The wine industry in North Carolina dates back over 400 years when the theory emerged that the settlers of John White and the Lost Colony first planted the vine while Sir Walter Raleigh discovered the Mothervine on Roanoke Island. The Mothervine is the largest and oldest scuppernong vine in the world and was the first grape cultivated in the United States.
North Carolina's first commercial winery, Medoc Vineyard in Brinkleyville, led wine production in 1835. By the turn of the century and prior to Prohibition, the state was home to 25 wineries and was one of the most productive wine states in the U.S. After Prohibition, the industry struggled to see a resurgence until the early 1970s when Westbend Winery, located in Lewisville, became the first winery in the state to grow and produce European grape varietals, Vitis vinifera. In 1975, at the coast, Duplin Winery was established and today leads the world as the largest producer of muscadine wine. On the opposite side of the state, in the mountains, Biltmore Winery holds the title as the most visited winery.
The North Carolina wine regions are divided into three distinct geographic areas; the Mountains, Piedmont and the Coast. Each produces wine conducive to the specific climate, elevation and soil for the region. Since the establishment of the Yadkin Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) in 2002, the state has recently welcomed its sixth AVA with the Crest of the Blue Ridge in Henderson County. An AVA is a designated grape growing region with distinct geographic features that differentiate it from surrounding regions.
The following map displays the wine regions of North Carolina with its AVAs.
