Author: Ashe County Livery

Dragon Glass Winery: Turning Overgrown Land Into a Stokes County Destination

In October 2019, the 20-acre property that would become Dragon Glass Winery was purchased in Madison, North Carolina, with a clear ambition: transform it into a rustic tasting room, vineyard and wedding venue. The land had to be cleared before any of that could happen, and after several years of work, the tasting room officially opened in May 2022.

Dragon Glass sits in beautiful Stokes County, minutes from Hanging Rock State Park and the Dan River, and the winery leans into that outdoorsy setting — wine tastings, food trucks, live music, and entertainment are all part of the regular rhythm here, whether you book ahead or simply show up.

The Wines of Dragon Glass Winery

Dragon Glass focuses on locally sourced and estate-produced Muscadine wines, offering both white and red styles crafted from grapes suited to the North Carolina climate. Every vine is tended from the start of the growing season through harvest at peak ripeness, and as the vineyard has become established, the winery has continued expanding its plantings while holding to the same production standards.

It’s a smaller, still-growing operation — the winery is candid that they are in an expansion phase — which means the wine list reflects a focused Muscadine program rather than a long roster of European varietals, in keeping with their mission of gathering folks around locally produced wine, food from local vendors, and live entertainment.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 2182 Bethesda Church Road, Madison, NC 27025
Wine Tasting Hours: Wednesday 5pm – 9pm, Friday 5pm – 11pm, Saturday 1pm – 11pm, Sunday 1pm – 6pm

Dragon Glass books wine tastings Wednesday through Sunday, either as a scheduled visit or a walk-in. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays typically feature live music and food trucks alongside the tastings, so it’s worth checking their events calendar before you go if your group wants to time the visit around a particular performance. The winery also hosts weddings, with packages starting at $2,000 and including use of the outdoor covered venue and the winery’s tasting room, plus all wine and beer needs for the event.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: because the later hours (especially Friday and Saturday nights running past 11pm) make this a great evening stop, it pairs well as the last winery of the day rather than a midday visit. Given the live music, food trucks and outdoor space, we recommend budgeting at least two hours if you want to actually enjoy the entertainment rather than just taste and go.

Where Dragon Glass Fits in Your Tour Route

Dragon Glass sits in Madison, in eastern Stokes County, a bit apart from the dense cluster of wineries in the Yadkin Valley proper — making it a good anchor for a day that also includes Gioia dell’Amore Cellars at Autumn Creek Vineyards in neighboring Mayodan, or a run out toward the Dobson-area wineries like Haze Gray Vineyards and Hidden Vineyard.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time, and note that Dragon Glass doesn’t open on Mondays or Tuesdays, so build your route around a Wednesday-through-Sunday visit. Because it stays open late on Fridays and Saturdays, it also works well as a stop to end the day on rather than start it.

Related reading

• Lazy Elm Vineyard & Winery: Now Open Just One Weekend a Month

Explore More from Ashe County Livery

• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
• High Country Wine Tours — Mountain winery service
• Wedding Transportation — Luxury transportation for your big day
• Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Dobbins Creek Vineyards: From Passion Project to Destination Venue

Dobbins Creek Vineyards began as founder Charles King’s passion project. After decades of studying winemaking, Charles carefully planted five and a half acres of vines on the east slope of Hemric Mountain in Hamptonville, and the winery officially opened its doors in spring 2007. His guiding philosophy — producing the finest quality estate grapes in the Yadkin Valley — still shapes the wine program today.

In 2022, Stephanie Rogol visited the property, met Charles, and fell for the land, the vines and the views. She purchased the vineyard with a plan to grow it into more than a tasting room: a true destination for wine, dining, live music and events. That combination of Charles’s original dedication to the grapes and Stephanie’s vision for the property is what visitors experience today — firepits and long-range mountain views on a 3,400-square-foot patio, alongside serious estate-grown wine.

The Wines of Dobbins Creek Vineyards

Dobbins Creek keeps production intentionally small — about 1,500 cases a year — from grapes that are handpicked and minimally processed on-site to preserve their character straight off the vine. The estate’s Riesling, the backbone of the white lineup, is planted on Hemric Mountain’s eastern slope, where well-drained loamy mica schist soil and cooler morning air build the acidity and minerality that show up in their Dry Riesling, Sweet Riesling, and White Rock (an old-world, Alsatian-style Riesling).

The rest of the ten-wine estate lineup includes Stainless and Oaked Chardonnay, Hemric Mountain Dry Rosé, Ram Cat Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Hemric Mountain Red, and the Legacy Meritage — a red blend created in honor of founder Charles King.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 4430 Vineyard View Lane, Hamptonville, NC 27020

Dobbins Creek is open daily in the afternoon (roughly noon to 5pm), though hours can shift seasonally and around events, so it’s worth confirming the current schedule before you go. Once there, you can choose a guided Wine Tasting of all ten estate wines ($18), a self-directed Wine Flight of four 2 oz. pours ($18), or wine by the glass ($14). They also mix wine cocktails on-site — a Riesling-based Wine-a-Rita, Hemrick Mountain Mule, Ginger Peach Bellini and Mojito, each $15.

Guests are encouraged to bring their own snacks and picnics (non-alcoholic beverages like water and soda are always fine too), or order a handcrafted charcuterie or cheese board on-site. Leashed, friendly dogs are welcome on the tasting lodge porch and patios. If your group wants to take bottles home, wine is sold by the bottle, by the half-case (10% off six bottles, mixed or matched) or by the case (20% off twelve bottles, mixed or matched) — a nice option if a few people in your group want to split a case between them.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: the outdoor patio and firepits are the heart of the experience, so this is a great stop to slow down at rather than rush through — we generally recommend budgeting at least an hour and a half, more if there’s a live event or Sunset Movie Series screening happening that evening. Dobbins Creek also runs a regular events calendar, including outdoor movie nights on the lawn, so it is worth checking their events page before you book your date in case something is happening that your group would enjoy staying for.

Where Dobbins Creek Fits in Your Tour Route

Dobbins Creek sits in Hamptonville, in the same corner of the Yadkin Valley as Shadow Springs Vineyard (also in Hamptonville) and within a short drive of RagApple Lassie Vineyards in Boonville and Divine Llama Vineyards in East Bend — making this a natural cluster to string together in one day rather than crossing the whole valley.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time between stops. Because Dobbins Creek leans into a relaxed, linger-on-the-patio atmosphere, it works well as a mid-afternoon or later stop on your route, especially if your group wants to stay for sunset.

Related reading

• Roaring River Vineyards: A French-Inspired Winery Built Around a Historic Gristmill

Explore More from Ashe County Livery

• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
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• Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Divine Llama Vineyards: Where Wine Meets a Working Llama Farm

Michael and Patricia West started Divine Llama Vineyards in 2007, planting vines on their rolling 91-acre farm in East Bend, in the heart of the Yadkin Valley AVA. In 2019, friends Leslie Messick and Paul Baumbach joined the operation, and today the property is two businesses in one: a working vineyard and tasting room, and Four Ladies & Me Farm, the largest llama farm in the Southeast. It is an unusual pairing, and it is exactly why Divine Llama shows up on so many Yadkin Valley “must visit” lists — you can taste an estate red blend and then go meet the animals it is named after.

The winery describes its wines as nationally recognized and award-winning, and between the setting along Miller Creek, the view toward Pilot Mountain, and the llamas grazing just past the tasting room deck, it is one of the more distinctive stops we take guests to anywhere in the valley.

The Wines of Divine Llama Vineyards

The vines went into the ground in spring 2007, and the estate now grows four grape varieties — Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonel and Traminette — across the property’s 91 acres. From those four grapes, Divine Llama produces eleven wines spanning five dry reds and whites, two semi-dry reds and whites, a sweeter white, a sweeter rosé, a semi-sweet peach-blended white, and a semi-sweet blackberry-blended red.

Several of the wines carry llama names as a nod to the farm side of the property. “In a Heartbeat” — named for one of the West family’s more decorated show llamas — is an off-dry blend of 2007 Cabernet Franc and Merlot, aged 18 months in a mix of new American, new Hungarian and used French oak. Merlina, named for Merlot’s “female companion” on the farm, is roughly 95% Merlot. Their single-varietal Merlot and Cabernet Franc are also aged 18 months in the same combination of French, Hungarian and American oak, giving the reds a distinctive coffee-and-chocolate character.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 4126 Divine Llama Lane, East Bend, NC 27018
Tasting Room Hours: Thursday, Friday & Saturday 12pm – 6pm, Sunday 1pm – 6pm (open year-round, including January and February)

There is no admission fee to visit. Rather than formal tastings, Divine Llama currently pours flights — four 2 oz. pours of your choice for $16 — on the tasting room deck. Food trucks show up periodically (check their Facebook page), and you are also welcome to bring your own food. Dogs are welcome around the tasting room and deck, though not down on the working farm around the llamas, and children are allowed as long as an adult over 21 supervises them throughout the visit. The winery is not currently renting its facilities for weddings or private events.

The signature experience here is llama trekking: a roughly two-mile guided hike with a llama companion along Miller Creek, with a break at the creek for photos, running most Saturdays and Sundays in spring, fall and winter, starting around 1pm and lasting two to three hours. Treks require advance reservations, participants must be at least 10 years old, and pricing is $50 per person for 2025 (rising to $60 in 2026). A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: book the trek well before your visit since spots are limited, and build your tasting around the trek schedule rather than the other way around. Between the tasting flight and a llama trek, plan on budgeting at least two to three hours at this stop — it is not a quick tasting-room pour-and-go.

Where Divine Llama Fits in Your Tour Route

Divine Llama sits in East Bend, on the Yadkin County side of the river, within easy reach of several other Yadkin Valley wineries in the same corner of the AVA — including RagApple Lassie Vineyards in Boonville, Shadow Springs Vineyard in Hamptonville, and Medaloni Cellars in Yadkinville. That makes this cluster a natural half-day loop rather than a single isolated stop.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time, and add extra time if a llama trek is on the agenda for this stop. Because Divine Llama doesn’t open until noon (1pm on Sundays), it pairs best as a midday or afternoon visit on your route rather than the first stop of the morning.

Related reading

• Stony Knoll Vineyards: A 1896 Century Farm That Traded Tobacco for Wine
• Elkin Creek Vineyards: An 1896 Grist Mill Reborn as a Yadkin Valley Wine Destination
• Curran Alexander Vineyards: 150 Years of Family Land Turned Yadkin Valley Wine Estate

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• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
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• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Curran Alexander Vineyards: A Family Farm Turned Vineyard

The land that is now Curran Alexander Vineyards came into the family in the late 1800s, when Curran Alexander Snider (born 1868) and his wife Frances (born 1870) bought a partially finished farmhouse and surrounding acreage in the Reeds community of Davidson County. They completed the house, raised eight children there, and farmed the land in tobacco, corn, wheat and vegetables for generations. It stayed a working farm for more than 150 years before a shift toward wine.

In 2001, Curran and Frances’s direct descendants recognized that the property’s soil and elevation were well suited to European Vitis vinifera grapes, and planted the first vineyard rows. The goals were straightforward: make good wine, honor the family’s agricultural legacy, and keep the land working. Two decades later, the family has restored the original Snider farmhouse into a four-bedroom guest house and built a new tasting room and event tent on the property — a rare combination of a genuine 19th-century family homestead and a modern Yadkin Valley wine destination.

The Wines of Curran Alexander Vineyards

The vineyard sits at 800–810 feet in elevation on Cecil sandy clay loam soil — clay that holds moisture through dry spells, sand that keeps the vines from sitting in too much water, in a spot with hot summer days and cool evenings that help the fruit ripen fully. The estate grows French-clone Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 337, first planted in 2001), Cabernet Franc (clone 332, also planted in 2001), and Merlot (clone 181, planted starting in 2005) — the backbone of their celebrated Meritage-style red blend. In 2021 the family added Sauvignon Rytos, a Sauvignon Blanc × Bianca hybrid planted on cooler, north-facing, granite-pebbled slopes, producing an aromatic white with citrus, tropical fruit and green apple notes and a mineral finish.

It is a small, focused lineup built entirely around what actually grows well on this particular hillside, rather than a long list of imported styles — the kind of estate-driven approach we point out to guests who want to taste the difference between site-specific wine and a broader commercial blend.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 1697 S NC Highway 150, Lexington, NC 27295
Tasting Room Hours: Friday 4pm – 8pm, Saturday 12pm – 5:30pm, Sunday 1pm – 5pm

Wines are available for tasting by the bottle every weekend, with select wines also poured by the glass, and the winery hosts occasional live music and food truck events — worth checking their social channels before you go. Beyond the tasting room, the grounds hold genuine local history: the foundation stones of the old Red House Inn, where George Washington is said to have once dined; a cave where Daniel Boone reportedly took shelter; and a centuries-old millstone visitors can still turn by hand. The restored Curran Alexander Snider farmhouse — four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom — is also available to book for a stay, and the property regularly hosts weddings under its 3,500-square-foot tent or in the newer tasting room, both of which can seat well over a hundred guests.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: because the tasting room only opens Friday through Sunday, it works best as a weekend-tour stop rather than a weekday one, so plan your route around its hours rather than the other way around. The property rewards a slower visit — between the tasting room, the historical landmarks scattered across the grounds, and the view of the working farm, we recommend budgeting at least an hour to ninety minutes here, longer if your group wants to walk the property.

Where Curran Alexander Fits in Your Tour Route

Curran Alexander sits in the southern end of the Yadkin Valley AVA, near Lexington in Davidson County — the same corner of the valley as Childress Vineyards, Junius Lindsay Vineyard and Weathervane Winery, which makes it easy to pair with any of those three on a single day trip rather than trying to cross the whole valley. Coming down from the High Country, this cluster works well as either the first stop of the day or the last, depending on which direction you are headed.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time between stops. Because Curran Alexander only opens in the afternoon on Fridays and doesn’t open until noon on weekends, it pairs best as a mid-afternoon or evening stop rather than the first winery of the morning.

Related reading

• Jones von Drehle Vineyards: A Family Estate on 65 Blue Ridge Acres
• Shadow Springs Vineyard: 20 Years From Tobacco Land to Wine, Cider, and Spirits
• Divine Llama Vineyards: Yadkin Valley Wine and the Southeast's Largest Llama Farm
• Exploring the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail — Rayson Winery & Vineyards
• Your Complete Guide to Dynamis Estate Wines — Yadkin Valley’s Newest Gem

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• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
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• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Christian Paul Vineyards: Five Generations of Winemaking, Brand New in Elkin

Christian Paul Ercolani carries winemaking in his blood — his family has owned and operated a vineyard in Montepulciano, Italy, for roughly 125 years, and a century-old wine press that traveled from Italy with his great-grandfather still sits just inside the entrance of the tasting room. Christian holds a PhD in Geochemistry and spent years in restaurants building his palate before deciding, during the pandemic, to pursue the family tradition himself. Alongside co-owner Andrew Weyl, a lawyer who grew up crop farming and hand-built the tasting room, Christian opened Christian Paul Vineyards with a soft opening over Labor Day weekend 2023 and a grand opening that November — making it the Yadkin Valley’s 44th winery and the 18th on the Surry County Wine Trail.

The two had two requirements when scouting locations: excellent soil and proximity to an interstate. They found both just outside Elkin, a mile east of I-77, on a 25-acre property sitting at 1,200 feet of elevation. Ercolani, the geochemist, personally tested soil samples on-site and confirmed an 18-inch cap of mineral-rich red clay topsoil over sandy, silty loam — an ideal structure for growing grapes in the heart of Yadkin Valley wine country.

The Wines of Christian Paul Vineyards

The estate has planted 5.5 of its 25 acres in Vitis vinifera and hybrid grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Traminette, Malbec, Albariño, Chambourcin, and Montepulciano — a nod to Ercolani’s family homeland. While the young vines mature, Christian Paul has partnered with fellow Yadkin Valley producers, including Childress, Haze Gray, Jones von Drehle, and Stony Knoll, to source grapes for its debut wines: Grenache Rosé, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and a Blanc de Blancs sparkling Chardonnay. The tasting menu, aptly named “Around the World,” leads guests through wine styles from Italy, France, Australia, and California in a single visit — a first-class flight without leaving Elkin.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 156 Tuscan Way, Elkin, NC 28621
Tasting Room Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 11am – 6pm; Sunday, 12pm – 6pm; Monday–Wednesday by appointment

The tasting room, called Villa del Sole, offers several ways to experience the wines:

• Around the World Tasting — a customizable flight at the counter or seated, priced roughly $16–$22.
• Champagne Room — a private space for tastings, wine-and-cheese pairings, and small gatherings of up to 15 people.
• Wine Pairing Dinners — quarterly plated or casual sip-and-graze events for up to 40 guests.
• Live Music & Food Trucks — regular events on the covered patio; outside food is welcome any time.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: Christian Paul is family- and pet-friendly, though guests must be 21+ at the tasting counter itself, and groups of six or more should call ahead so the staff can prepare proper service. Because the tasting room is still new and popular, we recommend budgeting at least an hour here — longer if there is live music or a food truck on-site, which tends to turn a quick tasting into an afternoon.

Where Christian Paul Fits in Your Tour Route

Christian Paul sits right in Elkin, minutes from several of the town’s other tasting rooms, which makes it easy to pair with two or three additional stops on the same day. Its later closing time on weekends (6pm Thursday through Sunday) also makes it a natural last stop on an Elkin-focused itinerary.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time between stops. Because Christian Paul’s tasting counter offers an international range of styles in one visit, it works well as a contrast stop alongside wineries that focus more narrowly on a single style or region.

Related reading

• Wines Around the World: Megalochori, Santorini — Where Volcanic Soil Meets 3,000 Years of Winemaking

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• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
• High Country Wine Tours — Mountain winery service
• Wedding Transportation — Luxury transportation for your big day
• Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Chateau Jourdain: An Estate Built for Lingering in Swan Creek

Chateau Jourdain, also known as The Vineyard Cottage, sits in the heart of Swan Creek, a sub-region of the Yadkin Valley AVA known for its rolling hills and granite-and-schist soils. Rather than chasing volume, the estate follows the model of boutique European producers: the focus is on using the property’s acreage and terroir to grow high-quality grapes rather than maximize output. What makes Chateau Jourdain distinctive on the Yadkin Valley wine trail is how much it has built around the wine itself — the estate operates as a working vineyard and winery alongside a vacation rental, with views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains from its terraces.

The Wines and Grounds of Chateau Jourdain

The vineyard grows Vitis vinifera and hybrid grapes including Merlot, Chambourcin, Arandell, Norton, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cayuga White. From these, Chateau Jourdain produces a small, distinctively named lineup: “Don Geronimo,” a limited-edition reserve French and Italian artisan blend; “The Count,” a port-style dessert wine; a Merlot Rosé; “Red October,” a Merlot-Chambourcin blend; “Conquistador,” a hybrid Arandell; the “Golden Deer” white blend; and “Wild Rabbit,” a semi-dry rosé. The estate’s 2022 Merlot Rosé took home a Bronze medal at the NC Fine Wines Competition Showcase. Alongside the wine, Chateau Jourdain also produces small-batch jams from its own grapes, including a Merlot Grape & Chili Pepper Jam and a Concord Grape Jam.

Beyond the tasting itself, the estate is built for a longer stay: guests can book a Vineyard Glamping Pod or the Vineyard Cottage vacation rental, and add on horseback and pony riding, a private chef, or a private masseuse — amenities that go well beyond a typical Yadkin Valley tasting-room stop.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 2406 Swan Creek Rd., Jonesville, NC 28642

Because Chateau Jourdain operates as much as a boutique vineyard estate and vacation rental as a walk-in tasting room, we recommend confirming current tasting availability and hours directly with the winery before your visit, since they can vary by season and by what is booked on the property that day. Once you’re there, the visit generally centers on:

• Estate Tasting — sampling the current lineup, including the distinctive “Don Geronimo” reserve blend and the port-style “Count.”
• Terrace Views — open and closed terraces looking out over the vines toward the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• Add-On Experiences — horseback or pony riding, a private chef, or a private masseuse, arranged in advance.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: because Chateau Jourdain blends a working vineyard with an overnight rental property, it is worth calling ahead to confirm what is available on the day of your visit rather than showing up unannounced. We recommend budgeting at least an hour for tasting and terrace time, more if you plan to add one of the estate’s extra experiences.

Where Chateau Jourdain Fits in Your Tour Route

Chateau Jourdain sits in Jonesville, within the Swan Creek AVA, alongside a handful of other boutique producers in the same corner of the Yadkin Valley. It pairs naturally with other Jonesville-area estates for a route focused on this quieter, more spread-out part of the wine region rather than the denser cluster of tasting rooms in Elkin.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time between stops. Because Swan Creek’s wineries tend to sit further apart than Elkin’s, we build in a little extra drive time when routing a day through this part of the valley.

Related reading

• Eden Oaks Vineyard: A Lowe Family Labor of Love in the Swan Creek AVA
• Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery: Historic Charm and Award-Winning Wines in the Yadkin Valley AVA
• Castello Barone Vineyards: Boutique Wines in the Swan Creek AVA

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• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
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• Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Cellar 4201: A Deliberately Small Vineyard in East Bend

Greg Hutchins and Donna Carlyle Hutchins planted their first acre of Chardonnay and acre of Merlot in the spring of 2003, then added three more acres the following year, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. From the start, the goal at Cellar 4201 Vineyards was to stay small: extensive pruning for quality fruit over volume, with the majority of sales happening face-to-face in the tasting room. Greg handles vineyard management and sales; Donna runs marketing and works hands-on in the vines. After a trip to Italy, Donna developed a passion for Sangiovese — a notoriously difficult grape to grow well — and it has become the winery’s signature wine.

Cellar 4201 takes its name from its address on Apperson Road in East Bend, and its founders are active in the wider NC wine community, holding memberships in the American Wine Society and the NC Winegrowers Association.

The Wines of Cellar 4201

The vineyard covers five acres of premium grapes, all produced in small lots with hands-on attention through every phase. Depending on the season, the tasting room carries around seven or eight wines: Stainless and Barrel-aged Chardonnay and a Rosé for white-wine drinkers, and a red lineup that runs from the food-friendly Sangiovese up to the fuller-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, Warrior, and Cherokee Red blends. It is a compact, well-curated list rather than an overwhelming one — easy to taste through in a single visit.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 4201 Apperson Road, East Bend, NC 27018
Tasting Room Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 12noon – 5pm, year-round (or by appointment); closed all Sundays in January

Visitors here typically choose between:

• Guided Tasting — a walk through the current lineup, poured at the tasting counter.
• Patio Time — cushioned seating on the patio, with cornhole set up and flowering plants surrounding the space.
• Private Events — Cellar 4201 hosts private parties, small weddings, and corporate events by arrangement.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: Cellar 4201 does not allow outside pets or outside alcohol on the property, so plan accordingly if traveling with a dog. Because the winery is only 15 minutes from Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University, and Reynolda Village, it is an easy add-on to a Piedmont-area day trip. We recommend budgeting at least an hour here to taste through the lineup and enjoy the patio, which is one of the more relaxed spots on the Yadkin River Wine Trail.

Because Greg and Donna keep production genuinely small, the tasting room staff are often the same people growing and making the wine, which means questions about a specific vintage or the vineyard’s history get real, first-hand answers rather than a rehearsed script. It is the kind of stop that rewards conversation as much as the pour itself.

Where Cellar 4201 Fits in Your Tour Route

Cellar 4201 sits in East Bend, part of the Yadkin River Wine Trail and close to several other small producers in Yadkin County, including Divine Llama Vineyards just down the road. Because it is on the eastern side of the Yadkin Valley, it works well as a stop that bridges a Piedmont pickup with wineries further west toward Elkin and Ronda.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time. Since Cellar 4201 only opens on weekends, we typically build it into a Saturday or Sunday itinerary alongside its East Bend and Yadkinville-area neighbors.

Because it sits closer to Winston-Salem than most of the Yadkin Valley’s wineries, Cellar 4201 is also a practical option for groups starting or ending their day near the Piedmont Triad rather than deep in Surry or Wilkes County. Its small-batch, low-key approach makes it a nice counterpoint to a bigger estate winery earlier in the day.

Related reading

• Medaloni Cellars: 20 Acres, Boutique Wines, and a Winston-Salem Wine Tasting Escape
• Midnight Magdalena Vineyards: Small-Batch Dry Wines with a Heartfelt Story

Explore More from Ashe County Livery

• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
• High Country Wine Tours — Mountain winery service
• Wedding Transportation — Luxury transportation for your big day
• Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Carolina Heritage: North Carolina’s First Certified Organic Winery

Clyde and Pat Colwell spent more than a year looking at farm properties before settling on a spot just outside Elkin, and in 2005 they established Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery as a retirement project built entirely around sustainability. It became North Carolina’s first USDA-Certified Organic vineyard and winery, first certified in 2008, and it was also the state’s first solar-powered winery. The Colwells grew grapes without synthetic pesticides, kept chickens and guinea fowl to manage insects, and used predatory bird sounds instead of chemicals to protect ripening fruit.

In 2022, after the Colwells retired a second time, Patrick and Wendy McNabb took over as new owners. The couple moved from Boca Raton, Florida, with their two sons to pursue the winery full time: Patrick, an Army veteran who also works in sustainable packaging, oversees the farm and financials, while Wendy, a former environmental science teacher, has taken over as winemaker and is studying viticulture and enology at Surry Community College. Because Patrick is a veteran, Carolina Heritage is now a certified Homegrown by Heroes farm.

The Wines of Carolina Heritage

Carolina Heritage farms roughly 9 acres of organic grapevines plus 1.5 acres of organic blueberries, growing American hybrid and native muscadine varieties. In addition to grape wines, the winery makes wine from apples, blueberries, and elderberries — its best-selling “Apple Pie” wine is a sweet, spiced apple wine mulled with almonds, cinnamon, and raisins. Because the wines use no animal by-products or grains, the full lineup is vegan-friendly and gluten-free.

The property also includes a half-mile hiking trail (a mile round trip) that connects to the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and an on-site 1928 farmhouse — renovated in 2018 and known as The Olde Farmhouse — available as an overnight rental for visitors who want to stay on the vineyard grounds.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 170 Heritage Vines Way, Elkin, NC 28621
Tasting Room Hours: Friday–Monday, 1pm – 6pm (confirm current hours before visiting, as the winery has recently changed hands)

A visit to Carolina Heritage tends to be relaxed and down-home:

• Tasting Flight — a sampling of the current organic and fruit wine lineup, poured at the counter.
• Farm Walk — wander the property, meet the chickens and guinea fowl, and see the organic growing methods up close.
• Trail Access — the on-site Mountains-to-Sea Trail segment makes for a short walk before or after tasting.
• Live Music — the winery regularly hosts musicians on the grounds.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: Carolina Heritage is pet-friendly, and the atmosphere is genuinely down-home rather than polished — part of its charm. Because the property is still settling into new ownership, we recommend calling ahead to confirm the day’s hours, and budgeting at least an hour if your group wants to walk the trail or explore the farm in addition to tasting.

Where Carolina Heritage Fits in Your Tour Route

Carolina Heritage sits right in Elkin, just a few minutes from several other tasting rooms in town, which makes it easy to combine with two or three other stops on the same afternoon. Its organic, farm-forward character makes for a nice contrast if you are also visiting one of Elkin’s more polished estate-style wineries the same day.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time between stops. Because Carolina Heritage’s tasting room hours run into the early evening, it can work well as a later stop on an Elkin-area route.

We like recommending Carolina Heritage to groups who want a genuinely different kind of winery experience — less about a polished tasting counter and more about seeing organic, sustainable farming up close. It is a good conversation starter and a nice change of pace between two more traditional estate tastings elsewhere in Elkin.

Related reading

• Native Vines Winery: The First American Indian-Owned Winery in the U.S.
• Our first visit to Dynamis Winery in Jonesville, NC was an absolute success!

Explore More from Ashe County Livery

• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
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• Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Brandon Hills Vineyard: A South African’s Passion Project

Brandon Hills Vineyard was first established in 2005 southwest of Yadkinville, then closed for a period before Larry Mueller, originally from South Africa, bought the property in 2017. Larry works in the manufacture of steel crusher parts near Mooresville, but wine started as a hobby that grew into something closer to a calling. He and Elizabeth Mueller now run the tasting room together, and Larry is often on hand to greet guests personally, share the vineyard’s history, and pour a glass himself.

What sets Brandon Hills apart is its scale: the vineyard sits on 40 total acres, but only about four acres are planted in grapes, using an Open Lyre Trellis System that balances vine growth against grape production. It is a genuinely small, boutique operation, and visitors consistently mention how personal the experience feels — a rustic, well-manicured tasting room with a porch overlooking the vines and a gazebo out back.

The Wines of Brandon Hills Vineyard

The vineyard grows Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Vermentino — a mix that leans into European varietals not every Yadkin Valley producer takes on. The current wine list runs to around 17 different pours, including the Raptor Red and Raptor Red Reserve Bordeaux blends, a bourbon-barrel-aged dry red, and the Rebel Red, a Syrah-Merlot blend that took Silver at the Great American International Wine Competition in New York and Gold at the NC Fine Wine Society competition, with a 90-point score from James Suckling. For every bottle of Rebel Red sold, Brandon Hills donates a dollar to the local animal shelter. The 2021 Barbera also picked up a Gold Medal and Best in Class at the 2024 NC Fine Wines competition.

Beyond the classic varietals, Brandon Hills makes a lineup of fruit-forward options — Blueberry, Pineapple, Peach, and Cranberry Delight wines, along with a Spanish-style Sangria — that give the tasting flight some range beyond dry reds and whites.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 1927 Brandon Hills Rd., Yadkinville, NC 27055
Hours: March–December, Saturday 12pm–6pm, Sunday 1pm–5pm; February, Saturday & Sunday 1pm–5pm; closed in January

A visit here is straightforward and unhurried:

• Tasting Flight — a guided pour through the current lineup, around $15 with a Riedel glass to keep.
• Porch & Gazebo — seating on the porch or in the gazebo overlooking the vineyard, a favorite spot for celebrations.
• Private Events — the patio, pergola, and fountain area can be rented for weddings and gatherings of up to about 50 guests.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: Brandon Hills is pet-friendly, and the tasting room staff genuinely enjoy talking through the vineyard’s varietals and its history under new ownership. Because the property is off the beaten path compared to some of the busier Yadkin Valley stops, we recommend budgeting at least an hour here so your group has time to relax on the porch rather than feeling rushed in and out.

Where Brandon Hills Fits in Your Tour Route

Brandon Hills sits just outside Yadkinville, in the heart of Yadkin County, which puts it within easy reach of several other small producers in the same rolling countryside. It pairs naturally with a visit to nearby Hanover Park or Divine Llama Vineyards, both a short drive away, for a day built around smaller, family-run wineries rather than the larger estate experience.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time. Because Brandon Hills only opens on weekends (plus limited February hours), we typically build it into a Saturday or Sunday route rather than a weekday itinerary.

Yadkin County’s back roads are part of the appeal here — rolling pastures, old farmhouses, and a slower pace than the busier stretches of the Yadkin Valley. If your group wants a day that feels more like exploring the countryside than checking off a list of tasting rooms, Brandon Hills and its Yadkinville neighbors are a good fit, and a private chauffeur means nobody has to worry about the winding country roads on the way back.

Related reading

• From Vine to Table: Vineyard Dinner Experiences Worth the Drive in Yadkin Valley

Explore More from Ashe County Livery

• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
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• Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350

Adagio Vineyards: A Dentist, a Violinist, and Seven Acres of Harmony

Adagio is a musical term that means “slowly, with passion,” and that idea sits at the heart of this small Elkin winery. Tim and Jan Wahl first stood on the untouched land in 2006 and imagined a vineyard that reflected both their passions — wine and classical music. Tim, a dentist, went on to earn a winemaking certificate from UC Davis and became a member of the Guild of Sommeliers. Jan, an accomplished violinist who played 25 years with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, also builds violins, several of which are on display in the tasting room. Vines went into the ground in 2009, and the winery and tasting room opened in 2013.

In 2025, Beau and Andrea Tiffany took over as Adagio’s new owners, together with their two sons. Beau spent 20 years in the automotive industry, including time in NASCAR and manufacturing, and has returned to farming, beekeeping, and winemaking. Andrea brings a background in corporate finance. They are honoring the Wahls’ foundation while bringing their own family-run energy to the next chapter — and the music, quite literally, plays on.

The Wines of Adagio Vineyards

Adagio farms seven acres in the Yadkin Valley, producing five varietals: reds Arandell, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, and whites Chardonnay and Traminette. It is a small, focused list by design — every vintage is meant to reflect the harmony of the land and the winemaking, not to chase volume. Visitors have singled out selections like the Vivace, a stainless-fermented Traminette, as an easy favorite for a first pour.

The tasting room itself is a destination in its own right: a 2,400-square-foot space built above a 3,000-square-foot underground winery, engineered to keep temperature and humidity in check for the wine below. Guests can settle in on the porch or gather around the fire pit outside, with music — often violin — drifting through the space.

Planning Your Visit

Address: 139 Benge Dr., Elkin, NC 28621
Tasting Room Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 12pm – 6pm; Sunday, 1pm – 5pm; closed Monday–Wednesday

Adagio keeps its visitor experience simple and personal:

• Guided Tasting — a walk-in tasting at the counter, typically around 20 minutes (about 40 minutes for groups of six or more).
• Wine Flight — a relaxed, self-guided sampling of several pours, well suited to sipping on the porch.
• Porch & Fire Pit — bring a bottle or a glass outside and take in the vineyard views at your own pace.

A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: Adagio is pet-friendly and kid-friendly, so it is an easy stop for families and dog owners alike. Groups of ten or more should call ahead to reserve, and an automatic gratuity applies for larger parties. Because the tasting room is intimate and the hosts genuinely enjoy talking wine, we recommend budgeting at least 45 minutes to an hour here — longer if the fire pit and porch pull you in, which they usually do.

Where Adagio Fits in Your Tour Route

Adagio sits right in Elkin, one of the most winery-dense towns in the Yadkin Valley, which makes it easy to pair with two or three other stops without much drive time in between. We often build routes that start or end here, since its afternoon hours (opening at noon Thursday through Saturday) work well alongside wineries that open a little later in the day.

Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time between stops. Because several of Elkin’s tasting rooms sit just minutes apart, this is a good area to slow down and really linger at each one rather than rushing the itinerary.

Elkin’s cluster of small, family-run wineries makes for a different kind of day than a single large estate visit — you get several distinct personalities and pouring styles in a tight radius, which is part of why we like routing groups through this stretch of the Yadkin Valley. Coming down from Ashe County or the rest of the High Country, Elkin is usually one of the closer clusters to reach, which makes it a comfortable half-day or full-day option depending on how many stops your group wants to add.

Related reading

• Golden Road Vineyards: From D.C. Consultants to Yadkin Valley Winemakers
• Childress Vineyards: NASCAR Roots, 750+ Medals, and the Gateway to the Yadkin Valley

Explore More from Ashe County Livery

• Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
• High Country Wine Tours — Mountain winery service
• Wedding Transportation — Luxury transportation for your big day
• Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
• Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350