Duplin Winery and Folds of Honor partnering on two new wines to honor U.S. Armed Forces & First Responders

ROSE HILL, N.C. (May 15, 2024) – Duplin Winery, the South’s oldest & largest winery, is proud to announce two new wines dedicated to the bravest of the brave: our nation’s Armed Forces and First Responders. Duplin will donate $1 for every bottle of these two new wines sold to Folds of Honor, an organization that provides life-changing scholarships to the children and spouses of our nation’s fallen and disabled heroes.

Made with America's own Muscadine grapes grown on cherished family farms, Armed Forces Red salutes every veteran, active-duty personnel and fallen U.S. service member. This bold, sweet wine full of heart is an expression of their unwavering valor and steadfast dedication.

First Responders White is another truly distinctive Muscadine wine honoring the incredible firefighters, police officers and medical professionals who carry out split-second, life-saving decisions with boundless courage and compassion. This generously sweet yet graceful blend embodies their unceasing selflessness.

"All of us at Duplin Winery are filled with immense pride as we stand alongside Folds of Honor. Together, we can make a difference and show our gratitude to American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and safety," Duplin co-owner Dave Fussell Jr. said. "By investing in the education of military and first-responder families, we invest in dreams and aspirations, making our collaboration with Folds of Honor an absolute blessing."

Since its establishment in 2007, Folds of Honor has granted an astounding 52,000 scholarships.

"Folds of Honor is proud to team up with Duplin Winery," the organization’s CEO and founder, Lt. Col. Dan Rooney said. "We believe the partnership will be a force multiplier to the mission and awareness of Folds of Honor and increase scholarship funding to the families of American military and first-responder heroes. Together we will meet sacrifice with hope."

Duplin will release both wines on Armed Forces Day, May 18, during Honoring Our Heroes events from noon to 4 p.m. at the winery’s locations in Rose Hill, N.C., North Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Panama City Beach, Fla. 

Anyone who buys cases of either Armed Forces Red or First Responders White, $14.99 each, or mixed cases of the wines, will receive a bonus Duplin T-shirt for just $5 with each case. Plus, veteran and active-duty service members always enjoy a 15% military discount on all wines, merchandise and events.

EVENT: Honoring Our Heroes event & new wines release

DATE: Saturday, May 18, 2024

TIME: Noon to 4 p.m.

LOCATIONS: All Duplin Winery locations (North Myrtle Beach, S.C., Rose Hill, N.C. and Panama City Beach, Fla.)

About Duplin Winery

Founded and still headquartered in Rose Hill, N.C., family-owned Duplin Winery is the largest winery in the South and listed as the nation’s 36th Largest Winery by Wine Business Monthly magazine. Specializing in wines made from America’s native muscadine grapes, Duplin is the largest muscadine winery in the world with a tank capacity of nearly 3 million gallons. Duplin Winery grows its own grapes in North Carolina and works with more than 60 farming families to source local grapes in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and the Carolinas. The company plans another 100 acres of vineyards in Florida’s Panhandle to support Duplin’s Panama City Beach location, 10101 Panama City Beach Parkway, which opened in summer 2023, joining Duplin retail locations at 505 N. Sycamore St., Rose Hill, N.C.; and 4650 U.S. Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Founded by D.J. Fussell, Sr., and his brother in 1975, the winery today is owned and managed by Fussell’s sons, Dave Fussell Jr. and Jonathan Fussell, and his grandson, Gray Fussell, marking four generations of family winemakers. Duplin wines have won several awards over the years, including Impact’s Hot Brand Award and Beverage Information Group’s Fast Track Award, both normally given to West Coast wineries. Duplin Winery has been featured in Garden & Gun, Martha Stewart Livingand Elite magazines as well as numerous regional and national media outlets.

Duplin wines are sold at the company’s locations as well retailers in 17 states in the South, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. The winery also sells wines online, shipping to 48 states year-round.

About Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. Educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school, and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate or professional program. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 52,000 scholarships totaling about $244 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45% are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. Folds of Honor was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter pilot with three combat tours in Iraq and a PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.