What are some of the good ones to tour and do tastings?

I was looking to stop by Duplin Winery on my way to Wilmington two weeks from now.

Is it a good place to for a short visit or is there any better vineyards to visit along the way to Wilmington?

6/29/2008 12:42:40 PM

We stopped at Duplin on the way back from Wilmington and did the tasting and the tour. I enjoyed the tasting as Im not much of a wine drinker, so it was good to get a small sample of a a few wines(i think it was a total of 12). Ended up buying a few bottles. The tour was ok.. Nothing was going on so there wasn't much to see. Did see them fill the bottles so that was kind of neat.


There is also Hinnant Winery
http://www.hinnantvineyards.com

I have not been there but Dr Hinnant was my dentist as a kid and I've been meaning to check his wines out as well.

[Edited on June 29, 2008 at 12:54 PM. Reason : .]

6/29/2008 12:53:29 PM

this place is in pikeville and i've been told it's pretty good. about an hour from raleigh down 117 out of wilson.

http://www.asecretgardenwinery.com/intro.htm

6/29/2008 7:39:10 PM

If you're ever on the western side of the state, go to yadkin valley. there are some amazing vineyards out there.

Great tours and amazing tastings.

6/29/2008 7:40:38 PM

Yeah, LunaK and I hit up a bunch last year. Off the top of my head, actual vineyards we went to were Sheldon, Stony Knoll, and Rag Apple Lassie.

Here is a pretty good link: http://www.yadkinvalleywineries.com/

6/29/2008 7:57:16 PM

I have only really been to a couple in the central part of the state. Benjamin Wineries is really small, not a whole lot to offer. I enjoyed visiting Horizon Cellars (Siler City), beautiful place.

This is a website that has a listing for the wineries in state, including special events that they hold.
NC Wineries: http://www.visitnc.com/what_to_do_wine.asp?s=fw

6/29/2008 8:15:16 PM

Isn't there a winery out next to the airport?

6/29/2008 10:02:08 PM

Chateau Morrisette is nice. It's not in NC, but it's not far into VA.

http://www.chateaumorrisette.com/

6/30/2008 1:27:55 AM

bump

10/13/2010 12:44:38 PM

Thank you!

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Chatham Hill Winery
Winery Tour and Tasting for Two, Two Souvenir Glasses, a Cheese and Cracker Tray, and $15 to Spend on Wine

3800 Gateway Centre Boulevard
Suite 310
Morrisville-Cary, NC 27560
919-380-7135

Use my link!
https://livingsocial.com/deals/8888?ref=conf-jp&rpi=1682778

10/13/2010 12:44:56 PM

I forgot about this thread. The Fair might be a good place to find out about possible wineries to visit. Childress won 1st place this year IIRC.

10/13/2010 1:01:53 PM

bttt

10/13/2010 2:00:22 PM

I saw this in my email this morning from LivingSocial.

Is Chatham Hill a legit winery? I thought it was like JUST a tasting room near a business park off of Airport Blvd. Is it snobbish to say that I couldn't imagine going to a NC winery?

Nice soliciation, too, by the way egyeyes...

10/13/2010 2:30:01 PM

^Hey, don't hate the player.. hate the game

You made me look up reviews though because I didn't even do that before purchasing:

Quote :

"It was really weird to pull up to a winery in an office/ light industrial park. I was very skeptical, previously thinking that wineries had to be fancy wooden buildings in the middle of hills of grapes. My friend and I went in and looked around while the only person there was on the phone. When she was done, we tasted five of their wines, which were surprisingly excellent tasting. She explained each of the wines thoroughly, and gave us background info on the winery and where the grapes come from (some from across the state, some from California.) We then went into the production room and she explained the process and showed us the vats and barrels. She also showed us the hand bottling machines where their families work on Saturdays to bottle the wine. Cool!"

10/13/2010 2:41:18 PM

I'm sure their wines are fine, but I think part of the winery experience is exactly what that review says is missing. The rolling hills and the cool and busy winery itself. Admittedly, I'm VERY spoiled by getting to live 20 miles from Napa/Sonama and Livermore for four years...

[Edited on October 13, 2010 at 2:48 PM. Reason : x]

10/13/2010 2:48:20 PM

Well yeah if you compare it with that... this is not a winery, but a McDonalds.

10/13/2010 3:02:54 PM

Then again, when I think about it... winery =/= vineyard.

10/13/2010 4:53:05 PM

not all of duplin's grapes come from NC

adam's vineyards in willow spring near fuquay is small but awesome!

10/13/2010 6:11:32 PM

The topography and climate of Eastern NC isn't as conducive to a lot of your better wines. Muscadine/Scuppernongs/etc grow well, along with other fruits and that is what Duplin does.

You have to go further North or West in the foothills for your better regional wineries/grapes. In NC that means primarily Yadkin Valley. Virginia has some outstanding wineries from the Central Virginia/Charlottesville area up to Northern Virginia. When you go further up, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, some other Spanish varietals do quite well in the NC/VA climate, as does Norton (a Virginia grape grown mostly in Virginia and Missouri).

10/13/2010 7:35:17 PM

Waldensian Heritage Wines in Valdese, nc? (between Morganton and Hickory on I-40) I don't know anything about it. I just grew up in Morganton

Quote :

"Small authentic Waldensian winery uses methods of the Waldensian immigrants from Italy who settled Valdese in 1893. Tours, tastings and sales available. No charge for tours and tastings.Open year round; Friday, Saturday, & Sunday from 1-6; other days by appointment only.Wine list: Burgundy Valdese, Blanc Royale, Blanc Royale Sweet, Blush Regale, Villar Rouge."

10/13/2010 8:08:42 PM

There's an outstanding NC wine festival in the spring in Winston Salem. They have tons of different wineries there for your tasting pleasure, most of which are from the yadkin valley. Some of the sweetest wines I think I've ever had. I would definitely recommend going to this festival next year though.


http://salutencwine.com/new/

10/13/2010 10:14:06 PM

DUPLIN IN THE HOUSE!

AHAHA, SO DELICIOUS!

10/14/2010 12:45:12 AM

I thought this thread was about UNC...

10/14/2010 9:15:38 AM

Benjamin Wineries in Saxapahaw. They actually their own stuff- we get their wines at the Farmer's Market. Their best is the chardonel, we were devastated when a bad batch of the stuff came in last year. Unoaked chardonnay is pretty good too.

Their worst is the muscadine-based wines- way too sweet and oaky-tasting. Couldn't finish a bottle of it tonight between the four of us.

10/15/2010 12:07:07 AM

Quote :

"There's an outstanding NC wine festival in the spring in Winston Salem."

Salute is a great wine festival ... it's not insanely crowded like Tanglewood, and it's early enough in May where it's not scorching hot. Plus, if it gets too hot (or starts raining), you can just tuck into a downtown bar.

As far as the best wineries, Raylen and Shelton vineyards make some really good wines (Raylen's Category 5 is probably my favorite local wine). They're both in the Yadkin Valley, not far at all from Winston.

My favorite of all the vineyards is Raffaldini though, if only for the aesthetics. The place looks like someone uprooted a mansion from Tuscany and moved it to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

10/15/2010 9:58:44 AM

http://www.divinellamavineyards.com/

is owned by a friend of mine's parents.

10/15/2010 2:38:28 PM

I strongly second the Raffaldini suggestion.

You don't even feel like you're in NC anymore. And there's a beautiful patio with breathtaking scenery while you try some of their wines, which are quite good.

10/15/2010 3:33:15 PM

I'm going to try that one of these days. Sounds nice...

10/15/2010 3:47:05 PM

Anyone know anything about the wine tent they are having at the State Fair?

10/15/2010 3:58:35 PM

A wine tent homemade wine made by NCs finest rednecks

10/15/2010 5:19:49 PM