"The Factory of Liquid Sin- that's what the locals are calling us. When you consider we are using buckets for a wine pump and our own bare feet to stomp the grapes, the word ‘factory,' just doesn't seem to fit,” - D. J. Fussell, Sr.

Duplin traces its roots to the 1970's when the Department of Agriculture was promoting Muscadine grapes as a "wonder crop” and a large winery out of New York was paying 350 dollars per ton for our native grapes. D. J. Fussell, Sr. and his two sons decided to enter into the grape growing business. Within three years, the price plummeted to 150 dollars per ton. Trying to salvage their livelihoods and create a market for their grapes, they threw their hats and their hopes into the winemaking arena in the early 1970's.

"I think we upset quite a few folks around here and I had to promise Mama that if we made wine, we'd definitely not open on Sundays.” – Dan Fussell, Jr.

In-laws, grandchildren, Aunts, and Uncles all pitched in stomping the grapes and bottling the wine. While larger wineries flew their sales executives across the country in corporate jets and stayed in fancy hotels, the Fussell boys traveled with their wines in a converted hog trailer and slept in sleeping bags at the local state parks.

"We pulled up to this sophisticated wine distributor in Raleigh on our hog trailer loaded with wine. Everyone in the building came out shaking their heads and saying they have seen a lot but this is the first time they have ever seen anybody bring them wine in a hog trailer.” – David G. Fussell, Sr.

In the next ten years, Duplin Winery grew rapidly. Every bottle made was being sold and by 1983, production levels reached 200,000 gallons per year. The rest of the decade, however, would be disastrous for the winery. Changes in tax laws and new legislation regarding distribution resulted in plummeting sales. The banks took everything but the winery itself. In order to meet payrolls, equipment was sold off and David Sr. had to get a full-time job teaching school. He even lost his house and he admits that during these years he often thought about quitting, but his wife, Ann, who took over the daily operations at the winery, kept saying, "We make the best Muscadine wines in America. Let's give it one more day and see what happens.” The Fussell's resilience and commitment sustained Duplin Winery until our customers discovered our Muscadines wines, and spread the word . Today, with the newly discovered benefits of our native grapes and the continuing commitment to produce quality wines that are easy to drink and to like, Duplin has emerged as one of the hottest up-and-coming small wine brands in the US.

"For three generations, our winery has remained family-owned and family run, built on the core principles of hard work, integrity, and the uncompromising desire to make America's best and favorite Muscadine wines." – third generation winemaker, Dave Fussell, Jr.