Laurel Gray - Cabernet Sauvignon

By Dan Hoey

Benny and Kim Myers, the owners of Laurel Gray Vineyards in the Yadkin Valley,have a strong connection to their land.  Benny’s ancestors came to the Swan Creek Region of the Yadkin Valley in 1773, and for ten generations the Myers have lived and worked in this beautiful, fertile area.

Benny began his career working for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco while farming on the side; Kim pursued a career in advertising and graphic art.  As the tobacco industry waned in the 1990s the Myers began to think about the 11th generation – their children, Ashley Laurel and Taylor Gray – and whether the land would be viable for them should they choose to stay.

Realizing that their property was perfectly situated and the soil well suited for growing grapes, they planted their first vineyard in 2001, and opened a tasting room that is a renovated milking parlor in 2003.  Their children’s middle names gave them a perfect brand name for their enterprise, conveying the southern hospitality and elegance that is immediately evident when one visits Laurel Gray.

We spent a delightful early afternoon with Benny and Kim – our favorites from their tasting room were their Viognier which was very distinctive, and their reserve Cabernet, which was truly world-class.  When I first tasted the reserve Cab my immediate thought was that if I was in a tasting room in Napa and they were offering the wine for $50 I would have strongly considered purchasing some – as it is, at $29 this is priced well if higher than many Yadkin wines.  

Later that evening, Benny and Kim joined us for dinner at Twenty-One and Main, an outstanding restaurant in nearby Elkin.  They were kind enough to bring some of their wines, including the reserve Cab we liked so well.  Reflecting on our time with them, it was a good example of why I fell in love with wine country in the first place –tasting and learning about the wines is a fun experience, but what makes it truly enriching is meeting the good people along the way – Benny and Kim are good people, and they have succeeded in creating their dream of an elegant winery making good wine that gives their children the opportunity to continue the Myers family legacy in Swan Creek.