Muscadine Wine & Dine

The nation’s first cultivated grape, muscadine, is an age-old tradition among Raleigh-area vintners. Spend the day visiting wineries, pick up a bottle or two, then head back into town to try them with the best in local cuisine. Here, we pair muscadine wines with the top BYOs in town.

 

Matthew Red

This versatile semi-sweet red has light, fruity notes that pair well with everything from chicken and beef to red-sauce pastas and pepper jack cheese.

ADAMS VINEYARDS
3390 John Adams Rd, Willow Spring; 919-567-1010; adamsvineyards.com

BRASA BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE
8551 Brier Creek Pkwy; 919-544-3344; brasasteakhouse.com
Head to this authentic Brazilian rodizio-style steakhouse to catch what it calls “Steak Theater” — waiters return again and again to offer you fresh cuts of Churrasco beef, chicken, lamb and pork that are slowroasted gaucho-style over an open flame. Marry Matthew Red with anything in this elegant all-you-can-eat meat-lover’s paradise. Corkage: $10

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Hush Hush Blush

This organic blend of Carlos and Noble muscadines features sweet, fruity notes and a clean finish. It pairs well with anything chocolate.

A SECRET GARDEN WINERY
1018 Airport Rd, Pikeville; 919-734-0260; asecretgardenwinery.com

THE PIT
328 W Davie St; 919-8904500; thepit-raleigh.com
The Pit, a not-to-bemissed North Carolina ’cue joint, sources its pork in-state and smokes the whole hog over wood coals. After enjoying their Carolina-style ribs, try pairing your Hush Hush Blush with warm chocolate cake. Sure, it goes fine with the meat dishes here, but its palate-cleansing taste will add an extra zing to the rich dessert. Corkage: $10

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Mary Elizabeth

This sweet white muscadine wine pairs well with virtually any dessert and also makes for a refreshing sipping wine.

GREGORY VINEYARDS
275 Bowling Spring Dr, Angier; 919-894-7700; gregoryvineyards.com

THE MINT
219 Fayetteville St Mall; 919-821-0011; themintrestaurant.com
The light taste of Mary Elizabeth is sure to complement the seafood at this upscale contemporary American restaurant, like oven roasted flounder with lemon butter or sizzling red snapper; but we recommend saving some of the sweet wine for dessert. Mint’s warm apple tart with pinenut crust, caramel sauce and cinnamon ice cream is Mary’s perfect match. Corkage: $20

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Carlos

This red wine has intense, sweet Noble-grape flavors, with hints of cherry and a velvety finish. Try it with braised beef, spicy grilled shrimp and flourless chocolate tortes.

CLOER FAMILY VINEYARDS
8624 Castleberry Rd, Apex; 919-387-5760; cloerfamilyvineyards.com

BU KU
110 E Davie St; 919-8346963; bukuraleigh.com
Bu•ku, the restaurant inspired by street food from around the world, is a perfect match for the Cloer family’s sweet-tasting white wine. Try uniting Carlos with the American red snapper cooked Indonesian-style using cashew, tamarind, and Thai-chili. The extensive offerings of sambals, salsas and chutneys will blend well with this wine, the perfect counterpart to spicy ethnic cuisine. Corkage: $15

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Tar Heel Red

This sweet white serves as the yin to the yang of salty dishes such as roast beef, shrimp and oysters. It also cools the palette when served with spicy Mexican or Thai dishes.

HINNANT FAMILY VINEYARDS
826 Pine Level-Micro Rd, Pine Level; 919-965-3350; hinnantvineyards.com

18 SEABOARD
18 Seaboard Ave; 919-8614318; 18seaboard.com
Try pairing Hinannt’s Tar Heel Red with more locally grown favorites over at 18 Seaboard, a contemporary American grill that serves up fantastic new takes on classics like cornmeal-crusted catfish and Snead’s Ferry she-crab soup. Bring out the rich flavor of the grilled salmon salad with this wine's distinct fruity zest. Corkage: $25