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The history of Cheerwine traces back to the sugar shortages of 1917 to the modern day drink of choice for BBQ lovers.
L.D. Peeler crafted Cheerwine in his Salisbury, North Carolina bottling plant in 1917, blending wild cherry flavoring with carbonated water.
During World War I's sugar rationing, he used less sweetener than other soft drinks but maintained a bold taste.
The burgundy-colored soda earned its name from its deep red hue and effervescent character.
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In 1920, Cheerwine abandoned paper labels for glass bottles.
The new bottles featured the brand name carved into the glass, along with three cherries pressed into its surface.
In 1924, due to its headquarters in western North Carolina, the company adopted a new name: Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling Company.
When L.D. Peeler died in 1931, his son Clifford took control of Cheerwine.
Clifford launched TV commercials, newspaper ads, and radio spots to boost sales.
He also shipped Cheerwine to stores across North Carolina and into neighboring states.
During World War II, Cheerwine's owner Clifford Peeler collected the company's scrap metal and donated it for military production.
After the war, President Eisenhower sampled Cheerwine and endorsed it with the slogan "Ike likes!"
In 1960, Cheerwine moved production to its Salisbury plant at 1413 Jake Alexander Boulevard South.
That same year, the company added canned Cheerwine alongside its glass bottles.
The brand's first TV commercial aired in black and white, featuring a man holding up a Cheerwine bottle while declaring "Deliciously Different."
In 1977, Clifford Peeler's grandsons Cliff and Mark Ritchie joined Cheerwine's daily operations.
That same year, the company introduced Diet Cheerwine and began bottling their sodas in 2-liter plastic containers.
In July 2010, Krispy Kreme stores across North Carolina filled their classic glazed doughnuts with bright red Cheerwine cream.
The doughnut featured a glossy cherry-red glaze that matched the soda's signature color.
Lines stretched around store buildings as customers bought these doughnuts by the dozen—selling out their entire month's supply in just a few weeks.
In 2014-2016, Cheerwine launched three new drinks: Holiday Punch tasted of cranberry and spice, Squeeze blended citrus with cherry, and Cheerwine Kreme captured the flavor of glazed donuts.
The company kept its original cherry soda recipe unchanged while testing these new combinations.
In 2015, the National Barbecue Association chose Cheerwine as its official beverage partner, recognizing how the cherry-flavored soda paired with smoky pulled pork and charred ribs across North Carolina restaurants.
When Cheerwine marked 100 years of business in 2017, the Salisbury-based company still produced its signature ruby-red soda in glass bottles.
In 2021, they launched Cheerwine Zero Sugar, swapping corn syrup for artificial sweeteners.
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