When you think of wine regions in North America, three locations likely top your list – Napa Valley in California, Willamette Valley in Oregon, and the Finger Lakes in New York. You might even include the Niagra Peninsula in Ontario or Texas Hill Country, if you know a thing or two (which I will admit right now that I don’t) about wine. But there’s a less well-known region in North Carolina that probably flies under the radar of most amateur wine enthusiasts – the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina. Now, we certainly aren’t pioneers in this region – the Wynns visited the area way back in 2012 (link at the end) and plenty of other similar travel articles already exist across the internet – but thanks to our handy Harvest Hosts membership, we recently had the ability and opportunity to explore the Yadkin Valley for ourselves.

Located (very) roughly between Asheville, Greensboro, Charlotte, and the Virginia/North Carolina border, the Yadkin Valley is officially deemed an American Viticultural Area (AVA). This is a very specific governmental designation denoting an appellation of origin used on wine labels. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the US Department of Treasury (I mean, who doesn’t love an elaborately named federal government office) defines an AVA as a “delimited grape-growing region with specific geographic or climatic features that distinguish it from the surrounding regions and affect how grapes are grown.” Which basically means the Yadkin Valley is unique from the other nearby areas of North Carolina and very specifically suited to growing grapes (like Bordeaux, France or Tuscany, Italy). Although I’m fairly certain no one ever said, “You know what, honey – let’s skip our holiday in Tuscany and head to the Yadkin Valley instead!”

Joking aside, the wines of the Yadkin Valley truly are surprising in the best ways. The state fruit of North Carolina may be the scuppernong family of grapes (to which the muscadine belongs – see this post from our brief time in Alabama), but you won’t find tooth-achingly sweet muscadine as the only option from the several dozen Yadkin Valley wineries. In fact, the handful of wineries we visited that had muscadine in their portfolio generally featured a drier version of the traditionally sweet southern staple that we found to be flavorful and refreshing – and you wouldn’t want to pour it over shaved ice just to make it palatable.

Our first and arguably most scenic stop was Sanders Ridge Vineyard and Winery, featuring a gorgeous tasting room and event center built from wood and stone reclaimed from older buildings on the Shore family farm. Sanders Ridge has been in the Shore family for over 170 years, and Neil Shore is the fifth generation to work the land. The 15-acre vineyard was added in 2001 and the winery produces wines made solely from the grapes grown on the property. Varieties include Old World names like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Viognier, as well as two types of muscadine grapes.

We pulled Cecil into a spot by the woods for a bit of shade after stopping in the tasting room to say hello, then wandered back inside for a proper tasting. Jennifer guided us through our tasting as we chatted about Florida, fishing, and the history of the farm. She invited us to spend our evening on the expansive porch overlooking the pond after the winery officially closed, where we met Neil himself. After a short discussion of antique fly fishing rods (of which I don’t know enough about to be of any real use), he told us to enjoy ourselves as he retired for the night. Sanders Ridge hosts many weddings and special events throughout the year, so you might want to call ahead before planning your visit. We highly recommend Sanders Ridge not only for the excellent wine, but also the picturesque location and the friendly family-owned and operated atmosphere.

We were faced with a grueling three mile drive the next morning to RagApple Lassie Vineyards and Winery, so we set our alarms for the crack of noon to prepare for an early departure. Just kidding – we rarely set our alarms, since I prefer waking with the natural rhythm of the sun peeking in the window and Ashley prefers waking when she eventually realizes I’m no longer in bed. With such a short drive ahead of us, we certainly weren’t in a rush and eased Cecil into the RagApple parking lot shortly after noon. The winery gets its name from a prized cow belonging to the Hobsons who own, operate, and farm the land. RagApple Lassie was one of the first vineyards to open in the area, fueled by the Hobsons’ farming history and spurred by declining profits in raising tobacco. The tasting room and winery are all in one massive building and visitors get a full view of the winemaking apparatus upon entering through the main door.

The winery was practically empty when we arrived quite early on a Friday, so we checked in with the staff, got squared away in the parking lot, and had a bite to eat before wandering back inside later that afternoon. The tasting room remained fairly quiet into the evening, and it’s a comfortable place to relax with lots of large tables, couches, and games scattered throughout the cavernous space. With heavy storms in the forecast, we could only surmise the locals were already taking shelter for the night. We took advantage of all the space after our tasting (with excellent wines, once again), bought a bottle for the evening, and did a bit of computer work before playing a few rounds of Star Realms at one of the tables. RagApple Lassie also offers craft beer from a local brewery if you’d like a break from wine, as well as a small cooler with snacks like local cheeses and cured meats. Bands play on the occasional weekend in a bandshell beside the vineyards. Shortly after our visit, RagApple’s founder Frank Hobson passed away after a battle with cancer. We wish for his memory and legacy to live on through the winery for decades to come.

Two more nights before the Mt. Airy Fiddle Festival meant two more wineries on our itinerary. The third destination took us back through Elkin (covered in the previous post) where we stopped for lunch on the way before continuing to MenaRick Vineyard and Winery. Cecil trundled over the hillsides of rural North Carolina, hesitating for only a brief moment as we spotted a group of children apparently shooting a BB or pellet gun from their front yard and into a field – separated by the road on which we were driving. They quickly scattered from the roadside as the RV approached, and we didn’t receive any incoming fire but we kept our eyes peeled for more underage hooligan gangs for the rest of the drive. We arrived unscathed.

MenaRick boasts the unique distinction of producing Spanish and Portuguese-style wines from Albariño, Grenacha, Tempranillo, and Touriga Nacional grapes from the vineyard, as well as Syrah, Merlot, and Chardonnay varieties. The name is an amalgamation of the owners’ first names (Filomena and Rick), and we met Rick as soon as we pulled into the driveway. It is a bit steep and windy, but we didn’t have any issues and Rick even showed us photos of a 35′ or longer Class A motorhome from a recent visit that somehow navigated the entrance. We probably shouldn’t have been surprised when we were, once again, offered a fantastic selection of wines from a North Carolina vineyard. Rick is an incredible host, regaling us with tales and swapping travel stories through the evening. He even invited us to a bonfire after hours, joined by a couple of his neighbors. I broke out my sax for a little entertainment, and Rick stuffed us with homemade chocolate cake and samples of port from his private stash. This is not typical of a Harvest Hosts stop – nor is it expected – but our experience is a fine example of what can happen when the right people and circumstances converge on the road.

I offered to lend a hand corking wine the next morning, but little did I know Rick would be awake long before dawn and have everything finished before the first rooster crowed. We met him on the patio beside the tasting room and he shared a pot of coffee with us, grown on his friend’s farm in Ecuador – yet another unexpected treat. Rick caters private parties at the vineyard throughout the year as well as special events open to the public. MenaRick is definitely a “can’t-miss” winery when traveling through the Yadkin Valley, but I’d also recommend visiting for a special event if at all possible. We’ll definitely return the next time we’re in the area.

Our fourth and final stop before the Mt. Airy Old Time Fiddler’s Convention was Carolina Heritage Vineyard and Winery, open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1PM-6PM and closed the month of January. Carolina Heritage is the first USDA-Certified Organic winery in North Carolina, operated by owners committed to establishing an environmentally-friendly winery. A small farmhouse on premise provides overnight accommodations for $135 a night and is available on Airbnb for anyone wishing to make a weekend out of a visit (assuming you aren’t a Harvest Host member arriving in your RV). The wine list may not be quite as extensive as some of the other wineries in the area, but each variety is well-done and representative of the quality found throughout the Yadkin Valley. If you read our previous post, you might remember the Mountains-to-Sea Trail – this very path winds through the vineyard and has a wine dedicated to its preservation. “Trailside Red” is a blend of organic Noble, Carlos, and Doreen grapes which grow alongside the trail in the vineyard. Carolina Heritage donates 10% of the sale proceeds from this wine to the EVTA for work on the MTS trail.

We enjoyed the lilting Celtic strains of CandelFirth during our visit, an instrumental duo based in nearby Pilot Mountain that performs throughout the local area. Games are scattered across each table in the tasting room, and we sipped wine while playing a few rounds of mancala as Irish music filled the room. We eventually retired to the porch and watched the sun set over the vines as I picked a few tunes on my mandolin, a serene ending to another round of winery visits thanks to Harvest Hosts. For any RVers planning a future visit – the parking space at Carolina Heritage is fairly small, and the driveway is steeply angled in the opposite direction of the slant of the road so the entry if heading northbound on 268 can be a bit tricky. It is possible to approach the winery from the south, turn around after passing the driveway, and enter from the opposite direction to prevent bottoming out or dragging your hitch. Any hikers on the MST may want to consider a stop at the winery as you pass through on a Saturday or Sunday evening. Who knows – maybe even a friendly phone call in advance might secure you an overnight tent spot?

If you’re a serious wine fan or a casual tippler, the Yadkin Valley offers top-notch wine and scenic views. Be sure to consider the hills of North Carolina for your next road trip and take some time for multiple winery stops while in the region. You might not find the ancient vines of Tuscany or the prestigious wineries of Napa, but you will enjoy spectacular wines and old-fashioned hospitality hidden throughout the North Carolinian countryside.

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For any RVers interested in saving 15% on a new Harvest Hosts membership, just follow our link to sign up and follow the instructions on their page: http://harvesthosts.refr.cc/nathanashleyh

Up next – Mayberry, USA and the Mt. Airy Old Time Fiddler’s Convention!

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REFERENCES

1. gonewiththewynns.com – The Wynns in the Yadkin Valley
2. https://www.ttb.gov/wine/ava.shtml – Where to learn more about American Viticultural Areas