Williams on wine: Another successful state harvest has led to grape expectations

North Carolina's wine industry celebrated another successful harvest and grape crush this year and you can join in that celebration with these upcoming festivities:

• Shelton Vineyards 19th Annual Harvest Festival, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.sheltonvineyards.com .

• A Twisted Tasting to benefit the Women's Resource Center of Greensboro, featuring hand-crafted fermented products from Triad-area producers. Oct. 5, 5:30-8:30 p.m. www.WomensCenterGSO.org .

• Childress Vineyards Monster Bash, Oct. 18, 6-10 p.m. Costumes recommended. www.childressvineyards.com .

• Yadkin Valley Grape Festival, Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Yadkinville. .

• Great Grapes Wine Festival, Oct. 19, Koka Booth Amphitheater, Cary. www.ncwinefestival.com .

• Highlands Food & Wine, Nov. 7-10, Highlands Plateau, Highlands. www.highlandsfoodandwine.com .

• JOLO Vineyards Opera in the Vines to support the Greensboro Opera, Nov. 29. www.jolovineyards.com .

• N.C. Winegrower's Association International Wine Symposium at Wake Forest University, May 21-24, 2025. www.internationalwinesymposium.org

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In other North Carolina wine news:

Celebrating Childress Vineyards in Lexington, which is observes its 20th anniversary this year.

Remembering Michael Zimmerman, owner of Junius Lindsay Vineyards in Lexington, who recently passed.

Congratulations to Rayson Vineyards near Mocksville, which won Best in Class at the International East Coast Wine Competition for its Rose wine, crafted from Vidal Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Grigio and Petit Verdot.

Kudos to JOLO Vineyards in Pilot Mountain, which won a gold medal for its Pilot Fog (100 percent Norton) at the Sante' International Food & Spirits Competition.

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So many wines; so little time. Here are a few I've enjoyed the past month and you might enjoy, too.

• 2023 Petiole Pinot Noir ($10): From Willamette Valley fruit in Oregon, this Pinot is punching above its weight at this price. Bright cherry, raspberry, blue berry. A delightful find at Trader Joe's.

• 2023 Trader Joe's Reserve Pinot Gris ($10): Also pocketbook-friendly, this white from Willamette Valley shows balanced pear, citrus and a hint of honey.

• Stonefield Cellars Midnight Moonlight ($18): Semi-sweet from the Viognier grape. This Stokesdale, NC winery crafted a balanced white bursting with tropical fruits.

• Stonefield Cellars Dread Pirate Robert's Bloody Red ($20): This has long been a staple for winemaker Robert Wurz. The current release is crafted from Petite Sirah. Blackberry, black cherry, pomegranate.

• 2023 Chateau d'Aqueria Tavel ($23): This famed French region is all about blush wines that are no shrinking violet. From a kitchen-sink blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault. Bourboulenc and Clairette is a chewy, savory, minerally rose showcasing raspberry, huckleberry, and black licorice.

• Junius Lindsay Vineyards Second Leaf ($26): A mélange of French and American grapes from this Lexington-area winery. Crisp and bright with hints of honeysuckle, guava and lemon-lime.

• Junius Lindsay Vineyards Party Line ($24): A playful blend of Petite Sirah and Syrah, two very different red grapes. Among this Lexington winery's most popular reds. Light tannins, smoke and red-berried fruit.

• 2019 Riserva Ducale Ruffino Chianti Classico ($26): From Italy's famed Tuscany region, this Sangiovese-based red boasts dried cherry, pomegranate, and all-spice.

• 2020 Schlumberger Pinot Gris Abbes ($27): The French Alsace region is renowned for its Pinot Gris. This medium dry version shows restrained pear, fuji apple and green melon.

• 2021 Ancient Peaks Renegade ($28): A playful blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot and Malbec from this Paso Robles winery in California. Black currant, raspberry, plum, with smoky tar notes.

• 2021 Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Zinfandel ($44): Could cellar 2-3 more years, but approachable now. Blackberry, bacon smoke, chocolate and anise.

• 2022 The Prisoner Red Blend ($52): A blend from Napa Valley that incorporates Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Charbono. Brooding blackberry, boysenberry, huckleberry, fig and all-spice.

• 2019 McPrice Myers Paper Street Vineyards Cuvee ($65): A not-for-the-faint-of-heart red blend in a high-octane GSM style. This Paso Robles, California winery crafted a blockbuster blend from Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah and Graciano. A smoky blackberry cobbler on steroids.

Ed Williams, a retired newspaper reporter and editor, has written about wine since 1990. If you have news of a wine event, email .