DOBSON, N.C. — During the coronavirus pandemic, Shelton Vineyards in Dobson doubled down on its online sales, but now that things are picking back up, winemakers are facing many other challenges, including supply chain issues and staffing shortages.
What You Need To Know
The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival is back for the first time since the pandemic and will be held this weekend in Elkin
Shelton Vineyards is the largest estate vineyard in North Carolina
Ethan Brown has been around the wine business since he was just 10 and has worked the past four-plus years at Shelton Vineyards as a winemaker
Ethan Brown, winemaker at Shelton Vineyards, knows a thing or two about making wine, and feeling the strain brought about by shortages and supply chain clogs.
“So, I grew up in the wine industry. My parents planted a small wine grape vineyard in 2000. I was 10 years old, and I grew up working in the vineyard. My family actually owned a small winery and tasting room," Brown said.
For four years, Brown has been a winemaker at 400-acre Shelton Vineyards, and the pandemic didn't slow business down for the business.
“Online sales were great during the past two years, really,” Brown said. “We tried new things. We started wine flights in the tasting room, and that’s not going away, that's been very popular. I think a lot of that just forced us into some new habits, which is a good thing.”
Now that things are starting to get back to normal, winemakers are facing new issues.
“Honestly, staffing since COVID restrictions have eased but has been a little bit more difficult,” Brown said.
As the saying goes, the show must go on. One of the biggest shows Triad wineries and vineyards are about to attend is the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival in Elkin, N.C.
“The Yadkin Valley is held in Elkin every year, and I believe this is the first festival that they’ve had post-COVID,” Brown said.
Already 1,300 tickets have sold in advance. Usually, the festival sells 2,500 total tickets. Luckily for Shelton Vineyards, they are able to attend the festival with no problems. Not all winemakers are that lucky.
“I think it’s continued exposure,” Brown said.
That continued exposure will not come for some. According to the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council, at least three wineries are not attending this year due to staffing shortages.
Hopefully, things won't stay bottled up for too long, and people can get a taste of the fine wines the state has to offer.
“The quality of North Carolina wines are better than they ever have been and always improving,” Brown said.
People can get a taste of some of those Carolina wines this weekend at the festival.