N.C. WINE, CIDER AND MEAD GARDEN RETURNS TO N.C. STATE FAIR THIS OCTOBER

RALEIGH, N.C. — Fairgoers headed to the N.C. State Fair this fall will once again have the chance to sample craft beverages from across the Tar Heel State.

The N.C. Wine, Cider and Mead Garden will return to Heritage Circle near the Blacksmith Shop for the 2026 N.C. State Fair, running Oct. 15–25 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Marketing Division and the N.C. Wine and Grape Council, the garden features an expansive roster of local wineries, cideries, and mead producers representing the mountains, foothills, Sandhills, and coastal plains.

“We are thrilled to bring the N.C. Wine, Cider and Mead Garden back to Heritage Circle and give fairgoers another way to experience the incredible variety of products being made right here in North Carolina,” said Nicole Chesney, executive director of the N.C. Wine and Grape Council. “Heritage Circle is such a natural fit for this experience because it celebrates North Carolina craftsmanship and tradition.”

Featured Lineup & Regional Favorites

The garden lineup highlights North Carolina’s agricultural diversity, offering everything from dry traditional wines and sweet muscadines to fruit-forward hard ciders and honey-based meads.

Participating producers include regional and statewide favorites:

• Wineries: Duplin Winery (Rose Hill), Locklear Vineyard & Winery (Maxton), Cypress Bend Vineyards (Wagram), Childress Vineyards (Lexington), Biltmore Estate Winery (Asheville), Parker-Binns Vineyard (Mill Spring), Sotrio Vineyards and Winery (Elkin), Mountain Brook Vineyards (Tryon), Curran Alexander Vineyards (Lexington), Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery (Elkin), Uwharrie Vineyards & Winery (Albemarle), Cauble Creek Vineyard (Salisbury), Shadow Springs Vineyard (Hamptonville), Tempest Cellars (Louisburg), Adagio Vineyards (Elkin), Haze Gray Vineyards (Dobson), and Tunnel Creek Vineyards (Roxboro).

• Cideries: James Creek Cider House (Cameron), Bull City Ciderworks (Durham), Flat Rock Cider Company (Hendersonville), East Bower Cider Company (Raleigh), Barndoor Ciderworks (Fairview), Molley Chomper Cider (Lansing), Ment Beverage Co. (Durham), Noble Cider (Asheville), Round Peak Vineyards (Mount Airy), Botanist & Barrel (Cedar Grove), Black Mountain Cider + Mead (Black Mountain), and Urban Orchard Cider Co. (Asheville).

• Meadery: Stardust Cellars (Wilkesboro).

Hours & Details

The N.C. Wine, Cider and Mead Garden will be open daily from noon until 10:00 p.m., with extended weekend hours until 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Beverages will be sold for $15 per glass, which includes 6-ounce pours for wines and 10-ounce pours for ciders and meads, with a strict limit of two beverages per person.

For more information on North Carolina’s craft beverage industry, visit ncwine.org.

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