Growing-Grapes.org

A full-capacity crowd–in numbers and enthusiasm–came to Duplin Winery for its 35th annual Grape Stomp at Rose Hill, NC, Saturday, Sept. 10. The event featured tours, wine tastings, vineyard visits and an old-fashioned competitive grape stomp, Saturday, Sept. 10. Led by Jonathan Fussell, vice president–retail operations, the finalists in the stomp-off began late the afternoon, followed by an evening of beach music by the Castaways. A Southern BBQ dinner was served by Duplin Winery after various wine tastings of “Cool, Sweet and Easy” offerings, including several new frozen wine products, which were dispensed under a big white tent on the winery’s newest location at Interstate 40 and the Rose Hill exit. Concert-only tickets were offered and 200 free tickets were available for military personnel and families. Duplin’s roots trace back to the 1970′s when Muscadine grapes were considered a “wonder crop” and a large winery out of New York was paying 0 per ton for North Carolina’s native grapes. David Fussell, Sr. and his two sons decided to grow grapes . Within three years, the price fell to 0 per ton and the Fussell’s were looking for a way to salvage their livelihoods. In the early 1970′s, the family decided to create a market for their grapes and started making wine. In-laws, grandchildren, aunts, and uncles all pitched in stomping grapes and bottling wine. While larger wineries flew their sales executives across the country in corporate jets, the Fussell’s traveled …