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Our Roots Run Deep

Farming has been a family business and a way of life in North Carolina for generations. As times have changed, farming families have often pivoted  to adapt, transforming their land and businesses. The Zimmerman farm is  no stranger to these changes. Thankfully a dream conceived by third-generation farmer, Michael Zimmerman, has advanced this family farm into the future with new roots and new dreams, keeping the family legacy intact.

Our Story

Beatrice Estelle Evens & Junius Lindsay Zimmerman, circa 1945 (colorized)

Beatrice Estelle Evens & Junius Lindsay Zimmerman, circa 1945 (colorized)

Junius Lindsay Zimmerman (who went by Lindsay) and his bride, Beatrice Estelle Evans, established the Zimmerman farm in 1896. Lindsay, who also owned the nearby Arcadia Mill, farmed the land while Beatrice raised their five children and taught school. Lindsay’s cousin, Dr. Robert Ulysses Zimmerman, Jr. – affectionately known as "Dr. Bob" – was the local doctor for Arcadia residents and the namesake for the famed "Dr. Zimmerman Road," which winds through the family property.​

In the early 1900s, the Zimmerman farm cultivated grains like wheat, barley, and oats, which were sold to Arcadia Mill. By the mid-1900s, the farm diversified, growing hay, corn, and sweet potatoes before transitioning to raising chickens. Despite being in North Carolina's tobacco heartland, the Zimmerman farm never grew tobacco. Lindsay farmed the land with pride until he was 90, passing it down to his son, James Lee Zimmerman (who went by his middle name, Lee).​

From the 1940s to the 1970s, Lee worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service in Salisbury, while his wife, Cornelia, and their two sons, Michael and James Jr., tended to the family farm. The boys' chores included milking cows, slopping hogs, tending chickens, managing crops, and mucking stalls. For fun, they played croquet in the yard and took annual trips to the North Carolina mountains or beaches. The brothers even learned to drive in the family's 1950 Chevy, now a cherished fixture in front of the tasting room.

By the mid-1960s, both boys decided farming wasn't their future and pursued higher education and travel. James Jr. went to NC State, and Michael soon followed to UNC Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar. With an acceptance letter to UNC, Michael was bound for new adventures. His father, Lee, told him with conviction, "You will never come back here, Michael."

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Despite occasional pangs of regret, Michael embraced his choice, enjoying college life at UNC and majoring in international studies. During his junior year, his desire to travel intensified, leading him to join the Foreign Service. Although a hiring freeze delayed his plans, he attended law school at Georgetown University. When the State Department lifted the freeze, Michael eagerly joined the Foreign Service in January 1970, ready to explore the world and embark on new adventures.

Discovering a Passion for Old-World Wine

Over a remarkable sixteen-year career, the Foreign Service stationed Michael Zimmerman in diverse countries across Africa and Europe. He served as a diplomat in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mexico, and Sweden. He met artists, Presidents, kings, politicians, cultural leaders, and Cabinet Secretaries. One of his favorite experiences was accompanying B.B. King on his African tour in 1974. Michael reveled in experiencing new cultures and meeting fascinating people, including Shirley Temple, Michael’s boss when she was the 9th United States Ambassador to Ghana.

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His stints in Spain and Sweden unveiled the ease of travel to neighboring European countries like Italy, Portugal, and France. During one memorable trip through Burgundy, Bordeaux, and beyond, Michael fell in love with the exquisite wines of the Rhône Valley.

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He discovered that the wines of the Rhône Valley were incredibly diverse compared to other regions he had explored in France. In the Southern Rhône, he encountered distinctive grape varieties such as Roussanne, Grenache, and Mourvèdre, along with other lesser-known varietals used for blending. In the Northern Rhône, he was captivated by the unique practice of blending red and white grapes—Syrah and Viognier—to create wine. These grapevines were often inter-planted in vineyards, resulting in unique and exceptional combinations. This blending method was exclusive to the Northern Rhône, and its allure left a lasting impression on Michael. It later inspired him to create Junius Lindsay Vineyard's renowned Triomphe wine – a unique red and white wine blend.

Tournon sur Rhone and Tain l'Hermitage, two river towns and Vineyards on the Hills of the Cote du Rhône Area in France.

Tournon sur Rhone and Tain l'Hermitage, two river towns and Vineyards on the Hills of the Cote du Rhône Area in France.

The Rhône Valley's rich wine-making history, spanning two to three thousand years, captivated Michael so much that he couldn't stay away. He worked part-time at several vineyards, immersing himself in the old-world history and traditions of multi-generation winemaking families. Their stories resonated deeply with him, reminding him of his own family farm in North Carolina, where devotion and hard work were the foundations of their success.

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In the late 1970s, while stationed in Mexico, Michael met Lucia, the mother of Aaron and Mercedes. The twins were born in Houston, Texas, then came home to Mexico City. Shortly thereafter, Michael and Lucia moved to Frankfurt, Kentucky, for a stateside assignment, followed quickly by a posting in Washington, D.C. It was during these years that Michael brought the twins to the Zimmerman farm for the first time to meet Lee and Cornelia. 

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Michael’s next posting was in Stockholm, which enabled him to resume his visits to France’s wine country. Aaron and Mercedes mostly remember these years as filled with fun experiences like meeting reindeer, having dignitaries like Yitzhak Perlman visiting their apartment, and falling in love with Swedish food. In 1982, then Vice-President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush visited Stockholm. Lee and Cornelia flew to Sweden to visit their son and grandchildren, and enjoyed meeting the Second Family at the U.S. Embassy. Aaron and Mercedes got to spend some time with Barbara Bush. Mrs. Bush was an advocate of childhood literacy, and read a story to Aaron and Mercedes with them on her lap. (Years later, after Aaron became an Episcopal Minister, he would serve the Bushes at their home church, St. Martin’s, in Houston.)

From France to Family Farm

After leaving the State Department in 1984, Michael and the family relocated to Los Angeles, where he immersed himself in the world of French cuisine, working for a French food manufacturing company. But his heart remained tethered to his roots. Soon after he moved back to North Carolina and began a career in financial planning and investments in Winston-Salem. He worked for several retail brokerages, ultimately retiring from Merrill Lynch. The twins remember visiting the farm nearly every weekend. They loved roaming its wooded acres, exploring the old buildings, and gathering around the old dining room table for Grandma’s cooking. 

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After the passing of Michael's parents in 1993 and 1994, Michael and his family returned to the family farm in 1996. Mercedes and Aaron went off to college, while Michael began to think about preserving the farming legacy with a bold new vision. He set out to transform the farm’s operations in order to ensure its survival. With a blend of nostalgia and determination, he concocted a bold plan to revive the family legacy – with wine. He envisioned transforming the land into a vineyard, merging his passion for old-world French wine with the rich soil of his heritage. 

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As vineyards began to sprout across North Carolina, Michael enrolled in viticulture classes at Surry community college and connected with Childress Vineyards’ award-winning winemaker, Mark Friszolowski. Absorbing every detail from Friszolowski and other industry experts, Michael was ready to embark on this new venture.

Michael Zimmerman, 2008

In 2004, he officially launched his vineyard, beginning with two acres of Viognier—a rare variety with ancient roots in France's Northern Rhône Valley. Selling these grapes to Childress Vineyards marked the start of his winemaking journey. Expanding the vineyard to eleven acres, he introduced varietals like Syrah, Petite Sirah, Roussanne, and Grenache. Realizing the greater potential in selling wine, Michael shifted his focus.

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Collaborating with Friszolowski, he and Michael forged a partnership: Michael would grow the grapes, and Friszolowski would transform them into wine at Childress’ facilities under Michael’s label. This partnership flourished, enduring for over 18 years.

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To honor his grandfather, Michael named the vineyard after Junius Lindsay Zimmerman. The first bottles—Viognier, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Triomphe, and Second Leaf—reflected the quality of old-world France. To enhance the vineyard experience, Michael built a tasting room in 2008, designed by architect Don Ruth. Its Victorian-era, open-air design welcomed guests, where Michael shared his passion for fine wine and dedication to quality with visitors from near and far.

Michael Zimmerman, 2008

Contining the Legacy

Michael Zimmerman remained dedicated to producing exceptional old-world French-style wine for over 18 years until his passing in the summer of 2024. Consistently following the footsteps of centuries-old French winemaking traditions, he took immense pride in preserving these heritage practices. It was an honor for him to bring these traditions home through the creation of Junius Lindsay Vineyard, situated on the Southern Gateway Wine Trail of the Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) – North Carolina's first AVA.

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When reflecting on his father's words, "You will never come back here," Michael always felt a deep sense of pride in proving him wrong. Michael’s return ensured the preservation of another piece of North Carolina history and farm heritage. Today, eleven acres of grapevines are nestled among forests and streams on soil that has been proudly farmed for over a century. 

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Now in its fourth generation, the family farm has successfully adapted to changing times and is preserved for future generations. These Zimmerman farm roots run deep. The transition from sweet potato and grain roots to thriving grapevine roots symbolizes a legacy that truly endures.

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