50 Years of Duplin Wine

In this episode we feature Johnathan Fussel of Duplin Winery in Rose Hill, NC! As Duplin Winery prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Jonathan joins us to share the story of how his family helped establish North Carolina’s first modern winery and build one of the most recognizable brands in the Southeast. During our conversation, we discuss the inspiration behind starting Duplin Winery, what it was like making wine in North Carolina before a commercial wine industry truly existed, and the challenges that came with building a winery when there was no established roadmap for success. Duplin Winery has grown tremendously over the past five decades, but its roots remain firmly planted in eastern North Carolina. Jonathan reflects on the milestones, obstacles, and defining moments that shaped the winery’s journey while also discussing Duplin’s contributions to grape growers, wine education, tourism, and the growth of the North Carolina wine industry as a whole. Wine Class with the Wine Mouths is back again! Join us as they talk about Pinot Gris! We also feature a special guest in this episode, food and travel writer Heidi Billotto as she talks to us about the upcoming NCRLA Chef Showdown! For more information about the Wine Mouths, head to https://www.winemouths.com/ or find them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @Winemouths. The Wine Mouths theme was written and performed by Joshua Morris. You can find him at https://soundcloud.com/joshtime. For more information about the NCRLA Chef Showdown and to purchase tickets, head to: https://ncchefshowdown.com. Use Promo Code NCWineGuys to receive 10% off your ticket price! If you like this episode, please leave us a rating and review. It really helps spread the word. Subscribing and sharing with a friend is another great way to support Cork Talk. This episode was made possible in part by a grant from the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council. For more information, please visit https://www.ncwine.org