JOLO is located in the Yadkin Valley at Pilot Mountain, NC. Now well-known, Yadkin Valley was North Carolina’s first AVA, named in 2003. The stony quartzite monadnock soils near Pilot Mountain are well-draining and mineral-rich. This minerality shines in Carolus Xll, a  complex wine with firm structure.

In the vineyard, canopy management is particularly important. Ray states, “We deliberately leaf-pull on both the east and west sides of the fruiting zone each year, just after berry set. This increases airflow around the clusters, improves sunlight exposure and helps us maintain healthier fruit while promoting more even ripening and flavor development.”

Harvested between September and October 2023, JOLO Carolus XII consists of estate-grown fruit, including 44% Petit Verdot, 33% Cabernet Franc, and 23% Merlot. Owner JW Ray says, “The 2023 vintage was an exceptional opportunity for us to showcase not only the quality of fruit we can grow in North Carolina, but also the level of precision we have developed in both the vineyard and cellar.”

“During fermentation”, Ray continues, “we employed traditional pump-overs for extraction and cap management, but approximately halfway through fermentation we also incorporated délestage, or rack-and-return. By completely draining the fermenting wine away from the cap and then returning it over the skins, we were able to continue extracting color, flavor and desirable tannin while helping shape a more polished texture.”

Not skipping any steps, Ray says, “Following fermentation and délestage, the individual components were carefully evaluated and blended. As a final refinement, I used traditional egg-white fining at the extremely restrained rate of approximately one egg white per barrel. It is an old-world technique that I particularly appreciate because, when used judiciously, it can soften the harder edges of tannin and improve texture without stripping the wine of its character, concentration or sense of place.”

The entire family and management team participates in finalizing the blend. “Based on that collective feedback,” according to Ray, “we may adjust the blend a percentage point here or there, taste again, and continue refining it until we reach a unanimous conclusion: ‘This is JOLO.’”

The wine was aged an extended 27 months in French oak before being bottled in January 2026. The Petit Verdot-dominant wine opens with an fine nose of black fruit. Smooth on the palate, the Cabernet Franc and Merlot add a quality of warm spice touched by subtle oak notes. “Ultimately, CAROLUS XII reflects the balance we constantly pursue at JOLO: ripe, expressive fruit; structure worthy of aging; and enough finesse that the wine is already compelling in the glass,” JW states.

“We are extraordinarily proud to have the Jefferson Cup Best of Show award become part of the CAROLUS XII story, and we sincerely appreciate the recognition,” Ray says.   

In addition to the four grapes above, JOLO grows Chambourcin, Cynthiana, Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Marquette. In 2020, the acquisition of Hutton Vineyards expanded the Rays’ holdings and now serves as JOLO’s production facility. In 2023, Ray founded a second estate, Rayson Winery & Vineyards.

ASWA’s annual competition is the largest in the nation focused exclusively on the wines of the East Coast, covering the seventeen states from Maine to Florida that border the Atlantic and including Vermont, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This year’s competition was held the second weekend of August at the Marriott Tysons, Va. A total of ten states were represented in this year’s competition.

The wines competed in individual flights in twenty-nine varietal/blend categories. A panel of twelve judges from around the country scored 389 wines made in the eastern US over the two-day event. The 2026 competition produced 111 gold medal winners, 178 silver, and 81 bronze. ASWA President Grant Crandall says “Over the years the quality of wines on the East Coast has risen quite steadily. This year provided the strongest group of wines that we have ever judged.”

Winning wines are traditionally showcased at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento, CA, the leading wine industry convention typically drawing 15,000 attendees. ASWA Board members host dinners in California with industry professionals to highlight the strengths of eastern wines, give educational presentations at UC Davis and additional California venues, and bring focus to Atlantic Seaboard wines through a leading wine and food radio broadcast. Opportunities for increased exposure then continue throughout the year. Additionally, the wines are regularly featured at the Eastern Winery Exposition and other events.

The sterling silver perpetual Jefferson Loving Cup will be engraved with the winning winery’s name and presented in March 2027 to the Best of Show winner. — Story contributed by The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association