Tuesday, August 29th, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed September 2017 as “NC Wine and Grape Month.” A fitting month to celebrate North Carolina’s amazing, and rapidly growing, wine industry, as most of NC’s grape harvest is brought in during the month of September. With over 180 wineries and 525 commercial grape growers, the wine industry contributes 1.7 billion dollars (with a “B”) to the state economic impact. An industry with a long history that deserves celebrating!
The official proclamation signed by Gov. Cooper for "NC Wine and Grape Month"
Of course, we over here at one of the state’s HONEY wineries, can’t fail to notice that it is also National Honey Month! Proclaimed in 1989 by the USDA, assisted by the National Honey Board, National Honey Month is a month to celebrate our favorite little pollinator friends and the luscious, golden nectar that they create. (Check out the Honey Board’s website for tons of ideas and fantastic recipes for your own celebration! And if you haven’t signed up for their recipe newsletter, I would highly recommend it!)
A coincidence, that these two months coincide, you ask? I think not! Or, as Gov. Cooper would write:
WHEREAS, National Honey Month and NC Wine and Grape Month are celebrated during the same month; and
WHEREAS, mead is wine made from honey; and
WHEREAS, mead is the oldest fermented beverage;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BECKY STARR, Head Mead Wench of Starrlight Mead, do hereby proclaim September 2017, as “NC Mead Appreciation Month” and commend its observance to all citizens.
There, that should take care of it, don’t you think?