Christian Paul Brings Global Influences to Yadkin Valley

Step up to the bar at Christian Paul Vineyards and embark on an international excursion. The tasting menu at this excellent Elkin winery, which opened in November 2023, leads customers through Italy, France, Australia and California using grapes and winemaking techniques representative of each region.

Owners Christian Ercolani and Andrew Weyl had two requirements when looking for a location: excellent soil and proximity to an interstate. They found their perfect location just outside of Elkin with a 25-acre Yadkin Valley property not too far from I-77.

During their initial site visit, Ercolani, a geologist, took soil samples and tested them in his lab. The results confirmed a mineral-rich, 18-inch cap of red clay topsoil, and sandy, silty loam below — an ideal structure for growing grapes in the heart of Yadkin Valley wine country.

“The Yadkin Valley has its own unique terroir,” Weyl says. “You can grow something that also grows in California, but if you grow it here, it will have a Yadkin Valley taste to it.”

Three-and-a-half acres of vineyards, planted in spring 2023, contain Traminette, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Two acres of Montepulciano will be planted in the spring of 2024.

The winery worked with fellow Yadkin Valley winemakers — including Childress, Haze Gray, Jones von Drehle and Stony Knoll — to source grapes and craft its original wine lineup.

The initial wines available in the tasting room are Grenache Rosé, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and a Blanc de Blancs sparkling Chardonnay. Upcoming additions include Petit Verdot and Montepulciano.

Ercolani, who will be the winemaker for future Christian Paul vintages, draws inspiration from his Italian heritage. His family has owned and operated a vineyard in Montepulciano, Italy, for 125 years.

He broadened his wine knowledge and palate working in restaurants to pay his way through college. Ercolani attended graduate school in Australia, which directly influenced Christian Paul’s shiraz, the Australian spelling of syrah.

The tasting room is family- and pet-friendly. It has a warm, welcoming atmosphere with a soft yellow color palette, stone accents, natural wood finishes and exposed rafters. Outdoor areas include both covered and uncovered patios, with a fire table and fire pit overlooking the vineyards.

“It’s about more than the wine; it’s the full experience,” Ercolani says. “We like going into wineries, meeting the owner, and asking, ‘How’d you get here?’ That’s the environment we want to create.”

Christian Paul Vineyards is located at 156 Tuscan Way in Elkin, North Carolina. To learn more, visit ChristianPaulVineyards.com, or call (336) 909-2723.

At the time of opening, Christian Paul became the 18th winery on the Surry County Wine Trail and the 44th winery in the Yadkin Valley wine region.

The newly opened Riversong Cabins, just six miles from the winery, are a great lodging option for visitors to Christian Paul Vineyards and the Surry County Wine Trail.