Enoch Winery, Benson, NC

Max arrived at the Enoch Winery on a very warm summer day. As he drove up the Winery's drive from Highway 50, he noticed that it was lined with pear trees well endowed with fruit. It was quickly apparent that this vineyard was a bit different from most.

At the end of the drive is a neat building of a rather unassuming nature. The parking lot was large enough to hold buses and other large vehicles.

Max observed the vineyards and other plantings across a pond that sits on one side of the building. He took a few pictures of these to help him remember what he had seen.

Then he entered the building to discover what he could about what might make this winery special. Inside he was greeted by Susan Godwin, who stood alone behind the tasting bar in a large spacious room.

She began a friendly conversation where she provided many of the small details about the winery. She pointed out that the winery officially started operations in September of 2009. Then she explained a little about how the winery was named after her husband and partner Joe Enoch Godwin's father, Enoch E. Godwin Jr. She talked about how her family was involved in various parts of the operation.

It was just after this that Joe Enoch Godwin Sr. entered the premises and Susan introduced me. Like his father, he has a love of farming and small fruit production. He explained to Max how he decided to act when he saw fruit that could not be sold as berries go to waste. He showed Max a new barrel full of blueberries where he had begun the wine process.

Max was amazed and impressed by the vigor with which the whole process of the winery was displayed and shared. While Joe Sr. was giving Max a tour, Michael Higgs arrived. Michael's study of the science behind fine wine had already been mentioned proudly several times. Michael was just stopping by for a few minutes with two of the grandchildren.

Any testing or timing issue with the wines is the area where Michael is the expert in the family. As other people arrived at the winery, it became clear just how much a family affair this is.

Max's curiosity about what might make this a special place to visit was answered by the friendly and open way he was treated. If you live in the city where everyone is a stranger this would be a great place to visit. You can be guaranteed to be made to feel at home.

Of course a winery needs to have wines, too. In the area of wines, the winery focus is on native Muscadine grape varieties. The available wines can be expected to change from time to time. At the time of this writing two White Muscadine wines and three Red Muscadine wines were available. Because the winery uses no water in the wine making process, the wines can be expected to differ from other native wine makers in sweetness.
If you happen to be a fruit wine lover, this winery has a wide selection of choices; apple, peach, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and watermelon were on the list. They also make pear wine which, due to popularity, is hard to keep in stock.

Visiting this winery is a refreshing and rewarding experience.

Proprietors:
Joe Enoch Godwin
Susan Godwin

Wines:
Muscadine: White and Red varietals.
Fruits: Blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, apple, peach, pear, watermelon

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 1 PM to 6 PM
Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM

Directions:

From Raleigh
Take I40 South to I95 South
Take I95 South (Exit 79) to NC Highway 50 East (three miles from exit)
The winery will be on your left; it is halfway between Benson and Meadow.

From Wilmington
Take I40 North to NC Highway 96 South (Exit 334)
Go ½ mile south to intersection of Highway 50
Take a right onto Highway 50 North (three miles from intersection)
The winery will be on your right; it is halfway between Benson and Meadow.

The winery is located at:

Enoch Winery
3735 NC Highway 50 South
Benson, North Carolina 27504

Phone: (919) 207-0100.

Email: info @enochwinery.info