North Carolina Wine & Grape Council

North Carolina Wine & Grape Council • Find more on North Carolina’s long and storied history of winemaking, as well as information about the state’s Wine & Grape Council, which enhances the quality of NC wine and the viability of the industry through education, marketing, and research.

From the mountains to the coast, North Carolina is home to a unique variety of grapes and wineries. North Carolina’s first commercial winery was founded in 1835, and the state was the once the leading wine producer in the country before Prohibition. Today, there are more than 100 wineries in the state, and three American Viticultural Areas (AVA’s): Yadkin Valley, Swan Creek, and Haw River Valley. You can also download the North Carolina Wineries Map, or order the brochure by calling 919-715-WINE.

Wineries and vineyards can participate in the Agricultural Tourism Highway Signs Program. The signs direct tourists to agricultural venues that are open to the public for tours and on-site sales or samples of North Carolina agricultural products. The program is a collaborative effort of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

North Carolina is home to many wine trails throughout the state.
• Haw River Wine Trail
• Shallow Ford Wine Trail
• Uwharrie Mountains Wine Trail
• Very Surry
• Vineyards of Swan Creek
• Wine Trails of Yadkin Valley
• Yadkin River Wine Trail
Trails are formed by joint efforts among local wineries, and often with county or city tourism development authorities or convention and visitors bureaus. Wineries often form a non-profit organization in order to pool resources for marketing the trail. The city or county tourism agencies can help to promote and market the trail. Trails usually have cooperative events, and create a website and brochure to display the trail for tourists to follow.