Erin Smith, Journal Staff Writer

DUBLIN — Lu Mil Vineyard entered the ninth annual N.C. State Fair Wine Competition and walked away with two double gold awards, two silver awards and one bronze medal, all in the first year the vineyard has entered the competition. The competition is sponsored by the N.C. Wine and Grape Council and is considered to be one of the premier competitions in N.C., said Lu Mil owner Ron Taylor.

Lu Mil earned two double golds for its Harmony Hall and Bladen Blush, two silver for its Old Cumberland and Cape Owen Red and a bronze medal for Taylor Divine.

“We’re new at this,” said Taylor of the competition.

Lu Mil Vineyard, located on Suggs Taylor Road in Dublin, is in its third year in business. The wines entered in the competition were made from the vineyard’s first year and second year crop, according to Taylor.

“Everything we do, we do it to honor our parents, Lucille and Miller Taylor, who Lu Mil is named after,” said Taylor. “For us to get two double golds out of 340 entries, that is just outstanding.”

An e-mail was received by Taylor about one week prior to the fair notifying him of the selections of his wines as winners.

“I was tickled. It’s major bragging rights,” said Taylor. “It just goes to show what good quality it (Lu Mil Vineyard) is.”

The selection of the wines entered in the competition were some of Lu Mil’s best sellers among its customers.

The secret to Lu Mil’s wines is in the grapes, said Taylor.

“I’m a firm believer the wine is made in the field,” said Taylor. “You have to have good quality fruit.”

Three panels of professional judges evaluated the wines.

“The judges are professional scientists. . . they had to rely on their senses of taste, smell and the sight of the product,” said Taylor.

The names used for the various wines is a way of paying homage to Bladen’s rich history. The company uses historic events and places as inspiration.

The packaging of the product also makes an impression with the consumer, said Taylor.

“The label can have a really big impact on the untrained consumer,” said Taylor. “When you go into a winery or wine shop, you see the label.”

For example, many people will purchase the Harmony Hall label as a souvenir because of the unique blue color of the bottle and the depiction of Harmony Hall on the label.

The challenge is to maintain a uniform product each time it is manufactured, said Taylor.

“The reason we are in the wine business is to develop implements for the viticulture business,” said Taylor.

Taylor also owns Taylor Manufacturing, which makes various types of implements for agriculture.

In addition to its wines, Lu Mil also sells various jellies made from the grapes grown in vineyard.