North Carolina wine
| Wine region | |
 Yadkin Valley vineyard | |
| Official name | State of North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Type | U.S. State Appellation[1] |
| Years of wine industry | 235 |
| Country | United States |
| Sub-regions | Appalachian High Country AVA, Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA, Haw River Valley AVA, Swan Creek AVA, Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA, Yadkin Valley AVA |
| Climate region | Humid subtropical (maritime in highlands) |
| Total area | 53,865 square miles (139,510 km2) |
| No. of vineyards | 500+[2] |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carlos, Cayuga, Chambourcin, Chancellor, Chardonel, Chardonnay, Concord, De Chaunac, Gewürztraminer, Leon Millot, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Muscadine, Muscat Canelli, Nebbiolo, Niagara, Noble, Norton, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Scuppernong, Seyval blanc, St. Vincent, Symphony, Syrah, Tempranillo, Traminette, Vidal blanc, Vignoles, Viognier[1] |
| No. of wineries | 250[3] |
Wine has been produced in the North Carolina area since the early days of European colonization in the 17th century. Wine growers in North Carolina were the first to cultivate a Native American grape variety, the Scuppernong, which produces a sweet wine, examples of which are still being made in the state. Most wine produced in North Carolina since the year 2000 is made from Vitis vinifera grape varieties, although French hybrid and Vitis labrusca varieties remain common.
Viticulture History
[edit]In the mid-19th Century, there were some 25 wineries in North Carolina, with extensive independent vineyards, to such an extent that North Carolina dominated the national market for American wines at the time. The Scuppernong grape was the primary source for North Carolina's 19th Century wine, as it had been for about two centuries. The Civil War ended that market dominance, through damage to the industry by loss of manpower and scarce capital, as well as through revocation of wine-making licenses due to regulatory retribution following the war. Wine production began to recover in the decades after the war through the early 20th Century. However, North Carolina voted to become a dry state in 1908 and that decision, coupled with the onset of Prohibition, ended wine-making in North Carolina. Repeal in 1933, followed by the passage by North Carolina's legislature in 1935 of laws permitting wine-making, began a rebirth, but it was several decades after World War II before North Carolina's wine industry would show significant growth.[4]
Modern wine industry
[edit]
North Carolina ranks tenth in both grape and wine production in the United States. The state's wine industry continues to expand, and today is one of the United States’ five most visited state destinations for wine and culinary tourism. As a point of reference, there are not many state destinations for wine tourism in the United States, so five is almost last on the list.[5] In 2007, North Carolina contained 55 wineries and 350 vineyards.[6] By 2011, this had grown to more than 100 wineries and more than 400 vineyards.[7] As of 2024, North Carolina is home to 6 different AVAs, 250 wineries and 500+ vineyard sites, a fact that underscores the state’s growing reputation as a serious viticulture region.[2][3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "North Carolina: Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ a b "Swan Creek Wine Trail" (About). 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
Today, NC is home to 6 different AVAs and 500+ vineyard sites
- ^ a b "Wine: A wine history well-aged". NC - Visit North Carolina. 2024. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ Taplin, Ian M. (January 20, 2016). The Modern American Wine Industry: Market Formation and Growth in North Carolina. Routledge. ISBN 9781317322832. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Visit NC Wine Country". North Carolina Wine Gifts.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
- ^ "Nurture Wine and Grape Industry". North Carolina Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "NC Wine Fast Facts" (PDF). North Carolina Wine & Grape Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
