WFAE: Elizabeth Ann Dover ’07 Knows What It Takes to Grow a Vineyard
The North Carolina wine industry is growing, and Elizabeth Ann Dover '07 is doing her part to contribute to it. She started Dover Vineyards about seven years ago on family farmland in Concord, and has been working tirelessly ever since to grow her vines–and her business.
At Davidson, Dover studied medieval Spanish–a far cry from the horticultural ins and outs of wine production. But a PBS special on North Carolina vineyards inspired Dover to take up the challenge of starting her own.
Through study, travel and hands-on work experience, Dover learned a lot and planted her first vines in 2009. She now sells several hundred cases a year and her wines are carried in a few stores. With continued hard work and commitment, she hopes to expand further, open a market, offer on-site tastings and begin turning a profit soon.