We might well speak of the great state of North Carolina, because it is surely that. But we’re making a motion to swap that “great” for “grape,” because isn’t it about time the muscadine got its due? The Outer Banks’ Mother Vine has been around for more than 400 years, after all, and elsewhere in the state, artists and booksellers have turned to grapevines and their fruit for inspiration. The South’s famed scuppernong grape was named for a river here in North Carolina. We already knew these sweet, substantial fruits make good wine. And as it turns out, they make a great pie, too — skins (surprise!) and all. Or so we’ve heard through the — well, you know.
The Keepers of the Mother Vine
On Roanoke Island, in the care of a vigilant couple, a piece of our history still grows.
Matt Tommey’s Vine Art Baskets
Grapevines join bark and kudzu in an Asheville artist’s unique take on baskets.
Scuppernong Books
At Greensboro’s independent bookstore, good reads are ripe for the picking.
Grape Hull Pie
Grape skins in a pie? It used to be commonplace, and with good reason. Let’s bring it back.
The Scuppernong
In Columbia, the river that gave its name to our grape is a lifeline and a family tie.