22 of the Best Yadkin Valley Wineries to Sip and Savor Now

We’ve made it a mission of ours to visit all of the 40-plus wineries in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina. As we work toward our goal, we want to share some of the best Yadkin Valley wineries and vineyards!

Some are well-known, established names in North Carolina wine while others are up-and-coming and not yet on everyone’s radar, though they should be! Our guide features some info about the area, followed by our favorite Yadkin Valley wineries in alphabetical order.

Here’s how we’ve organized things, in case you’re looking for specific info:

• What and Where is the Yadkin Valley?
• Swan Creek AVA
• Yadkin Valley Wineries and Vineyards

Read More: 20 Awesome Wineries near Charlotte (Vineyards Within 2 Hours)

What and Where is the Yadkin Valley?

The Yadkin Valley in North Carolina is the first federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA) that is ideal for growing exceptional grapes. This region spans both Central and Western North Carolina as a previously thriving agricultural region for tobacco in the following counties:

• Surry County
• Yadkin County
• Wilkes County
• Davie County
• Davidson County
• Forsyth County
• Stokes County

Why do tobacco and grapes both grow well in the Yadkin Valley? The answer: the soil and climate!

The clay found in the Yadkin Valley is the same that’s found in Tuscany, Italy, and the climate mimics Bordeaux.

While most North Carolina wines were typically sweet muscadine, it is in the Yadkin Valley that you can find dry and delicious European-style wines. This guide aims to prove that not all North Carolina wines are sweet!

Read More: 25 Wonderful Wineries Near Asheville (Vineyards Within 2 Hours)

Swan Creek AVA

Another fun fact about the Yadkin Valley AVA is that there is a second AVA located within it! The Swan Creek AVA features wineries in a cooler microclimate and mineral-rich soil due to its proximity to the Brushy Mountains.

Yadkin Valley Wineries and Vineyards

These Yadkin Valley Wineries are featured in a couple of our favorite North Carolina wine trails, including Wine Peaks in the Valley and the Surry County Wine Trail, in case you’re up for a fun adventure!

Adagio Vineyards

139 Benge Dr, Elkin

Adagio Vineyards is a welcoming winery that produces European-style dry wines. The owners have a variety of interests as they are dentists and violin makers, so it’s only fitting that they combine their love of music with wine in Adagio.

Stop at this Yadkin Valley winery and then spend an afternoon in the nearby town of Elkin. Our favorite wines from Adagio are their Petit Verdot, Vivace, and Coda.

Adagio is one of a few kid-friendly wineries that we’ll mention in this guide, in case you want to sip local with the whole family!

Childress Vineyards

1000 Childress Vineyards Rd, Lexington

Childress Vineyards is one of the most recognized North Carolina wineries and has over 70 acres under vine with more than 30 different wines. Opened in 2004 by NASCAR legend Richard Childress, this Lexington winery has earned over 750 competition medals.

Wine flight tastings are offered daily from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm with four different flight options ranging from Standard to their reservation-only Luxe Wine Flight.

There is often live music on the weekend, making it a romantic spot for wine lovers.

Read More: Lexington NC Map of 20+ Attractions (+ 7 Surrounding Counties!)

Divine Llama Vineyards

4126 Divine Llama Ln, East Bend

Truly one of the most extraordinary Yadkin Valley wineries is Divine Llama Vineyards, both a winery and a llama farm! They serve 11 award-winning wines from four grape varieties that appeal to all palates.

Go llama trekking at Divine Llama through two miles of rolling hills along Miller Creek. With 91 acres, there’s plenty of room to spread out here!

Read More: 20 Awesome Wineries near Charlotte (Vineyards Within 2 Hours)

Dobbins Creek Vineyards

4430 Vineyard View Ln, Hamptonville

Set in the Swan Creek AVA, Dobbins Creek Vineyards boasts incredible views from Hemric Mountain. On a clear day, you can see as far as Winston-Salem and Grandfather Mountain in the High Country to the west.

Enjoy a laidback atmosphere and an incredible Chardonnay at Dobbins Creek. Its location at the foot of the Brushy Mountains adds to the relaxed ambiance, and they welcome both pets and families!

Elkin Creek Vineyard

318 Elkin Creek Mill Rd, Elkin

Elkin Creek Vineyard is quickly rising among our favorite Yadkin Valley wineries! Located along the banks of a creek and waterfall, this is hands-down the best winery for families in North Carolina.

Let the kids play in the creek while the adults enjoy wine. Elkin Creek also serves wood-fired pizzas on Sundays for a delicious family meal.

Read More: 14 Delicious Restaurants in Elkin (+1 Great Cocktail Bar)

Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery

235 Chatham Cottage Ln, State Rd

Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery is a dog-friendly winery that was once a working dairy farm. The tasting room in which you’ll enter first was converted from the horse stables!

From Grassy Creek Vineyard, you can also lace up your hiking shoes and get in a pleasant 4-mile hike with a visit to Carter Falls.

Haze Gray Vineyards

761 Stony Knoll Rd, Dobson

Haze Gray Vineyards is a Veteran-owned and operated farm sitting on a whopping 85 acres. With nine acres under vine, Haze Gray has an incredible Chambourcin and Petit Verdot that will knock your socks off!

A visit to this Yadkin Valley winery will not disappoint.

JOLO Winery & Vineyards

219 Jolo Winery Ln, Pilot Mountain

Giving Yadkin Valley wineries a superior name since 2013, JOLO Winery and Vineyards is one of our absolute favorites. The fantastic views of Pilot Mountain and its incredible restaurant will make your visit to JOLO a truly memorable one.

Their wines are just incredible, so much so that we routinely have them shipped to us if we aren’t in the area! Try JOLO’s Pilot Fog, a wine made of Cynthiana grapes and barrel-aged in 100 percent new American Oak.

A JOLO tasting includes seven wines: one sparkling, one white, one rose, three reds, and a choice of dessert wine for $15 per person or $20 per person if you keep their glass.

Jones von Drehle Vineyards

964 Old Railroad Grade Rd, Thurmond

Jones von Drehle Vineyards is a must-sip Yadkin Valley winery! With 30 acres of vines, this estate winery is nestled in Wilkes County near Stone Mountain State Park.

We think it’s the perfect place to visit after hiking to Stone Mountain Falls along the Stone Mountain Loop or after enjoying the water at Widow’s Creek Falls.

Jones von Drehle is both pet and kid-friendly!

Junius Lindsay Vineyard

385 Dr Zimmerman Rd, Lexington

Junius Lindsay Vineyard produces the best of Southern France right in the Yadkin Valley! From the open-air tasting room, visitors can enjoy a fantastic view of the family-owned land with 11 acres of vines.

Growing grape varietals from France’s Northern Rhône River region, Junius Lindsay is known for Viognier, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Roussanne, and Grenache. Open from Thursday to Sunday; we recommend a stop at Junius Lindsay if you’re in Lexington!

Laurel Gray Vineyards

5726 Old U.S. 421, Hamptonville

One of the most sustainable of the Yadkin Valley wineries is Laurel Gray Vineyards, situated in the Swan Creek AVA. The Myers family has farmed this land for ten generations and today produces award-winning wines.

Expect to sip on delicious Chardonnay or Cabernet Franc from their 15 acres of French vinifera grapes. Enjoy the calming views of vines and serene pond while you sip wine from the best of the Yadkin Valley wineries.

McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks

315 Thurmond PO Road, Thurmond

McRitchie Winery is one of our favorite kid-friendly wineries in North Carolina! Located in the heart of the Yadkin Valley in Wilkes County, McRitchie has a laidback vibe and delicious wines.

Try their Unoaked Chardonnay and Ring of Fire Red. They make delicious hard ciders, too!

Native Vines Winery

1336 NC-150, Lexington

The first American Indian-owned winery in the United States is right here in the Yadkin Valley. Located just outside of Lexington, Native Vines Winery honors the traditions and heritage of the land it sits on.

Offering both Vitis Vinifera and fruit blends, this winery offers something for every wine lover here.

Native Vines also has a unique line of Green Tea Wines, a noteworthy tidbit making this one of the best of the Yadkin Valley wineries!

Old North State Winery

308 N Main St, Mount Airy

Old North State Winery is the only urban winery in the Yadkin Valley. They call downtown Mount Airy home, with the winery located in a former hardware store. The grapes are grown in the Valley, but owner Ben Webb wanted the winery to add to the vibrancy of downtown.

With a lively atmosphere, live music, and world-class food, Old State Winery is a fun way to enjoy North Carolina wine and the wonderful town of Mount Airy.

Piccione Vineyards

2364 Cedar Forest Rd, Ronda

Owned by Sicilians of the same name, Piccione Vineyards in the Yadkin Valley has epic views of rolling grapevines. The estate-grown winery makes Italian-style wines in a kid-friendly environment.

Enjoy live music and food trucks while sipping on their delicious Montepulciano or Chardonnay.

Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery

450 Groce Rd, Ronda

Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery produces classical Italian dry wines in the heart of the Yadkin Valley. They produce reds such as Sangiovese Classico, Montepulciano Riserva, Sagrantino, and Grande Riserva, and whites such as Vermentino and a sparkling Prosecco style called Auguri. 

Raffaldini wines are praised for the traditional techniques they use to pull as much flavor from the grapes. This time and labor-intensive technique is known as Appassimento and incorporates dehydrated grapes into production.

RagApple Lassie Vineyards

3724 Ragapple Lassie Ln, Boonville

Built on a former tobacco farm, RagApple Lassie Vineyard is a Yadkin Valley winery and fully operational farm that grows corn, soybean, and wheat along with the grapes.

Their name comes from the owner’s championship show calf: a registered Holstein named RagApple Lassie.

Raylen Vineyards & Winery

3577 US-158, Mocksville

Just outside of Winston-Salem is RayLen Vineyards and Winery, a picturesque winery and tasting room that every wine lover should visit. Red, wine, sparkling, rose?

They have something for every kind of wine drinker and palate.

The outdoor space, live music, and romantic views make for a memorable experience.

Round Peak Vineyards

765 Round Peak Church Rd, Mount Airy

Named after nearby Pilot Mountain, Round Peak Vineyards is a family-friendly winery that offers French and Italian varietals. With 12 acres of vines, this Yadkin Valley winery produces both dry and sweet wines, as well as serving Skull Camp Brewery beers on tap.

Bring blankets, some snacks, and enjoy the entire day at Round Peak! They have two cabins available for rent if you wish to spend the night and perhaps use their disc golf course!

Shelton Vineyards

286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson

Shelton Vineyards is one of the oldest Yadkin Valley wineries, established in 1999. Like many vineyards, Shelton’s vines grow on former tobacco land, but they combine ideal growing conditions with sustainable farming practices to create award-winning wines.

In the vineyard, you can find the following grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Petit Manseng.

Visitors to Shelton Vineyards can also enjoy a meal at the upscale onsite restaurant Harvest Grill to soak up some more of the ambiance.

Slightly Askew Winery

913 N Bridge St, Elkin

Slightly Askew is located near downtown Elkin and prides itself on its cozy vibe. Their wines are more on the sweet side with a specialty in fruit.

Slightly Askew also offers dry wines that are more of a South American style as opposed to the traditional Italian wines found in the Yadkin Valley.

Weathervane Winery

1452 Welcome-Arcadia Rd, Lexington

Weathervane Winery began as a hobby in 2003 before expanding to a winery now known for its community vibe and sweet vines. With a beautiful outdoor space often used for events and live music, this Yadkin Valley winery is always a good time!

If you want to make a weekend out of it, Weathervane also has several honeymoon cabins only a short walk from the winery.

Ready to Taste and Sip at these Yadkin Valley Wineries and Vineyards?

Thanks to the unique climate of the Yadkin Valley, North Carolina has so many incredible wineries to enjoy! We hope this list will get you started on your winery adventures through our state.

If you’ve enjoyed sipping at some of these Yadkin Valley wineries (or all of them), we would absolutely love to know which are your favorites. In case you haven’t yet, we’re curious to know which one you’ll be visiting first!

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