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.
On Roanoke Island, in the care of a vigilant couple, a piece of our history still grows.
Grapevines join bark and kudzu in an Asheville artist’s unique take on baskets.
At Greensboro’s independent bookstore, good reads are ripe for the picking.
Grape skins in a pie? It used to be commonplace, and with good reason. Let’s bring it back.
In Columbia, the river that gave its name to our grape is a lifeline and a family tie.
Across the globe from Vietnam, effects of the war reverberate through the state, where social and political perspectives are shifting quickly and dramatically.
These places are the stewards of some very special items: Doc Watson’s first recording, the desk Virginia Woolf used to redefine the novel, and Elisha Mitchell’s pocket watch are just some of the cherished pieces that teach us about our state’s history and the people who preserve it.
From burgers to comfort food to elegant entrées, the range of plant-based dining in North Carolina is growing. Restaurants on this list are exclusively vegetarian and/or vegan.
