Perceptions are hard to change. North Carolina wines were known for their muscadines, but that's about to flip.
When we started the NC Fine Wines Society in 2016, we had two goals: Promote the quality of NC Fine Wines, and to raise scholarship money for NC Students pursuing wine related careers at NC colleges and universities. How would we achieve this goal? By establishing a competition that wasn't just a participatory marketing medal. You have to earn this medal. It's the difference between high school sports and the Olympics.
Wine can't just be good. It has to be better. Otherwise, why bother? There are lots of great wines available.
So we set the standards high - 100% North Carolina Grown and Vinified wine. Sure 75% is what is the normal requirement to call a wine a state wine. But we say it should be 100% to reflect the terroir - or land that it comes from. Our judges are all Advanced Sommeliers from the Court of Master Sommeliers. We also give the judges' notes back to the vineyards on their submitted wines to know where they are doing well, and where there are opportunities for improvement.
Here's an independent review of what is going on now in North Carolina. A lovely article by Linda Seligman from Epicurean Charlotte.
http://www.epicureancharlotte.com/profiles-of-passion/2017/12/28/north-carolina-fine-wines-society
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