The Yadkin Valley on the map for Wine

For years, when Winston-Salem was mentioned, the only thing that would come to mind is a pack of cigarettes. The iconic brand created by R. J. Reynolds in 1875 has all but disappeared and the new players in town include a bevy of wineries that are taking the area by storm.
Winston-Salem's wine region is the Yadkin Valley, which is less than an hour away. Currently, there are around 35 wineries/vineyards in the Valley. For over a hundred years, the area was a key tobacco-growing region. However, as tobacco farming and cigarette manufacturing started suffocating, some entrepreneurs, including tobacco farmers, turned to wine making. The irony is that up until a few years ago, the Yadkin Valley was a Dry County, so there were a few locals who were less than happy when the crushing parties came to town.
The native grapes of this region of the southeastern United States are the Muscadine and the Scuppernong. Say that ten times fast. Early attempts to grow the European wine grape, Vitis vinifera, in the southeastern United States, including 18th century efforts by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, Virginia, didn't go so well. But in the past few decades, viticultural research has helped adapt these grapes to the climate, soil, and pests of the region. Now the area boasts an impressive lists of varietals.

In 2003, the United States' Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (love that combination) approved the new appellation for the region with the name Yadkin Valley AVA, allowing winemakers to bottle wines with labels indicating that the wine came from the Yadkin Valley. Now it's an official wine making region, the local teetotalers can't say much.

Wilkes County - Blue Ridge Parkway

Check out our ad on Blue Ridge Parkway Association website!!
Wilkes County - Blue Ridge Parkway

Images of Wilkes

The Wilkes Chamber of Commerce presents the 2012 Business IMAGES of Wilkes,an annual publication that showcases Wilkes County lifestyle,business, industry, and people. IMAGES magazine is used as a county marketing tool and is distributed to individuals visiting and considering relocation to our area. The magazine articles are selected by the chamber and written by professional writers.Each page features amazing photography taken by an awarding winning Journal Communications staff, the photographer. Journal Communications, publisher of IMAGES, also publishes the North Carolina Travel Guide, which is distributed through the N.C. Division of Tourism.The Wilkes Economic Development Corporation partnered with Wilkes Chamber in the production of the 2012 Business IMAGES to feature a special advertising section placing an even greater emphasis on business and industry expansion, training opportunities offered through Wilkes Community College, community and town beauty and charm, and business/government collaborative efforts.Wilkes EDC received 2,500 copies of this professionally “special advertising section” to use as marketing material distribution. EDC President Jeff Garstka said, “Business IMAGES of Wilkes magazine and in particular the Special Advertising Section, provides EDC with a marketing piece that our offi ce can distribute to clients and during our participation with regional, state, and national conventions and conferences. The professionally published IMAGESmagazine is a great way to showcase a unique and business-friendly community with many opportunities.” The 2012 Business IMAGES is alsoa digital magazine, visit. BusinessClimate.com/Wilkes-NC-Economic-Development the chamber’s website, http://www.wilkesnc.org/  to view the publication, and also to link to a virtual tour of unique spaces, places and faces in Wilkes. Wilkes Chamber of Commerce is the marketing arm of Wilkes County.Our overall goal is to promote chamber member products and services as well as the many amenities Wilkes has to offer to individuals considering to visit and/or relocate to our area.We continuously place Wilkes in front of visitors, marketing the numerous events, attractions, and natural beauty through printed publications such as IMAGES North Carolina Travel Guide, High Country Vacation Guide, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Guide. To pick up a copy of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Business IMAGES or for information on advertising in the publication, contact the chamber office.

 

There is alot going on here at the Chamber. We are preparing for our business
showcase. Please support your chamber and come out to the Business
Showcase.

         If your interested in being a part of the showcase the time is right.

Call us today!

Renewing Members May 2012

Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership

Allstate Insurance-Tonda Phillips

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

Basic Finance, Inc.

Blue Ridge Engineering, PLLC

Bojangles #6291

Briarwood Homebuilders, LLC

Brushy Mountain Water Company

Creekside Communications, Inc.

Dwight Phillips Auto Sales, Inc.

Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Faw Insurance Agency

Foothills Auto Spa

Gentiva Home Health

Goodman Landscaping Plus

High Country Lumber & Mulch, LLC

Home Instead Senior Care

House of Vacuums NW

Impact Collision Center, Inc.

Integrity Design and Displays, Inc.

James River Equipment Company

Jodi Province Counseling Services, PLLC

Journal Communications 

Libby’s Boutique

McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks

Miller Funeral Service, Inc.

Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care

Nathan’s Batteries

Parsons, Terri

Pipedreams

Premier Restoration of NC, Inc.

Rainbow Center-Children & Family Services

Red Carpet Inn-Wilkesboro

Scott & Stringfellow, LLC

Shadow Springs Vineyard

Stillwaters Salon & Day Spa, LLC

The Sterling Group

Universe of Science, Inc.

Valley Radiology Associates, PA

Wilkes Garage Doors

Wilkes Senior Resources, Inc.

Yadkin River Greenway Council

New Members –May 2012

Java Hills Coffee & Ice Cream Shop

Stone, Larry and Diane

The Islands Massage

Please help us welcome all our New and Renewing Members to the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce!

Stay connected with the events happening at the Wilkes Chamber, with a look at our January Monthly Mailer. This is a great resource for new businesses in Wilkes County as well as community events. Find our more about our BUY Local campaign and see the benefits in action of being a Wilkes Chamber Member. And while you're there take a look at the deals and specials our Chamber Members are offering!

Click Here for January Mailer

If interested in being a Chamber Member, contact Jamie Lakey at 336-838-8662 or by email to, jlakey@wilkesnc.org. If interested in advertising in "Your Chamber Connection" contact Tonia Perkins at 336-838-8662 or by email to tperkins@wilkesnc.org.

The Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Welcomes New Members for the months of November & December 2011

The Wilkes Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome our new members for the months of November & December. Please visit our website directory to find out more information on these and other businesses in Wilkes County. Business Directory Link

AFLAC-Nicholas Wehrmann

A Greener World Recycling, Inc.

C & M Precision Guns, LLC

Cadrenet, Inc.

Domino’s Pizza New/Deletion renewed

Pirate Race Productions, LLC

Playful Paws Pet Resort and Daycare

Security Financial Services

Sedgewick Homes. LLC

Smithey, Chuck H.

Stablemates Pet Care

Thompson Gas-Smokies, LLC

Thank you new members for supporting the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce! If you are interested in becoming a member or have a general membership question, please email Jamie Lakey at jlakey@wilkesnc.org.