In the tasting room of Laurel Gray Vineyards in Hamptonville, owner Kim Myers stands behind the counter, her eyes locked on the movement of wine as it swirls in the glasses of her guests. They raise the rims to their lips, faces softening as they take in the richness of red cherries, blueberries, raspberries and a hint of buttered toast. As she guides them through this tasting of their award-winning Scarlet Mountain blend, she gestures toward the window, where the 153-acre vineyard stretches out beneath the warm spring sun, its vines the very source of the wine before them. “The vines grow fast and furious this time of year,” she says with a smile. “We prune them in the winter, and by May, the new shoots are already pushing through.”
If you’re looking for a place to savor the season and enjoy a glass or two, May in the Yadkin Valley is where your search ends. With North Carolina Wine Month in full swing, the American Viticultural Area’s wineries and vineyards come alive. Check out these eight grape-growing destinations to begin your exploration.
When Kim and Ben Myers planted their first French viniferous grapes for Laurel Gray Vineyards in 2001, they were continuing a legacy that began in 1773. According to family history, Ben’s ancestor, Joseph Myers, served as the gardener for King George III and Queen Charlotte of England, receiving a land grant of 400 acres in what is now Yadkin County for his service. Over the years, the Myers family cultivated the land, growing vegetables and herbs for the governor of the Carolinas. Today, land in the vicinity has been passed down through ten generations, and Kim and Ben continue the tradition by planting vineyards to carry the family’s legacy forward. “After we got married and started doing a little bit of travel, we visited wine-growing regions in the U.S. and Europe and really enjoyed it,” Kim says. “We didn’t know much about wine, but my husband’s passion was always about preserving the family farm and farming.”
To hone their skills, the Myers studied viticulture and enology at Surry Community College, learning both the science and craft of winemaking. By 2003, they were welcoming guests to their tasting room, offering wines crafted from the carefully tended grapes they had grown. Kim used her artistic talents to design their labels, while Ben poured his expertise into producing wines like their award-winning cabernet sauvignon and Scarlet Mountain.
May at Laurel Gray Vineyards is full of special events, starting with their participation in the Swan Creek Wine Trail Herb Festival on Mother’s Day weekend (May 9-11). Guests can indulge in wine tastings, sample herb-inspired dishes, and take home a potted herb. On May 18, the Lake Norman Orchestra will perform on the back veranda, providing the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of live music and fine wine.
Just a few minutes down the road, Shadow Springs Vineyard welcomes guests to experience a dream that husband-and-wife duo Chuck and Jamey Johnson built from the ground up. After years of living in Nebraska, the couple returned to North Carolina, Jamey’s home state, to start a vineyard. In 2005, they planted their first four acres of merlot and cabernet franc. The vineyard now stretches across just over 11 acres, where the Johnsons cultivate a mix of red and white grapes, including classics like cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and petit verdot, alongside French-American hybrids like Chambourcin and Seyval Blanc.
“If you want something sweet go with the Shadow-Rita,” Jamey says. “It’s a margarita-style wine blend that’s perfect for blending with ice when it’s sunny and warm.
Shadow Springs participates in the Herb Festival alongside Laurel Gray.
The rocky, mountain soil in Jonesville is rich with minerals to help Dynamis Estate Wines’ vineyards thrive. Photography courtesy of DYNAMIS ESTATE WINES
At an elevation of 1,640 feet, Dynamis Estate Wines in Jonesville is framed by breathtaking views, with 30 acres of carefully tended grapevines and a 10-acre orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Once home to the thriving Highland Orchards, the land sat idle after the orchard ceased operations in the late 1970s. Drawing inspiration from the orchard’s legacy and the expansive mountain views, the transformation of the land into a vineyard was begun in 2013. By 2015, the vision was realized with the planting of the first grapevines, carefully selected to thrive on the estate’s varied terrain. And in 2019, the brand was launched with Dynamis Estate Wines’ flagship wine, The Mountain.
Reserve an Estate Tasting at Dynamis Estate Wines for a personalized, in-depth experience. Photography courtesy of DYNAMIS ESTATE WINES
Dynamis is celebrated for its Bordeaux varieties, including cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and Malbec. Each vintage is aged in new French Oak barrels, allowing the wood to impart bold, distinct flavors that evolve as the wine ages. “One of our most popular offerings is The Mountain,” says Joseph Geller, vineyard and orchard manager. “It’s a Bordeaux blend and it’s the biggest, boldest, and best expression of our site.”
If you’re in town around mid-May, take part in the Dynamis Sunday Supper Series where, each month, a gourmet chef prepares a meal paired with wines from the estate. If you’re traveling with a large group, Geller recommends signing up for The Dynamis Experience, an exclusive guided bus and walking tour. Start with a scenic drive through the vineyard and orchard, then visit the state-of-the-art winery. The tour culminates at the private estate house, offering panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including Grandfather Mountain. Along the way, enjoy tastings of five current releases from the estate’s lineup.
Despite its resemblance to Old World Italy, Raffaldini Vineyards is firmly planted in the rolling hills of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley. When owner Jay Raffaldini — whose family hails from the Italian region of Mantua — bought a Wilkes County farm in 2001, he recognized that the soil in the area was similar to that of Tuscany. He planted his vineyard with Italian varietals, including Montepulciano, Sangiovese, and Vermentino, and designed the tasting room to resemble a villa — from the stone and terra-cotta down to the landscape’s figs, rosemary, lavender, and Tuscan cypresses. Today, it overlooks 32 acres of vines and is part of the federally designated Swan Creek American Viticultural Area — a distinction that recognizes how wines like the dry, tannic reds for which Raffaldini is known have an unmistakable taste of place. After all, they were made from grapes grown right here.
Sip a flight of wines on the terrace at Piccione Vineyards while taking in the view of the Brushy and Blue Ridge mountains. Photography courtesy of Piccione Vineyards
From Dynamis Estate Wines, it’s easy to make your way to Piccione Vineyards. Inspired by his Sicilian grandfather, Giuseppe, William Piccione continues his family’s winemaking tradition on his vineyard in Wilkes County. Giuseppe, a man of simple yet meticulous methods, crafted wine using a hand press and oak barrels. His dedication to the craft left a legacy, one that William was determined to honor. After Giuseppe’s passing, William, along with his two sons, Billy and Steven, later purchased land in the Swan Creek American Viticultural Area to continue the family tradition. And with their namesake vineyard founded in 2010, they’re doing just that. “We try to stay true to the heritage and lineage of Italian-style grape growing and winemaking,” William says.
Located in a sprawling, picturesque valley surrounded by the Brushy and Blue Ridge mountains, just north of Charlotte, the vineyard grows a mix of Italian and French grape varieties. A standout drink is the Piccione Spritz, a refreshing blend of Rospira, a sparkling rosé mixed with citrus bitters that’s great in the spring and summer. In addition to its wines, the vineyard offers a variety of events throughout the year. On the first Saturday in May, the Event Hall hosts a lively Kentucky Derby party, where guests can watch the race. If you visit later in May, treat Mom to a special Mother’s Day brunch prepared by a professional chef and expertly paired with wines from the vineyard.
Stroll through rows of syrah and tempranillo vines at MenaRick Vineyard & Winery. Photography courtesy of MenaRick Vineyard & Winery
When Rick and Filomena Wampler purchased 33 acres of land in Ronda in 2006, they envisioned creating a vineyard that blended the best of their backgrounds — Rick’s California roots and Filomena’s Portuguese heritage. The first 3.5 acres of vines were planted in 2008, laying the foundation for what would eventually become MenaRick Vineyard & Winery. With Rick’s expertise in homebuilding, they began crafting their dream winery and tasting room. Today, MenaRick spans just under 40 acres and offers a diverse selection of wines, including vinho branco, albariño, and Touriga Nacional, among others — each variety chosen for its connection to Spanish and Portuguese winemaking traditions. “We don’t filter our wines,” Rick reveals, “which gives them a lot more body and a lot more flavor.”
From the spacious porch of the tasting room, take in breathtaking views of the lush vineyards below, where the rolling hills are blanketed in the rich, green hues of spring. The warmer May weather breathes fresh energy into the vineyard, with the surrounding countryside showcasing its natural beauty. Sit a spell on the wraparound veranda, where you can savor fruit-flavored favorites like peach chardonnay and blackberry merlot.
What began as a friendship between Nick and Jennifer White and Louis and Carrie Jeroslow, formed while working together on the production of the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas, slowly evolved into a shared dream of owning a vineyard in Surry County. In 2008, the Whites chose Elkin Creek Vineyard as the venue for their wedding, an experience that would later lead to a deep connection with the land. While still in Las Vegas, the couples often discussed their vision for a place where people could celebrate, enjoy great wine and food, and find peace.
So, when the vineyard’s original owner, approached them about taking over as he prepared for his next adventure, it felt like fate. Under the Whites and Jeroslow’s stewardship, Elkin Creek Vineyard spans two acres, growing varietals like Sangiovese and, every Sunday, serving up wood-fired pizzas. “Our most popular is our bacon Brie pizza and it pairs really nicely with a chardonel,” Carrie says. “We also have chardonnay, which is another delicious option.”
Four cozy cabins offer a rustic May getaway for those who want to stay at the property overnight — just a short walk away from the property’s historic mill, waterfall, and namesake creek. “May is one of my favorite months because we have wildflowers popping up all over,” Carrie says. “The kids love playing by the creek, and if it’s warm enough, they’ll tube down the waterfall or just dip their feet in the water.”
At Adagio Vineyards, guests gather in the 2,400-square-foot tasting room, where a harmonious fusion of wine, music, and craftsmanship is felt in every note and every sip: “Adagio is a musical term,” owner Tim Wahl explains. “It means ‘slowly with passion,’ so it applies equally to our love of music and wine — and both should be enjoyed slowly with passion.”
Dentists by training, Tim and his wife, Jan, share a deep passion for classical music and an enduring appreciation for wine and the art of winemaking. Before planting their first vines, Jan, a concert violinist, had long been captivated by the craft of violin making, studying under a German master. Meanwhile, Tim saw winemaking as the perfect new chapter for their lives after retiring from dentistry. In 2005, they found their home in the Yadkin Valley.
Guests can enjoy wine inside, where music fills the air, or step outside to relax on the porch or in the picnic area. One one Sunday each month from September through May, the vineyard hosts a live violin duet performance, with Jan playing alongside a talented violinist from the Winston-Salem Symphony. Catch the performance and enjoy the calm rhythm that transforms the vineyard into a haven for the senses.
Located on the site of an old gristmill, Roaring River Vineyards’ tasting room offers a scenic spot to sip French varietals. Photography courtesy of Roaring River Vineyards
Tom and Josephine Silvey didn’t expect to start a vineyard when they purchased a 47-acre property in the Blue Ridge Mountains. “We were just looking for a weekend retreat,” he says. Living in Charlotte with three kids in college, Tom was drawn to the area for its outdoor activities — fishing, skiing, and the peaceful mountain air. When their first choice sold, the couple stumbled upon a hidden gem: a raw piece of land with a river running through it and sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Parkway. “It had so much potential,” Tom says. “My wife suggested we plant a few grapevines to add a little French charm to the place.”
That small suggestion changed everything. Today, Roaring River Vineyards is a peaceful, thriving escape where visitors can savor a variety of locally grown wines, including their popular chardonnay, cabernet franc, Traminette, Chambourcin, and Norton Chambourcin blend, all perfectly complementing the scenic views.
By late spring, the vineyards around Roaring River Vineyards are full with young leaves and ripening grapes. Photography courtesy of Roaring River Vineyards
In town in May? Enjoy a fresh weekly menu at Chez Joséphine, the on-site restaurant, which features seasonal dishes that change every week. Whether you choose to relax in the cozy tasting room or on the covered deck overlooking the Roaring River from a cantilevered perch, you’ll be treated to a dining experience enhanced by the calming sounds of the river and, on select weekends in May, live music. “It’s the perfect spot to unwind, enjoy a meal, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature,” Tom says.
Wandering through rows of vibrant vines, savoring the flavors of carefully crafted wines, or simply soaking in the quiet charm of the valley — whether you have just a few hours or an entire weekend to explore, the Yadkin Valley’s peaceful beauty invites you to take your time and experience the artistry of local winemaking at your own rhythm. Each stop offers its own moment of discovery, a chance to unwind and taste the essence of a place where the art of winemaking flourishes alongside the natural landscape.
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