Bilbao. Napa Valley. Bordeaux. Porto. Premium wine locales, right? But you don’t have to flit off to Europe or the West Coast for great bottles: There are, in fact, a multitude of quality vineyards close to home.

The Palmetto State in fact grows several varietals—Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Muscadine, to name a few—but these fruits of labor don’t come easily. South Carolina vines must survive the sweltering heat and unpredictable rainfall in the summertime. In addition, these fragile fruits must withstand the hurricane season in autumn. A great deal of luck goes into producing wine in the Carolinas, but there are a few stalwarts that continue to perfect their lots.

Carolina Vineyards, in North Myrtle Beach’s Barefoot Landing, offers wines infused with local produce, including red-plum wine, peach wine, and blueberry wine. The tasting room opens at 10 a.m. daily and serves up a fruity twist—a wine smoothie.

La Belle Amie, of Little River, is a full-functioning winery that is open to the public. The vineyard is family owned and home to four grapevines that are more than eighty years old. La Belle Amie produces only Muscadine grapes, but with their partners in Europe, they are able to privately label and sell unique wines produced from grapes that do not grow in South Carolina’s heat. The vineyard hosts several events throughout the year and has

So stay rooted this holiday and look no further for your celebratory bottles—they’re here for the taking, right in your own backyard.

Wine Down

Carolina Vineyards
4922 Highway 17 South,
North Myrtle Beach
(843) 361-9181,
www.carolinavineyards.com
Monday–Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

La Belle Amie Vineyards
1120 St. Joseph Road,
Little River
(843) 399-9463,
www.labelleamie.com
Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.