“1 of the top 7 Wineries in the Country”
(outside of California)
top 10% of attractions in the world in 2020
top 10% of attractions in the world in 2021
brunch spots in America 2021
brunch spots in America 2022
top 10% of attractions in the world in 2022
top 10% of attractions in the world in 2023
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
Gold Medal Award 92 Points- 2023 Harvest Challenge, Sonoma CA
- Judge Says: “Good varietal, well-balanced, spicy, body, mixed dark fruit, crystalized ginger.”
Gold Medal Award 90 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award 90 Points – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge – San Diego, CA
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
Double Gold Medal Award 93 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2022 NC State Wine Competition
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 91 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
95 Points and BEST OF SHOW BORDEAUX STYLE BLEND – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge
– San Diego, CA
“This wine might be a little tricky to locate were it not for the wonders of the internet, and I highly recommend that you avail yourself of the technology and place in order for a bottle of this, especially if you have yet to get this state on your wine radar. Think fruit forward-Bordeaux here and you’ll have the gist of things. Bravo!” -2023 Winemaker Challenge Critic’s Review
Platinum Medal Award – 94 Points – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge – San Diego, CA
Gold Medal- 2022 Jefferson Cup Invitational
91 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2022 NC State Wine Competition
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
Gold Medal Award 94 Points- 2023 Harvest Challenge, Sonoma CA
- Judge Says: “Nice use of Oak, plush plum tart with cloves.”
Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 American Fine Wines Competition
Gold Medal Award 94 Points- 2023 International East Meets West Wine Competition
- Judge Says: “Blackberry, cherry, spice, tannin at end with grip”
Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Jefferson Cup Winner – 2022 Jefferson Cup Invitational | Kansas City, MO
Double Gold Medal Award- 2022 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
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 of Show and Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 American Fine Wines Competition
- Double Gold Medal Award 98 Points- 2023 International East Meets West Wine Competition
- Judge Says: “Black cherry, spice, cranberry, curry, coriander and olallieberry”
- Gold Medal Award 91 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Winner- 2023 NC Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Winner 90 Points – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge – San Diego, CA
- Gold Medal Winner 90 Points- 2023 San Diego Wine and Spirits Competition
- Best of Show 91 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
- Double Gold Medal Award- 2022 NC State Wine Competition
- 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
- Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- Platinum Award Winner 94 Points- 20th Annual Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Award- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
- 91 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
- 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- 2023 American Fine Wines Competition
Gold Medal Award 90 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Double Gold Medal Award 94 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2022 NC State Wine Competition
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
Pilot Shadow
Best of Class and Double Gold Medal Award 97 Points- 2023 Harvest Challenge, Sonoma CA
- Judge Says: “Good wine crafting, cranberry, integrated complete and seamless”
Gold Medal Award- 2023 American Fine Wines Competition
Gold Medal Award 93 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award – 92 Points – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge – San Diego, CA
Best of Class- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
Gold Medal Winner 90 Points- 2023 San Diego Wine and Spirits Competition
Double Gold- 2022 San Francisco Chronicle
92 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
Best Dry Red of the Show- 2022 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Best of Show- 2022 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold Medal Award 92 Points- 2023 Harvest Challenge, Sonoma CA
- Judge Says: “Grippy, super dry, impressive oak.”
Devil's Hill
Gold Medal Award 92 Points- 2023 Harvest Challenge, Sonoma CA
- Judge Says: “Cloves, menthol, blend is nice, balance of fruit and acidity.”
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 Reserve
Double Gold Medal Award- 94 Points 2023 Great White Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Double Gold Medal Winner and Best of White Wine Category 90 Points- 2023 NC Wine Competition
Gold Medal Winner- 90 Points 2022 Sommelier Challenge
Golden Hallows
Double Gold Medal Award 95 Points- 2023 Harvest Challenge, Sonoma CA
- Judge Says: “Good blend, balanced aroma, gooseberry, distinctive, bitter lemon, good tension”
Gold Medal Award 94 Points- 2023 International East Meets West Wine Competition
- Judge Says: “Beautiful fruit, apple, pear, spice. Good structure, well balanced”
Platinum Medal Award 94 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Judge Says: “This producer keeps turning out the hits- whether white or red, you’ll find consistent quality. This dry white is a blend of Vidal and Traminette that sizzles with acidity and freshness. Tart citrus and stone fruit notes carry the day and finish brightly, keeping the fresh vibe rolling. I always love a treat from an unexpected locale.”
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award – 93 Points – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge
Gold Medal Award – 93 Points – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge – San Diego, CA
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
90 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
Double Gold Medal Award- 2022 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
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
- Gold Medal 2016 International Winemakers Challenge
Rose'
Gold Medal Award 92 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
Double Gold Medal Winner and Best of Rose Category- 2023 NC Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Experience Rose Wine Competition
Best of Show- 2023 American Fine Wines Competition Judge Sunny Fraser remarked, “When a wine from North Carolina is the Best in Show, it is reminiscent of a Judgment of Paris moment. There are no preconceived ideas in a blind tasting; you’re just judging what’s in the glass.”
Double Gold- 2023 San Francisco Chronicle
Gold Medal Award – 93 Points – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge – San Diego, CA
Best of Class- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
Gold Medal Winner 90 Points- 2023 San Diego Wine and Spirits Competition
Gold- 2022 San Francisco Chronicle
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
JOLO Sangria
Best of Show and Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Muddy Paws
- Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Award Winner 91 Points- 20th Annual Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Winner – 2021 Jefferson Cup Invitational | Kansas City, MO
- 90 Points-2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
- James Suckling Rating- 90 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 Medal Award 96 Points- 2023 Harvest Challenge, Sonoma CA
- Judge Says: “Notes of white spice with a deep tropical component. Well balanced”
- Gold Medal Award 91 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- Gold Medal Award- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
- 91 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
- Double Gold Medal Award- 2022 NC State Wine Competition
- Double Gold Winner – 2019 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- Double Gold Winner 2018 Western Carolina Wine Competition
Twinkles
- Gold Medal Award 92 Points- 2023 Harvest Challenge, Sonoma CA
- Judge Says: “Tropical fruit perfect acidity, orange & lemon zest, Mascarpone.”
- Best of Class & Gold Medal Award 92 Points- 2023 International East Meets West Wine Competition
- Judge Says: “Very nice expression of varietal, star fruit, well made.”
- Gold Medal Award 90 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
- Double Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- Best of Class 97 Points- Experience Rose Wine Competition Santa Rosa, CA
- Gold Medal Award Winner 92 Points- 20th Annual Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition 2023
- Best of Class 94 Points- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
- Gold Medal Award- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
- Gold- 2022 San Francisco Chronicle
- Best in Show – Sparkling Category 2020 NC Fine Wines Competition
Sweet Vermouth
Best of Class & Gold Medal Award 90 Points- 2023 International East Meets West Wine Competition
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- Judge Says: “rich spicy, nice depth of flavor.”
Platinum Medal Award 94 Points- 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Mid Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
Gold Medal Winner- 2023 NC Wine Competition
BEST IN SHOW (Desert/Port) – 2023 NC Fine Wines
Gold Medal Award – 91 Points – 2023 International Winemaker’s Challenge – San Diego, CA
Gold Medal Award- 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge
Gold Medal Winner 91 Points- 2023 San Diego Wine and Spirits Competition
90 Points- 2022 American Wine Society Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2022 NC State Wine Competition
Gold Medal Award- 2021 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition
James Suckling Rating- 90 points
