More than a dozen cideries operate in North Carolina. Many of them are located in or around Henderson County in the western part of the state—where a majority of the state’s apple orchards thrive in cool mountain air; others are located as far east as Durham, riding the wave of the “orchard to glass” revolution. 

Similar to wine, hard cider is made from the fermentation of fruit juice—in this case, apple juice—and it’s growing in popularity in the U.S. While most cider fans go to tasting rooms for their sips, the American Cider Association says U.S. cider sales outside of those tasting rooms increased 6.5% in 2024. 

For mead, a millennia-old drink made with honey, water and yeast—and sometimes also fruits, spices or grains—North Carolina artisans are exploring new tastes and flavors and the story is similarly rosy. 

The U.S. mead market is expected to “grow significantly,” according to Fortune Business Insights, in part because more consumers are looking for low-alcohol beverage options. 

Roughly two dozen meaderies are located throughout North Carolina, often offering beer, wine or cider alongside their mead menus and welcoming visitors with new releases and unique events. 

Apples with honey jar on table