Once upon a time in the land of Yadkin, near the heart of what is now the Yadkin Valley Wine Appellation Region, Frank W. and his wife Lenna, grew tobacco, corn, wheat and soybeans on their hundred year old family farm. However, the looming demise of tobacco gave rise to Frank's worst nightmare that his beloved family farm would become a housing development. Sp with the unwavering goal of finding a "Plan B" that would allow the farm to remain agricultural and profitable, Frank began a hunt that ended with the planting of a vineyard in 2000 and the subsequent construction of a winery in 2002. According to Frank, getting from Point B (the first planting of grape vines in the Spring of 2000) to Point B (today) "has been a hell of a ride" but one that both Lenna and Frank say they would do again! After the decision was made to enter the arena of vintners, Lenna and Frank Hobson named their vineyards and subsequent winery after Frank's championship show calf. RagApple Lassie, a registered Holstein, was given to Frank by his father to raise as his 4-H Show Calf in 1956. In the fifties it was de rigueur for farm boys (and girls) to have a show calf and Frank did such a good job caring for and training RagApple Lassie that together they won the Grand Championship Trophy at the 1957 North Carolina State Fair. RagApple Lassie Winery is constructed of common galvalume and concrete. Designed by UNC Charlotte School of Architecture Graduating Seniors led by their Professor Greg Snyder, it was designed to look like typical farm buildings in Yadkin County complete with the requisite silo. The silo houses a circular staircase that leads to the underground wine cellar where wine is aged in French and American oak casks. A forty feet wide wall mural painted by a local artist depicts the romance and mystique of vineyards. The winery's main entrance is via a catwalk running along the North wall ceiling allowing one to look down upon the fermentation tanks, the Wine Tasting Room and the entrance to the Wine Cellar. The catwalk displays pictures of Frank with RagApple Lassie, pictures of the first grape harvest, and other family mementos. Parading across a large wall at the end of the catwalk is a storyboard titled, "A Year in the Life of a Vineyard" outlining the monthly activities required to maintain a vineyard. RagApple Lassie Vineyards and her owners have garnered lots of great publicity and many awards for its stable of fine wines, but don't take our work for it! Come taste for yourself! You will be welcome every day year 'round except Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, noon to six pm.
