April 2022 - 17

Overmountain Vineyards has grown to 70 acres with 18 of those acres being
reserved for grapes.
the juice has time to settle, we put the
yeast in and let it ferment for four to
six weeks to keep it cool. "
Sofia said white wine must be kept
cool during fermentation in much the
same way a runner must be kept cool
when exercising.
" When someone is running they are
exerting energy, they are working and
they are sweaty. When you ferment
wine, the yeast is doing the very same
thing, " she said, " so we have to keep
it between 58 and 62 degrees so that
it doesn't get overworked or smelly. "
All their white wine is fermented
in stainless steel bins before being
bottled and sold to consumers.
Red wine, however, has a much
different process due to color
extraction from the grapes. Some may
be surprised to know that red grapes
are white on the inside, meaning
that the grapes have to be fermented
whole in order to draw out that
beautiful red color. This extra step
translates to a lot more manual labor
and intentionality.
" We sort the red berries
individually and destem them based
on size, " Sofia said. " We have
volunteers that help us do this each
year, which is a huge blessing. "
Sofia Lilly takes on a variety of roles
for Overmountain Vineyards, including
knowing what is going on in the
winegrape production process.
weekend or simply a glass of wine
and peaceful scenery.
" As soon as you pull into the
vineyard you are hit with stunning
views of the North Carolina
mountains, " Sofia said. " We
welcome you like family here and
offer a comforting, homey and
peaceful experience. "
Tastings are also available for
customers looking to fall in love
with a new wine or find out about the
winemaking process. In fact, Sofia
recently started offering tableside
wine tastings that educate about each
wine and how it is made.
" It's so rewarding to walk
customers through the process and
see their faces as they taste and enjoy
each wine, " she said. " It really brings
everything full circle and makes the
hard work worth it. "
Sofia Lilly monitors the fermentation
process at Overmountain Vineyards in
Tyron, North Carolina.
Once the grapes have been sorted
they are fermented whole for about
one and a half weeks before they are
pressed and put into bins to finish
fermenting. Despite the extra steps
and labor, red wine is actually Sofia's
favorite to make because it is so
hands-on and she feels very in touch
with the final product.
The vineyard is open to the public
each week, Wednesday through
Sunday. With two Airbnb's located
on the farm, customers can either
choose to come for a relaxing
For those seeking a career in
the winemaking industry, Sofia
recommends getting hands-on
experiences early through internships
and farm work opportunities.
" Getting involved is always the
best way to learn if you truly love
something, " she said. " It will really give
you validation if this is where you want
to be and where your passion lies. "
In the future, Sofia and her family
are looking forward to diversifying
their operation through expanding
their already flourishing U-pick
business and trying their hand at
commercial flower growing. They
are also heavy into agritourism and
excited to start working on new
ideas and ways to drive customers
to the farm.
" Agritourism is huge here and one
of my favorite aspects of the job, "
Sofia said. " Anytime I can bring
people out to the farm, show them
what we do and educate them on why
it's important is a good day. " FGN
FGN | APRIL 2022 | 17
April 2022

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