What’s New in North Carolina Wine, Summer 2008

RALEIGH, NC (GrapeVineTrail) -- Sample a taste of what’s going on in North Carolina’s wine country. For the whole story, go to www.VisitNCWine.com or call 1-800-VISIT NC. Also, see our press room at www.visitnc.com/press_room.asp.

New Tasting Room Now Open at Raffaldini Vineyards in Swan Creek AVA, Ronda Raffaldini Vineyards has opened its Tuscan-style tasting room, Villa Raffaldini. Villa Raffaldini is a 6,000-square-foot tasting room and event venue inspired by villas in Mantua, Italy. Mantua is home to the Raffaldini family, in the north central region of Lombardy. Villa Raffaldini features traditional Italian art, architecture and dramatic views of the Blue Ridge and Brushy Mountains. (336) 835-9463 ; www.raffaldini.com

North Carolina Wines Featured at Raleigh-Durham International Airport North Carolina Vintages will open in conjunction with terminal two at the RDU airport in the fall of 2008. The bar will feature North Carolina wines as well as national and international wines and food. North Carolina Vintages will provide a quiet setting while you wait for your flight. www.rdu.com/terminal2/shopsdin/local.htm

You’re Invited! MotherVine Premium Scuppernong Wine Introduction, Nags Head and Manteo on July 15
Celebrating more than 400 years of heritage and tradition, The MotherVine, LLC will introduce The MotherVine Premium Scuppernong Wine on Tuesday July 15 at 9:00 a.m when the North Carolina chapter of the International Knights of the Vine hold a special ceremony at the Mothervine in Manteo; at 10 a.m., the formal introduction celebration will be held at Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe located in Nags Head. www.themothervine.com/index.php

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MOTHERVINE: The Mothervine in Manteo (on Roanoke Island) is the oldest cultivated grape vine in the world! Long before Sir Walter Raleigh sponsored the exploration of Roanoke Island, the existence of large numbers of beautiful grapes in what is now North Carolina was being reported to an amazed citizenry in Europe. In 1524, Florentine navigator Giovanni de Verazzano recorded the presence of “many vines growing naturally there that without doubt would yield excellent wines” in his logbook following his exploration of the Cape Fear River Valley. Fifty years later, while in command of Raleigh’s first attempt to establish an English settlement in North America, Captains Phillip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe journeyed to the Outer Banks and reported that the land was “…so full of grapes as the very beating and surge of the sea overflowed them.” Indigenous to the southern United States, many of the varieties of grapes observed by the early explorers were Muscadine, of which a leading type was the now famous Scuppernong. Source: The North Carolina Muscadine: A Historical Timeline, by Randy Drew

That Mothervine still lives today, its large, knobby vines tumbling over themselves, looking more like the base of a gnarled oak tree than a grapevine. Located on a privately owned plot of land, the vine’s cuttings are still used to propagate vineyards. The Mothervine scuppernong wine mentioned above comes in part from vines propagated from this gnarly old girl.

Hop On the Yadkin River Wine Trail Trolley, Yadkin Valley Get door-to-door service to select Yadkin Valley wineries. The Yadkin River Wine Trail Trolley will run every Saturday along the Yadkin River Wine Trail. Embark and depart at your leisure for a full day of unique adventures at RagApple Lassie, Flint Hill Vineyards and Stony Knoll Vineyards. Later this summer, the trolley will go to additional vineyards. Call the winery where you want to get on for details: Flint Hill Vineyards (336) 699-4455 , RagApple Lassie Vineyards and Winery (866) RAGAPPLE or Stony Knoll Vineyards (336) 374-5752 . http://yadkinriverwinetrail.com

Holiday Inn Express To Open Near Childress Vineyards, Lexington A Holiday Inn Express will open just over the hill from Childress Vineyards in Lexington in late summer. The hotel overlooks Childress Vineyards and anchors an art gallery and shops. www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/lxnus

North Carolina Study Provides Insights About Winery Visitors A wine tourism study conducted for the N.C. Wine and Grape Council by Appalachian State University revealed visitors to North Carolina wineries in 2007 tended to be middle aged, highly educated and have a higher than average household income. They liked to spend money at wineries, with purchases averaging $176 per travel party. The complete study and a PowerPoint summary are available at www.nccommerce.com/en/TourismServices/NurtureWineAndGrapeIndustry/Market...

New Wineries Open; Music Concerts, Events Entice Visitors Almost every North Carolinian now lives within 100 miles of a winery. With 70-plus wineries statewide, new openings are numerous. For complete listings and a map of the state’s wineries, upcoming events and more, go to www.VisitNCWine.com.

Here’s a Sampling of the Summer Music Events at Wineries Across the State:

Biltmore Estate Summer Evening Concerts (Asheville)
www.biltmore.com/visit/calendar/concerts.asp

Ragapple Lassie Vineyards’s Shindig Concerts (Boonville)
www.ragapplelassie.com/shindigsandevents.htm

Shelton Vineyards Summer Sunset Concerts (Dobson)
www.sheltonvineyards.com/default.aspx?shelton=39

Raylen Vineyards’ July 19 Full Moon Festival (Mocksville)
www.raylenvineyards.com/index.php/Future-Events

Childress Vineyards “Music in the Vineyards” (Lexington)
www.childressvineyards.com/news/events.asp

Cypress Bend Vineyards’ Jazzy Fridays at the Winery (Wagram)
www.cypressbendvineyards.com/cbvevents.html

Duplin Winery Dinner Theatre (Rose Hill)
www.duplinwinery.com

Explore North Carolina’s outstanding culinary tourism at www.VisitNCWine.com. For complete lodging, event and travel planning information, go to www.VisitNC.com or call 1-800 VISIT NC (847-4862)

Media Contacts:

Susan Dosier
704-953-9408 mobile
sdosier@visitnc.com

Margo Metzger
919-715-9463 office
mmetzger@nccommerce.com