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Cypress Bend VineyardsSouthern Muscadine Wine is Quickly Gaining in Popularity
North Carolina is not thought of as a wine state, but a number of operations have opened in recent years. One of the newest wineries in the state is Cypress Bend.
Dan and Tina Smith began growing muscadines several years back on their farm which has been a family operation since 1807. The couple opened the winery in 2005. It includes rows and rows of muscadines including Carlos, Noble, Magnolia, Doreen and Triumph varieties. At the entrance, just past a small pond, is the visitor’s center which has a European flavor. The facility includes a nice sized mingling room and an outdoor patio. There are lots of pretty flowers placed here and there to make the place very inviting. The vineyards are located at 21904 Riverton Road in Waxham. Specific directions are available at the website. The closest somewhat larger town is Laurinburg which is also a pretty small Southern town. Cypress Bend Vineyards is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 12 noon until 7 pm and on Saturday from 10 to 6 pm as well as on Sunday, 12 noon to 6 pm. Travelers can stop in and sample the delicious wines which include both dry and sweet. Campbell is an especially good one. It has some cherry and berry flavors along with the muscadine base. All the wines are good though, so it's nice to be able to visit and sample. What is a Muscadine?Muscadines are a type of grape. They grow well in sandy soil and in hot climates, so they do very well in North Carolina – especially in areas close the beach. Waxham is about 45 minutes west of Fayetteville. It’s a small and very typical small Southern town. You’ll see roadside stands selling fresh fruits and vegetables though you’ll probably not often see muscadines sold. They are thicker skinned than the traditional “eating” grapes. Southerners typically bite a hole in the thick skin and then eat the sweet and tasty muscadine pulp. The facility is also available for parties. A group from the first annual Storytellers Festival of Carolina recently met at the vineyards for wine, cheese, jazz music, and stories on the edge of the gardens. National storytellers including Odds Bodkin, Donna Washington and Bil Lepp enthralled the audience with a range of interesting tales. The facility was a nice space for the event. They also host business functions and weddings. It’s a lovely place to have a Southern gathering. It's pretty and relaxing. It's right out in the country and feels like a million miles from everything. Prices on the wines are very reasonable – running on average from $9 to $12 per bottle. They have a web site as well where the wine can be ordered to be shipped. Case prices are discounted, and the case can be mix-and-match. Anyone with a passion for wine should check out the North Carolina muscadine wines. They really are flavorful.
The copyright of the article Cypress Bend Vineyards in Southern Cuisine is owned by Cyndi Allison. Permission to republish Cypress Bend Vineyards in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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