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.
Wine Tour Transportation to Dobbins Creek Vineyards
Ashe County Livery provides private, chauffeured wine tour transportation to Dobbins Creek Vineyards from Ashe County, Boone, Blowing Rock, West Jefferson and across NC’s High Country. Our Dobbins Creek Vineyards trip-planning page covers drive times, tasting-room hours, group sizes and pricing.
Travel in a luxury SUV, sedan, or Sprinter van with a professional chauffeur — everyone in your group gets to taste, nobody has to drive. We only charge from pickup to your last drop-off, and every tour includes a complimentary cooler with ice and water. Plan your Dobbins Creek Vineyards tour or call (336) 484-1350.
Nearby wineries we also serve: Shadow Springs Vineyard · RagApple Lassie Vineyards · Divine Llama Vineyards — or browse all 54 Yadkin Valley wineries we provide transportation to.
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
🍷 Planning a Wine Tour in the NC High Country?
Ashe County Livery offers private, luxury wine tour transportation throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. Skip the driving and let our professional chauffeurs take you from winery to winery in comfort and style.
Serving Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, and all NC High Country destinations • (336) 484-1350
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