Holiday Wine Pairing Guide
NC Wine. Cider. Mead. A Taste for Everyone
Honey Mead
NC Meads are made by fermenting honey with water and sometimes fruits or spices. Mead is one of the oldest know alcoholic drinks with roots going back thousands of years. Meads can be sweet or dry (not sweet), still or sparkling. Discover something new this season! Try adding a Mead to your holiday table!
Hard Cider
Cider is made by fermenting the natural sugars in fruit juce (normally apples or pears). Cider comes in many styles: sweet, off-dry (slightly sweet) or dry (not sweet) as well as still or sparking. Bring something to excite your hosts this year - NC Cider!
Wine
North Carolina is home to fantastic award-winning wines. We have wines that are sweet or dry (not sweet), sparkling and still. Surprise your guests this year with something local. Check out the NC Wind Competition winners to bring something they are sure to love!
Join Us For:
- New Grapes & Styles – From muscadine roots to bold European vinifera and hybrids, winemakers are crafting drier, more complex wines.
- Elevated Experiences – Wineries are investing in tasting rooms, food pairings, and agritourism to create immersive visits.
- Award-Winning Quality – More NC wines are earning medals and national recognition than ever before.
- Sustainability & Storytelling – Eco-friendly practices and authentic local branding are shaping the future of our vineyards.
Discover Our Grapes
Dry Reds – Not Sweet
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Merlot |
| Petit Verdot | Cabernet Franc |
| Monotepulciano | Nero Amaro |
| Sangiovese | Malbec |
| Chambourcin | Tannat |
| Cynthiana (Norton) | Blaufrankisch or Lemberger |
| Red Blends | Sparkling Reds |
Dry Whites – Not Sweet
| Chardonnay | Pinot Grigio |
| Vermentino | Trebbiano |
| Riesling | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Viognier | Grune Veltliner |
| Rkatstieli | Albarino |
| Petit Manseng | Seyval Blanc |
| Vidal Blanc | Traminette |
| Chardonel | Ciders |
| Sparkling | Rose |
Muscadine & Sweet
Sweeter Wines
Riesling
Traminette
Muscadine Red & White
Ciders
Meads