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Wineries
Wine in North Carolina? Who'd have
thought it, but the truth is, North Carolina is not only a
wine-producing state, it is the 12th largest wine producing state in
the nation. With more than 60 wineries and some 1,350 acres devoted
to grape cultivation, North Carolina wine is making a come back,
particularly along the Southern coast.
To understand where the North Carolina wine industry has been and
where it is going, we have to go back to the year 1524. The first
recorded account of wild grapes growing along the shoreline occurred
in the log book of Giovanni de Verrazano, a French explorer and
navigator who discovered them in the Cape Fear River Valley. He
wrote that he saw "Many vines growing naturally there that without
doubt would yield excellent wines." These wild native grapes came to
be known as Scuppernongs.
For the next 316 years, the golden Scuppernong grapes and the black
Muscadines, were largely grown for eating and personal wine-making.
Thomas Jefferson was particularly fond of the Scuppernong grape and
liked the wine it produced, although even as President, he had
difficulty finding enough to buy. During the 1840s some 25
commercial wineries were operating and North Carolina was the
leading wine-producing state in the nation. However, by 1865 the
industry was virtually destroyed by the War Between the States. A
few wineries tried and failed. Locally, the Castle Hayne Vineyard
Company operated in the 1870s before going out of business, but it
took at least two decades before wine production was again up to
speed. Then came Prohibition. By the 1930s the industry was again
non-existent.
In 1976 two brothers in Duplin County started a winery in Rose Hill,
about 45 miles north of Wilmington. The plan was to create an agri-coop
to help area farmers. The farmers grew the grapes, the brothers made
the wine and the people liked it. Customers began trekking to Duplin
Winery by the bus loads to sample and buy wine. From that tenuous
beginning sprang the present-day North Carolina wine industry. In
2002 the Yadkin Valley near Wilkesboro was declared an American
Viticultural Area, recognizing the area as a sound and distinct
grape-growing region. Since then, the number of wineries in the
state has more than doubled.
Along the southern coast, the number of wineries is growing as fast
as the native grapes. From Rose Hill to just over the South Carolina
state line you'll find ten wineries, each with a distinctly
different approach to wine making. In the three coastal counties of
Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick and just across the line into
Columbus County, you'll find four delightful wineries to visit and
enjoy.
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Lumina Winery
206 South Kerr Ave., Unit 211A, Wilmington
(910) 793-5299
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Named for the famous Wrightsville Beach
pavilion, Lumina Winery is located in the heart of Wilmington. You
won't find vines growing here, but you will find some delightful
wines as well as kits to make your own wines and beers at home.
Owner and wine maker Dave Hursey has created a winery with a
different concept. Using varietal grape juices from all over the
world, including North Carolina, Dave produces wines with names that
reflect the area, such as Lune Blanc Chardonnay and Airlie Bianca
Pinot Grigio. His Ice Wine is very popular, as is the Green Apple
Riesling, especially on a hot summer's day. The wines are meant to
be consumed early so they contain low levels of sulphites. Dave
sells wines wholesale to area restaurants and wine shops and offers
free wine tastings in his retail tasting room. Hours are Monday
through Wednesday noon to 6 PM and Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM.
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Silver Coast Winery
6680 Barbeque Rd., Ocean Isle Beach
(910) 287-2800
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Down a dirt road, past an old tobacco barn,
you'll find an award-winning upscale boutique winery that is just minutes
from the beach. Silver Coast Winery, housed in what was once a popular
barbecue restaurant, is a high-tech commercial winery producing varietal
wines. Owners John and Maryann Azzato have created a destination in the
middle of Brunswick County, offering winery tours and wine-tasting monthly
events, such as the Purple Feet Festival in September. An art gallery
exhibits works by local artists, and a large picnic area is available if
you'd like to bring your lunch and spend an afternoon in the country. They
offer 14 different wines including Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Merlot,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Rose and White Merlot. This is a great location for
group functions such as large meetings, family reunions, weddings, rehearsal
dinners and more. March through December the hours are Monday through
Saturday 11 AM to 6 PM and Sunday noon to 5 PM. Winter hours, January and
February, are Wednesday through Sunday noon to 5 PM.
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Bannerman Vineyard
2624 Stag Park Rd., Burgaw
(910) 259-5474
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One of North Carolina's oldest muscadine
vineyards, this family-owned operation is located in the lush Pender County
countryside. The Bannermans have been cultivating grapes since 1973 and
offer seven different wines made from different muscadine grapes, plus a
very popular blueberry wine, in their wine-tasting room. Various events are
scheduled throughout the year, including arts and crafts and wine-tasting
festivals. With a quiet country atmosphere, Bannerman Vineyard is a popular
place for weddings, parties and family reunions. Tours are available by
appointment, and they also give small tours for school-age groups to learn
about the grape-growing process, fresh fruit market and the never-ending
nutritional values of the muscadine grape. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday
from noon to 4 PM and Sunday 1 to 4 PM or by appointment.
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Grapeful Sisters Vineyard
4903 Ramsey Ford Rd., Tabor City
(910) 653-2944, (910) 880-0326
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For a taste of the Old North State in both
ambiance and wine, visit Grapefull Sisters Vineyard. The name says it all,
this place is fun. The sisters, Sheila Suggs-Little and Amy Suggs, have
transformed the old family tobacco farm into a grape and wine-based
destination in the Columbus County countryside. The centerpiece of this
45-acre family-owned and -operated vineyard is the modern gift shop and
tasting room that is reminiscent of the rustic barn that once stood on the
property. The sisters offer ten wines produced from grapes grown on the
property, and the shop sells items made by local crafters and artisans. On
the top floor of the barn is a three-bedroom country inn available for
nights and weekends. It features European-style sauna showers and fabulous
sunsets. Visitors may picnic on the lawn and explore the vineyard. Hours are
1 to 6 PM Monday though Saturday and they're closed on Sunday.
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