7 Stunning Wineries Near Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is your gateway to the Yadkin Valley Wine Region, where award-winning wine and unbeatable views await

Winston-Salem is a perfect home base if you’re looking for a wine-themed retreat. You’ll find 45 wineries within a 45-minute drive, most of which are scattered to the north and west of the city at the foot of the foot Blue Ridge Mountains. This is the Yadkin Valley Wine Region, the oldest and largest American Viticultural Area (AVA) in North Carolina. Here you'll find everything from boutique vintners focused on small-batch production to some of the largest operations on the East Coast. And while each winery offers plenty to see and savor, a few tend to shine extra bright this time of year.

Here's a look at seven stunning wineries worth a visit this season.

CHILDRESS VINEYARDS

1000 Childress Vineyards Road, Lexington, NC

Childress Vineyards

Founded by NASCAR legend and Winston-Salem native Richard Childress, Childress Vineyards is home to one of the Top 25 tasting rooms in America (per Wine Enthusiast). The Tuscan-inspired space sits at the center of a picturesque 100-acre property in the neighboring town of Lexington, NC, less than 20 minutes south of downtown Winston-Salem. In addition to the award-winning wines and vineyard tours, guests can grab a bit at Childress' onsite restaurant, The Bistro, recently named to OpenTable’s top-100 most scenic restaurants in America list. From May through October, enjoy free afternoon concerts during the Music in the Vineyards series.

RAFFALDINI VINEYARDS

2364 Cedar Forest Rd, Ronda, NC

Raffaldini

Enjoy the sweet life, or, as the Italians say, la dolce vita. When successful Wall Street hedge-fund manager Jay Raffaldini decided to open a winery, he could have done so anywhere, yet he opted for the rolling hills and temperate climate of the Yadkin Valley. That’s where he built a breathtaking Tuscan-style villa and planted his first vine in 2001. The rocky soil and warm climate are perfect for producing classic Italian varietals, earning the winery the nickname “Chianti in the Carolinas.” A lively calendar of events includes charcuterie classes, wine dinners, live music, and food trucks serving everything from lobster to brick-oven pizza. For details on everything happening, check the Events section of their website.

PICCIONE VINEYARDS

2364 Cedar Forest Rd, Ronda, NC

Piccione

It’s hard to believe, but North Carolina’s only two Italian-themed vineyards just happen to sit next to one another. Established in 2010, Piccione (pronounced Pitch-oo-nee) borders Raffaldini Vineyards and features similar Italian-styled wine and architecture, highlighted by a stunning tasting room that opened in 2023. The similarities don’t end there, however, as both Italian-owned wineries grow all their fruit onsite and offer superb Italian-style wines paired with postcard-worthy views. The scenery at Piccione is truly second to none, as the winery takes full advantage of its setting atop a high ridge, offering 360-degree vistas across the Yadkin Valley to the Blue Ridge Mountains. ;

JOLO WINERY & VINEYARDS

JOLO Winery & Vineyards: 219 JOLO Winery Lane, Pilot Mountain, NC

JOLO

Natural beauty abounds at JOLO, with stunning views of nearby Pilot Mountain and Cox Lake. The winery exudes charm at every turn, from the outdoor picnic tables with flower-filled barrels to the mountain lodge-esque tasting room and stone fireplaces. Its onsite restaurant, End Posts, was voted one of the top 100 brunch spots in America by OpenTable and features a full lunch and dinner menu. A traditional tasting flight includes one sparkling wine, white wine, rosé, three reds, and a choice of dessert wine. JOLO also offers a premium tasting event, the Cuvée Experience, multiple times throughout the year. The tasting is available to all visiting guests and includes five different wines paired with four different courses, plus a bonus wine.

SHELTON VINEYARDS

Shelton Vineyards: 286 Cabernet Lane, Dobson, NC

Shelton Vineyards

Brothers Charlie and Ed Shelton founded this vineyard in 1999 in an area once dependent on tobacco farming. At the time, North Carolina was home to fewer than ten vineyards. Today, Shelton is the state’s largest family-owned estate winery with 25,000 cases produced annually. Spanning 406 serene acres, the winery features walking trails that wind through its manicured grounds, passing by grapevines, rose bushes, streams, and ponds. There are plenty of scenic spots to enjoy your wine here, including several picnic tables along with the walking path that winds around the lake. Another great place is Shelton’s on-site bistro-style Harvest Grill, which is adjacent to the winery and open daily for lunch and dinner (including Sunday brunch). Its food, service, and decor earned a three-diamond rating from Triple-A. You’ll find a variety of events happening throughout the year, including Shelton’s Music on the Terrace series each Saturday and Sunday. Find more details on all the happenings here

DYNAMIS ESTATE WINES

Dynamis Estate Wines: 1004 Highland Road, Jonesville, NC

Dynamis Estate Winery

Encompassing 1,500 acres, this high-end, high-altitude winery yields bold Bordeaux varietals. A long, winding driveway leads to the Dynamis Estate, set amid rolling green fields and lush orchards in the shadow of the Brushy Mountains. The property includes four distinct vineyards and six acres of fruit and pecan orchards. Casual tastings with small bites are offered along with in-depth, sit-down experiences. You can find more details on Dynamis’ hour-long Vineyard Flight experience as well as its 90-minute Estate Tasting package on its website.

DIVINE LLAMA VINEYARDS

Divine Llama Vineyards: 5349 Macedonia Road East Bend, NC

Divine LLama

Nestled on 91 acres in the Yadkin County town of East Bend, NC — less than 30 minutes from downtown Winston-Salem — this unique vineyard and tasting room just happens to be on the Southeast’s largest llama farm. Grab a bottle of wine and sign up for a llama trek, a 2.5-mile scenic hike with llamas that ambles through rolling hills and alongside a creek. Then, visit one of the featured food trucks or enjoy a picnic on the grounds while sampling one of the featured wines. Reservations are required for the Llama Trekking experience, which costs $50. Families welcome.

MORE VINEYARD VIEWS

There are dozens of wineries dotting the Yadkin Valley, and each one has something special to offer when it comes to scenery. Here are a few more favorite spots to enjoy vino with a view: