Since the first edition of
A Guide to North Carolina's Wineries
in 2003, the state's wineries have nearly tripled in number. Tar Heel
grapes are grown in the sand of coastal islands, on mountains so steep
that tractors slide down them, and everywhere in between. The
winegrowers include scientists, farmers, teachers, computer geeks, and
"wine bums." They make or sell their wine at idyllic country estates, in
converted gas stations and barns, and in conjunction with their art
galleries and restaurants. Among the newcomers is Richard Childress, as
committed to winemaking as he is to his NASCAR teams. In just a few
years, Childress Vineyards has assumed its place alongside noted
establishments like Biltmore Estate Winery, Shelton Vineyards, and
Duplin Winery; Vineyard, which the owner spent years building by hand;
Thistle Meadow Winery, where the proprietor would rather teach you how
to make your own wine than sell you a bottle of his; and Sanctuary
Vineyards, whose owners flood 20 to 30 acres of farmland each winter to
welcome thousands of snow geese. The 64 winery profiles in this second
edition provide wine lists, directions to the wineries, and contact,
schedule, and fee information. They also detail the history of each
winery and convey some of the passion of the owners and winemakers.
Danielle Tarmey was born in the Bahamas and spent her childhood there.
When she was eight, her parents moved back to Europe. The daughter of a
British father and a French mother, she has lived throughout Europe,
including France, England, Italy, and Switzerland. In the United States,
she has lived in both California and North Carolina. She earned her
master's degree in education at Salem College.
Joseph Mills was born and raised in Indiana and has lived in several
states, including Illinois, New Mexico, Utah, and California. After
earning a Ph.D. in literature at the University of California, Davis, he
joined the faculty of the North Carolina School of the Arts in
Winston-Salem. In 2017, he received the University of North Carolina
Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence. He has published six
books of poetry; many of his poems have been featured on Garrison
Keillor's A Writer's Almanac.
