I am a man of many loves: family, friends, finance, and Florida Gators. But those who know me well also know I am a lover of fine wines – an oenophile (EE-no-FIL-e), to be precise.

The term oenophile was first coined in 1977, when New York restauranteur Shirley Copperman dubbed her new BYOB eatery “Oenophilia”. That was a few years before I developed my early infatuation with the grape, experiencing fine wines at my parents’ dinner table.

My love affair with wine only grew when I met Kathy, the woman who would be my wife – and she sold wine for a distributor. I was fascinated with my new discovery, and I was pretty fond of Kathy, too.

Fast forward a few years (and two kids later). Kathy and I have sampled wines from around the world. And while my favorite is still a 1999 Lewis Vineyard Syrah from Napa Valley, I’m starting to enjoy wines from some of the 100+ wineries (www.visitncwine.com) right here in North Carolina.

The state’s varied geography, climate and soils are ideal for producing unique wines. The wine industry here has two focuses: native muscadine grapes, common in the sandy Coastal regions; and European-style vinifera grapes, planted in the Western and Piedmont regions of the state. These include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier.

A day trip to a winery is possible from just about every part of North Carolina, and it’s an interesting adventure. Every winery has a story to tell – whether it’s how two brothers purchased land in Dobson near where they grew up (Shelton Vineyards www.sheltonvineyards.com); how a Boonville winery was named after a much-loved and prize-winning calf (Rag Apple Lassie www.ragapplelassie.com); or how a successful race car driver (Childress Vineyards www.childressvineyards.com) brought the passion and spirit of California winemakers back home to Lexington.

In the strictest sense, oenophilia is a disciplined devotion to wine, with strict traditions of consumption and appreciation. But I prefer the layman’s definition. While I love to share my knowledge of wines, it’s my enjoyment of them that I like sharing the most. And I look forward to sharing more North Carolina wines soon.

What’s your favorite?

By Chris Cope (President, Allen Tate Mortgage (NMLS UID#81979)