Choosing a Local NC Wine for your Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable moments of your life, and every detail matters—including the wine. Choosing the right NC wine can elevate your celebration, delight your guests, and pair beautifully with your menu. Wine from a local NC vineyard can add a nostalgic charm to your wedding and our wines at Grapefull Sisters Vineyard are a taste of the South you won’t find anywhere else. Choosing a l0cal NC wine and vineyard venue like The Cellar at Grapefull Sisters Vineyard will help support your local agriculture and NC wine community and leave your guests savoring their experience at your vineyard wedding. This guide will walk you through the essentials of selecting the perfect NC wedding wine.

Consider your NC wine budget?

Before you dive into the many varietals and vintages, it's important to set a realistic budget based on the number of wedding guests that will attend your vineyard wedding. A good rule of thumb is to plan for half a bottle per guest if wine is the primary drink, or less if you’re also serving beer, cocktails, or non-alcoholic options. Working with a local NC vineyard like Grapefull Sisters Vineyard will add a touch of class and will also help support your local economy.

Match the NC Wine to your Menu

Muscadine wines run the gamut from candy-sweet to surprisingly nuanced. The food you serve will heavily influence your wine choices. Here’s a quick cheat sheet to consider.

Dry Reds: Deep purple and bursting with distinct grape flavors, these are the crowd-pleasers—perfect chilled on a hot day or paired with spicy foods. The Grapefull Sisters Red Roof Burgundy wine complements richer, heartier meals like beef, lamb, gumbo or mushroom risotto.
Scuppernong Whites: Golden and fragrant, with notes of pear, peach, or honeysuckle, the Scuppernong Whites are lighter but still carry that signature sweetness. The Grapefull Sisters Waccamaw White pairs well with lighter dishes like chicken, fish, or creamy pasta and is our most popular NC wedding wine.
Blushes: Blending red and white muscadines, these rosé-like wines offer a refreshing middle ground. The Tabor's Choice from Grapefull Sisters Vineyard is a versatile crowd-pleaser that works with everything from salmon to charcuterie boards.

NC Wine for your wedding — NC Wine for your Wedding Reception

Photography: True Faith Media

Consider your guests

Your NC wine should reflect the personality of the bride and groom, but it’s also smart to consider your guests’ preferences. Offering a mix of red, white, and both dry and sweet options ensures there’s something for everyone. If you know your crowd leans toward bold reds or crisp whites, lean into that but it's best to have a few options for your wedding guests. At The Cellar at Grapefull Sisters Vineyard, your preselected NC wines will be chilled and delivered to your cocktail hour or wedding reception ready to be served.

Factor in the Season and Wedding Venue location

When hosting a Spring or Summer outdoor wedding lighter, chilled NC wines like the Grapefull Sisters Southern Charm and Sunset Blush can keep guests refreshed. A winter and indoor wedding lends itself to more robust reds like the Grapefull Sisters Waccamaw Red and Red Roof Burgundy which will bring warmth and coziness to your vineyard wedding. It's always best to highlight local wines from your area for a unique twist and for an NC or SC vineyard wedding the muscadine wines from Grapefull Sisters are the perfect choice.

Incorporate a Local NC Wine Tasting

If you haven’t considered muscadine wine for your vineyard wedding, now’s the time. Head to Grapefull Sisters Vineyard, a local NC vineyard near North Myrtle Beach, and enjoy a tasting of 9 signature wines. Take time to schedule a wine tasting with your partner (and maybe a few trusted friends). Remember to take notes on what you love and pay attention to flavors, acidity, and finish—does it feel balanced? Don't forget to bring a sample menu to the tasting to test pairings in real time for your wedding selections. The staff will be able to help direct your wine selections and purchases for your vineyard wedding based on your menu and guest count.

Get the Right Quantities

Running out of wine mid-reception is a nightmare you don’t want to live. Here’s a simple formula to get you started but amounts will vary if you are serving other drinks like beer, cocktails, or non alcoholic drinks. Your wedding coordinator and caterer can also help you to finalize your wine order for your NC vineyard wedding and our staff at Grapefull Sisters Vineyard will also review this during your wine tasting.

Cocktail Hour: 1–2 glasses per guest.
Dinner: 1–2 glasses per guest.
Toast: 1 glass per guest.
Total: Plan for 3–5 glasses per person, depending on how much your crowd drinks.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the NC wine for your vineyard wedding doesn’t have to be intimidating. Start with prioritizing your wedding budget, consider your menu, then layer in your personal style and guest preferences. We recommend you visit Grapefull Sisters Vineyard, taste their many varieties, trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from an expert or your caterer. With the right bottles in hand, you’ll toast to love, laughter, and a night to remember when hosting your wedding at The Cellar at Grapefull Sisters Vineyard.

We hope to use our platform to create awareness for the value of supporting locally owned wedding venues. You can help support locally owned wedding venues across the county by writing a Google review, following their social media accounts and and referring locally owned venues. Here is a map of locally owned venues and a few of our favorites linked below.