Wine Trail: Northern Piedmont
Hinnant Family Vineyards – www.hinnantvineyards.com
826 Pine Level - Micro Rd., Pine Level, NC 27568; 919-965-3350
North Carolina’s oldest and largest muscadine vineyard offers a spacious tasting room and gift shop. Known for their hospitality, everyone feels at home relaxing on the front porch or learning about winemaking.
Grove Winery - www.grovewinery.com
7360 Brooks Bridge Rd., Gibsonville, NC 27249; 336-584-4060
Nestled in the Haw River Valley, this is one of the most awarded wineries on the East Coast. Their specialties are estate-grown European-style wines. Visitors enjoy relaxing on the patio with a glass of wine while overlooking Lake Cabernet.
Westbend Vineyards – www.westbendvineyards.com
5394 Williams Rd., Lewisville, NC 27023; 336-945-5032
Where the first vinifera grapes grown in North Carolina were planted in 1972, uncorks reliable varietals while pursuing new possibilities (most recently a microbrewery).
Raylen Vineyards & Winery – www.raylenvineyards.com
3577 US Hwy 158, Mocksville, NC 27028; 336-998-3100
Like a beacon, the distinctive rooftop cupola of this winery draws travelers from near and far. This is the state’s first solar-powered vineyard, and it offers 16 award-winning wines, including their full-bodied, Bordeaux-style blend Category 5, along with a beautiful setting of rolling hills.
