Raise a glass for N.C. wine

This is for all the wine lovers out there. For the ones who swirl and sniff before they sip.

Whether your wine came from an aged oak barrel or a box in the refrigerator, pour another glass because September marks the first official N.C. Wine and Grape Month.

We have a lot to celebrate. What started in 1835 with a Halifax County vineyard, North Carolina’s commercial wine industry has flourished and currently stands as the nation’s tenth largest producer of wines and grapes. The more than 120 wineries and 400 vineyards boost the state’s economy by generating an estimated $1.28 billion.

Not only does North Carolina have the right conditions to grow every major type of grape, but we even have our own vine — the scuppernong — which was the first grape cultivated in the country.

To join in the month’s festivities, we compiled a list of some of the state’s most popular vineyards:

Shelton Vineyards

Dobson, N.C.

Shelton Vineyards is one of the largest wineries in the Yadkin Valley, an area known for having similar a climate and soil to famous wine-producing regions of Europe. Opened in 1999 by brothers Ed and Charlie Shelton, the establishment now covers about 400 acres. Stop by Shelton Vineyards for a tour or dine at the upscale Harvest Grill located on the grounds.

Childress Vineyards

Lexington, N.C.

After a successful tenure as a NASCAR driver and team owner, Richard Childress decided to turn his attention to wine. He enlisted the help of award-winning winemaker Mark Friszolowski who now oversees the 65 acres of vineyards that produce grapes for Childress’s large collection of red and white wines. Since releasing its first wines in 2004, Childress Vineyards has drawn visitors from across the state to its 60-acre winery complex.

Duplin Winery

Rose Hill, N.C.

With more than 40 years in business, Duplin Winery is one of the state’s oldest wineries currently in operation. Its location in the eastern part of the the state makes Duplin an ideal place to grow the Muscadine grapes that are typically transformed into sweet wines. Selling more than 300,000 cases of wine annually, Duplin is the world’s largest Muscadine winery. Sample Duplin’s award winning wines at a free tasting and tour.

Let’s raise a glass of North Carolina wine to recognize the grapes and the people who keep the wine industry growing.

And if you’re feeling particularlly festive, you can even dust off North Carolina’s state toast:

“Here’s to the land of the long leaf pine,
The summer land where the sun doth shine,
Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great,
Here’s to ‘Down Home,’ the Old North State!”