Cheerwine facts for kids
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| Type | Soft drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Carolina Beverage Corporation |
| Distributor | Local bottlers and distributors |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | 1917 |
| Color | Burgundy |
| Flavor | Black cherry |
| Variants |
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Cheerwine is a yummy cherry-flavored soft drink made by the Carolina Beverage Corporation in Salisbury, North Carolina. It has been around since 1917, and the company says it's the "oldest continuing soft drink company still run by the same family."
Contents
What is Cheerwine?
Cheerwine has a sweet taste with strong cherry flavors, especially black cherry. It is a beautiful burgundy-red color. This drink also has lots of bubbles, more than many other soft drinks. The company named it "Cheerwine" because of its cheerful color and taste. Even though it has "wine" in its name, Cheerwine is not real wine and has no alcohol.
What is Retro Cheerwine?
There is a special version called "Retro Cheerwine." It comes in glass bottles and is made with real cane sugar. Most other Cheerwine drinks use high fructose corn syrup for sweetness.
The Story of Cheerwine
Cheerwine started way back in 1917. A company called Maysville Syrup Company went out of business. Then, L.D. Peeler and some other business friends bought what was left of it. They moved everything to North Carolina and started a new company called Carolina Syrup Company.
How Cheerwine Began
In that same year, 1917, Mr. Peeler and his friends bought a special recipe for a cherry-flavored soda. They bought it from a salesman in Saint Louis. This new drink was then sold by their company and called "Cheerwine." It became a registered trademark in 1926, meaning its name was officially protected.
Family Business
The family of Lewis Peeler has been in charge of the Cheerwine company since it first started. Today, his great-grandson, Charles Clifford "Cliff" Ritchie, is the CEO and president. He has been leading the company since 1992.
Fun Facts and Partnerships
Cheerwine has teamed up with other companies for special treats and products.
Cheerwine Treats
The company makes Cheerwine-flavored ice cream, sherbet, and cream bars. You can often find these at Food Lion supermarkets, which are also based in Salisbury, North Carolina.
In 2008, a special Cheerwine cake, based on an old Southern recipe, became available to buy.
Cheerwine and Krispy Kreme
In 2010, Cheerwine worked with Krispy Kreme, a famous doughnut company from North Carolina. They made a limited-edition Cheerwine-flavored doughnut! It was sold for a short time in July of that year. This special doughnut came back again in July 2011.
Later, in 2016 and 2017, they even sold a soda called Cheerwine Kreme. This drink mixed the flavors of Cheerwine and Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Cheerwine in Restaurants
In 2010, Old Carolina Barbecue, a restaurant chain in Ohio, started offering Cheerwine as a fountain drink. By 2014, Cheerwine drinks like slushies and floats were a big part of their menu.
Where to Find Cheerwine
Cheerwine is most popular in the southeastern United States, especially in the Carolinas. You can find it from Maryland down to Florida.
Growing Availability
You can also find Cheerwine in many "specialty soda" stores across the country. Some restaurants like Cracker Barrel and Cook Out also serve it. You might even find it in places like WinCo Foods in Washington state or Sheetz stores in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Believe it or not, it's even sold in Oslo, Norway!
Cheerwine comes in different sizes, like glass bottles, 2-liter bottles, and 12-packs of cans. Many restaurants and convenience stores also offer it as a fountain drink.
In April 2005, more places in the United States started bottling Cheerwine, often through Pepsi distributors. By 2011, Cheerwine announced plans to be available all over the country by 2017, which was its 100th anniversary.
Miss Cheerwine
In April 2011, Cheerwine looked for a young woman to be "Miss Cheerwine." She needed to be between 21 and 25 years old and live in certain Southern states. Her job was to help share the story of Cheerwine and meet fans. On June 3, 2011, Spencer Cummings became the first Miss Cheerwine.
Cheerwine Festival
In 2017, to celebrate Cheerwine's 100th birthday, Salisbury, North Carolina held a big party. This party became an annual event called the Cheerwine Festival. People from all over come to enjoy food, fun activities for kids, and music from new artists.
Images for kids
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Cheerwine bottle from around 1920, on display at the North Carolina Museum of History
