magazine

From Water to Wine

Spend an afternoon on the river and an evening at Grove Winery and Vineyards at the Paddle the Haw River Wine Dinner.
By Suzanne Capehart

Remember summer days spent chasing crawdads from rock to rock in the creek or doing cannonballs with your friends at the pool? You played until Mom called you in, where you found a table of food that told you how empty your stomach had become. The Paddle the Haw River Wine Dinner at Grove Winery and Vineyards captures the magic of such well-spent days.

On August 15, paddlers will climb into canoes and begin a leisurely paddle along the river, followed by a five-course wine dinner at the vineyards. While floating down the Haw — which teems with fish, birds, beavers, muskrats, and turtles — guides with the Haw River Canoe Company will share insights on the river’s thriving ecosystem and its connection to the surrounding community.

The two- to three-hour paddle will end at the main Grove estate vineyards, cultivated on 44 acres of rich bottomlands. Here, enticing dishes like flageolet beans with black truffle oil, onion-walnut flatbread, lamb or vegetable kabobs with apricot-almond couscous, and dark chocolate cake garnished with raspberries will satisfy hearty appetites. Each of the five courses will be accompanied by one of Grove’s specialty wines, such as the 2006 Estate Merlot.

Paddle the Haw River Wine Dinner
Grove Winery and Vineyards
7360 Brooks Bridge Road
Gibsonville, N.C. 27249
(336) 584-4060

This month’s (August) paddle is the final one for the season. Advance reservations are required. To register, contact Haw River Canoe Company at (336) 260-6465 or Grove Winery and Vineyards at grovewinery.com.

Suzanne Capehart is an editorial intern at Our State.

Additional Paddle Events

Paddling Under the Stars
August 12, 8 p.m.
Jordan Lake, Raleigh
Join Frog Hollow Outdoors and Morehead Planetarium staff to learn about the night sky. Participants will enjoy the Morehead staff’s extensive knowledge while kicking back in canoes or kayaks on Jordan Lake.
To register, call (919) 416-1200.

Moonlight and Starlight Paddle
August 13, 8 p.m.
Falls Lake, Raleigh
Leave your worries behind as you set out in canoes to enjoy the wildlife, soak in the moonrays and starshine, and experience the sounds of nature.
To register, call (919) 416-1200.

Pea Island Canoe Tour
August 5, 12, 19, 26, 9 a.m.-noon
Hatteras Island
Visit the quiet side of Pea Island as you explore the marshes, islands, and creeks of the inlet. Learn about the natural history of the area. Look for birds, crabs, terrapins, skates, and more.
To register, call (252) 475-4180.

Alligator River Canoe Tour
August 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27, 9 a.m.-noon
Manteo
Really get out into the wild in the Milltail Creek paddling trails in the Alligator River Refuge. Paddle the shady blackwater canals, learn about the history of the area, and watch and listen for the Refuge’s reclusive wildlife.
To register, call (252) 475-4180.