Inside the Carolina Wine Society's Rarefied World
A community of serious collectors and connoisseurs has built a sophisticated wine culture in the state, complete with cellars to rival any in the country.
The Carolinas may not be famous for wine, but they harbor some of the country's most serious collectors.
A connoisseur's community
A network of dedicated oenophiles has built a sophisticated wine culture in the state — trading bottles, hosting tastings and assembling cellars of genuine distinction. Their knowledge rivals that of collectors in any major market.
The community is close-knit, bound by a shared passion and the pleasures of the shared table.
Cellars of note
Some private collections in the state would astonish the uninitiated, their cellars stocked with rare and coveted vintages.
The culture reflects the growing sophistication of Carolina wealth, which increasingly expresses itself through connoisseurship. For these collectors, wine is not mere consumption but a lifelong study — and a social world unto itself, conducted quietly over remarkable bottles among friends who understand.
Related Stories
NCMA Opens a Free Nancy Baker Cahill Show That Spills Into the Museum Park
Ecologies of Scale, opening September 26, mixes video, sculpture, works on paper and augmented reality across the galleries and the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park.
The Mint Opens Corey Pemberton's First Solo Museum Show
Living Well, opening September 19 at Mint Museum Uptown, brings together more than 70 works in painting, collage, glass, quilts and textile design by the Los Angeles artist.
Hopscotch Returns to Downtown Raleigh for Its 16th Year
The September 10-12 festival fills City Plaza and downtown clubs with headliners including King Princess, Cory Wong and Dexter and the Moonrocks, plus a new free daytime hangout at Moore Square.