There is a lot of interest these days about growing grapes, making wines, and either building or visiting wineries. I have shared information with you in the past about the health benefits of grapes, especially muscadine grapes, and the wines made from these grapes. I have also shared information about grapes as an alternative crop for landowners and the potential for economic develop that a good winery would bring to this area. But today, I would like to share information with you about some upcoming events that I think you will find very interesting.

For the first time this year, the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair will provide an amateur wine exhibit as part of the county fair. Al Locklear, owner of Ace Hardware on Roberts Avenue in Lumberton, will be the proud sponsor of this exhibit. This business is very interested in helping promote grapes and wine making, since they provide rooting stock and a lot of vineyard supplies as well as many of the supplies that are used by hobby wine makers.

Since the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair serves basically a seven-county area, this exhibit will be limited to those residing in Robeson, Hoke, Scotland, Cumberland, Columbus, and Bladen Counties in North Carolina and Dillon County in South Carolina. Only amateur, hobby wine makers may enter their wines.

There is not a commercial winery in this seven-county area at this time. At least one winery is now being built, and at least one more is being planned. As commercial wineries are developed, maybe we can expand the competition in coming years to include both amateur and commercial exhibits.

If you are a hobby wine maker, please call me at 671-3276 and give me your name and address. If you know someone else who is, give me their name and address as well. I would like to develop a good mailing list, so I can make sure all hobby wine makers in the area get the information they need about entering their wines in the county fair.

Wines can be entered in the fair just like the other home exhibits. There is no cost to enter. Special times will be established during the week before the fair opens for people to take their exhibits to the fairgrounds and get them registered.

All home exhibits are judged prior to the official opening of the fair. Winners and ribbons are displayed, so even those visiting the fair on the first day can see who won the blue ribbons. However, the wine judging will not take place until Tuesday night during the week of the fair. Those visiting the fair on Tuesday night will actually be able to see the judging being done.

As an extra attraction following the judging, one of the judges will provide a short lecture describing what it takes to make a good wine and how a person goes about determining good wines.

There will be categories available for both red and white wines; muscadine, vinifera, and hybrid varieties; and other fruit and berry wines. Wines must be entered in sealed bottles, either corked or with screw caps.

Ribbons and prize money will be provided for each class. Each wine will be judged on its own merit, instead of in competition with other wines. With this system of judging, there may be more than one blue ribbon in each class. On the other hand, there may not be a wine worthy of a blue ribbon in some classes.

So if you are a hobby wine maker, start getting your wines ready. You will now have an opportunity to show them off.

Since there is so much interest in wines, the other item I wanted to mention is that I can make arrangements for Dr. Dan Carroll, Food Science Professor at North Carolina State University, to come to Robeson County to conduct a Saturday morning hobby wine making workshop. Dr. Carroll is a renown wine expert and judge and is the person responsible for the wine judging at the North Carolina State Fair.

This workshop would be provided just prior to the local grapes being ready for harvest, so those participating in the workshop who wish to do so will be able to immediately start their wine making hobby. There would be a registration fee for supplies and possibly a lunch. Participants would be able to sample a variety of wines.

I need to know if there is enough interest from individuals in the county for me to make plans for this workshop. If you are interested in participating, please give me a call and let me know. If there is enough response, I will schedule with Dr. Carroll for this workshop.

Now, if you are a hobby wine maker, you can enter your wines in the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair. If you are not a hobby wine maker but want to be, you may be able to learn all you need to know about making good wines. I look forward to hearing from you.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 10/28/05