LUMBERTON — Wine making has long been a pastime for many, but because of a surge of interest many more have taken up the skill.
Laws in North Carolina make it legal for individuals to produce up to 200 gallons of wine each year for their own use to share with their friends.
To give amateur winemakers the opportunity to learn more about this skill, and show off their wines, the 76th Annual Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair will again offer the Amateur Wine Exhibit and Competition this year.
This exhibit is sponsored by Nissan of Lumberton Amateur Winemakers from Robeson and all adjoining counties who are encouraged to enter their wines in at the exhibit this year.
All wines must be capped or corked bottles.
There are nine different categories for wine exhibits, including red or white vinifera, red or white hybrids, and red or white muscadine.
Additional classes are available for blueberry wines, strawberry winds and other fruit wines.
Each wine entered will be judged on its own merit, so wines will not actually be in competition with each other.
Prize money will be awarded blue, red, and white ribbons. In addition, the Best of Class will be selected for each class.
The actual judging of wines will be done by certified wine judges on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Al Parnell Home Exhibit Building and it is a closed event.
Judges will provide a brief discussion of how wines are classified and judged and will give pointers on how to make quality wines.