NC State Partners to Release Series of Licensed N.C. Wines

North Carolina State University today announced the launch of a new partnership with North Carolina wineries to produce a selection of NC State officially licensed North Carolina wines. The inaugural offering will be the first in a series of limited-edition premium vintages called the NC State University Hallowed Places Collection and will feature the school’s iconic Brickyard in its labeling.

Shelton Vineyards in Dobson, N.C. was selected to produce the first limited-edition wine in the series, which will be available for purchase directly from the vineyard’s website and in its tasting room starting Friday, Oct. 15. There will be approximately 2,500 bottles available for purchase, and a portion of all sales will support student scholarships at NC State.

Shelton Vineyards was selected for the partnership from among several interested wineries following a tasting panel hosted by the North Carolina Wine & Grape Council. The licensing agreement with Shelton Vineyards is exclusively for the first wine in the Hallowed Places Collection, after which NC State plans to partner with one of North Carolina’s nearly 200 wineries to continue expanding the series each year.

In addition to the premium Hallowed Places Collection, NC State hopes to launch officially licensed wines with North Carolina vineyards in other categories as well, including one celebrating the university’s unique and historic ties to the muscadine grape.

“North Carolina viticulture is a deep-rooted and strong part of our research and work at NC State, as well as a growing sector of the economy across our state,” said Christopher Boyer, assistant vice chancellor of strategic brand management at NC State. “This partnership showcases the important work of NC State Extension agents to help farmers across the state thrive. And, with a portion of proceeds benefiting academic scholarships, it will help us further our commitment to providing opportunities and access for students.”

The licensed wine initiative also provides current NC State students with opportunities to get real-world experience in their fields of study. Students from the College of Design submitted design and copy ideas for the wine labels and overall branding of the wines, while students from Poole College of Management will assist with marketing strategy and content creation.

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