TASTE OF HOME, COURTESY GAEL COOPER
TASTE OF HOME, COURTESY GAEL COOPER
Cheerwine, y’all: It’s a sip of southern charm. Despite its name, the bubbly drink is all soda—no alcohol.
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It’s hard to find regional foods that are only available in that region. You can find Wisconsin’s deep-fried cheese curds and New Jersey’s Taylor roll all over the country now. But somehow, regional sodas are going strong. Personally, I’m a fan of Michigan’s spicy Vernors ginger soda, Big Red soda in Texas and Seattle’s own Rachel’s Ginger Beer, which has a kick like a mule.
If you’re from North Carolina, your home-state beverage of choice is almost certainly Cheerwine, aka the “nectar of North Carolina.” And as someone who’s reviewed everything from 7Up Shirley Temple to warm Dr Pepper to, uh, Hot Take Dr Pepper, I had to try it.
What is Cheerwine?
COURTESY GAEL COOPER
What is Cheerwine? First off, it’s not a wine, though its burgundy color definitely looks like red wine when poured into an elegant glass. There’s no alcohol in Cheerwine. It’s a cherry-flavored, nonalcoholic soft drink that’s been produced by the same North Carolina family since 1917.
It’s such a home-state taste that North Carolina brides and grooms have been known to incorporate the drink into weddings, whether as a favor for guests or to inspire the design of the groomsmen’s socks!
What does Cheerwine taste like?
COURTESY GAEL COOPER
If you didn’t grow up with Cheerwine, you might expect a sharp, tart cherry taste, but Cheerwine is smooth and rich. It’s not as harsh as the black cherry soda we had at birthday parties as kids. (Looking at you, Shasta.)
There’s just a touch of spice that keeps the drink lively. Plus, it’s made with real cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup.
While Cheerwine didn’t bubble and fizz when I popped the bottle cap, there’s a delightful buzzy, carbonated edge to the drink, and it carries the lightest scent of fresh fruit. There’s almost a creamy, dessert-like taste to it—I can imagine it working as a secret ingredient in brownies or as an ice cream topping.
When my daughter’s friends discovered I had Cheerwine in the house, they raided my fridge so fast, I had to go out and buy more!
Where to Buy Cheerwine
If you’re in and around North Carolina, Cheerwine is likely everywhere. But you might be surprised at how accessible it is in other parts of the country, too.
Try Googling “Cheerwine” and your city name; I was able to find it sold in individual 355-ml bottles in the refrigerated section of my Seattle grocery store. You can also check candy and specialty soda shops, World Market or order on Cheerwine’s site. Raise a toast, y’all, to those few regional treats that have stayed true to themselves.
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