North Carolina Children's Hospital to Benefit from Duplin Winery Sales

Duplin Winery, the North Carolina Muscadine winery that jump-started the state’s burgeoning wine industry, announces unprecedented support for their 2009 signature charity, the North Carolina Children’s Hospital located at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.

Purchases of Duplin wines at North Carolina retailers and restaurants made September 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 will contribute to unconditional gift to NC Children's Hospital.

Rose Hill, North Carolina - Duplin Winery, located in Rose Hill, North Carolina, will be donating a portion of proceeds from all distribution sales outlets throughout the state of North Carolina for purchases of Duplin wines made from September 1, 2009 - November 15, 2009.  All retail outlets and restaurants carrying Duplin wines will be a part of this fundraising effort regardless of size and location.  Consumers become active participants and contributors to the fundraising effort  simply by making a purchase of cool, sweet, and easyDuplin wine.

“We have always been encouraged to understand the importance of being involved and giving to our communities.  This year it is an honor to select the North Carolina Children’s Hospital as the recipient of our efforts.  It is our hope that Duplin Winery fans and others will rally around this great cause, purchase Duplin wines when visiting their local retailer or restaurant, and we can all stand proud knowing the we as a community at large are able to help the children and their families in the state of North Carolina,” Dave Fussell, Jr., CEO & President of Duplin Winery.

Reaction from distributors and retailers has been positive and several are gearing up for their own assistance in promoting the effort.  Consumers can look for in-store posters and neckhangers promoting the effort.  While these items will not be seen in every retail area and restaurant, it is important to note that every single purchase of Duplin wine from each and every outlet and restaurant will contribute to the final amount given to the North Carolina Children’s Hospital.  This is the first time Duplin Winery has been involved in a fundraising effort of this scale.   Previously, the state’s oldest and largest winery was able to raise $30,000 through sales of the commemorative wine -  T E N, produced for the Carolina Hurricanes tenth anniversary season.  This $30,000 went to the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Communities foundation which offers programming assistance and financial funds to assist local area youth organizations.

While Duplin Winery has always been committed to providing funds to civil and community organizations, most of their giving and support has leaned towards children’s charities.  “Seeing the families and children served by the North Carolina Children’s Hospital made the decision easy for us to deliver this level of support and select this organization as our signature charity for 2009,” Dave Fussell.

Duplin Winery has also established a website specifically for the fundraising effort for consumers to stay informed with news and events related to the effort. www.fillyourglasswithduplin.com will be live September 1,2009.  “This is more than a single entity giving to an organization.  Our efforts involve several levels of participation and that is what makes this so unique and exciting.  We are seeing enthusiastic support from our dedicated distributors and retailers, and it is our hope that with the support of our staff and loyal customers we will be able to provide for families and children in North Carolina facing a variety of health circumstances.  This is truly a focused community effort that will provide support for children and families right in our own backyard,” Jonathan Fussell, President Retail Sales - Duplin Winery.

Details about Duplin Winery’s support for the North Carolina Children’s Hospital can be found on their website, www.duplinwinery.com, and www.fillyourglasswithduplin.com.

About Duplin Winery
Duplin Winery is the oldest and largest winery in the South and jump-started North Carolina’s burgeoning wine industry.  This year Duplin Winery received two industry recognition awards, Impact Hot Brand and Beverage Information Group’s Fast Track Brand Award. Duplin Winery is the first winery to receive these  awards outside of the traditional west coast and European winemaking regions.  Duplin Winery offers free daily tours and tastings of their award-winning Muscadine wines.  Muscadine wines, both red and white contain ten times the resveratrol found in ordinary red wines.  Duplin Winery hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the annual Grape Stomp Festival held each September and popular dinner theater productions throughout the year.  Duplin Winery currently sees 100,000 visitors annually and has a state-of-the-art production facility with a 1,000,000 gallon tank capacity. For more information about Duplin Winery, events, news, and wine releases, please visit www.duplinwinery.com

About North Carolina Children’s Hospital
North Carolina Children’s Hospital protects the health and well-being of North Carolina’s 2.1 million children by aligning premier healthcare practitioners, world-class medical education, and innovative, interdisciplinary research to provide the highest-quality, family-centered care, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. As a major referral center for children with complex and chronic conditions, N.C. Children’s Hospital works hand-in-hand with community hospitals and pediatricians across the state, providing specialty care to more than 70,000 children from all 100 counties each year. For more information, please visit www.ncchildrenshospital.org