What Is Cheerwine? The Cherry Soda on the Cook Out Menu

If you saw "Cheerwine" on the Cook Out menu board and wondered whether it is wine, what it tastes like, or why it is so popular in the Carolinas, this guide answers all of it. For prices by size, see our Cheerwine regular and Cheerwine large pages, and for the float, our Cheerwine float page.

What is Cheerwine?

Cheerwine is a carbonated soft drink with a wild-cherry flavor and a deep burgundy color. Despite the name, it contains no alcohol. According to NCpedia, the name comes from the drink's cherry flavor and its wine-like burgundy color. The exact formula is a company secret.

Fans usually describe it as a sweet, bubbly cherry soda. That makes sense given its origin: NCpedia says Peeler created it by adding wild cherry flavoring to a cola. It is sold in cans and bottles in many grocery stores, but in much of the South it is just as well known as a fountain drink, which is how most people meet it at Cook Out.

Is Cheerwine alcoholic?

No. Cheerwine is a soft drink, and the "wine" refers only to the color. It is safe for kids in the same way any other sugary soda is, and you can order it with a kids' meal or a tray like any other drink. If you are counting sugar or caffeine, check the can or the brand's nutrition information, because recipes and serving sizes vary by product.

The history of Cheerwine

Cheerwine's story starts in Salisbury, North Carolina. NCpedia records the key dates:

• 1913: L. D. Peeler and other Salisbury investors bought stock in the Kentucky-based Mint-Cola Bottling Company, and Peeler started its local bottling franchise.
• 1917: The parent company went bankrupt, and the Salisbury investors bought their local branch and renamed it the Carolina Beverage Corporation. That same year, facing a sugar shortage during World War I, Peeler looked for a way to make a cola drink with less sugar. After experimenting, he added wild cherry flavoring to a cola, and Cheerwine was born.
• 1924: The company was renamed the Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling Company.
• 1981: After years of being sold mainly in western North Carolina, Cheerwine began expanding into neighboring states.
• 2003: In January, Cheerwine became available in Europe for the first time, through a licensing agreement with a bottler in Norway.
• 2017: Cheerwine celebrated its 100th anniversary in May.

The company is still owned and run by Peeler's descendants and says it is the oldest soft drink company continuously operated by the same family. NCpedia notes that Cliff Ritchie, L. D. Peeler's great-grandson, has been chief executive since 1992.

Where does the name Cheerwine come from?

The name is the part that confuses most first-time Cook Out customers. NCpedia explains it simply: "cheer" plus "wine", from the drink's cherry flavor and its burgundy, wine-like color. It was never a wine and has never contained alcohol. The name dates back to the drink's creation in 1917, long before Cook Out existed.

What does Cheerwine taste like with food?

Because it is sweet and fruity, Cheerwine works best with salty, savory food. At Cook Out, regulars pair it with:

• Char-grilled burgers, especially Cook Out Style with chili and slaw.
• Hushpuppies and fries, where the sweetness balances the salt.
• Barbecue, a classic Carolina match.
• Spicy food, such as Cajun fries, because the sweet cherry flavor cools things down.

If you find full-strength Cheerwine too sweet, ask for extra ice. Some people also like it half-and-half with sweet tea or lemonade, though not every location will mix drinks for you.

Why Cheerwine and Cook Out go together

Both are North Carolina brands with deep roots in the Piedmont. Cook Out started in Greensboro in 1989, about an hour from Salisbury, and our Cook Out history post covers how it grew from one drive-thru into hundreds of restaurants. Cheerwine on the fountain is part of what makes Cook Out feel like a Carolina restaurant even as it expands into new states.

For many customers, the classic order is a tray with Cheerwine as the drink, or a Cheerwine float as a dessert. Our drinks menu lists every fountain option by size.

The Cheerwine float at Cook Out

The Cheerwine float is a Cook Out favorite: Cheerwine poured over vanilla ice cream, served in a cup with a straw and a spoon. It tastes like a cherry cream soda, with the ice cream turning the top into a frothy, pink foam.

A few tips:

• Stir gently. Cheerwine foams fast when it hits ice cream.
• Order it as your tray drink upgrade. At many locations you can swap the tray drink for a float or shake. Check our tray combos page for how upgrades work.
• Try it with a burger. The sweet cherry flavor goes well with a char-grilled burger. Our burger styles explained guide shows the options.

Price and availability vary by location. See the Cheerwine float page for current prices by state.

Cheerwine milkshakes and other mash-ups

Cook Out is known for its long milkshake list, and Cheerwine shows up in fan favorites beyond the float. Some customers ask for a cherry milkshake with a splash of Cheerwine, or pair a Cheerwine with a chocolate cherry shake. Not every location will make off-menu combinations, so ask politely and accept a no. For what is officially on the shake list, see our milkshake menu and milkshake ranking, and for fan ideas, our secret menu hacks guide.

What sizes does Cook Out sell Cheerwine in?

Cook Out fountain drinks come in regular and large sizes at most locations. Our Cook Out sizes guide explains how drink and tray sizes compare, and the item pages for regular and large Cheerwine list current prices by state.

Quick Cheerwine facts

• Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina.
• Created: 1917, during a World War I sugar shortage.
• Flavor: wild cherry added to a cola, according to NCpedia.
• Color: deep burgundy, the reason for "wine" in the name.
• Alcohol: none.
• Ownership: still run by the founder's descendants, with Cliff Ritchie as CEO since 1992.
• At Cook Out: a fountain drink in regular and large, and the base of the Cheerwine float.

Cheerwine vs other cherry sodas

Cheerwine's burgundy color, strong cherry flavor and regional history set it apart. Fans often describe the float version as tasting like a cherry cream soda.

Can you buy Cheerwine outside the Carolinas?

Yes. NCpedia records that Cheerwine started expanding into neighboring states in 1981, and today you can find it in many stores across the US. Availability still varies by state and store. At Cook Out, it is on the fountain at locations across the chain's footprint, including newer states; our Cook Out new locations 2026 post tracks where the chain has opened.

Is Cheerwine a Cook Out exclusive?

No. Cheerwine is its own company, and you will find it in grocery stores, convenience stores and other restaurants, especially in the Carolinas. What makes Cook Out stand out is that Cheerwine is on the fountain, so you can get it fresh from the machine with your tray, and as a float. Fans also hunt for limited editions in stores, but those are Cheerwine products, not Cook Out menu items.

How to order Cheerwine at Cook Out

1. At the speaker or window, order your tray, sandwich or item as usual.
2. When asked for your drink, say "Cheerwine", and add "large" if you want the bigger size.
3. For a float, ask for a "Cheerwine float". If it is part of a tray, ask whether you can upgrade the tray drink to a float.
4. Check your bag or cup before you drive off; Cheerwine and cola look similar through a lid.

New to Cook Out altogether? Our step-by-step guide to how to order at Cook Out walks through the drive-thru, tray choices and sides.

Checklist: Cheerwine at Cook Out

• [ ] Remember: Cheerwine is a cherry soft drink, not wine, and has no alcohol.
• [ ] Choose regular or large, or upgrade to a Cheerwine float.
• [ ] Stir floats gently to avoid an overflow.
• [ ] Pair it with a char-grilled burger or a tray.
• [ ] Check the item pages for current prices in your state.
• [ ] Ask politely before trying off-menu mash-ups.