Source: NCDA&CS, 9/1/15

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”

September is Wine and Grape Month in North Carolina, and it’s a good time to celebrate an industry that contributes quite a bit to the state’s economy.

A study commissioned by the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council looked at data from 2013. It found that the industry contributes over 1.7 billion dollars to the state’s economy. That figure represents a 34 percent increase over a four-year period. Wineries and vineyards also account for almost 8,000 jobs across the state.

The study showed that tourism related to wineries and vineyards is a big part of the industry, with an impact of $257 million. Many wineries have opened up their vineyards to wine-related events, private parties, weddings and other special occasions to attract more visitors and diversify their income, Commissioner Troxler says. More than 1.7 million people visited wineries and vineyards in 2013, according to the study.

The industry continues to grow. Today, there are 159 wineries and 525 vineyards in the state, and these businesses produce 569,000 cases of wine.

September is a great time to visit local wineries. The harvest season is under way, and visitors can take part in grape stomps, wine festivals and other events at many of the state’s wineries.