ABSTRACT
Yadkin Valley wineries are ideally located in the North Carolina region that is rapidly gaining a reputation for growing high quality grapes and producing world class wines. The utility oriented actors are much more likely to invest in vinifera than muscadine production because the former is inherently more status laden than the latter. Locational attributes are often difficult to determine and it would be presumptive to assume that the mere presence of a winery in a particular region necessarily means that there is extensive interaction between its owners and others. The AVAs are the framework for local communities of knowledge because they provide opportunities for technical exchange and knowledge seeking that is site specific. The network is now extensive and one can gain so much by talking with people in the industry and sharing knowledge. A virtually unknown wine from a region with a limited winemaking reputation creates obstacles for many wineries.
