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.
Click here for more about the 2009 NC State Fair Wine Competition commercial and amateur results and notes.
For The Locations Of The Wineries In Our State, Download The 
2009 Map & Guide to NC Wineries.
North Carolina has more than doubled the amount of land used to grow grapes since 2000 to 1,700 acres, enabling the state to become the 9th largest producer of grapes and rank 8th in wine production in the United States.
North Carolina is home to 400+ vineyards and 90 wineries in 30+ counties. The number of wineries in the state has grown tremendously this decade, quadrupling from 21 in 2000 to 90 wineries today. A report released in January 2007 by our department indicates that statewide, the wine and grape industries account for more than 5,700 jobs with an associated payroll north of $159 million.
Winery revenue totaled more than $48 million in 2005, while vineyard revenue topped $3.7 million. The retail value of North Carolina wine in 2005 was an estimated $72.3 million. State and local tax revenue generated by North Carolina-produced wine, grapes and related industries paid approximately $38.5 million, compared to $56.2 million in federal taxes. All in all, our department estimates the total economic impact of the wine and grape industry in North Carolina in 2005 to be as much as $813 million.
The report, titled Economic Impact of North Carolina Wine 2005, was prepared by MKF Research and commissioned by the Department of Commerce and the North Carolina Wine & Grape Council. The Wine and Grape Council provides a multitude of resources to stimulate our wine industry and help our wineries and grape growers offer award-winning products. Through our marketing partnerships, information resources, and consumer outreach programs, we’re re-taking our place at the forefront of the wine industry.
Stay Up To Date On NC Wine By Signing Up To Receive Our Electronic Newsletters
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- Carolina Uncorked, our quarterly newsletter for consumers
- From the Cellar, our quarterly newsletter for wineries and wine professionals
For Consumer-Oriented Information About North Carolina Wineries, go to www.VisitNCwine.com.
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