For information about the North Carolina wine and grape industry, view  NC Wine & Grape Fast Facts.  Media members can find press kits and additional information at media.visitnc.com.

Below is the latest in North Carolina wine industry news:

• Governor Bev Perdue proclaims September 2010 as North Carolina Wine and Grape Appreciation Month
  Gov. Perdue recognizes the importance of the wine and grape industry to the state and encourages the public to help support local wineries during appreciation month.  Gov. Perdue also urges restaurants and retailers to support the industry.
  
  The council encourages wineries to celebrate Wine and Grape Appreciation Month, and invites them to participate in Grape Day at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh on Friday, Sept. 10.
  
   Governor's Proclamation: September is Wine & Grape Appreciation Month
   Governor's Letter to Restaurants
   Governor's Letter to Retailers
  

• North Carolina moves up to rank 7th in the U.S. in wine production in 2009.
  

• 2009 NC State Fair Wine Competition Awards 289 Medals
  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.

• 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 took effect April 29, 2009.  Read the story in Wines & Vines.

•  Winery Visitor Profile Study

• "Sec. Fain Announces National Award for Wine-Tourism Promotion" (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 consumer and vendor events in your area.

You can also see Educational Meetings, Seminars and Workshops happening in NC and other states.  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

September

• Sept. 10 - Grape Day at Raleigh Farmers Market (Raleigh, NC)
• Sept. 25 - NC Muscadine Harvest Festival (Kenansville, NC) 

October

• Oct. 1-10 - Dixie Classic Fair (Winston-Salem, NC)
• Oct. 2 - Great Grapes! Wine, Arts & Food Festival (Charlotte, NC)
• Oct. 10 - FENCE Wine & Art Festival (Tryon, NC)
• Oct. 10 - Northeast NC Grape Festival (Hertford, NC)
• Oct. 14-24 - NC State Fair (Raleigh, NC)
• Oct. 16 - Yadkin Valley Grape Festival (Yadkinville, NC)

November

• Nov. 20 - National Wine Experience (Washington, DC)
     National Wine Experience winery application

Industry Meetings

• October 28 - NC Wine & Grape Council Meeting - NC Department of Commerce in Raleigh, 4th floor Board Room, South Tower, Time TBD
  
  

• November 8-10 - WineAmerica Fall 2010 Board of Directors and Membership Meeting - Hampton Inn and Suites at Shelton Vineyards, Dobson, NC
    -  WineAmerica Meeting Agenda

Other Events

• Educational Meetings, Seminars and Workshops 
• N.C. Winegrower's Association Events
• N.C. Muscadine Grape Growers Association Events

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The N.C. State Fair Wine Competition is held at the North Carolina State Fair in October in Raleigh, and includes commercial and amateur competitions.

Commercial and amateur divisions are judged by a panel of 6 to 10 judges. The commercial division awards double gold, gold, silver, and bronze medals.  The top wines of the competition compete for the Winegrower's Cup (best of show) and the Muscadine Cup.  The commercial division is open to wines produced by bonded North Carolina wineries.  There is a $20 fee per wine entered in the commercial competition and entry fees are 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.

2010 N.C. State Fair Wine Competition
Judging will occur on October 6-7.  Commercial and amateur entries can be received starting August 23 through September 10. 

To enter the competition, view  Wine Competition Rules and Entry Form 2010.  Gold medal commercial winners and amateur winners will be on display at the N.C. State Fair Oct. 14-24.

• 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, judged 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 received 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

• NC State Fair Wine Competition Winners
  

  Year	Best of Show	Best of Muscadine	Amateur Best of Show
  2009	Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2006	Cypress Bend Vineyards Campbell	Daisy King
  2008	Childress Vineyards Barrel Select Cabernet Franc 2006	Old Stone Vineyards Sweet Muscadine	Keith Lawrence
  2007	McRitchie Winery Chardonnay 2006	Duplin Winery Magnolia	Scott Pearson
  2006	Childress Vineyards Syrah 2004	Duplin Winery Magnolia	Scott Pearson
  2005	Iron Gate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2004	Duplin Winery Magnolia	Jacqueline Vasterling
  2004	RagApple Lassie Vineyards Chardonnay 2003	Old North State Winery Starlight White	David Smith
  2003	Westbend Vineyards Muscat Canelli 2002	Hinnant Family Vineyards Muscadine Blush	Bart Hodges
  2002	Shelton Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2000	Dennis Vineyards Sweet Noble 2001	Linda Hall
  2001	Shelton Vineyards NC Chardonnay 2000		Scott Lawrence