{"id":2141292,"date":"2025-05-09T13:24:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T18:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=2141292"},"modified":"2025-05-09T13:24:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T18:24:59","slug":"what-is-cheerwine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/what-is-cheerwine\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is ‘Cheerwine,’ and Why Do Southern People Love This Soda?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It's hard to find regional foods that are only available in that region. You can find Wisconsin's deep-fried cheese curds<\/a> and New Jersey's Taylor roll all over the country now. But somehow, regional sodas<\/a> 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.<\/p>\r\n

If you're from North Carolina, your home-state beverage of choice is almost certainly Cheerwine<\/a>, aka the \"nectar of North Carolina.\" And as someone who's reviewed everything from\u00a07Up Shirley Temple<\/a> to warm Dr Pepper<\/a> to, uh, Hot Take Dr Pepper<\/a>, I had to try it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

What is Cheerwine?<\/h2>\r\n\"A\r\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

It's such a home-state taste that North Carolina brides and grooms have been known to incorporate the drink into weddings<\/a>, whether as a favor for guests or to inspire the design of the groomsmen's socks!<\/p>\r\n\r\n

What does Cheerwine taste like?<\/h2>\r\n\"A\r\n

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.)<\/p>\r\n

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.<\/p>\r\n

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\u2014I can imagine it working as a secret ingredient in brownies or as an ice cream topping.<\/p>\r\n

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!<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Where to Buy Cheerwine<\/h2>\r\n

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.<\/p>\r\n

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<\/a> or order on Cheerwine's site<\/a>. Raise a toast, y'all, to those few regional treats that have stayed true to themselves.<\/p>\r\n

Related:<\/p>\r\n\r\n