Off the road

The stop in the town of Rose Hill, N.C., was one of those off the major road adventures time and destination seldom allow. But this day, time seemed less of an imperative and destination would be there.

First there was the world's largest frying pan. Having gone to a few Delmarva Chicken Festivals in my time, I not totally unaware of large frying pans. This one is big. The Chicken Festival pan is pretty big as well. But, who can argue with official signs, such as the one in front of Rose Hill's world's largest frying pan.

Next stop was the winery. Duplin Winery. World famous for its North Carolina Muscadine wine. We had the option, a tour, or sampling. We picked sampling.

The samples were variations on that unique taste of the fruit my granddaddy grew in arbors. The golden and purple globes that is America's original grape. Grandaddy made a wine from his grapes as well. Duplin's Queen Anne's Revenge came closest to Orby  Prince's wine. He would have been impressed that Queen Anne's Revenge is top of the line, at almost $30 a bottle. 

"Earthy," our wine guide said.

"Very earthy," I agreed. Almost like that sandy loam soil that granddaddy turned into peanuts, grapes and peas every year. Earthy like Grandma's Navy brand snuff.

It's hard to beat earthy when it's North Carolina earth, back-home, where-you-come-from, where-your-people-came-from earth.