| By Jennifer Primrose & Dathan Kazsuk |
With summer officially behind us and the cooler weather approaching, we dug into our wine cellar for some big North Carolina red wines. Remember, not all North Carolina wine is sweet. These four reds explore many French and Italian varietals—perfect for the remainder of the year!
1. Hidden Vineyard 2022 Wild Thing Petit Verdot
Dark, moody, and a little wild. This latest creation from the team over at Hidden Vineyard has blended a wine with hints of blackberry, smoky oak, and black pepper to make a wine perfect for the cooler weather. This is proof that Petit Verdot doesn’t need blending to steal the show. Let it open up, and you’ll catch whispers of espresso and that guilty pleasure of danger.
$40/bottle | Dobson, North Carolina | hiddenvineyard.com
2. Piccione Vineyards 2021 Signature Red Blend
This Tuscan-inspired red blend signs its name in bold ink—think cherry cola, dusty herbs, and a classy vanilla finish. Structured but suave, like a lawyer with a Vespa. Pair with meatballs or Mafia movies. Either way, you’ll finish the bottle. It’s a wine that says, “I’ve got stories,” and delivers with every sip. You’ll find this wine in what I like to call NC’s “Little Italy.”
$48/bottle | Ronda, North Carolina | piccionevineyards.com
3. Raffaldini Vineyards 2022 Grande Riserva
Old World swagger with Appalachian altitude. This Montepulciano-dominant blend struts with black cherry, tobacco leaf, and that telltale Raffaldini dried fig charm. Age-worthy? Absolutely. But why wait when it’s already dancing on your tongue like Pavarotti at a vineyard opera? It’s bold yet elegant—like an Italian leather boot stomping through Yadkin soil.
$65/bottle | Ronda, North Carolina | raffaldini.com
4. Dynamis Estate Wines 2019 The Mountain
A Bordeaux-style hit—massive structure, silky tannins, and flavors layered like an expensive oil painting. Cabernet leads, but merlot, malbec, and friends play backup with grace. Plums, graphite, a hint of cigar box. This one’s for sipping slow—preferably fireside, with Sinatra on vinyl. There’s altitude in the bottle.
$140/bottle | Janesville, North Carolina | dynamisestatewines.com
Jennifer Primrose and Dathan Kazsuk are Triangle Around Town, a Raleigh-based lifestyle platform dedicated to uncovering the stories behind wine, beer, spirits, food, and travel. Since 2013, they have built a reputation for thoughtful storytelling that highlights small businesses, artisan producers, and hidden gems from across North Carolina and beyond—offering readers a taste of culture through every feature. With years of experience and a deep connection to the community, Triangle Around Town brings passion and purpose to every piece. They can be found on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube as Triangle Around Town. You can also find them at trianglearoundtown.com.
