SPRING RELEASES AVAILABLE NOW
2021 Mezzogiorno - “Mezzogiorno” means Mid-Day in Italian. It also used to describe that part of Italy that is south of Rome all the way to the end of the Italian peninsula. Wines from the Mezzogiorno are made rustically yet are very full bodied with dark fruits and balanced tannins. Our Mezzogiorno is made from a blend of Tannant, Petit Verdot and Montepulciano.
2022 Sangiovese Classico - Sangiovese is the grape used to make Chianti and is notoriously difficult to grow in climates that are not arid. Taking care of this grape is a labor of love and our plantings (lead by a clone called Vino Nobile) produces sensual and soft wines with beautiful aromatics and balance. We also put some of these grapes through the Appassimento drying process to further concentrate their structure. Finally we use another Italian technique called Ripasso which utilizes grape skins that have been dried for other wines and “repass” the fresh wine over the skins to further deepen the wine.
2023 Vermentino Superiore - Our largest white planting this is our signature grape which we make in two distinctly different styles (the other being Desaria). Our Vermentino is made similar to the wine commonly found in the Italian island of Sardinia with its beautiful minerality and saline features which reminds drinkers of Mediterranean summers. Vermentino grows effortlessly on our property and when it arrives at the winery there is little winemaker intervention that takes place. It is simply a lovely wine that thrives here.
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Buona Pasqua - Easter At Raffaldini Vineyards
Saturday, March 30 | 11:00am - 5:00pm
Family Day
Sunday, March 31 | 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Family Day, Easter Egg Hunt and Cheese Roll
Bring the whole family on Easter Sunday for a Children’s Easter Egg Hunt and the traditional La Ruzzola Del Formaggio (Italian Easter Cheese Roll).
La Ruzzola Del Formaggio competitions will take place Sunday at 1pm and 3 pm on the lawn of the Villa. La “Ruzzola," a traditional Italian game of the rolling of the large wheels of cheese, dates back 3000 years to the Etruscan Tomb of the Olympiads but is now played every Easter in many Italian farming villages. Prizes will be awarded for each winner who can roll their cheese closest to the target.
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Wine Club Barrel Tasting with Winemaker Chris Nelson
Saturday, April 6 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Join Winemaker Chris Nelson in the Winery for an exclusive sneak peak of unfinished wines still undergoing the aging process from 2022 and 2023 vintages. This barrel tasting experience will include both red and white varietals from various fermentation vessels and in-depth conversation with the winemaker on various wine-making topics, such as Appassimento and Ripasso.
This event is for Wine Club Members only and is limited to only 40 guests total.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Patrimonio Release
Saturday, April 20 - Riserva Club Only
Salon Tasting - Sagrantino
Saturday, May 4 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Enjoy the experience of joining Owner Jay Raffaldini and Winemaker Chris Nelson in an exclusive Raffaldini Sagrantino Salon Tasting. Held in the tank room of the winery, guests will enjoy a blind tasting of our Sagrantino wine going up blind against some of the greatest Sagrantinos in the world. Sagrantino is our most highly rated varietal with a strong tannin backbone and dusty earthy aromas. Raffaldini has the largest planting of Sagrantino outside of Italy. Charcuterie plates will be served with the wines.
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Spring Four Seasons Wine Tasting Dinner
Saturday, May 4 | 6:30pm - 9:00pm
The Four Seasons Wine Tasting Dinners are held Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and are hosted by Jay Raffaldini. Each dinner features four seasonal food courses and four specially chosen wines to complement the food. Culinary and wine descriptions will be given during the evening to enhance your enjoyment. This is an opportunity to share your food and wine passion with like-minded friends. The atmosphere will be relaxed and casual with a focus on meeting new friends and enjoying la dolce vita. Click below to view menu and sign up! |
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Take a Hike! With Jay Raffaldini
Sunday, May 5 | 9:45am - 1pm
Join owner Jay Raffaldini and long time NC resident and outdoors-man Steve Nelson, as they show you the way through the Raffaldini woods and vineyards. Wear sensible walking shoes and prepare yourself for a moderate 90 minute hike followed by a hearty luncheon which of course includes wine! During the hike, Jay will share details of the vineyard and Steve will share his love of the woods. Ticket includes a guided hike, lunch and two glasses of wine
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Mamma Mia! Mother's Day Flower Pressing Class
Sunday, May 12 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Join Mikayla from Blue Mountain Flowers for a delightful flower pressing class where you'll learn the art of preserving blooms in a glass floating frame. Your ticket includes all materials needed, light snacks, and a glass of exquisite Raffaldini wine to enjoy while you craft your own beautiful botanical masterpiece.
This class is a great gift idea for Mother's Day!
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Food Trucks / Family Days
MARCH 2024 |
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Wine Club Member Spotlight
Ben Miller and Rachel Sosebee
Yesterday, amidst the picturesque vineyards of Raffaldini, wine club members Ben Miller and Rachel Sosebee embarked on a new chapter of their lives as they got engaged. Ben, who introduced Rachel to the exquisite Italian wines at Raffaldini in 2023, witnessed her fall in love with their Vermentino and Grande Riserva, eventually leading to their inclusion on the wine list at Sixty Vines in Charlotte, NC, where Rachel serves as Beverage Manager. Reflecting on their journey, Rachel expressed, 'Over the last year you all have been a key part of all of our favorite moments and yesterday fit that perfectly. We also bought a special bottle to share on our wedding day. We are beyond grateful to have this team and wine as part of our lives, moments and family. Thank you for making amazing wine and having even better people.' Their love story, intertwined with the flavors and memories crafted at Raffaldini, epitomizes the magic of wine and its ability to elevate life's most precious moments.
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Beyond the Vines...Into the Community
Piedmont Opera Presents "The Marriage of Figaro" March 22-24
Today is Figaro's wedding day but the day is going to be full of complications. The Count is chasing Figaro's Bride while a young man is chasing the Count's wife, while an old spinster is chasing Figaro while...a lot is going on here! Leave it to Mozart to sort it all out with dazzling music. Expect disguises, mistaken identities, and a lot of hiding in (and under) things...
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🍇 Join La Famiglia Raffaldini Online! 🥂
We invite you to join the vibrant La Famiglia Raffaldini on social media! Connect with us online to receive daily updates on new releases, exclusive offers, and upcoming events. Share your Raffaldini moments with us by tagging your posts with #Raffaldini.
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Raffaldini Wines Now Available Across NC
After nearly two decades of having Raffaldini wines available exclusively at the Villa we have found a wholesale distribution firm that targets wine shops and restaurants rather than mass supermarket, etc. We sought to build connections with independent retailers and restaurateurs so we can still tell our story to the sales outlet and build on the connection that we have with all of you. To begin, we agreed to have two value-based wines (Bella Misto and Bianco) as well as higher end (Vermentino Superiore and Montepulciano Riserva) available for sale.
To locate a store near you, simply go to raffaldini.com then hover your mouse over shop on the header. When the drop down menu appears, click "Find Raffaldini Wines" at the bottom of the list. Once on the Raffaldini Store Locator, you can use the drop down to search by type or location or type in your zip code and search a radius for outlets near you. If you don’t see your favorite wine shop listed please email me directly at jay@raffaldini.com and I will work with our wholesale partner to get them in the store near you.
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Planning a Visit?
We encourage you to read our visitor experience guide. Your cooperation will help us provide the best possible experience for all our patrons.
We have partnered with Tock to provide a reservation system for tastings and flights at the Villa. Our continued goal is to provide the best experience for you, our valued customers and friends. While walk-ins are welcome and a reservation is not required, we believe that making a reservation will enhance your visit.
As a general reminder to all our guests, to provide a safe, relaxing, and intimate experience for our guests, all visitors must be at least 21 years old, except on holidays and specially designated family days when the whole family is welcome and we have children friendly activities available. Please see our calendar for a full list of Family Days.
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