Story by Kyle Lobenhofer
Lead: North Carolina recently became the 11th largest wine producer in the United States with more than 500 vineyards and 200 wineries. The industry now accounts for nearly $2 billion annually in the state. Kyle Lobenhofer tells us about one vineyard contributing to this industry while offering so much more than just wine.
Track 1: In 2017… David and Jill Stone opened Old Homeplace Vineyard, a family-owned winery in Winston-Salem that recently celebrated its seventh anniversary.
Jill Stone Bite: We’re co-owners with my mom and dad and then my husband all opened and we opened January 7 years ago. We have 48 acres out here.
Track 2: The 48 acres of land has been in Jill’s family for 76 years. The tasting room is the house that her grandparents owned and her father grew up in….. which is where the inspiration for the name Old Homeplace emerged. Her husband and co-owner, David Stone, says he has always loved entertaining people, a driving force behind opening this vineyard.
David Stone Bite: Just having a place for people to come and hang out, and, of course, have some wine and just, you know, be social.
Nat pop: wine bottle opening
Track 3: Every Saturday and Sunday between 12 and 5, customers can come in and do a wine tasting either at the counter where the family can explain what customers are trying…. or in the property’s outdoor seating spaces.
Jill Stone Bite: We have two different kinds of tastings. One is the typical one where you get like seven different very small tastes in one of our stemware glasses and we do those over the bar where I chat about each wine and answer any questions that the customer may have about them. We started doing wine flights, which is where you can get a heavier pour of four different wines.
Track 4: Old Homeplace Vineyards is much more than a winery with 17 award-winning wines. Right next to the tasting room is The Barn…….Old Homeplace Vineyards’s event venue. This is where they host comedy nights, murder mystery dinners, and concerts.
Nat pop: James Vincent Carroll singing
Track 5 Standup: Every Sunday, local singers and songwriters will come perform here in the Barn or just outside overlooking Lake Thom-a-Lex. Local food vendors will also come and sell their food and local artists will come and sell their crafts like this little lady bug bracelet. Behind me is, Old Homeplace Vineyard’s most popular performer, James Vincent Carroll.
James Vincent Carroll Bite: This is my favorite venue and a lot of people know that. My favorite part about coming here is the crowd is always attentive. The people are always really into the music, and, of course, their grounds are beautiful.
Nat pop: James Vincent Carroll singing
Track 6: Old Homeplace Vineyard truly is a family-run business with the Stone’s daughters, Olivia and Katie, working in the tasting room. David even says he hopes to give the business to the kids in the future, if they want it. I’m Kyle Lobenhofer, reporting.
