NC TREND First take: industry BILTMORE ESTATE WINERY receives more than 1 million DUPLIN WINERY visitors annually and is is the largest and oldest winery in the most-visited winery in the U.S. the state and the world’s largest producer of muscadine wine. AGING TO 1.2 million gallons Size of industry produced in 2018 North Carolina 500,000 cases PERFECTION sold annually rank in U.S. NORTH CAROLINA’S WINE INDUSTRY wine production HAS BEEN GROWING IN PRODUCTION, VALUE AND POPULARITY. 11th number of wineries BY HARRISON MILLER TAR HEEL orth Carolina may be better known for its craft brew- 186 ing prowess, but its wine industry is also aging well. individually owned VITICULTURAL AREAS The state’s wine roots extend to the founding of the 525 vineyards and producers Nnation. Today, North Carolina’s wine industry focus- Yadkin Valley Swan Creek Haw River Valley Upper Hiwassee Appalachian High es on the production of native muscadine in the eastern was established in was established in was established in Highlands Country part of the state and European-style vinifera grapes out west. Mus- 2,300 2002, is located in 2008, is a sub-region 2009. It’s located in was established in was established in northwestern N.C., and of Yadkin Valley, and is central N.C. and is cadine grapes, which thrive in hot, coastal conditions, are used to grape-bearing acres 2014 in southwestern 2016, includes five is home to about 400 home to six wineries. home to six wineries. N.C. and is home to counties in the N.C. produce scuppernong, sangria, and rosé wine. Vinifera grape va- cases produced per year acres of vineyard. five wineries. mountains and is rieties include , , , , home to six wineries. 2018 2013 and . % 1.1 million 569,000 96 FAVORITE million Most popular WINERIES 1.9number of wine-related tourists N.C.’s wine industry focuses on native based on Trip Advisor reviews muscadine grapes and European-style Value of industry vinifera grapes. NONI BACCA WINERY annual impact as of 2016/2017 Wilmington Historic wineries western N.C. SAINT PAUL MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS annual economic supports vinifera grapes Hendersonville impact of more than and vineyards facts JOLO WINERY & VINEYARDS Vinifera grape varieties include $ Pilot Mountain The scuppernong was the first grape 1.97 10,000 cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, billion jobs merlot, syrah, chardonnay LINVILLE FALLS WINERY cultivated in the U.S. and is the state’s Newland official fruit. and viognier. retail value of wine-related SHELTON VINEYARDS N.C. tourism Dobson The Mothervine in Manteo on Roanoke wine sold expenditures eastern N.C. Island is a 500-year-old scuppernong muscadine grapes RAFFALDINI VINEYARDS & WINERY $ $ Ronda vine and the oldest-known cultivated 130 319 These grapes thrive in hot, sandy grapevine in the nation. million million GRANDFATHER VINEYARD & WINERY coastal conditions and are used in Banner Elk federal taxes state & local scuppernong, sangria and rosé wine. Medoc Vineyard in Brinkleyville was wages paid paid taxes paid BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS the first commercial winery established Hendersonville in North Carolina in 1835. $375 $113 $89 Lexington million million million sources: The Economic Impact of North Carolina Wine and Grapes, 2016 Report - A Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP, NC Wine, Duplin Winery & Vineyard

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