Swirl, Sip, & Savor: Discovering Raleigh's Wines

RALEIGH, N.C. (December 2005) – North Carolina is once again gaining notoriety as a premier wine producing state, ranking 12th in grape and wine production in the United States. Steeped in history, it was the largest commercial wine growing state until prohibition halted production in 1920. With 45 wineries for wine enthusiasts to discover, The Old North State, is known today for its Muscadine grapes, often referred to as Scuppernogs, which are in high demand due to the increasing popularity of Muscadine wine. Raleigh has a hand in North Carolina wine production, as it is home to two distinct wineries, Chatham Hill Winery and Innovative Winery.

Chatham Hill Winery: Chatham Hill Winery, located in Morrisville, was the first winery in the Triangle area. Established in 1999, its mission is to produce distinctive, handcrafted wines of high quality and purity from grapes grown in North Carolina. By carefully selecting high-quality grapes from vineyards with old vines and low yields, the winery ensures quality and consistency. The wine is produced in a minimalist fashion using traditional methods. Chatham Hill Winery offers tours of the winery, tasting of its wines and special events such as Wine Club and Barrel Sampling evenings. www.chathamhillwine.com

Innovative Winery: Innovative Winery, also in Morrisville, is a small winery that offers visitors a hands-on wine making experience. Acquiring grape juices from some of the best known growing regions in the world, this winery then ferments its wine on-site in small six gallon batches (30 bottles). Guests can then fill, cork, label, cap and take home 30 bottles of either red (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend) or a white (Sauvignon Blanc ) wine while enjoying food and drink. www.innovativewinery.com

Second Empire Monday Night Wines, Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern, one of Raleigh's AAA Four Diamond Restaurants, located in the historic Dodds Hinsdale House, offers guests 50% off all wines by the bottle and glass the first Monday of every month. This provides guests with an excellent opportunity to taste notable wines at an affordable price. www.second-empire.com

The Wine Cellar, Angus Barn
The Angus Barn is home to a nationally recognized wine cellar, which holds 30,000 bottles of fine wines representing 1,200 different selections from 29 distinct wine regions. A winner of the Wine Spectator Grand Award consecutively since 1989, the Angus Barn provides guests with the Wine Cellar Dining Room. This private dining experience is a forum to show how wine can marry food. The Angus Barn also hosts monthly wine dinners and the Wine Cellar Dining Room is also available as a venue for prominent wineries to showcase current or special vintages. www.angusbarn.com


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