5 Star Bali Hotels - Wine Tours - North Carolina Wine Country Offers Surprises

More than a few very pleasant surprises await, and through the course of experiencing those contrasts. North Carolina is a study in contrasts. Quite possibly there's no state which offers more of both than North Carolina. I've always been drawn to places that offer a sense of historical pride and geographical diversity, being a lifelong student of history and geography.

And picturesque harborside communities, coastal plains, further east is a naturalists paradise - windswept beaches. The central Piedmont area is home to growing cities along with a technological hub. The Appalachian mountains provide a scenic backdrop, in the far western part of the state. One look at a map of North Carolina tells part of the story.

Producing quite possibly one of the widest variety of wine styles in the country, each distinct North Carolina area offers different varieties of grapes. North Carolina boasts the 10th largest grape and wine production in the United States, in vineyards and wineries from the mountains to the coast. The North Carolina wine industry thrives, amidst it all.

With the result being a surprising and ever evolving selection of wines for travelers and wine lovers, vintners in the mountain and Piedmont region of North Carolina have planted traditional European grape varieties and French-American Hybrids. This is just one small part of grape growing and wine growing here, yet. A staple in southeastern states, growers still produce the hardy muscadine grape, here in North Carolina.

Exploring North Carolina Wine

All four also offer a wide range of wine styles suitable for any palate, and yet. The muscadine, each offers a take on wines made with a distinctly southern grape. Four unique wineries sit in this far southeastern corner of North Carolina.

Turns out an impressive oak chardonnay, this winery has garnered several international wine competition awards and among other offerings. Silver Coast Winery offers a tranquil respite 15 minutes inland from the Atlantic coast, just over the South Carolina border.

Try their unique black rasberry merlot or the wonderfully balanced semi sweet white offerings. Lumina is well known for their adventurous fruit wines. You'll find Lumina Winery, a charming port city and site of numerous tv and movie filmings, in historic Wilmington.

A fruity and approachable white table wine, be sure to sample their White Oak semi sweet white. Producing muscadine varieties from their on site vineyard, nearby is Bannerman Vineyard and Winery. 000 cases a year and their Hatteras Red is quite possibly North Carolina's most well known wine, duplin produces over 250. Duplin Winery, including North Carolina's largest and oldest, you'll discover two more wineries, slightly inland from Wilmington just off of Interstate 40.

You'll find great wine and true southern hospitality, or the wind swept coast, the central Piedmont area, whether it's the mountains in the western part of the state. There are now over 70 wineries in the state and three distinct grape growing areas. North Carolina's wine industry continues to grow and thrive.