Answer Man: How many wineries are in Henderson County and what's their economic impact?

HENDERSON COUNTY - Today's question relates to something that seemed out of place in Henderson County ― a vineyard.

Question: At one of the crossroads on a recent drive in Henderson County, I saw a sign for a winery/vineyard and decided to check it out. I managed to have one really nice glass of wine. How many wineries are there in Henderson County? How many acres are planted to various grape varieties? Is there any wine variety that dominates? How does the dedicated acreage for wine grapes compare to the dedicated acres to the various apple orchards for which Henderson County is known for? What is the impact of the wineries compared to the apple orchards in regard to the economic impact in Henderson County?

Answer: There are eight wineries in Henderson County, and there are many wine varieties offered. Vineyard owners mostly agreed that it's hard to pinpoint which wine variety dominates, as patrons' tastes change from time to time.

As far as the acreage, there's a good reason Henderson County is known as Apple Country, with 150 known orchards. According to Mark Williams, executive director of AgriBusiness Henderson County, there are currently 4,300 acres of apple orchards in production and 160 acres of vineyards in production in the county's eight wineries.

"Hard data is limited, but we rely heavily on U.S. Ag Census reports that are published every five years, 2017 being the last," Williams told the Times-News on Feb. 8.

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The economic impact of the apple industry is staggering. Williams said it is currently $31 million annually in “farm gate” sales on average. "Our wine/grape industry in Henderson County is still relatively new but has grown rapidly over the past 10 years," he said.

The estimated revenues from wine/grape sales (which does not include events, agritourism, taxes, etc.) is $54,000 per acre, Williams said, citing data from economic impact studies at ncbusiness.com/fast-facts-of-the-n-c-wine-industry/. That means at $54,000 per acre with 160 acres in production in the county, the economic impact of wineries is $8.6 million annually.

"This information is based on production and does not account for all revenues generated by our orchards or vineyards," Williams said. "Even this information is only a snapshot in time, and we all know that crop production can vary greatly year to year depending on weather and markets."

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Here are the eight wineries in Henderson County and their descriptions provided by at NCWine.org:

• Burntshirt Vineyards: One of the first wineries in the county, it sits on 27 acres of vineyards at 3,400-feet elevation on the Eastern Continental Divide. It produces a large selection of wines that have captured many national and international awards. Wines are made from 100% estate-grown grapes at two vineyards, which are among the highest elevation vineyards on the East Coast. Apple wine is crafted from local apples. Address: 2695 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville. Phone: 828-685-2402.

• Point Lookout Vineyards: Offers 10 dry and semi-sweet wines and is also home to World's Edge Meadery, which produces seven meads: wildflower and orange blossom, apple, raspberry, tropical fruit, chamomile and chai tea - all made with its honey wine. Address: 408 Appleola Road, Hendersonville. Phone: 828-393-5793.

• Marked Tree Vineyard: The property is on 50 acres, with 7 acres under vine. Located at an elevation of 2,300 feet on the Eastern Continental Divide, it is Flat Rock’s first winery. It offers 10 wine varieties made with European vinifera and French-American hybrid grapes in a picturesque setting, surrounded by panoramic views. Grapes include Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Grüner Veltliner, Chardonel and Vidal Blanc. Address: 623 Deep Gap Road, Flat Rock. Phone: 828-513-3773.

• Stone Ashe Vineyards: Located on approximately 64 acres with some 20 acres under vine, at 2,700 feet in elevation, surrounded by vineyards planted with vines cloned from Bordeaux. Stone Ashe chose the terroir of the Crest of the Blue Ridge AVA to produce wines for the world stage using classic grape varietals such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Riesling. Address: 736 Green Mountain Road, Hendersonville. Phone: 828-551-5643.

• Souther Williams Vineyard: The current property is 35 acres of which eight acres are under vine with another five planned for future development. On land that’s been in the same family since 1800, Souther Williams cultivates well-known varietals like Cabernet Franc, Cynthiana, Reisling and Vidal Blanc, along with lesser-known grapes from Austria, Germany and eastern Europe. Address: 655 Hoopers Creek Road, Hendersonville. Phone: 828-483-6070.

• Sawyer Springs Vineyard: With six generations of farming in Henderson County to its name, Sawyer Springs Vineyard was built from the ground up. Its grapes are grown in an American Viticultural Area called the AVA Crest of Blue Ridge. Address: 124 Sandy Hill Lane, Hendersonville. Phone: 828-698-4383.

• St. Paul Mountain Farms: It is a mixture of both apple orchard and vineyard. Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards was the first winery in Hendersonville when it opened in 2011. The vineyards are on land that has been in the same family for nine generations. Guided tastings showcase award-winning wines made from 14 varieties of French vinifera grapes. Address: 588 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonville. Phone: 828-685-4002.

• Bear Falls Wine Co.: Its downtown Hendersonville tasting room offers a relaxed yet upscale environment. It produces a wide variety of wines that are grown in the Yadkin Valley and produced in Saluda. Bear Falls also offers wine slushies, hard cider and beer. Address: 432 North Main St., Hendersonville. Phone: 828-393-0945.

Dean Hensley is local news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at DHensley@localiq.com.

Got a question for Answer Man or Answer Woman? Email Interim Executive Editor Karen Chávez at KChavez@citizentimes.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Wineries in Henderson County, NC?What's their economic impact?