Broad River winemaker earns gold and silver from French Broad Vignerons of WNC

Tom Mincarelli’s wines earn recognition in amateur competition

Becki Janes
Guest contributor
The Valley Echo
December 28, 2020

Tom Mincarelli earned gold and silver ribbons in the 2020 French Broad Vignerons Amateur Wine Competition in December. Photo by Becki Janes

Tom Mincarelli takes a deep sniff of a 2014 wine made from a blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah grapes from California. After a good swirl and the first sip he comments immediately on all of the aspects of a well crafted wine: nose, color, mouth feel and all the various “notes” detected in the wine’s flavor.

For a wine now six years old the quality is impressive. This is no surprise considering Tom‘s tenure of winemaking and grape growing at his micro winery and vineyard near Black Mountain.

 “I started making wine and growing grapes because it connects me to my Italian heritage,” said Mincarelli, who earned three gold medals and a silver medal from the French Broad Vignerons Amateur Wine Competition in December. “I enjoy the problem-solving aspects of the chemistry of making  wine and it gives me great satisfaction to share my wines with friends and family.”

Broad River vineyard operator and winemaker Tom Mincarelli earned three goal medals and a silver medal at the French Broad Vignerons of WNC Amateur Wine Competition in December. Photo by Becki Janes

Mincarelli generally produces three batches of wine each year from three sources. He purchases Chilean grapes and California grapes through a co-op group of amateur winemakers loosely based in eastern N.C.

In mid to late summer, he harvests his own estate grown grapes; two hybrid varieties better suited for colder climates. At an elevation of 3,200 feet, this resistance to cold is necessary for the Marquette and Regent grapes to thrive and produce a crop suitable for winemaking.

Mincarelli’s 2018 Marquette earned gold in the French Broad Vignerons competition, while his 2018 Regent earned silver. Two other wines made from grapes he purchased also captured gold.

While Asheville and its surrounding regions are well known for the craft beer industry, vignerons like Mincarelli represent a growing presence of vineyards and wineries.

For more information on vineyards and winemakers in the region, including events and membership details, visit French Broad Vignerons.