The region is rapidly gaining a reputation for high quality grapes and world-class wines, with production including Riesling, Chardonnay and Viognier white wine grapes, and cabernet and merlot reds. The effort is led by modern wine pioneers—many former tobacco growers—members of the Old North State Winegrowers Cooperative, a beneficiary of Golden LEAF grants since its inception in 2001.

The burgeoning wine industry also has spawned a new academic program at Surry Community College in Dobson, where the Southeast's only viticulture degree program is offered. Dr. Frank Sells, president of the college, says Golden LEAF has been a major impetus in establishment of the program. "I don't see how we could have come this far without their grants," he said. "Our first grant from Golden LEAF helped us get started, and then with growth in student interest, their additional funding helped us expand and modify the program."

Community business leaders characterize the area's blossoming wine industry as a pursuit that has great potential for the Yadkin Valley region. "We believe vineyards will have a major impact on the agricultural economy for years to come," said Ed Shelton of Shelton Vineyards in Surry County. "With tobacco farming on the decline, this is a great way to diversify the farming industry and open doors to new industries in the area. With the development of regional wineries, the tourism industry will ultimately follow." Dr. Sells agrees. "With the economic impact already being realized, the actual potential is on our doorstep. All sorts of things tie into winemaking-resorts, hotels, restaurants, enter- tainment, farm supplies, manufacturing and other essential parts of the industry. We're only on the threshold of what wine production can do for this economy."

"We believe vineyards will have a major impact on the agricultural economy for years to come."

Golden LEAF made an initial grant to Surry Community College in 2000 to help develop the wine industry in Surry and neighboring counties. In 2002, Golden LEAF grants were used to expand the college's teaching vineyard and winery and continued development of the area's wine grape industry, including providing equipment to set up Old North State's state-of-the-art winery in downtown Mount Airy. Expected to be operational for the 2003 fall harvest and crushing, the winery will bottle wines produced from cooperative members' grapes under its Carolina Harvest label or the growers' own labels. And the winery's retail shop will also feature other local products, broadening the economic benefit of wine-related tourism to include entrepreneurial efforts in other areas.

"With the help of Golden LEAF, in a relatively short time we put together a quality program that is unique throughout the country," Dr. Sells said, noting that not only does Surry Community College offer the only viticulture degree program in this part of the country, it has its own campus winery in place to train students in the craft of fine winemaking. "This kind of progress on our part could not have been possible without the kind of support we have received from Golden LEAF," he maintains.

"We're only on the threshold of what wine production can do for this economy."