Exploring Americas wine regions: North Carolina

Did you know that every state now hosts wineries, and produces wine? We have more than seven thousand wineries in the country now, and they extend from Oregon to Maine, all the way down to Florida and even Texas if you can believe it. In this new series of posts, we'll examine the wine scene at various regions, to learn what they're growing, selling, and how the general atmosphere of business is going for them.

On the East coast, one of the fastest-growing wine regions is the North Carolina one. Along with Virginia, they have seen a blossoming of new winery owners and tourism. In their most visited area, the Yadkin Valley, a growing number of wineries are opening, and they offer tastings and tours. This all started way back when the settlers arrived, and if you can believe it, NC was one of the first places that wine grapes were grown in the country. A variety known as Muscadine was first planted here. The Scuppernong grape, the most famous of the muscadine varietals was designated the North Carolina state fruit in 2001.

Today, North Carolina is home to more than 120 wineries and is the 9th largest in the country when it comes to number of operating wineries. You may have heard of some of these brands like Daveste, Treehouse, Raylen, and Laurel Gray to name a few. You can see a complete list of these locations, along with information about each at http://www.visitncwine.com/wineries.

Other resources:

North Carolina Wine Gifts - Provides a wide range of wines from producers in North Carolina. From rare kinds like Muscadine to other White and Red varieties, you can find a broad assortment here.