Media members can find press kits and additional information at media.visitnc.com.

Below is the latest in North Carolina wine industry news:

• 2009 NC State Fair Wine Competition Awards 289 Medals In Commercial Winery Division  
  
  The 10th Annual N.C. State Fair Wine Competition, held October 7-8 in Raleigh, had 416 wines submitted by 51 N.C. wineries.  Childress Vineyards took home the N.C. Winegrowers Cup and Best of Show honors with its 2006 Cabernet Franc. Biltmore Winery led the medal count with 43 awards. Cypress Bend Vineyards took the N.C. Muscadine Cup for best Muscadine wine for its Campbell.
  
  See more about the 2009 NC State Fair Wine Competition and commercial and amateur results.

• Research Request for Proposals 2010  
  The NC Wine & Grape Council is now receiving research and extension proposals for the grant period calendar year 2010.  Project proposals are due November 6, 2009 and funding announcements will be made by December 11, 2009.
  
  Priority will be given to research or extension proposals that address the following areas of need:

  • Wine quality initiatives

  • Vineyard nutrition management

  • Pest management

  • Pierce’s disease

  • Clones/ Root stock

  • Chemical resistance

  • Establishing the health benefits of NC grape products

  • Crop level management

  • Topics pertaining to wet seasons
  
  For more information on topics, proposal format and guidelines, view  Research Proposals 2010.
  
  All researchers are requested to send their proposal(s) to the NCWGC electronically in PDF format to mmetzger@nccommerce.com.

• 2009 North Carolina Wine Industry Summit

  The 2009 North Carolina Wine Industry Summit report contains detailed information on the council's 2008-2009 marketing, public relations and research efforts.  View the summit presentation and additional reports below.

   Wine Summit Report 2009
  
   Public Relations Efforts 08-09
   Public Relations Value & Placements 08-09

   Billboard Advertising Locations 08-09
   Fresh Muscadine Marketing Update

• Haw River Valley AVA Established
  The TTB announced in March the establishment of the Haw River Valley AVA.  Haw River is the third AVA in North Carolina, joining Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek.  The new AVA takes effect April 29, 2009.  Read the story in Wines & Vines.

• New NC Wine Web Site Launched
  The new and improved Visit NC Wine Web site launched for consumers in early February.  Visitors can find an events calendar full of happenings across the state.  There is also a new interactive winery map featuring information on wineries throughout North Carolina.
  
  Consumers can also view, download and request brochures and guides, including the 2009 Guide and Map to North Carolina Wineries and the 2009 North Carolina Travel Guide.  Check it out at www.visitncwine.com!

• Council research funding reaches record amount in 2009.  To view a summary of the proposals funded, view Research Funded.

•  Wine & Grape Fast Facts

•  Winery Visitor Profile Study

• "Sec. Fain Announces National Award for Wine-Tourism Promotion" (8/28/2007)

• "Report: North Carolina 10th largest wine, grape producer" from Triangle Business Journal (1/24/2007)

•  NC Grape Inventory Survey 2006
   

•  Economic Impact of North Carolina Wine 2005

We are dedicated to supporting North Carolina's growing number of vineyards and wineries by providing the latest news about consumer and vendor events in your area.

To find out about wine festivals and tastings targeted to consumers, go to VisitNCWine.com. You can also visit  Local Wine Events.com.


Festivals & Tasting Events

Industry Events

• Feb. 5, 2010 - NC Wine & Grape Council Meeting, Greensboro Airport Marriott
  
  
• April 29, 2010 - NC Wine & Grape Council Meeting, NC Department of Commerce in Raleigh, 4^th floor Board Room, South Tower

In addition, here are links to other events of interest specific to wineries and grape growers below: 

• Educational Meetings and workshops in North Carolina and other states 
• N.C. Winegrower's Association Events
• N.C. Muscadine Grape Growers Association Events

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2009 NC State Fair Wine Competition Awards 289 Medals In Commercial Winery Division
The 10th Annual N.C. State Fair Wine Competition, held October 7-8 in Raleigh, had 416 wines submitted by 51 N.C. wineries.  Childress Vineyards took home the N.C. Winegrowers Cup and Best of Show honors with its 2006 Cabernet Franc. Biltmore Winery led the medal count with 43 awards. Cypress Bend Vineyards took the N.C. Muscadine Cup for best Muscadine wine for its Campbell.

Three panels of professional judges evaluated wines and awarded 26 double gold, 40 gold, 102 silver, and 121 bronze medals. Double gold medals are awarded for unanimous decisions from the judges. Competitions were open only to N.C. winemakers, and commercial entries had to be submitted by bonded N.C. wineries. The state is home to 89 commercial wineries and several more are expected to open within the next year.

In addition to the commercial wine competition, 116 amateur wines were also judged.  These home-grown wines were entered by N.C. hobbyist winemakers.  Ribbons were presented to first, second and third place winners for each class of wine.  Best of Show in the amateur competition was awarded to Daisy King of Pinnacle.

2009 NC State Fair Wine Competition Winners:

•  2009 NCSF Wine Competition Commercial Winners (by award) 
•  2009 NCSF Wine Competition Commercial Winners (by winery) 
•  2009 NCSF Wine Competition Amateur Winners

2009 NC State Fair Wine Competition Judges Notes:
All entrants will receive a password from the NC Wine & Grape Council.  If you have difficulty downloading these files, please contact us at 919-715-9463.  For information about the judges, view  2009 Judges Bios.

•  2009 Commercial Judges Notes
•  2009 Amateur Judges Notes

• The N.C. Wine Competition is held at the North Carolina State Fair in October in Raleigh, NC, and includes commercial and amateur competitions.  Judging for the 2009 competition took place Oct. 7-8.
  
  For rules, view  Wine Competition Rules and Information 2009.
  
  Commercial and amateur divisions are judged by a panel of 6 to 10 judges. The commercial division offers gold, silver, and bronze medals and a best-of-show trophy to wines produced by bonded North Carolina wineries.  There is a $20 fee per wine entered in the commercial competition.  Please make entry fees payable to NC State Fair.
  
  The amateur division is open only to home winemakers in North Carolina. Amateur winemakers may only use home prepared juices - therefore, wines from concentrates or kits are ineligible for entry. Winemakers need not attend the competition to enter.  There is no fee for amateur entries.
  
  For more information, please contact the State Fair at (919) 733-2145 or visit www.ncstatefair.org.

• 2008 NC State Fair Wine Competition awarded 244 medals in commercial division
  
  Click  here to see the complete results.

•  2007 NC State Fair Wine Competition Results