Reds
“At the Winemaker Challenge, we have judges who not only know but appreciate native grapes. They showed their appreciation for this Cynthiana — also known as Norton — by tagging it with a Platinum award. Aromas of black fruit and clay entice, and the black fruit carries the palate with good grip and notes of citrus and brown spice. One of the best wines I’ve tasted from this variety. It sounds like a road trip is in order. A Platinum Award winner at the 2018 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition.”
– Rich Cook | 2018 Winemaker Challenge Judge | Jan 30, 2018
“North Carolina’s Jolo Winery 2016 Pilot Fog was named Best Native American Red (the grape is Norton). I might prefer the V. Sattui 2013 Morisoli Vineyard cabernet sauvignon, the wine of the year, but the far less expensive Norton from the obscure Yadkin River Valley of North Carolina could hold its own in just about any company.”
– Robert Whitley | “Lessons From the 2018 Winemaker Challenge” | February 13, 2018
Carolus XII
James Suckling Rating- 90 Points
Gold Medal Award- 2021 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition
Best of Class- 2021 Santé International Wine and Spirits Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Double Gold Medal Award- 2021 Carolina Classic Fair
JOLOTAGE Reserve
Gold Medal Award- 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award 90 POINTS- 2021 Harvest Challenge Sonoma California
Gold Medal Award- 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Pilot Fog
James Suckling Rating- 90 Points
Jefferson Cup Winner – 2021 Jefferson Cup Invitational | Kansas City, MO
Jefferson Cup Winner – 2019 Jefferson Cup Invitational | Kansas City, MO
- Gold Medal Award – 90 Points – 2020 International Sommelier challenge in San Diego California
- Gold Medal Award- 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
- Best Native American Wine – 2020 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Award – 2020 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- DOUBLE Gold Medal Winner 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner 2019 International Sommelier Wine Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner – 2019 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- DOUBLE Gold Medal Winner – 2019 Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Best Native American Wine – 2019 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition – Spicy and lively with juicy ripe fruit. Pleasant and easy to drink – Rebecca Murphy
- Gold Medal Award – 92 Points – 2019 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Award – 2019 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- Double Gold Winner 2018 Western Carolina Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2018 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern 2018 Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2017 Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Best in Show and Best Dry Red Wine. 2016 Dixie Classic Fair
- Gold Medal Winner, 2015 Asheville Wine and Food Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 NC State Fair Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 Dixie Classic Competition
- Gold Medal 2016 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- Gold Medal 2016 Asheville Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2016 Dixie Classic Competition
Crimson Shadow
Best of Class- 2021 Santé International Wine and Spirits Competition
Gold Medal Winner- 93 Points 2021 International Wine Makers Challenge
Gold Medal Winner 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Crimson Creek
- Best in Show- Hybrid Category- 2022 International Winemakers Challenge San Diego CA
- Gold Medal Award- 93 Points- 2022 International Winemakers Challenge San Diego CA
- DOUBLE Gold Medal Award 96 POINTS- 2021 Harvest Challenge Sonoma California
- Gold Medal Award – 91 Points – 2020 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Award – 2020 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner 2019 International Sommelier Wine Challenge
- DOUBLE Gold Medal Winner – 2019 Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Gold Medal Award – 90 Points – 2019 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition –A very pretty, delicate rendition of Chambourcin, with light body but notable red-toned flavors and ultra fine-grained tannins – Michael Franz
- Gold Medal Award – 2019 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- Best in Show – Hybrid Category 2018 and 2019 NC Fine Wines Competition
- Gold Medal Award – 2018 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- “Best of Class”, “Best of North Carolina AVA” and Gold Medal Award – 2018 Harvest Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner 2018 Western Carolina Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2018 International Sommelier Wine Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner 2018 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2017 Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Gold Medal Winner 2017 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition
- 2015 Crimson Creek – Gold Medal – 91 Points – 2016 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal – 2016 NC Wine Competition
JOLOTAGE
- BEST OF CLASS and DOUBLE Gold Medal Award 97 POINTS- 2021 Harvest Challenge Sonoma California
- Gold Medal Award – 2020 International Sommelier challenge in San Diego California
- Gold Medal Award – 2019 Harvest Challenge
- BEST OF SHOW – 2019 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- DOUBLE Gold Medal Winner – 2019 Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Gold Medal Award – 90 Points – 2019 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
– A spot-on amalgam of fruit, acid, alcohol and tannins, this delivers a smooth, satiny mouthfeel and finish – Bill Ward - Gold Medal Winner 2018 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern 2018 Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2017 Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Gold Medal Winner – 2016 NC Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner – 2016 NC Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 Asheville Wine and Food Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 Dixie Classic Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 NC State Fair Wine Competition
Cuvee Selection
Double Gold Medal Award- 2021 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2021 Carolina Classic Fair
JOLO Vineyards, Yadkin Valley (North Carolina) “Cuvee Selection” 2018:
“I love what’s happening at JOLO, and I hope this award brings them some wider recognition. Yadkin Valley, North Carolina might not be on the tip of your tongue when it comes to favorite AVA’s, but there’s great fruit being produced there, and it’s being made into great wine – some from varieties you may not know. This wine blends 25% Cynthiana (aka Norton) with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Petit Verdot into a gorgeous glass. Mixed red berry and cherry, a dash of dill, soft fall spice and easy oak toast all dancing together through a long finish that’s extended by supple grip. Spring this on your California wine snob friends and spin them around a bit! A Platinum Award winner at the 2020 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition.”
— 94 Rich Cook Jan 28, 2020
- Best in Show – Hybrid Category 2020 NC Fine Wines Competition
- Gold Medal – 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Challenge
Whites
“The hybrid grape varietals wildly planted in the eastern and midwestern United States may not be well known, but the wines they produce are increasingly well made. JOLO’s blend of Vidal Blanc and Traminette from JOLO offers bright citrus and tropical aromas, is well balanced, bone dry and long on the palate. Platinum Award Winner at the 2019 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition.”
94 Points
Robert Whitley – January 22, 2019
Golden Hallows
Gold Medal Award- 93 Points- 2022 International Winemakers Challenge San Diego CA
James Suckling Rating- 90 Points
Gold Medal Award- 2021 Carolina Classic Fair
Gold Medal Winner- 92 Points 2021 International Wine Makers Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner 2021 International Wine Makers Challenge
- Gold Medal Award – 91 Points – 2020 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Award – 2020 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- Double Gold Medal Winner 2018 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern 2018 Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2018 International Sommelier Wine Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner 2018 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2017 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition
- Double Gold Medal Winner 2016 Asheville Wine and Food Competition Gold Medal Winner 2016 NC State Fair Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2016 Dixie Classic Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2016 Mid Atlantic Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 Asheville Wine and Food Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 NC State Fair Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2015 Dixie Classic Competition
- Silver Medal Winner 2015 Grand Harvest Awards
- Gold Medal 2016 International Winemakers Challenge
Rose'
James Suckling Rating- 90 Points
BEST OF SHOW ROSÉ
2020 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- Gold Medal Award 92 Points- 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Award 92 Points- 2021 Harvest Challenge Sonoma California
- Gold Medal Award – 92 Points – 2020 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Award – 2020 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- Gold Medal Award – 2019 International Winemaker’s Challenge
- Gold Medal Winner 2018 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern 2018 Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 2016 Winemakers Challenge International Wine Competition
Dessert & Sparkling
Muddy Paws
- James Suckling Rating- 91 Points
- Gold Medal Award- 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Award 90 POINTS- 2021 Harvest Challenge Sonoma California
- Gold Medal Award- 2021 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition
- Best of Show Fortified Wine – 2021 International Sommelier challenge in San Diego California – 92 points
- Gold Medal Award – 92 Points – 2020 International Sommelier challenge in San Diego California
- Gold Medal Award – 2021 Carolina Classic Fair
- DOUBLE Gold Medal Winner – 2019 Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Best in Show – Dessert Category 2019 NC Fine Wines Competition
Happy Endings
- DOUBLE Gold Medal Winner – 2019 Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Double Gold Medal 2016 NC Wine Competition
Beach Bubbles
- Double Gold Winner – 2019 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- Double Gold Winner 2018 Western Carolina Wine Competition
Twinkles
- Best in Show – Sparkling Category 2020 NC Fine Wines Competition
Sweet Vermouth
Gold Medal Award- 2021 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition
James Suckling Rating- 90 points
