Wineries along the Southern Coast

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.

Bannerman Vineyard
2624 Stag Park Rd., Burgaw
(910) 259-5474

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, Sunday 1 to 4PM or by appointment.

Lumina Winery
206 South Kerr Ave., Unit 211A, Wilmington
(910) 793-5299

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.

Silver Coast Winery
6680 Barbeque Rd., Ocean Isle Beach
(910) 287-2800

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 both Muscadine and 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. Hours are Monday through Saturday 11 AM to 6 PM and Sunday noon to 5 PM.

Grapeful Sisters Vineyard
4903 Ramsey Ford Rd., Tabor City
(910) 653-2944, (910) 880-0326

For a taste of the Old North State in both ambiance and wine, visit Grapeful 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 daily from 1 to 6 PM.