#ThisIsThePlace: Muscadine grapes thrive in Bladen County

ELIZABETHTOWN, NC (WWAY) — If you take about a 10 minute drive northwest from Elizabethtown, you’ll come across Lu Mil Vineyard and Winery.

“We are definitely out in the country,” Owner Ron Taylor said.

You’ll find peace and quiet away from highways and away from the city at this vineyard.

“These grounds are very important to me to try to make sure they are kept beautiful like my mother and father always had them,” Taylor said.

Taylor transformed where he grew up into Lu Mil Vineyard.

“Lu Mil Vineyard is named in honor of my parents,” he said.

Religion, family, tradition, honesty and hard work was the way of life for Lucille and Miller Taylor.

“She had a green thumb and so I hope I have inherited a little bit of that,” Taylor said.

Through the eye of their son, Ron, he sees this property as home to not only his family, but to guests too.

“I use to run around here as a child, play in these creeks and in these fields,” Taylor said.

He says the farm used to grow many different crops but with the demise of the Federal tobacco program they we were looking for something to do with manufacturing equipment for another industry and selected the grapes.

The vineyard opened back in 2005.

“Our main facility was where my mother’s vegetable garden used to be,” he said.

During the last 5 years, he says it has grown more than 53 acres.

“We started out with five acres, and those five acres we started with every one of those baby vines I was out there every morning myself on my knees,” he said. “I was telling everyone I was praying and kissing each vine.”

The climate in southeastern North Carolina is the reason for such great success Taylor said.

“The muscadine grapes thrive on this hot and humid, light, sandy-type soils so where tobacco was originally or used to be grown has been excellent soil and soil type for muscadine grapes,” Taylor said.

He adds that there are 13 different types of muscadine grapes in the field, but only have one time to pick them each year.

“It’s just amazing the amount of fruit can come if you do the right culture practices, if you have the corporation of mother nature of the fruit you can get, but again that’s farming,” said Taylor. “You don’t know what you’re going to have it.”

He says you can work all day and night, but without the grace of Mother Nature, it can be devastating.

Just last summer, lightning struck one row of vines which killed everything on it. He says it took more than eight years to grow and only a second for it to be taken away.

He says it’s the good seasons you live for and the guests who keeping coming back that make it all worth it.

“When you see that smile come on their face for that particular one that they like the most, that’s the reward I get out of it,” Taylor said.

Cabins, barns, and creek are found scatted around the property. These places are where you can enjoy time with one another or just by yourself.

He says this place reminds us how lucky we are today because of what those before have done.

“Be able to show the generations to come the heritage of Bladen County and of my family and the things we are really proud of,” Taylor said.

There is a gift shop where you can taste and buy wines and all different types of jellies. There are also several venues on the property where you can stay for vacation or have a wedding at, but if you are looking for a day trip, it’s free to just go and check it out.