Pull up a seat at the tasting table as we uncork the world of North Carolina wine. Learn the art of wine-making with personalized garden-to-glass vintner education, wake up to babbling brooks from a cabin porch overlooking a sprawling vineyard, or attempt the art of grape stomping – we’re highlighting the best places to visit in three of North Carolina’s major winery regions, including Duplin County, Henderson County, and the Yadkin Valley.
We’ll share recommendations for on-site or nearby accommodations and dining, as well as some of the best things to do while you’re not hopping from one North Carolina wine destination to the next. Cheers to an itinerary that will surely leave you with a glass half full and a thirst for more of North Carolina’s hidden gem wineries and vineyards!
Get a round of disc golf in at Round Peak Vineyards in Mt. Airy, NC
Traipse Among The Grapes (Wilkes, Surry & Yadkin Counties)
Roaring River Vineyards
493 Brewer Mill Rd Traphill, NC 28685
https://roaringrivervineyards.com/
Specialties: Chambourcin, Petit Rosé, Pinot Gris
Accommodations: Rent on-site vacation cabins draped in upscale mountain decor or pet-friendly RV park lodging
Dining (on-site or nearby): Hanging over the Roaring River, Chez Joséphine – offering indoor and outdoor seating – serves delicious and versatile plates like home-made pesto fettuccine
Attractions/events: Cast a line off the vineyard’s private fishing spot and indulge your competitive spirit with an array of lawn games; bocce ball, corn hole, croquet, and horseshoes are guaranteed to keep things fun. Sink into the Adirondack chairs next to the outdoor fireplace, where s’mores supplies are stocked and ready for pairing with a glass of North Carolina wine.
Serre Vineyards
364 Beast Trail, Mt. Airy, NC 27030
https://www.serrevineyards.com/
Specialties: Vidal Blanc, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot
Accommodations: Rent one of two cottages – Suite with a View or The Greenhouse Cottage – which sit on the sprawling 70-acre property, accommodate two guests, and grant stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Dining: Book The Chef’s Table experience at Old North State Winery, with all courses made from fresh local produce and paired with ONSW North Carolina wine (offered Friday and Saturday evenings)
Attractions/events: Enjoy live music – such as the Sunset Music Series – and food trucks on most weekends
Round Peak Vineyards
765 Round Peak Church Rd, Mt. Airy, NC 27030
https://www.roundpeak.com/
Specialties: Nebbiolo, Chardonnay, Sparkling Elderflower
Accommodations: Choose from two dog-friendly on-site houses, each with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens, and expansive screened-in porches overlooking the vineyard (each rental includes a wine or beer tasting for up to eight guests)
Dining: Savor down-home Southern-style cooking at The Copper Pot family restaurant (2.2 miles from Round Peak Vineyards)
Attractions/events: Play disc golf on an 18-hole course that meanders through the North Carolina wine property. Round Peak also hosts a regular lineup of food trucks on Saturdays.
Sanders Ridge Vineyard & Winery
3200 Round Hill Rd, Boonville, NC 27011
https://www.sandersridge.com/
Specialties: Cabernet Franc, Muscat Canelli, Viognier
Accommodations: Rent a secluded on-site cabin in an old-growth forest (pet-friendly and able to accommodate up to four guests)
Dining: Seasonally inspired lunch is served daily from 12-4 PM, including flavorful dishes like harvest apple salad, Angus roast beef sandwich, and blackberry crisp topped with maple vanilla ice cream
Attractions/events: Each month, local talent performs under the covered pavilion on Saturday as part of the Live Music on the Pavilion Series. Wine, beer, slushies, and food specials are in abundance, and pets on leashes are welcome to this North Carolina wine destination.
Dobbins Creek Vineyards
4430 Vineyard View Ln, Hamptonville, NC 27020
https://dobbinscreekvineyards.com/
Specialties: Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Accommodations: Rent one of two perfect 5-star rated Airbnb properties: a private barn for two along the Swan Creek Wine Trail or an A-frame for four guests with a hot tub and views of Raffaldini Vineyard.
Dining: Guests are welcome and encouraged to bring outside snacks or picnic provisions and non-alcoholic beverages. Outside of this North Carolina wine hidden gem, Jerry’s Snack Bar is a local institution that has been serving classic meat-and-three combos to the community since 1958! (4.3 miles from Dobbins Creek Vineyards)
Attractions/events: Check the calendar for lively events like the Swan Creek Herb Festival and Swan Creek Wine Trail Harvest Celebration.
Things To Do In The Area:
Rent bikes from Zoomies and pedal along the Ararat River Greenway or Surry Scenic Byway. Go hiking at Pilot Mountain State Park or Stone Mountain State Park. You can purchase recreational and outdoor gear at Cook’s Sports and Outfitters in Wilkesboro, NC. For unique adventures, look into “forest bathing” at Grassy Creek. Fall Family Outing Days take place every fall weekend in October at Miss Angel’s Farm & Orchard, where visitors can pick their own pumpkins and flowers, enjoy hay rides, and experience the one-of-a-kind “ fruit cannon”!
Sippin on wine slushies in the woods — sounds like great weekend fun in NC!
North Carolina Wine Is Always In Season (Pender & Duplin Counties)
Gregory Farms & Vineyard
2576 Montague Rd, Currie, NC 28435
https://www.facebook.com/gregoryfarmsandvineyard/
Specialties: Noble and Carlos Muscadine, Wine Slushies!
Accommodations: Book your stay at one of two unique Airbnb rentals: a converted shipping container with a rooftop patio and outdoor jacuzzi or an off-the-grid 5-star rated glamping A-frame cabin
Dining: Drive 15 minutes to Southern Fusions, where you can enjoy global dishes with Southern flairs, such as beer-battered fish tacos, Tuscan chicken and shrimp alfredo, and funnel cake fries topped with blueberry syrup
Attractions/events: The 2024 Fall Festival will take place on October 5 and include live music sets, food trucks, craft vendors, hayrides, and a pumpkin patch.
Duplin Winery
505 N Sycamore St, Rose Hill, NC 28458
https://www.duplinwinery.com/
Specialties: Muscadine wines
Accommodations: Now’s your chance to stay in a glamping dome! Available via Airbnb and minutes from Duplin Winery, the glamping dome comes equipped with an outdoor shower and firepit, a king-sized bed with luxurious linens, and a star-gazing roof!
Dining: The winery offers gourmet crackers, dip, and fudge as compliments to wine tastings, while the on-site restaurant – The Bistro – serves lunch in the form of soups and salads, savory sandwiches, and daily specials (such as southern fried pork chops or chicken cacciatore) on Monday through Saturday.
Attractions/events: There’s always something happening at the Rose Hill location! Enjoy music in the courtyard on Mondays and Saturdays, while more prominent festivals like The Grape Stomp (September 14) are always a hit with North Carolina wine enthusiasts!
Huffman Vineyards
221 Haw Branch Rd, Richlands, NC 28574
https://huffmanvineyards.com/
Specialties: Scuppernong, Vinifera
Accommodations: Book a 5-star rated Airbnb farmhouse escape with backyard views of a vineyard and space for up to 11 guests!
Dining: Mama’s Kitchen – the on-site restaurant at Huffman – is open Friday and Saturday and serves staples like shrimp baskets, fish platters, and cold-cut sandwiches with standard sides.
Attractions/events: Participate in trivia on the first Friday of every month, music bingo on the second Saturday, and a jam session on the third Saturday. Huffman has previously hosted chili cook-offs, Halloween costume parties, and ugly sweater contests – check their Facebook page for up-to-date announcements regarding North Carolina wine events.
Things To Do In The Area:
Play a round of golf at the award-winning greens of River Landing. Channel your inner history buff at Moore’s Creek National Battlefield, where nearly 1,000 North Carolina soldiers defeated the British Loyalists in the first major Patriot victory in the American Revolutionary War. Thrill-seekers will love Cape Fearless Extreme aerial adventures and paintball park. Those who prefer indoor activities will be captivated by the exhibits at the Onslow County Museum, where the Richard Tellekamp Fossil Find allows visitors to dig deeper into NC’s geological history.
How stunning is this Airbnb container retreat, complete with a waterfall hot tub?! Stay here when you visit Parker-Binns Vineyard in Mill Spring, NC.
From Garden To Glass (Henderson, Polk & Rutherford Counties)
Souther Williams Vineyard
655 Hoopers Creek Rd, Fletcher, NC 28732
https://southerwilliams.com/
Specialties: Gruner Veltliner, Blaufrankisch, Saperavi
Accommodations: Who knew that Fletcher is home to some of the most unique Airbnbs in North Carolina? Rent an underground “Hobbit Homestead” on a nine-acre animal farm or a tiny home fixed on the literal top of a mountain (no wifi, 4WD only, and water from a gravity spring-fed spigot – the true meaning of off-the-grid!)
Dining: Souther Williams offers luxury picnics – an elevated outdoor dining experience that includes North Carolina wine, charcuterie boards and provisions from other local food vendors
Attractions/events: Live music and food trucks are fixtures at Souther Williams. Guests can also embark on a hike through the vineyard, where they’ll enjoy five wine tastings and learn the journey of the North Carolina wine grape from garden to glass.
Parker-Binns Vineyard
2275 Whiteside Rd, Mill Spring, NC 28756
https://www.parkerbinnsvineyard.com/
Specialties: Petit Manseng, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay
Accommodations: Get comfortable in a private cabin granting stunning mountain views via Airbnb or a container retreat with a waterfall hot tub!
Dining: Gnosh on delicious snacks and shareables at Relish, the on-site restaurant. Panko-breaded fried goat cheese with blackberry ponzu, street corn with smoked habanero crema, and fried green tomatoes with blackened shrimp and burnt lemon remoulade pair perfectly with many of Parker-Binns’ finest North Carolina wines.
Attractions/events: Locals flock to Parker-Binns for live music, karaoke nights, and sunset parties. Check the calendar for an up-to-date roster of events.
My Sweet Love Vineyard
241 Greer St, Spindale, NC 28160
https://www.mslvineyard.com/
Specialties: Brianna, Pinotage, Catawba/Noiret Blend
Accommodations: Rent a cozy, private cottage with a sleeping loft via Airbnb or venture slightly outside of town to a 5-star rated, two-bedroom, dog-friendly, 1972 A-frame cabin on the creek in Forest City.
Dining: Cheese boards and other light snacks are available for purchase. Otherwise, there is a smattering of high-quality restaurants in downtown “Spin City,” only a mile from the vineyard. Check out Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria for pies, pasta, and sandwiches guaranteed to satiate any palate.
Attractions/events: Besides live music and food trucks, My Sweet Love hosts trivia, sip-n-shop, and other events that you can view on their online calendar.
Things To Do In The Area:
A visit to Mill Spring isn’t complete without a stop at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. In addition to hosting equestrian events like dressage, rodeo, vaulting, and trail rides, the site serves as a resort with rows of restaurants and shopping boutiques for when you’d like a break from the tasting room. Traveling with pre-teens and teenagers? KidSenses and The Factory Museum are sure to entertain young creative minds with their robotics lab, 3D print shop, and maker space. For those ten and under, various rotating learning exhibits and interactive displays will keep young ones enthralled.
