Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Yadkin Valley as we celebrate wine, food, and history at Shelton Vineyards. Take in the mountain views during a Carolina barbecue, discover the small-town charm of Mount Airy, and go on a culinary journey of local autumn favorites at a special winemaker’s dinner during this weekend getaway.
October 23-25, 2026
Package Includes:
- Two-night stay at the award-winning Hampton Inn & Suites Shelton Vineyards
- Special welcome dinner on Friday
- Farewell winemaker’s dinner on Saturday
- Wine tasting
- Breakfast daily
- Mount Airy outing on Saturday
- Guided tours of Siamese Twins Museum and Andy Griffith Museum
- Visit to Mount Airy Museum of Regional History
- Our State tour director
- Departure gift
- Taxes and gratuities
Itinerary Highlights:
Blue Ridge Mountains Sunset Reception and Vineyard Dinner
Enjoy a vineyard tour and a tasting of Shelton wines, then head to the gazebo for long-range views of Pilot Mountain and the Blue Ridge. Dinner is a Carolina barbecue buffet — complete with the fruit dessert “sonker,” a local specialty — accompanied by live bluegrass music.
Mount Airy Day Trip
Discover the small-town charm of nearby Mount Airy. Visit the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, the Andy Griffith Museum, and the Siamese Twins Museum, and enjoy free time for lunch and shopping.
Winemaker Dinner at the Farm House
Shelton’s winemaker will greet us at the Farm House, a private venue surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills that often sees breathtaking sunsets. A welcome reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres will be followed by a culinary journey of local autumn favorites during our four-course meal paired with wine.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Wine tasting • Vineyard dinner
Friday, October 23, 2026
Arrive in the beautiful Yadkin Valley for your two-night stay. Check in at the Hampton Inn & Suites, where you will be greeted by an Our State travel guide. Meet in the lobby and begin boarding the private shuttle to Shelton Vineyards. Located in the Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area, Shelton Vineyards shares a similar climate and growing season to that of some of the best wine-growing regions in Europe. The vineyard is one of the largest on the East Coast. We will begin our evening with a wine tasting and a tour of the vineyards. Our Blue Ridge Mountains Sunset Vineyard Dinner will be at the Gazebo, where we will enjoy long-range views of Pilot Mountain and the Blue Ridge.
As we enjoy our wine, marvel at the views, and get to know our fellow travelers, we will be serenaded by Rain Check, a Winston-Salem-based acoustic quartet that found its niche in putting a bluegrass twist on song covers from the ’70s on, in addition to an ever-growing list of originals and an impressive collection of bluegrass classics. A hearty Carolina barbecue-themed buffet will be on the grill and served with “all the fixin’s.” The classic fruit dessert “sonker” will be featured. Our shuttle brings us home after the evening for a good night’s sleep before our Mount Airy excursion on Saturday.
Day 2: Mount Airy • Winemaker dinner
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Breakfast is at your leisure in the hotel’s dining room. Our motor coach departs from the front of the hotel for our day in the nearby town of Mount Airy. We begin our exploration with a warm welcome from staff at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History and learn about the natural, historic, and artistic heritage of the area. Enjoy free time for lunch at one of the Main Street cafés (Snappy Lunch, anyone?) and shopping. The day trip also includes the Andy Griffith Museum — highlighting one of North Carolina’s most beloved citizens for his work on The Andy Griffith Show and Broadway — as well as the Siamese Twins Museum. Later, meet in the lobby to shuttle to our evening’s dining location.
Winemaker Dinner at the Farm House
Shelton Vineyards’ winemaker, Ethan Brown, greets us for a welcome reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres before he takes us on a culinary journey of local autumn favorites during our four-course meal paired with wine.
Ethan Brown
Winemaker
Ethan has spent his entire life in the Yadkin Valley wine industry, getting his start when he was young in his family’s winery and tasting room. He later became their official winemaker when he was 19 years old and has been making wine in North Carolina ever since. Ethan holds an associate’s degree in viticulture and enology from Surry Community College and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry/fermentation science from Appalachian State University. In addition to his passion for enology, Ethan enjoys brewing science and was once a commercial head brewer.
Day 3: Departure
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Enjoy breakfast at your leisure in the hotel’s dining room. Please be sure to stop by the Our State table between for your departure gift and a fond farewell. Want to share your memories with other travelers? Post your favorite pictures in the Our State Travel Club Facebook group!
Tour Rates:
Rate per couple: $1,450
Single rate: $999
For Reservations & More Information:
Shelton Vineyards
Michaela Rowe
(336) 366-4724, ext. 119
events@sheltonvineyards.com
For more complete details about the wine at Shelton Vineyards, please visit sheltonvineyards.com. For more information on physical requirements and what to expect on an Our State trip, click here.
