Charleston’s Wine Destination
Wadmalaw Island may seem a world away from the bustling streets of historic Charleston, however, the scenic drive only takes a leisurely thirty minutes. Wadmalaw Island is quiet, tranquil, without major department stores or chain restaurants, and only sporadic homes and local establishments along the winding two-lane country highway.
What you will find on Wadmalaw Island are marshes, pluff mud, old growth majestic oak trees draped in Spanish Moss, a historic tea garden, and Deep Water Vineyard; a forty-eight-acre property showcasing a twelve-acre muscadinevineyard, growing four different varietals originally planted twenty-two years ago by Jim Irwin of Firefly Distillery fame. Since 2015 the vineyard and winery has been owned by self-confessed Northern transplants, Jesse and Andrea Freiwald.
Deep Water produces dry and sweet muscadine wines, fruit wines, and several vinifera wines from juice sourced in California and other more traditional wine growing regions, plus a rotating staple of award-winning draft meads.
In 2022, Deep Water Vineyards earned six medals in the Palmetto Wine Competition. In the 2023 Palmetto Wine Competition, their Lowcountry Red won Best-in-Show honors!
Lowcountry Red is a dry red wine produced from the 20 plus year old estate grown Ison Muscadine. This award-winning wine is full-bodied with a fruit forward flavor profile.
The Magnolia, a sweet Scuppernong wine, produced from the twenty-two-year-old estate grown Carlos vines, has won multiple awards and accolades. One judge in the Palmetto Wine Competition called Magnolia the best scuppernongwine he had ever tasted.
High Tide is a lighter bodied red wine produced from the estate grown Noble Muscadine. This one is your traditional Muscadine red wine.
Low Tide is a semi-dry white wine produced from the Tara Scuppernong grape.
A few other creative wines offered include Driftwood, a Chardonnay and Tara Scuppernong blend. Sea Island Red is a unique red wine blend of Noble Muscadine and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winter Blues is a fruit wine made with local blueberries and Have a Ball, Lucile is a very popular seasonal strawberry wine.
The draft mead flavors on tap are always evolving. The also make a mean Bloody Mary concocted from their Jalapeñowine and Charleston Bloody Mary Mix. Too late for a Bloody Mary? Then sip on a freshly made mimosa from the sparkling Sweet Caroline Rosé wine. On cool days you will find mulled wine and for those hot summer days, several flavors of wine slushies are always available.
The vineyard property is home to many farm animals including chickens, roosters, ducks, bunnies, pigs and one cherished Brahma cow named Ida Claire. Deep Water offers live music and a food truck on most Saturdays for a weekend wine-down celebration. On the hour wine tastings are available in the tasting room, which includes a fun quirky gift shop. The property offers a vast array of outdoor seating options under the many large oak trees to leisurely relax and enjoy a bottle or glass of your choice.
Imagine spending a leisurely day sipping award-winning wines, estate produced from twenty-tow year old vines, listening to local musicians, while lounging under Spanish Moss draped hundred-year-old oak trees. Indeed, a visit to Deep Water Vineyards is certainly a most unique experience.
Deep Water Vineyard
6775 Bears Bluff Rd
Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm
Wine Competitions and Marketing! 