NC Wine Country: South Coast Wineries Tour

Tour the vineyards and wineries of North Carolina’s Southern Coast

Jul 31, 2008

Located between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, ten vineyards and wineries offer red wine, white wine, sweet wine and wine making kits within minutes of Carolina beaches.

Think wine, think Napa Valley? Think again. The North Carolina wine industry has grown in the past few years to be a major contender in the American wine market. Ranked tenth in the nation in both grape and wine production, North Carolina wines are gaining in popularity.

Currently there are over 70 North Carolina wineries across the state, most of them family owned, offering a wide variety of wines ranging from French-style wines to sweet, Muscadine or Scuppernong wines. Touring wineries has become one of North Carolina's newest tourist attractions. On the Southern coast, ten wineries, including two just across the state line in South Carolina, create a South Coast wine tour for both wine aficionados and casual travelers.

Country Squire Winery & Inn

Owned and operated by Iris Lennon, a native of Scotland, the Scottish-themed Country Squire Winery has a full restaurant, a bed and breakfast inn and a wine shop that offers wines with names like Rustic Tavern Red (Merlot), Black Knight Cabernet and Pride of Scotland (Chardonnay).

Duplin Winery

The oldest winery in North Carolina and the largest Muscadine winery in the world, Duplin Winery produces top quality wines from native Muscadine grapes. The winery has a restaurant and a large gift shop and offers winery tours, special events and 30 different wines.

Bannerman Vineyard

One of the oldest commercial Muscadine vineyards in the state and highly recognized in the grape growing community, Bannerman Vineyard produces eleven different Muscadine and fruit wines with names like White Oak Sweet, Sweet Bay Blush and Simply Sweet North Carolina Strawberry Wine.

Lumina Winery

Offering twenty different wines ranging from sweet Muscadine and fruit wines to traditional Chardonnay and Merlot, Lumina Winery also sells beer and wine making kits. Lumina wines are meant to be consumed early and contain low levels of sulphites, less that 50 ppm.

Silver Coast Winery

Housed in a former barbeque restaurant, Silver Coast Winery has two gift shops, two wine tasting bars, an events hall, an art gallery, an outdoor events park and a large wine production facility. They produce 15 wines including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Seyval Blanc and White Merlot.

Grapefull Sisters Vineyard

Located on a former tobacco farm, Grapefull Sisters Vineyard has a large gift and wine shop and a private guesthouse called Inn d’Vine. They offer ten Muscadine wines with names like Sister’s Folly Carlos, Waccamaw White and Southern Charm.

Lac Belle Amie Winery

Home of “Twisted Sisters” wine, Lac Belle Amie Winery is the sister winery to La Belle Amie Vineyard in South Carolina and offers 21 varieties of wine including Muscadine, Chardonnay, Merlot and Zinfandel.

Lu Mil Vineyard

More than a winery, Lu Mil Vineyard is an agricultural tourism destination offering Muscadine wines, blueberries, blackberries, pond fishing, farm tours, an antiques museum, vineyard cabins for rent and a calendar of events.

La Belle Amie Vineyards

Sister vineyard to Lac Belle Amie Winery in North Carolina, La Belle Amie Vineyard has a large gift and wine shop and an outdoor events area. They offer 21 varieties of wine including Muscadine, Chardonnay, Merlot and Zinfandel.

Carolina Vineyards

Located at Barefoot Landing, Carolina Vineyards has a large tasting room/gift shop and offers 20 different wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Blackberry wine, Elderberry wine, Peach wine and Mango wine.

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