Folly
Yadkin Valley Wine Tasting makes a great day trip from Charlotte, NC. Here are five North Carolina Vineyards you won’t want to miss. Click here for our first volume of tasting rooms to hit up.
Last weekend was our second annual girl’s Yadkin Valley Wine Tasting trip. My mom, sister and I drove the short hour and a half for a weekend of wine drinking, girl talk and food. Although we loved the tasting rooms we visited last year, we wanted to incorporate some new experiences into the day of debauchery.
I think we put together a pretty great list. Here are some of the vineyards you won’t want to miss!
Yadkin Valley Wine Tasting Stop 1: Medaloni Cellars
We visited Medaloni on Friday, after arriving in the valley. It’s only 15 minutes from the Vintage Inn Bed and Breakfast, making it a great place to pop in for a kickstart to the weekend!
On the day of our visit, they were setting up for a wedding (what a great venue!). If you happen to head over during happy hour on a nice day, you might be lucky enough to be able to spend some time in their open-air tasting room.
photo cred: @angie.cauble
Who doesn’t love sipping wine in an adirondack chair overlooking the vineyard?
Yadkin Valley Wine Stop 2: Hanover Park
Nestled in a little old white house, Hanover Park vineyard is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) winery in the area. This was our first stop on our day-long wine tasting adventure.
We did a dry-wine tasting (none of us happen to the love the sweet wines you can find at most of the wineries). Fortunately, the dry wines in the area are getting better each year. I brought home a bottle of the unoaked chardonnay and can’t wait to enjoy it with a light dinner this summer.
Don’t miss a visit with Pearl, who is featured on their bottle of Rosé – also delish.
Yadkin Valley Wine Tasting Stop 3: Brandon Hills Vineyards
This was probably our favorite find of the day. To be honest, I’d never heard of it before. As it turns out, Brandon Hills Vineyard has come under new ownership just a few months ago.
They are making big changes to the winery, but plan to be open throughout. I loved their dry wine offerings, especially the 2010 vintages. Don’t miss their Barbera and the Raptor Red!
Yadkin Valley Wine Tasting Stop 4: Westbend Winery and Brewery
Hooray for the re-opening of Westbend! Closed for a few years, West Bend is open in a brand new tasting room. Offering wines and beers, this is a hot spot for Winston Salem area residents.
On the day of our visit they were having a St. Patty’s Day bash. Meaning, no wine or beer tastings. Which isn’t to say we didn’t have fun… and a few beers before heading out. If you time it right, you can also get lunch from their restaurant.
Yadkin Valley Wine Stop 5: Laurel Gray
Laurel Gray was the only duplicate visit from our previous stop. It was a toss up between going here or Dobbins Creek (my personal favorite Yadkin Valley winery). Laurel Gray won because of proximity to the Vintage Inn… it had been a long day.
Laurel Gray wines tend to run a little sweeter; so although maybe not my favorite wine, their outdoor patio area is divine. Because it was St. Patrick’s Day, they were serving green wine slushies. Naturally(?), that’s what my sister and I had. When in Yadkin Valley…
Don’t miss Laurel Gray’s barbecue sauce and chocolate sauce for great souvenirs.
A huge shout out to Chip from the Vintage Inn for chauffeuring us around all day. Y’all should totally check out theVintage Inn Bed and Breakfast that he shares with his wife, Sandy. Sandy whips up an incredible breakfast!
With a two night stay, Chip will cart your crew around for some tastings (based on availability). When booking, be sure to tell them Forks and Folly sent you!
Need some more suggestions? In addition to last year’s itinerary, also check out these suggestions from a few years back. This list is a great option for those staying in the Winston Salem area.
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About Katie
Katie Harding has been blogging since 2010. What originally started out as a platform to discuss new parenthood, her blogging now focuses on her passion for cooking: creating recipes and sharing tips for entertaining friends and family of all ages. Outside of the kitchen you’ll find her with her family (three boys, one husband, multiple exchange student daughters, and Hank the pup), or gallivanting around the world with her fork in tow.
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