Hard to believe it’s been a year since Hurricane Helene swept through our beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains.
The days that followed were tough—but what came after was extraordinary. Our community showed up with grit, heart, and generosity. Mountain folks are strong, and we stick together. Rebuilding over the last year was powered by love, resilience, and a whole lot of neighborly support.
For most of last fall, the AWM operated mainly as a drop-off hub for donations, and we were blown away by the response. Local customers, as well as former customers from across the country, stepped up to help those in need and support our region’s recovery. We’re proud to have played a small part in those efforts.
Post-storm, we’ve tripled down on our support for locally and regionally owned wine partners. I’m thrilled (and thankful) to see AWM customers stepping up to support the grassroots wine culture and business here in Western North Carolina. Keep it coming—supporting independent retail, importers, and suppliers helps the local economy in our beautiful WNC mountains recover and thrive.
While we’re deeply thankful that all AWM staff came through the storm safely, our hearts are still heavy for those who didn’t fare as well. As we mark this anniversary, let’s continue to pay it forward, spread the love, and help when and where we can.
That’s how our mountain towns thrive. That’s how we continue to heal.