North Carolina wine there were some 25 wineries in North Carolina, with extensive independent vineyards, to the extent that North Carolina dominated the national market for American wines at the time. The "Scuppernong" grape was the primary source for North Carolina's 19th Century wine, as it had been for about two centuries. The Civil War ended that market dominance, through damage to the industry by loss of manpower and scarce capital, as well as through revocation of winemaking licenses due to regulatory retribution following the war. Wine production began to recover in the decades after the war through the early 20th Century. However,
Ana Rodriguez (Miss Texas USA) try proved to be the charm and she was crowned Miss Texas USA 2011 on September 5, 2010. Rodriguez is the first Laredo native to be named Miss Texas USA. As Miss Texas USA, Rodriguez represented the state in a variety of events across Texas and around the United States. These included serving as the Grand Marshal of the Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, meeting the troops aboard the USS "Iwo Jima" during Fleet Week in New York City, running the Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon, and helping to construct the world's largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich