Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Chris Denesha, pleb urban winery Expanding and Protecting our High Country Vineyards to New Varietals Grant Award: $6,000 Working with a network of farmers, Extension agents and academic researchers, Chris’s goal is to establish western North Carolina as a unique … View >>
Eddie and Jeff Frisbee, Addison Farms Vineyard Crush, Cold Storage and Drying Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Building on success gained through two previous AgOptions grants in 2011 and 2013, Addison Farms Vineyard has seen appreciable growth each year since 2013. … View >>
Chris and Michelle Crawford, Crawford Acres Vineyard Expansion and Diversification Grant Award: $6,000 Crawford Acres has expanded their grape plantings by 472 vines and diversified their crop with three new varieties of grapes. Their grant covered the costs for new … View >>
Karen and Bob Binns, Parker-Binns Vineyard Increasing Wine Production and Diversification Grant Award: $6,000 To accommodate an expansion of their winery and to diversify into producing cider, Parker-Binns Vineyard has added a new production building to their existing successful winery. … View >>
The Frisbees are adding 400 vines of Petit Manseng to their vineyard, expanding it from 3.8 acres to 4.4 acres of six varieties. Growing more of their own fruit increases the ability to have influence over the quality and availability … View >>
Mario DeLuca DeMariano Vineyard Grant Award: $6,000 — Wine Production The 2012 WNC AgOptions grant offsets DeMariano Vineyard’s wine production costs to help the family realize the value-added income from the farm’s grapes. The vines are producing at about 75 … View >>
Eddie and Jeff Frisbee Addison Farms Vineyard Grant Award: $9,000 — Vineyard and Winery Expansion The Frisbees are continuing the family’s fifth-generation tradition of farming by diversifying their cattle farm into a vineyard and winery. With the addition of 400 … View >>
Stephen Alan Thompson Nottely River Valley Vineyards Grant Award: $6,000 — Tasting Room and Pavilion Stephen is constructing a tasting room and pavilion for a 10-acre vineyard, planted in Vitis Vinifera and French American Hybrids. The pavilion is the focal … View >>
Chuck & Jeannie Blethen Jewel of the Blue Ridge Consulting & Vineyard Grant Award: $6,000 — Greenhouse & Vineyard Expansion The Blethens are building a propagation greenhouse, which will be used to grow their own muscadine rootsock for sale to … View >>
Mario and Michael DeLuca DeMariano Vineyard Grant Award: $6,000 — Wine Production from Grapes The DeLucas are purchasing winery equipment and supplies to help realize the value-added income from production of their own wine. They are harvesting from one acre … View >>
Robert Johnson Hattie Hill Vineyard Grant Award: $3,000 — Harvesting Equipment Robert is purchasing harvesting equipment that will greatly increase the efficiency of harvesting and transporting grapes. The equipment will be shared with up to 20 farmers in his region. … View >>
Eric Carlson: Calaboose Cellars Vineyard Expansion to Sustain Local Wine Made from Local Grapes Grant Award: $3,000 Eric is expanding his vineyard by adding 150 Chambourcin vines, 75 Seyval vines, and 75 Catawba vines. His aim is to produce wine … View >>
The Dillingham family is the eighth generation to work the land and find solutions to create a living from the land. The whole family has invested in the new venture to produce wine grapes for the Biltmore Estate Winery. … View >>
The Dillingham’s are developing a new working relationship with Diane Ducharme, their local NC Cooperative Extension Agent in Buncombe County. The Dillingham family is transitioning from tobacco and beef cattle into producing grapes for growing market demands. Expected income … View >>