1st Generation
The Bernard Legacy
The end of prohibition and the creation of North Carolina’s ABC Commission allowed wineries to reopen and thrive. Original winemaker and proprietor Mellie Bernard created Bernard’s Waldensian Style Wines in 1935. Mellie embraced the Waldensians' local winemaking culture in the small town of Valdese and launched his winery in neighboring Icard. His vision flourished in the local community for many years, providing local area residents with various fruit-based wines. In 1948, there were two alcohol-related deaths in Burke County, which resulted in legislation that made it a dry county. No alcohol could be produced or sold in the county. Without another option, Mellie left wine on the bottling lines with over 6,000 gallons of wine he was no longer allowed to sell.
2nd Generation
A Partnership for Preservation
Though he could no longer produce wine locally, Mellie remained dedicated to his craft. He lent his winemaking skills to Duplin Winery, helping them grow while keeping the Waldensian style alive. A new chapter began when the Weaver and Bumgarner families partnered with Mellie, rebranding the business as Waldensian Style Wines. With Duplin producing the wine, Waldensian Style Wines distributed their unique offerings through Katherine’s Cheese House, the Hickory Furniture Mart, and shops throughout the NC foothills—ensuring the tradition endured through changing times.
3rd Generation
A Revival with the Zimmermans
In the early 1990s, as the Weaver and Bumgarner families approached retirement, Katherine’s Cheese Houses closed, yet the demand for Waldensian wines persisted. In 2008, Eddie and Brenda Zimmerman acquired the winery, determined to revitalize its historic roots. While continuing the partnership with Duplin Winery for Muscadine and Scuppernong varieties, they also reopened a full production facility. This allowed them to once again produce many of the original fruit and Italian-style wines in-house, ushering in a renaissance for Waldensian Style Wines.
4th Generation
Innovation with Drink A Bull
With Eddie and Brenda preparing for retirement, their son Andrew and his wife Allison Zimmerman took the reins, launching Drink A Bull—a production winery based in Durham, NC. Their mission: to carry the Waldensian winemaking legacy forward with modern innovation. At their Durham facility, they now "Can" the winery’s signature fruit wines for broader reach and convenience. At events, they even offer wine slushies—bringing a fun, fresh twist to traditional flavors. Andrew and Allison are not only preserving their family’s legacy but also expanding it, blending heritage with forward-thinking creativity. You will often find their nephew John Cole helping them around the winery and at wine festivals.
History of
Waldensian Style Wines
A Legacy of Four Generations
The History of the Waldensians
in North Carolina
A Story of Perserverance
The Waldensian heritage links back to a small region in the Cottian Alps of Northern Italy. Persecuted for their Protestant religious beliefs dating back to the 12th Century, these resilient people took refuge in their community. The location and geography of the Alps helped to protect them from the French and Italian Armies and zealots within the Catholic church. They relied heavily on their agricultural resources to survive and overcame centuries of desperate times and the continual threat of outside forces.
The Edict of Emancipation of 1848 finally granted them religious freedom. With peace finally at hand, their numbers swelled. Young and old alike looked to distant shores to continue their lives and practice their faith. The newly freed Waldensians colonized European cities, South America, and the United States. One of these groups discovered land near Catawba County in North Carolina and created a settlement in May of 1893 called Valdese.
Accustomed to working the land, farming, and agriculture were the first efforts these settlers attempted. Alas, the soil was not fertile enough to fully sustain the population. With the same spirit of survival and determination instilled by their elders, the settlers turned to manufacturing. Prosperity flooded the small town, and the wine-making tradition was not lost. Eventually, the Waldensians evolved to create wines from berries, peaches, apples, and other locally sourced fruits to keep the tradition alive. The Waldensian Style Winery is proud to uphold this tradition.
If you want to learn more about Waldensian Heritage and winemaking culture, we encourage you to visit the Waldensian Heritage Museum at 208 Rodoret St, Valdese, NC 28690.