Wine Month

Duplin Winery in North Carolina holds the distinguished title of being the largest producer of Muscadine wines in the world and is recognized as both the oldest and largest winery within the state. The Muscadine grape, also known by the name Scuppernong, carries a significant historical and cultural legacy deeply intertwined with early American history. Notably, the oldest cultivated grapevine in the United States is a remarkable 400-year-old Scuppernong vine known as the Mothervine, which is located on Roanoke Island in North Carolina, symbolizing centuries of viticultural tradition.
Prior to Prohibition, California’s vineyard acreage was relatively modest, covering less than 100,000 acres. However, by the time Prohibition ended, the state saw an extraordinary expansion in vineyard land, growing to over 600,000 acres, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of grape growers. During the Prohibition era, when the sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited under the 18th Amendment from 1920 to 1933, grape growers devised imaginative and legal methods to continue marketing their products. They sold grape juice in containers clearly labeled with warnings such as "Warning: Will Ferment and turn into wine," accompanied by detailed guidelines on the precautions buyers should take to prevent fermentation from occurring inadvertently.
In the present day, California has solidified its position as a powerhouse in the U.S. wine industry, producing more than 17 million gallons of wine annually. This impressive output underscores California’s ongoing leadership role, innovation, and deep-rooted tradition in American viticulture, maintaining its status as a key player on the global wine stage.