10 Independence Day party wines that are all American

How to taste wine like a Duplin pro

See. Swirl. Sniff. Sip. Savor. Use this 5-step system for each wine on the tasting sheet included in your kit. Here's how. 

See: First, hold a glass of wine up to a light and look at the color. It will allude to the variety of grapes used and what the wine will taste like. Is it Scuppernong? Nobel? Carlos? Another? Color also indicates flavor. A bright, saturated hue often means a more intense flavor. See if you can guess the grape and flavor before you sip.

Swirl: Consider the wine's body next. Swirl the wine in your glass to determine if it is light or heavy. You're looking for the viscous streaks running down the side of the glass after you swirl. They're called "legs." Sweeter wines will leave streaks to cling or move slowly. That means a heavier body.

Sniff: After you swirl, really dip your nose into the glass and inhale the aroma, which wine pros call the "bouquet" or "nose." Pausing to experience the bouquet heightens your senses and anticipation of the first sip. Think about what you are smelling. Is it fruity? What kind of fruit? Berries? Ripe banana? Musky honeydew melon? Pure grape? Are you getting floral notes like honeysuckle or gardenia? See if you pick up unexpected smells like pine or fall leaves. Describe the bouquet and discuss it.  

Sip: Take a sip slightly larger than normal and hold the wine in your mouth for 3-5 seconds. Let the wine coat the tongue and the inside of your mouth. Wine releases more flavors as it warms on your taste buds. Before swallowing, purse your lips and breathe in gently, allowing the air to travel across the wine in your mouth to get the full flavor profile.

Do the flavors you're experiencing match the wine's nose? When and where are you tasting those flavors? Are you getting, say, banana bread on the first sip and then astringency or acidity at the end, which is called "the finish." Where do flavors hit you? On the tongue? On the side of your mouth.

Think back to the wine's body. Compare the texture of different wines, how they feel in your mouth. Light as water or heavier, like the texture of sweet iced tea? If you're sampling a sparkling wine, do the bubbles feel fine or medium in size. Compare your experience to the wine's description and see if it matches.

Savor: As you continue sipping, note how the sensation is slightly different from what you experienced when the wine was resting in your mouth on the first sip. This is the point when you taste and feel the wine's finish. As you continue tasting, note how the wine pairs with the Duplin Gourmet crackers and Muscadine Pineapple Habenero dip. See which wine you like best with those snacks and others you may be enjoying during your at-home or virtual tasting. Cheers!

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Party on the 4th Wine Tasting Kit

Party on the 4th Wine Tasting Sheet

Midnight Magnolia

Midnight Magnolia is Duplin co-owner Jonathan Fussell’s personal favorite wine.

Close your eyes as you take your first sip and experience the elegant fruity start and then the crisp finish.

One of three Duplin Estate wines, Midnight Magnolia is made from grapes Duplin grows within four miles of the winery in Rose Hill, N.C.

Brice's Creek

Brices' Creek is named after a tiny community near New Bern, N.C., where pine forests are calming and peaceful.

Take time to notice the slight floral start. Do you sense jasmine? Yellow jessamine? Pay attention to the smooth finish and light alcohol bite. This wine’s complexity is thanks to a combination of Scuppernong and Niagara grapes. Niagara is not a muscadine grape but a native American vitis labrusca variety developed in Niagara County, N.Y.

Muscadine Moscato

Three years in the making, Muscadine Moscato sent our winemakers on a search for the finest moscato wine to meld with Duplin's famous muscadine. "We're the first to do this, and no one can do it like we can," Dave says. "Muscadine Moscato is the best wine we've ever made, hands down.”

Smooth and sweet, with the Muscat grape’s natural hints of nectarine and white peach, Muscadine Moscato is beautifully sophisticated yet at home in any setting. Lightly chilled or ice-cold, this wine pairs with everything from filet to fried chicken.

Southern Mist

Vivacious and sweet, with notes of honeysuckle and rose petals that tickle the nose. Perfect in flutes for celebrations. Equally delicious when it’s just me-time at the beach. Delectable with charcuterie, chips, blackened salmon, pesto shrimp pasta, barbecue and spicy Thai, Indian or Mexican dishes.

Southern Mist is the second of Duplin’s first-in-the-world muscadine-moscato blends. Now, wine lovers who like a little fizz get their own version of this unique white.

Burgundy

Burgundy has a 1.5% sugar level, similar to the sugar content in merlot or cabernet sauvignon. Duplin Burgundy is much lighter and fruitier than those wines.

Duplin winemakers use a blend of early-harvest muscadine grapes. Grapes picked before they become too ripe are less sweet. Sip slowly. This wine packs 13% alcohol, making it a great partner to a big steak or caramelized onion and mushroom burger.

Pelican Red

Pelican Red combines mid-harvest muscadines with Pink Catawba grapes. Catawbas are a cross between Vitis Labrusca and the European cultivar Semillon. Native to France, Semillon is a golden, thin-skinned grape used in sweet and dry wines. Historians aren’t sure who first crossed these two grapes, but early vines were said to have grown on a so-called “Rose Hill property” in Maryland.

With just 7% sugar, Pelican Red is mid-sweet with a smooth floral finish.

Hatteras Red

Sweet and fruity, with a feisty bite on the finish, Hatteras Red evokes all the charms of a day at the beach.

Hatteras Red’s flavor journey from sweet to slightly acidic is especially appreciated by beer drinkers.

With a 10.2% sugar level, Hatteras Red is best served chilled. The wine is deliciously drinkable on its own but is also prized for its versatility in cocktail recipes. Infuse a bottle of Hatteras Red with a fresh, halved jalapeno for 24 hours and then serve the spirited wine on the rocks with a shot of vodka.

Sangria Red

Made from a blend of ripened red muscadines, citrus and strawberry, this wine is wonderful by itself or paired with fresh fruits. On a hot summer day, we like to freeze this wine in ice cube trays. We drop those "wine cubes" into Sangria Red to keep the wine cold without losing flavor! 

Our winemakers add the essence of sweet strawberries and a touch of citrus. One of the easiest wines to pair. Congenial Sangria Red pretty much goes with everything, but especially nachos.

Scuppernong Blush

Southerners have a knack for the art of relaxing. Downtime revolves around comfy porch swings and last-minute invitations to sit a spell with something refreshing. These are the times to pour mellow Scuppernong Blush. North Carolina’s famous Scuppernong grapes blended with the sweetest late-season Muscadines puts you in that laid-back frame of mind. This wine is a must with pork tenderloin, grilled pork chops and fried seafood platters. Whizz Scuppernong Blush in a blender with frozen watermelon, honey and a squeeze of lime juice. Then, grab a seat on the porch. You’re going to be sitting for a while. And that’s just fine.

Blueberry Cotton Candy

A burst of bright, blueberry sweetness and a hint of soft vanilla in red wine like no other. Pair it with grilled cheese sandwiches, candied pecans or Duplin's famous cheesecake. For taco night, stir together with a pitcher full of Cotton Candy Blueberry Sangria spiked with spiced rum and berry liqueur.

Muscadine BBQ Sauce

A Muscadine flair added to a traditional sauce. This perfectly rich blend is just thick enough to evenly coat beef, poultry or wild game.

Wicked Minis Garlic Parmesan Oyster Crackers

Add this classic flavor combination of tangy parmesan and rich garlic to your soups and salads. Or just eat them on their own.