You know how sometimes a small idea can change your whole life? That’s pretty much how Roaring River Vineyards came to be.
Back in 2001, Tom and I (Joséphine) were living in Charlotte and looking for a weekend retreat. We stumbled upon this beautiful riverside property in Traphill, NC—tucked along the East Prong of the Roaring River. The rolling hills reminded me of the French countryside where I grew up, near the Champagne region. We fell in love with it and bought it, even though we were still working full-time—Tom at Siemens and I at IBM.
The land had a rich history. It was once home to the old Brewer gristmill and sawmill from the 1800s. You can still spot the remains near the bridge.
The vineyard? That started as a simple request. I asked Tom to plant a couple of grapevines to remind me of France. He did one better—found a viticulture seminar, signed us both up, and came out of it with stars in his eyes. From there, we were all in.
We spent years clearing land, planting vines, and slowly shaping the property. At the time, we were living in Orlando, so we managed everything long-distance—driving back and forth, hauling supplies, sleeping in a mobile home. It was a labor of love.
In 2011, Tom’s job brought him to Rural Hall, NC, and I followed a year later. That’s when things took off. We poured our energy into building, planting, and slowly bringing our dream to life. Tom dubbed us the “Secretary of the Exterior” and “Secretary of the Interior,” and together we built not just a vineyard, but a whole experience.
By 2013, we had our first grape harvest. Each year brought more wines—Traminette, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Norton, and our fan-favorite Petit Rosé. We partnered with a local winery to bring our vision to the bottle while we kept building.
We added charming vacation rentals, event spaces like The Gathering Place and The Party Place, and eventually, in 2016, opened our Wine Tasting Room and Chez Joséphine Restaurant—on Bastille Day, fittingly.
Tom officially retired in 2017 after 43 years with Siemens, and the following summer, we moved into our forever home overlooking the vineyard. That “weekend retreat” we dreamed about? It turned into something much bigger than we ever imagined.
Looking back, it all started with a few grapevines and a little French nostalgia. Funny how life works out, isn’t it?
