Wine Weekend Getaway In The Yadkin Valley
On this flavor-filled jaunt, you’ll sample some of North Carolina’s diverse
and unique wines and meet some of the people behind them. For this
weekend, we jag off of I-77 from the Virginia border south, and then
down east towards (but not to) Winston-Salem.
Along the way, explore the town of Mount Airy, the “real” Mayberry, and
get a bird’s eye view of North Carolina’s wine country from a hot air
balloon in Boonville, about 25 miles west of Winston-Salem.
With so much to see and do in the area, we recommend the following 2-
day itinerary. Enjoy all the area has to offer by mixing and matching
events to your particular interest. Be sure to check days and hours of
operation for each venue.
2-Day Itinerary / Piedmont Foothills
Day 1
Tasting, touring and a town made famous on TV
Day 2
A restaurant that got the New York Times talking; a balloon ride that’ll
leave you speechless.
Please see our recommendations for the best places to stay eat at the bottom of this page!
Detailed Itinerary
Day One
Begin your tasting tour amidst the rolling hills of Round Peak Vineyard.
Sample award winning wines along with music and crafts of the area, with
handmade quilts, pottery and jewelry for sale. Local musicians regularly
perform Round Peak style music, which is a variation of “old-time”
mountain string band music distinguished by banjo and melodic noting,
and made famous by North Carolina greats Tommy Jarrell and Fred
Cockerham.
Head into the heart of Mount Airy for your next stop, the Old North
State Winery. Tour the winery and cellar, housed in a beautifully
renovated 1890’s mercantile building on Main Street. Afterwards, take a
stroll and explore the place that inspired the TV town of Mayberry. Andy
Griffith grew up here and used many names of people and places from Mt.
Airy on “The Andy Griffith Show.”
Definitely stop at Snappy Lunch, the oldest eating establishment in Mt.
Airy. It’s where Andy ate as a young boy, and he’s mentioned it on the
show. Order the famous pork chop sandwich served “all the way”. The
restaurant is a local favorite and was even featured in Gourmet magazine.
Other nearby Andy Griffith-related attractions include Floyd’s City Barber
Shop, the Andy Griffith Playhouse, Andy’s Homeplace, Aunt Bee’s Room
and Wally’s Service Station, Squad Car Tours, The Old City Jail, and The
Mayberry Courthouse.
Next, it’s on to Shelton Vineyards, the largest family-owned estate
winery in North Carolina. Pack for a picnic or purchase picnic supplies
there. Look for their concert series during the summer months held on
their outdoor stage. For dinner, the Harvest Grill located on the Shelton
estate offers upscale dining with a bistro style atmosphere. Outdoor
seating is also available.
Lodging options include various motels/hotels in nearby Elkin and Mount
Airy. For a bit more charm, try the Rockford Inn in Dobson or the
Maxwell House Bed & Breakfast at the Historic Merritt House in Mount
Airy. There is also a Hampton Inn just two miles down the road from
Shelton Vineyards.
Day Two
At Stony Knoll Vineyard, Kathy Coe and her husband Van are continuing
a successful family tradition of cultivating the land. The farm on which the
vineyard is located has belonged to Kathy's family since 1896. And where
tobacco once ruled as the staple cash crop, grapes now thrive. Their first
harvest took place in the fall of 2002. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc,
Chardonnay and Syrah are currently available.
Follow the aroma of baked goods to Strudels, a European style bakery
located just one mile from Stony Knoll. Everything is baked on the premises,
and recipes are all “scratch-made.” Indulge in “American” style cakes,
cookies, muffins, breads, scones, danish, pies and tarts, as well as European
pastries, tortes and cakes.
Head south on route 601 to Booneville and you’ll find RagApple Lassie, one
of the more interestingly named vineyards. Its namesake is the owner’s prize
winning show calf he owned as a child. Hence, the black and white cow on
their labels. Owner Frank Hobson is the third generation of Hobson’s to farm
the land. Along with the help of his wife Lenna and Linda King, the winemaker,
RagApple Lassie wines have won awards in international, regional and state
competitions.
The vineyard is now also a balloon port for Yadkin Valley Balloon
Adventures. Hop aboard a hot air balloon for a spectacular view of the
Yadkin Valley. The trip takes about an hour, yet the memories will last much
longer.
End your wine weekend with dinner at The Kitchen at Elkin Creek, a
restaurant the New York Times is “still talking about.” A recent article stated,
“Most wineries sell picnic provisions, and a few… have pleasant restaurants.
But the one we’re still talking about is Elkin Creek. We left happy and full,
understanding what the French must mean when they talk about terroir — the
way foods are stamped with a keen sense of place.”
The menu is subject to change based on season and availability. A recent
offering included Roasted Cornish Hen, Red Currant and Rum Pork and Brandy
Roasted Rabbit. The restaurant is located at Elkin Creek Vineyard just
outside of Elkin, North Carolina.
Find TOP DEALS on Yadkin Valley Wine Hotels.
Not staying near the Yadkin Valley? Compare prices on ALL NC Getaways.