Nurture Wine and Grape Industry
North Carolina ranks #10 in both grape production and wine production.
North Carolina has more than doubled the amount of land used to grow grapes to 1,300 acres since 2000, enabling the state to become the 10th largest producer of both grapes and wine in the United States.
North Carolina is home to 400+ vineyards and more than 80 wineries in 30+ counties. The number of wineries in the state has grown tremendously this decade, quadrupling from 21 in 2000 to 84 wineries today. A report released in January 2007 by our department indicates that statewide, the wine and grape industries account for more than 5,700 jobs with an associated payroll north of $159 million.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
Herren House Restaurant
The new owners of the Herren House Bed, Breakfast and Restaurant, Henry and Stephanie Batha, are ramping up the restaurant at this historic inn located in Waynesville, NC. Now serving lunch and dinner, they have changed the price fixed dinner menu to a ala cart menu that is focused on small plate choices and blue plate specials (actually served on blue plates!) The “home cooking with an uptown twist” theme fills a niche in the areas dining community where popular restaurants serve avaunt garde meals.
The home cooking theme menus, which is becoming the new trend in popular restaurants throughout the US, is being developed by the inns owners and their head chef along with the guidance of Rhonda Horton, owner/consultant of InnSpired Management. Menu items like pecan crusted local trout, melt in your mouth slow roasted pot roast and buttermilk fried chicken will be featured. The inn offers guests a variety of dining options, with porch seating and gazebo dining available along with their comfortable inside dining room.
Herren House will soon feature a boutique wine list specializing in smaller vineyards producing excellent wines, as well as beers from local micro breweries as well as popular brands.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
Winery, Vineyard and Special Events
Rhonda is partnering up with some local farmers and business people in creating a dynamic new winery just outside Hendersonville in the beautiful farm country where apples have been farmed for generations. The property has been identified as one of the very best grape growing slopes on the East Coast by several viticulture experts from place like Cornell University, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University. The European Vines are already exploding with grapes, with the potential to produce bottles within the next two years.
The mountain site, with beautiful vistas and rolling countryside will also be home to an Education Center and Special Events Facility, as well as a Wedding Chapel and Winery. Stay tuned for updates on this magnificent project.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
QUALITY OF N.C. WINES CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
Salute! The North Carolina Wine Celebration that was held in downtown Winston-Salem this past Saturday provided a snapshot of an industry on the move, in the variety of wines and in the rising quality. Twenty-nine wineries from North Carolina participated this year. There seems to be emerging wine trends in North Carolina such as the state continues to add wineries, more wineries are making sparkling beverages and several are experimenting with combinations of grapes and other fruits.
InnSpired Management, Inc. www.innspiredinns.com 828-329-5543
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.