A Guide to North Carolina's Wineries

In 1584, when the settlers who later became famous as the Lost Colony arrived in North Carolina, Arthur Barlowe reported to Sir Walter Raleigh that the land was "full of grapes…both on the sand and on the green soil, on the hills as in the plains, as well on every little shrub, as also climbing toward the tops of high cedars, that I think in all the world the like abundance is not to be found." Tradition says that among the grapes the settlers found was the Scuppernong Mother Vine, which is still producing grapes. Thus began the North Carolina wine industry.

Today, North Carolina has 22 wineries and over 250 vineyards. It ranks 10th in the nation in total wine production, with annual retail sales estimated at around $25 million. The state even has the most visited-winery in the United States at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.

The entries in A Guide to North Carolina Wineries, provide historical information, comprehensive wine lists, and interviews with the owners and winemakers at all of the state's wineries. Each profile also includes a recipe or food-pairing suggestion for the establishment's wines. In addition to enjoying the information about the wineries, you'll meet some of the people who work in the business-vineyard managers, farmers who sell their grapes, architects who design the wineries, and the itinerant bottler who travels with his truck, bottling vintages for wineries that don't have their own equipment.

Whether you're interested in sampling new vintages, reading about the fascinating people behind a rapidly growing industry, or incorporating a visit to a winery during your travels, this guide will provide all the information you need.