietals of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and pinot grigio if we tried. Our lush land stands 800 to 810 feet above sea level, and our fruitful vines are planted in Cecil sandy clay loam soil. The clay enables our vines to get the water they need during dry spells, and it enhances the overall complexity of our wines’ flavors and aromas. At the same time, the sand provides the perfect amount of drainage, ensuring our vines don’t get too much water when it rains in abundance.

And thanks to our location in the heart of North Carolina’s wine country, the hot summer days and moderate evenings help our grapes ripen to perfection.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet sauvignon has been a part of our vineyard for more than 20 years. The first cabernet sauvignon was planted in 2001, and the second in 2005. Though it’s our latest grape to ripen, this particular French clone (337) features loose clusters and thick skins, helping it ward off diseases that can occur during the extended growing season.

During milder years, we can count on our cabernet sauvignon fruit to deliver flavors and aromas of red fruits (red cherries, red currants and red plums) and choice spices. Meanwhile, in hot, dry years, it creates flavors and aromas of dark fruit (black cherries, black currants, black plums), cedar, menthol and graphite. And every year, you can expect our cabernet sauvignon to add structure to the wine with its acidity and tannins.

Cabernet Franc

Curran Alexander Vineyards first planted cabernet franc in 2001. Since then, this French clone (332) has been consistently reliable, producing beautiful, high-quality fruit year after year.

Most years, our cabernet franc produces a fruit that delivers flavors and aromas of red fruits (strawberries, red plums and raspberries), roasted peppers and black pepper. However, in hot, dry years, the fruit takes on tantalizing blackfruit aromas and flavors. And with each year, you can count on its bold tannins to uphold the wines’ structure.

Merlot vines were first introduced to Curran Alexander Vineyards in 2005, with a second planting happening in 2009. Our particular strand is French clone 181, which we chose due to its loose clusters (which improve disease resistance) and small berry size (which increases skin contact during fermentation, improving wine color and flavor).

In milder years, our Merlot fruit creates flavors and aromas of red fruits (red cherries, red plums and cranberries) and spice. Hotter years create aromas and flavors of blackfruit. This is our earliest grape ro ripen, and it’s especially valuable in the creation of our red blends, like our our celebrated Meritage.

Our pinot grigio vines were planted in 2009. We added them to our north-facing slopes, where the cooler temperatures are ideal for its nature. The soil in this section of the vineyards is laden with granite pebbles, given the area improved drainage and adding to the character of the wine we can produce. 

When you drink Curran Alexander Vineyards’ pinot grigio wines, you can typically pick up notes of rich apple, pear and tropical fruit flavors, all wrapped up in a vibrant and consistent acidity.

So much has happened on and around the site of the Curran Alexander Vineyard, and we’ve dedicated ourselves to bringing it to the attention of our visitors. So as you walk around our beautiful grounds, stop by all the monuments to take in the history that our property has witnessed over the course of millennia.

Maybe you want to see the foundation stones of the Red House Inn, where President George Washington once dined. Perhaps you want to learn about the time Daniel Boone hid in a nearby cave for safety. It might be you’d like to give our centuries-old millstone a turn. Regardless, there are dozens of monuments and structures throughout our North Carolina vineyards that are as intriguing as our wine.