Some Dublin area residents had a little ‘twist’ added to their day recently with a surprise from the “King of the Twist” himself, Chubby Checker, when the performer visited Lu Mil Vineyard in Dublin.

            Checker has a line of unique snack foods, King of the Twist Food Products, currently being marketed by his company, Last Twist, Inc., and was in the area to discuss his possibly marketing some of Lu Mil Vineyards’ Muscadine grapes, jellies, jams, juices, ciders and grape seed pills. “When I told him we had added a little ‘twist’ of lemon to our Muscadine cider he became interested in marketing our products,” said Lu Mil Vineyard owner, Ron Taylor. Like Mr. Taylor’s late mother, Lucille Taylor, Chubby Checker does not care for alcohol products.

            Chubby Checker understands the health benefits of Muscadine grapes and that Muscadine products are very popular with health conscious Americans. In fact, according to information from the North Carolina Wine & Grape Council, “recent studies have found Muscadine grapes and their resulting products to contain more Resveratol and other antioxidants than any other type of grapes. Muscadine grapes contain antioxidants in skins, seeds, pulp, juice and wine. …Studies show that Resveratol lowers LDL cholesterol (the so-called bad cholesterol) while elevating HDL cholesterol (the “good”) levels, which help to clear arterial walls of harmful deposits.” (Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Experimental Station, Vol. 58, No.2)

            Reflecting on the recent visit, Ron Taylor mused, “ I can see it now…Chubby Checker’s Muscadine Cider, Grown and Produced in Bladen County North Carolina.” Lu Mil Vineyard is located at 474 Suggs-Taylor Road, in Dublin. For more information on the vineyard, you may phone (910) 862-1000, or (910) 866-5819.