We recently visited Dynamis Estate Wines on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. There really isn't a more relaxing way to spend an afternoon enjoying beautiful weather than sipping some amazing wine in one of the Yadkin Valley’s most beautiful settings.
Once through the gate, you are treated to a winding drive lined with grape vines and fruit trees. The 2.5-mile drive up to the tasting lodge is romantic and majestic. Just as a chef uses presentation to enhance the meal, so does Dynamis Estates. The drive prepares you for the upscale experience that awaits you.
Dynamis Estate recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, but it has a long and rich history in the area. Situated in the Brushy Mountains, the property divides the Yadkin River and the Catawba River. Apple trees were first planted in the 1700s and are still growing today, along with peaches and blueberries. Beginning in 1915 the Ferguson family began 3 generations of apple farmers. By 1960 the mountain was home to commercial tomato production.
Unfortunately during the 1970s, after several years of damaging frosts and aging orchards, farming came to a halt.
Fast forward to 2013 and the current property owner, Harry Crosby, purchased the land to begin its redevelopment. His vision for the property became Dynamis Estate Wines. 30 acres of grape vines were planted within the first 2 years. Highland Orchards also brought back peach and apple trees that line the beautiful winding drive.
In 2019 Dynamis Estate Wines came to fruition behind the winemaking of Matheson Worrell and Katy Kidd. The winemaking duo not only makes the wine, but they also have an influence on the operation from the beginning. Rounding out the Dynamis Estate team is vineyard manager, Joseph Geller and Kelly Banigan, wine club concierge. In June of 2022 the rustic, yet elegant tasting lodge opened to the public. With the backdrop of the mountains and vines, there isn’t a much better view in the entire state. In addition to the 30 acres of grape vines, there are fruit trees and bee hives. Dynamis Estate wine is 100% estate grown, picked, and bottled. It is located in the Swan Creek AVA in the Yadkin Valley.
As you level off after your climb to over 1600 feet in elevation, you are greeted by your tasting host. We were lucky to enjoy Carter’s knowledge of wine for our estate tasting. The estate tasting is a 90-minute tasting led by an ambassador or you may also choose a 60-minute self-guided vineyard tasting. Dynamis Estate Wines is strictly a 21 and older facility and no outside food or beverages are allowed. They offer a variety of small bites that pair perfectly with their wines, available for purchase.
We were seated by the outdoor fireplace for our estate tasting with Dyanmis ambassador, Carter. The tasting was casual and romantically intimate. Yet, it is a perfect setting for larger groups.
Our tasting started off with the 100% Malbec 2022 Rose. Recently released, it has high acidity and no sugar. The other wines are dry with undetectable amounts of sugar. I picked up peach on the nose and strawberry on the palate.
Our next wine was the 2021 Fume Blanc. This was the most interesting wine of the afternoon. Fume is the French style of Sauvignon Blanc that uses French Oak barrels for fermentation, aging, or both. There is a lot going on with this wine. It isn’t like any Sauvignon Blanc you have tasted before. Aged first in cast stone then moved to toasted oak barrels. I detected lemon on the nose and palate. Next came the 2019 100% Merlot. It was jammy with layers of fruit notes. This Merlot is a medium-bodied wine that I found to be an easy-drinking red. It is a great gateway red for white wine drinkers.
We enjoy side-by-side tastings. The Alpha is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and 8% Merlot. It has a dark cherry on the nose and vanilla bean with a hint of spice on the palate. The 2019 Mountain is a similar blend, without the Merlot. This is the flagship wine of Dynamis. It has a deep purple color and dark fruit flavors. It delivers a high tannin finish. It won gold in the San Francisco wine competition. We brought home a bottle of the 2022 Rose, 2019 Alpha and 2019 Mountain. Good news for Chardonnay fans, they have a sparkling Chardonnay in the works.
We recently took a friend to Dynamis. Although we had only visited once before Carter, our previous host, remembered us. We met Kelly, the wine club concierge. She was a delight and Richard, our host for this visit, was knowledgeable and we enjoyed talking wine and biking with him.
The patio was filled with people enjoying bottles of Dynamis wines and taking in the mountain views. They also have intimate spaces for friends to gather to celebrate events.
We highly recommend making an online reservation. Be prepared to be amazed by the exceptional wine and to enjoy the views and relaxed atmosphere. The experience can best be described as casual elegance. Visit their website for the latest details on upcoming events.
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