Vineyards Turn Lack of Water Into Wine Wealth
The drought has dried up all kinds of crops across the state, but vineyard owners are having a bounteous year.
Posted — UpdatedStikeleather and her husband grow grapes on 8 acres at the Iron Gate Farm, north of Mebane, near the Orange-Alamance county line.
When grapes begin to ripen after July 1, warm, dry weather makes for more palatable wine.
Vineyard owners didn't have to spray as many chemicals this year, either.
"We've had less disease in the vineyards because we haven't had that high humidity level," Stikeleather said.
Vineyard owners said that despite their good fortune, they know a lot of farmers are suffering.
"We don't say this out loud too much to other farmers. We're afraid they will throw rocks at us. But it has been a wonderful year for grapes," Stikeleather said.
It has been a bittersweet year for white grapes. An Easter freeze damaged the early budding grapes, so there are fewer varieties of white wines this year.
"Flu Fire" is a popular white wine made with muscadine grapes.
Muscadine grapes were among those hurt by the April freeze.
"I was scared to death that I would not be able to find some this year because it goes into my best-selling white wine," Stikeleather said.
The number of wineries in the state has more than doubled since 2002. At least 10 more were expected to open by the end of the year.
Last year, the state produced about $46 million worth of wine.
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