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NC Winery Set to Open Huge Tasting Station on the Grand Strand
Locals and tourists who consider themselves wine-enthusiasts will be pleased to hear about the arrival of a new wine-tasting station on the Grand Strand.
Duplin Winery, the largest wine-maker in the South, announced that construction has begun on a 15,000 square-foot facility adjacent to Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. Scheduled to open in the spring of 2015, the new facility will be capable of hosting upwards of 200 guests at a time.
The new site will also have roughly 5,000 feet of retail space that will feature all of Duplin’s varieties, as well as specialty drinks, merchandise, and food.
It’s a process that’s apparently been in the works for quite some time now. “My brother Dave and I have dreamed of opening a location along the Grand Strand since the 1990s,” said Jonathan Fussell, Duplin Winery’s president and head of marketing. “We're excited about bringing the laid-back North Carolina wine country experience to the beach. In the wine country of North Carolina, we're serious about our wines but relaxed about life, and so our wine tours are just a little different than others that people might have experienced. Our focus is on fun and we try our very best to show our guests a good time.”
The company that would come to be known as Duplin actually started out as wholesale sellers of Muscadine grapes in the early 70’s, but when the price per ton crashed, they decided to try their hand at wine-making. From selling their wine to distributors from the back of a converted hog trailer, to bottling the juice in Mason jars, Duplin has come a long way in recent years and now enjoys its status as a rapidly-growing, award-winning winery.
Fussell is hoping that the North Myrtle Beach tasting station will attract families and groups of all ages. “It's a place where folks can relax, listen to some music, and learn a little more about wine,” he says. “We expect to host groups, parties and families. Adults will enjoy it, and kids will too. In addition to our wines, we'll be serving our patented Sweetzer frozen drinks which can be made in non-alcoholic versions. We think families will find this a unique attraction that everyone can enjoy.”
Stay tuned to MyrtleBeach.com for future developments.
