North Carolina's Wineries

North Carolina's Wineries

Bet you didn't know that North Carolina was home to the nation's first cultivated grape. French explorer 1524 Giovanni de Verazano took note of the "big white grape" he found in the Cape Fear River valley in 1524. Two centuries later, settlers were cultivating these "scuppernongs." Most of North Carolina's 25 wineries were closed by Prohibition. But wineries are making a robust comeback. Today there are around 50 wineries in the state, many of them located in the Piedmont.

Benjamin Vineyards & Winery (283 Vineyard La., Graham. 336/376-1080. www.benjaminvineyards.com) uses an 1840 recipe to make scuppernong wine. Black Wolf Vineyards (283 Vineyard La., Dobson. 336/374-2532. www.blackwolfvineyards.com) is also home to the Wolf's Lair Restaurant. Buck Shoals Vineyard (6121 Vintner Way, Hamptonville. 336/468-9274. www.buckshoalsvineyard.com) produces Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Syrah, and other wines. An award-winning Riesling is a highlight of Chatham Hill Winery (3800 Gateway Centre Blvd., Suite 310, Morrisville. 800/808-6768. www.chathamhillwine.com).

At Dennis Vineyards (24043 Endy Rd., Albermarle. 800/230-1743. www.dennisvineyards.com), father and son turned a hobby into a profession. GlenMarie Vineyard & Winery (1838 Johnson Rd., Burlington. 336/578-3938. www.glenmariewinery.com) is planted with 23 varieties of French hybrids and American grapes. Grove Winery (7360 Brooks Bridge Rd., Gibsonville. 336/584-4060. www.grovewinery.com) grows grapes like Merlot and Cabernet Franc. After honeymooning in France, Michael and Amy Helton started Hanover Park Vineyard (1927 Courtney-Huntsville Rd., Yadkinville. 336/463-2875. www.hanoverparkwines.com). Laurel Gray Vineyards (5726 Old Hwy. 21, Hamptonville. 336/468-8463. www.laurelgray.com) plant grapes on land owned by the same family for 10 generations.

Raffaldini Vineyards (450 Groce Rd., Ronda. 336/835-9463. www.raffaldini.com) focuses on Italian varietals. The whimsical logo for RagApple Lassie Vineyards & Winery (3724 Rockford Rd., Boonville. 336/367-6000. www.ragapplelassie.com) shows a cow sipping a glass of wine. Round Peak Vineyards (765 Round Peak Church Rd., Mt. Airy. 336/352-5595. www.roundpeak.com) was established by two Davidson College buddies and their wives.

Weathervane Winery (765 Round Peak Church Rd., Mt. Airy. 336/775-9717. www.weathervanewinery.com) Produces Viognier and 11 other wines. The October Harvest Festival is popular at Westbend Vineyards (5394 Williams Rd., Lewisville. 336/945-5032. www.westbendvineyards.com). The Winery at Iron Gate Farm (2540 Lynch Store Rd., Mebane. 919/304-9463. www.irongatevineyards.com) makes Pack House Red, a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.