NC Wine & Grape Council

The secret’s out! 🍷✨ ㅤ @southernlivingmag just named North Carolina’s newest AVA, the Tryon Foothills, an under-the-radar wine destination worth the trip, and we couldn’t agree more! From mountain views and rolling vineyards to award-winning wines and charming small towns, this region is made for a weekend getaway. ⛰️ ㅤ Looks like everyone’s about to discover what we’ve known all along! ㅤ #NCWine #TryonFoothillsAVA #NCWineMonth #VisitNC

"While many locals know there is great wine to be had here, it remains a best-kept secret to the rest of the world." @WineEnthusiast recently revealed our secret - the North Carolina wine scene is booming! @Wineisconfusing shares some must-see tasting rooms throughout the state in her article. Read on for some of the best under-the-radar spots in NC. #linkinbio 🍷 📸: @winenthusiast #NCWine #ncwineries #wineenthusiast #bestofnc #northcarolinawine #gottobencwine #ncwinecountry #winedestinations #visitnc

Mead me in NC! 🍯✨ ㅤ Discover one of the oldest beverages in the world being crafted right here in our state. North Carolina meaderies are creating unique pours full of local flavor, blending honey, fruit, spices, and creativity into every glass. ㅤ Whether you’re new to mead or already a fan, #NCWineMonth is the perfect time to explore the buzz around NC mead. 🐝 ㅤ #NCWine #NCMead #meadmaker

With three distinct grape growing regions across central North Carolina, there’s always something new to explore! 🍇 ㅤ Start your next #NCWineMonth adventure in the Piedmont, where rolling vineyards, charming small towns, and local winery stops make the perfect trip. Save this itinerary to start making your weekend plans! 🗺️ 🥂 ㅤ #NCWine #ncpiedmont #visitnc #yadkinvalley

Meet the Maker: Elizabeth Higley of @WindsorRunCellars . 🍇✨ Elizabeth shares how the winery is embracing climate-adapted grape varieties, working with native Southeastern muscadines, and crafting fortified wines with their on-site distillery program. Rooted in innovation and tradition, Windsor Run Cellars is helping shape the future of North Carolina wine in the heart of Yadkin Valley. Visit their tasting room and sister winery, @ShadowSpringsVineyard , to experience a taste of NC! #NCWine #MeetTheMaker #YadkinValley #NorthCarolinaWinemaker #womeninwine

Looking back at all the fun and deliciousness at our first Judges Dinner of the 2026 NCRLA Chef Showdown season. Our team of judges for this round, Chefs Justin Fry, Ricky Moore, Matthew Krenz and NC Wine’s Nicole Chesney joined Executive Producer Heidi Billotto on Sunday night before the full day of competition to take place at Carteret Community College in Morehead City, NC Our team and our judges were guests of our lodging partner for this round , the beautiful Beaufort Hotel. The hotel has golf carts available to guests to drive into town, so we took advantage and headed to dinner in town at Black Sheep Pizza! Black Sheep has been a go-to for our Sunday night judges dinner here since 2021. The pizzas are hand made to order, baked in a wood burning oven and some of the best on the Carolina coast! We paired our pies with local pours from Marked Tree Vineyard in Flat Rock, NC and Jones Von Drehle in Thurmond, NC, and toasted to the perfect Sunset, the competition day ahead snd the most delicious pizza pies. Thanks Black Sheep, we’ll be back!

We thought we’d wine down this Wednesday by featuring one of the gems of the Yadkin Valley, @grassycreekwinery 🍷🌿 May is officially North Carolina Wine Month, celebrating the state’s 190+ wineries, cideries, and meaderies with special events, tastings, and promotions happening all month long! And wine lovers, take note — the 23rd Annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival is happening Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Elkin Municipal Park in Elkin, NC, making this the perfect weekend to explore NC wine country and the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail. Vineyards are an important part of agritourism because they connect people directly to the land, the farmers, and the experience behind what they enjoy. From walking the vines to tasting locally crafted wines, vineyards help support rural economies while giving visitors a chance to slow down, gather, and experience agriculture in a fun and memorable way. @grassycreekwinery is especially worth the visit because it offers more than just great wine. Their scenic trails include an easy forest bathing walk and another that leads to a beautiful mural tucked into nature. You’ll find wines ranging from dry to sweet, tasty snack pairings, cozy indoor spaces for games and conversation, and peaceful outdoor picnic spots surrounded by vineyard views. They also host regular events that make every visit feel unique. If you’re hitting the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail this weekend, make sure this stop is on your list! Cheers to supporting NC farms, vineyards, and local wine 🍇 #ncwinemonth #ncwines #yadkinvalley #yadkinvalleywine #visitncfarms agritourism supportlocalfarms

Pop a local bottle and start planning your next NC wine getaway! 🍷 🗺️ ㅤ Whether you’re browsing the NC Wine app, mapping out tasting rooms with our wine trails, or flipping through the NC Wine Guide, there are hundreds of wineries, vineyards, and tasting experiences waiting to be discovered across the state. ㅤ Your next favorite sip might be closer than you think. ✨ ㅤ #NCWine #NCWineMonth #VisitNC #NCWineGrowers

Your next coastal getaway? Planned! ✅ ㅤ From scenic waterfront views to sipping your way through local wineries, North Carolina’s coast is calling during #NCWineMonth. Save this itinerary for your next road trip adventure. 🚗 🏖️ ㅤ #NCWine #visitnc #carolinacoast

Take your tastebuds on a flight through North Carolina. 🍎✨ ㅤ During NC Wine Month, don’t forget to add local cider to your tasting list. Whether you love dry + crisp or sweet + fruity, NC cideries are pouring something for every palate. ㅤ And since it’s Mother’s Day weekend… consider this your sign to treat mom at a tasting room near you. Visit our website for a full list of cider producers across the state! ㅤ #NCWine #NCCider #NCWineMonth #nccidermakers

Meet our AVAs. 🍇 During NC Wine Month, we’re diving a little deeper into what makes our wines distinctly North Carolina. ㅤ An American Viticultural Area is a designated grape-growing region defined by its unique geography, climate, and soil. North Carolina is home to seven: ㅤ 🍷 Appalachian High Country 🍷 Crest of the Blue Ridge 🍷 Haw River Valley 🍷 Swan Creek 🍷 Tryon Foothills 🍷 Upper Hiwassee Highlands 🍷 Yadkin Valley ㅤ Each one brings something different to the table... and to the bottle! ㅤ #NCWine #NCWineMonth #americanviticulturalarea #discovernc #ncwinegrowers

Here’s a fun FAQ 🍷Did you know that no matter where you are in the state of North Carolina you are 45 minutes or less away from a North Carolina Winery, Meadery, or Cidery- all a part of @gottobenc ‘s @ncwines 🍷 It’s true! This year as we travel across the state from each round of @ncrlachefshowdown competition from culinary & mixology prelims to the regional semi final rounds, we’ll be talking about NC Wineries, vineyards and Tasting Rooms near our Competition venues. Are you ready to Wine Down into the weekend? Why not take our lead and head to North Carolina’s beautiful Crystal Coast. We stayed in Beaufort NC at the Beaufort Hotel, competed in Morehead City at Carteret Community College and enjoyed learning all about these North Carolina wines along the way 😊🩷🍷 Mountain Brook Vineyards winery and estate is in Tryon NC; but Wine Lovers who love the NC beaches will be happy to know, they have an amazing tasting room in Emerald Isle, NC; just over the bridge from Cape Carteret and steps from public beach parking Look for estate-grown award-winning wines by the glass, the flight or the bottle. And check out the fun way they “package” wines for you to easily and safely take to the beach, so you can dip your toes in and sip and swirl all at the same time 📍Mountain Brook Vineyards Tasting Room • 202 Islander Drive, Emerald Isle, NC 📞 252-424-8483 🍷Open Thurs-Sunday • Thurs & Sun, 3-8pm; Fri & Sat, 2-10pm ⭐️ MountainBrookVineyards.com If you are on a beach getaway or vaca in Atlantic Beach, NC, you will most certainly want to stop at Going Coastal, the lovely Crystal Coast tasting room for the Blue Ridge mountain-based winery, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards. This family-run farm crafts award-winning estate wines ranging from big Cabernets aged in French Oak to crisp, bright, perfect for summer citrus-driven Sauvignon Blancs. And now, you can find these terrific wines in the winery’s award-winning tasting room, right on the Atlantic Beach Causeway for a perfect way to bring the North Carolina mountains to the coast! 📍 Going Coastal • 613 Atlantic Beach Causeway, Atlantic Beach, NC 📞 252- 499-9419 🍷 Open Thurs-Sun, 1-7pm ⭐️ GoingCoastalWine.com