Charlotte native Mark Adams has recently opened Amber Crest Winery in Matthews. As a lifelong wine enthusiast, Adams is excited to open the first custom winery in the Carolinas. He hopes to add a memorable, personal touch to his wines by providing them in small, house-made batches.
“We drink more wine than beer,” Adams says. “Why not see if we can create a personal experience that brings the vineyard into town?”
At Amber Crest you can become a “winemaker for a day” by blending your own unique creations to bottle, cork and design your very own custom label.
Adams imports juices from all over the world to create “the most unlimited, and best-tasting experience.” Amber Crest sells wine by the glass along with providing the opportunity for group “bottling parties.”
“At Amber Crest there is something for everyone,” says Adams. “I’ve tried to create an approachable, nonpretentious atmosphere for people to learn about a sometimes intimidating subject. No one needs to be intimidated here; we can very literally start from the ground up.”
Adams’ offers wine introduction and blending classes, along with private tastings and the chance to be a part of the whole winemaking process without all the work. “It gives people the chance to really be creative while having fun and learning something new.”
This article appears in Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2007.
