North Carolina Announces Third American Viticultural Area, Duplin Earns Benchmark Award from Wine Spectator Family of Pubs and More
Raleigh, N.C. – On April 29, the Haw River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) will officially become the third federally granted appellation in North Carolina, joining the Yadkin Valley and the Swan Creek area inside the Yadkin Valley. The Haw River Valley AVA covers the northern, central portion of the state with approximately 868 sq. miles (555,508 acres). It encompasses Alamance County and portions of Caswell, Chatham, Guilford, Orange, and Rockingham counties.
Wineries include Benjamin Vineyards & Winery (Saxapahaw), GlenMarie Vineyards & Winery (Burlington), Grove Winery & Vineyards (Gibsonville), Iron Gate Vineyards & Winery (Mebane), Silk Hope Winery (Silk Hope), and Wolfe Wines (Snow Camp). Multiple vineyards contribute to the region. The region produces both European vinifera and native muscadine grapes.
April 9, Fox News/High Point clip: www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-haw-river-valley-designation-090409,0,7678303.story
Haw River Press Release: http://media.visitnc.com/news/341/100/d,mediakit.html
Haw River Wine Trail Brochure Download: http://www.visitnc.com/brochures/index/2/recent
For information on the Art on the Haw River Wine Trail on May 2-3, go to http://visitalamance.com
Duplin Winery Snags Prestigious Awards, First In State to Receive Honors
Duplin Winery (www.duplinwinery.com) has become the first muscadine winery, the first North Carolina winery and the first winery outside the west coast wine belt to earn the Adams Beverage Group Fast Track Brand Award and the Impact Hot Brands Award from M. Shanken and the Wine Spectator family of publications. The awards establish an impressive precedent and solidify Duplin as a market force in the country’s wine industry.
“As a North Carolina vintner and a long-time advocate of the muscadine grape, we couldn’t be more pleased that our muscadine wine has earned an honor usually reserved for larger, corporate-run vineyards,” said Ann Fussell, whose family has owned and operated Duplin Winery since 1972. Fussell and her family focused on creating sweet and fruity blends of muscadine wine, even when it wasn’t the most popular variety. Today, a growing interest and demand for muscadine wines has helped Duplin Winery sell enough cases of wine per year to be ranked alongside companies such as Gallo and Kendall Jackson as one of the top 100 producers in the United States.
RayLen Races With New International Sponsorship
In sponsorship news, RayLen Vineyards (www.raylenvineyards.com) has partnered with Creation Autosportif (www.creationsport.net), which specializes in design and construction of racing chassis and racing programs in Europe and the United States. As part of the partnership, the Raylen Vineyards brand will be represented through logo placement on cars and signage, and Raylen Vineyards wine will be served at events, providing opportunities for national and international exposure. Raylen Vineyards is located in Mocksville, between Winston-Salem and Lexington.
“This venture with Creation Autosportif will allow us to take the RayLen brand and product sampling opportunities to a wide audience on a regional, national an international scope,” says RayLen Vineyards Marketing and Events Coordinator Karyn Howard.
NC Wines: Tasting Is Believing
North Carolina ranks 10th for wine and grape production in the United States and is home to more than 80 wineries; the number has more than tripled since 2001. The industry is diverse, featuring both European vinifera wines as well as native muscadine wines which are known for health benefits and high levels of resveratrol.
For more information on North Carolina wine events and to visit our wineries, go to www.VisitNCWine.com. Visit our NC wine media center at www.media.visitnc.com.
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CONTACT:
Susan Dosier
(704) 364-8969 mob
sdosier@visitnc.com
Margo Metzger
(919) 715-9463 ofc
mmetzger@nccommerce.com
