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Key stops through NC’s wine country
Forget the flight to Napa—NC has a wine country all its own. Yadkin Valley, the state’s first federally recognized American Viticultural Area, rolls out grand estates, mountain vineyards, historic farms and even a working college winery—all just a few hours from Raleigh. Consider these six stops your excuse to head west, drink your way through the foothills and get a taste of what’s growing in our own backyard.
Shadow Springs Vineyard | Hamptonville
Wine, spirits and a little field trip energy—Shadow Springs does all three. Its reservation-only Grand Tasting Experience hops between Shadow Springs, sister winery Windsor Run Cellars and Windsor Run Distillery for curated pours, a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking and distilling operations, and locally sourced charcuterie. Not bad for a family-run vineyard that got its start with 4 acres of grapes on former tobacco land. shadowspringsvineyard.com
Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery | Ronda
Raffaldini commits to the Italian bit—and we’re here for it. The 102-acre estate grows Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Sagrantino, Vermentino and other Italian varietals beneath a striking villa, with Blue Ridge views doing their part in the background. Even the winemaking stays on theme: Raffaldini uses appassimento, the old-school practice of drying grapes before fermentation. Go all in with the tour and tasting, or post up on the piazza or balcony with a glass and pretend Ronda is somewhere much farther east. raffaldini.com
Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery | State Road
A horse stable, a dairy barn and a hiking trail walk into a winery… That’s more or less the scene at Grassy Creek, set on the former Klondike Farm, where historic outbuildings have found second lives as a tasting room and winery. Beyond the vines, trails lead toward Carter Falls and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail—including NC’s first Forest Bathing Trail—while neighboring Klondike Cabins make staying the night awfully tempting. grassycreekvineyard.com
Dynamis Estate Wines | Jonesville
A 2025 Wine Enthusiast American Winery of the Year nom sets the tone at Dynamis, where handpicked estate grapes, Greek-inspired wine names, French oak and concrete egg fermenters fuel a seriously dialed-in operation. The whole experience leans luxe—read: reservations required—without losing the winemaking cred, from the 90-minute Estate Tasting to bottle service paired with fondue, smoked trout, charcuterie or even caviar. dynamisestatewines.com
Surry Cellars | Dobson
Meet the coolest winery on campus. Inside Surry Community College’s $5 million Shelton-Badget NC Center for Viticulture and Enology, students get hands-on with the whole process—from growing and harvesting grapes to bottling, label design and marketing. Tours run by appointment Tuesday through Friday, giving visitors a firsthand look at where NC’s next crop of winemakers get their start. ncviticulturecenter.surry.edu
Roaring River Vineyard | Straphill
Roaring River has the kind of setup that makes a packed tasting itinerary feel like a breeze. Set along the East Prong Roaring River, the vineyard pours French-inspired wines alongside German-style fare at its Tasting Haus and seasonal Biergarten, with tables spilling toward the water. And with vacation rentals and a small RV campground on-site, settling in overnight is very much on the table—so drink up. roaringrivervineyards.com
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