Noted author Pat Conroy wrote in his novel "The Water is Wide" ...."The first time I walked the road I was shocked to find two odd-looking structures in the curve of the road. There was a sign on one of the buildings that read SILVER DEW WINERY 1953". Other than a notation about swimming at Bloody Point's beach there was literally no other reference to the isolated Island of Daufuskie where the story unfolded and he called Yamacraw.
When I purchased this National Register of Historic Places structure and South Carolina Treasure a number of years ago a concerted effort was made to restore its rotting timbers and announce to the world that this picturesque solid brick tinned roof building was indeed a Winery back in 1953. The story simply needed to be told.
Papy Burn, Lighthouse Keeper at the Bloody Point Light remodeled his favorite hideaway, once a Lighthouse structure itself built in 1883. He made wine from all sorts of local "fix-ins", and succeeded through hard work and sheer determination to have the Winery licensed under South Carolina Law. Along with detailed ledger notes on costs and wine recipes Papy made proud reference to that special day Nov. 23, 1953 when he received his license after months and months of government red tape". Papy had succeeded in licensing the very first Winery in South Carolina.
I have always held that old ledger page dear to my heart and was determined to someday bring the Silver Dew Winery back to the prominence he once envisioned. You see, Papy never succeeded financially in the wine business and was known to simply provide a "taste" and give his wine away to friends that passed by. It was with that thought that today, December 16, 2008 I am pleased and proud to announce that Papy's Winery is once again Licensed under South Carolina law to provide "off premise consumption" of wine. The process was costly, tenuous and at times arduous but the fine folks at the Department of Revenue and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, (SLED) made up for Papy's tenuous efforts years past and courteously and professionally guided me through the long process of making South Carolina History. Once again folks making that curve in the road would be able to purchase a bottle of wine, once again they could revel in the story of Papy Burn, the proud Lighthouse Keeper and Vintner.
Contacts are now being made to work with numerous wholesalers of wine in South Carolina to offer some of the finest wines available in the world. Silver Dew, a commemorative wine, which is actually bottled for me in California, will be offered like it has been for years. Scuppernong wines, common to the Carolinas, will also be available for the local taste/feel. I will also be offering case lot discounts of your favorites and planning some fun events to avail you with all that will be available in the near future.
I look forward to meeting one and all as you make your way to Bloody Point, that curve in the road noted by Pat Conroy and the Silver Dew Winery. I look forward to providing a friendly greeting like Papy did in the old days and offering wines that I am sure he would have been proud of. I look forward to providing folks that relish a true sense of History the opportunity to raise a glass and "Give a Toast to Papy".
LowCountry Joe
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