The blog was written by Nicole Chesney, executive director, NC Wine & Grape Council
At Overmountain Vineyards, resilience isn’t just a farming principle; it’s a way of life. And no one embodies that more than winemaker and vineyard manager Sofia Lilly.
When Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina, Overmountain Vineyards was spared from flooding but the loss of power threatened to halt wine production at a critical moment. Lilly acted quickly, securing a generator within hours to keep essential systems running. With connectivity restored, she turned her attention outward.
What she discovered was devastating: neighboring farms were underwater. Entire livelihoods were at risk. Without hesitation, Lilly began making calls, checking on her community and asking a simple but powerful question: What can we do?
The answer quickly grew into a large-scale humanitarian effort. Partnering with a local creamery, Lilly helped pivot operations to bottle safe drinking water. Leveraging social media, she launched a grassroots fundraising campaign that raised $18,000 in just 12 hours and ultimately $86,000. Water and essential supplies were distributed daily across multiple counties, reaching thousands in need.
What started as an emergency response became a trusted, community-led relief network. Powered by farmers, supported by organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation, and grounded in the credibility of local agricultural leaders. Certified facilities ensured safe water distribution, and shipments reached as far as Asheville, where tanker trucks delivered to centralized relief points.
For Lilly, this work reflects a lifelong commitment to agriculture and service. A first-generation farmer, she began growing grapes with her family, helping establish one of North Carolina’s earliest plantings of Petit Manseng. Today, she leads winemaking at Overmountain, continuing a legacy started by her father, Frank Lilly, while also advocating for farmers at the state and national level.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Lilly is the recipient of the NC Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Award, the Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service, and the NC Grape Growers Association President’s Award for her leadership during Hurricane Helene.
Nestled in the Tryon Foothills AVA, Overmountain Vineyards has been part of North Carolina’s wine story since the 1990s. What began as a small grape-growing operation supplying fruit has grown into a welcoming, family-run winery known for its estate wines, scenic picnic-friendly grounds, and deep agricultural roots, including its place along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
But beyond the vines and the views, it’s the people and their willingness to show up for one another that truly define this farm.
Lilly now shares lessons on emergency preparedness with fellow farmers, though she hopes such a moment never comes again. Still, if it does, her actions have already shown exactly what leadership in agriculture can look like.