Why you should visit wineries in Dobson, North Carolina
This blog post covers the best wineries in Dobson, North Carolina.
Dobson has one main claim to fame: it’s the birthplace of the Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA).
If you’re into wine (specifically Southern wine) then that little fact may be impressive. But if not, never fear. You can still enjoy Dobson wine without knowing the town’s history.
All you really need to know is that Dobson wineries make delicious wine!
This blog post covers five Dobson wineries worth a visit. We’ll discuss three family-owned wineries that have channeled their passion for wine into a business.
There’s also a local community college where students produce stellar wine. And last but not least Dobson is home to the largest winery in North Carolina.
These five wineries in Dobson, North Carolina offer different tasting experiences. The one thing they all have in common: tasty wine.
How to access Dobson, North Carolina
The wineries in Dobson, North Carolina are easily accessible by car.
If you already live in North Carolina or South Carolina then great! You can simply drive to the Dobson wineries on this list.
But if you live outside the Carolinas you’ll need to fly into a nearby airport, rent a car, and drive from the airport to these wineries.
Here are the towns within easy driving distance:
- The tiny town of Mount Airy is located just 10.5 miles from Dobson. It’s a roughly 18 minute drive from one town to the other. It would be very easy to visit both Dobson and Mount Airy in the same trip. Check out our list of the best wineries Mount Airy NC offers to see where to go.
- Greensboro, North Carolina is located 68 miles from Dobson, NC. It should take about 70 minutes to drive there.
- Charlotte, North Carolina is 87 miles from Dobson, NC. The drive should take about 1 hour and 22 minutes.
- Durham, North Carolina is located 121 miles from Dobson, NC. It should take about 1 hour and 55 minutes to reach your destination.
- Greenville, South Carolina is 182 miles from Dobson, which is a roughly 2 hour and 45 minute drive. We also made a list of the best wineries Greenville SC offers. That blog post covers Greenville wineries and wine bars both in the city and just outside the city center.
As you can see, there are multiple small cities located within easy driving distance of the wineries in Dobson, North Carolina. Your best bet is to fly into either Charlotte and Durham because their local airports offer plenty of daily flights from across the country.
The best Dobson NC wineries for a wine tasting
Haze Gray Vineyards
Haze Gray Vineyards is a family-owned winery in Dobson, North Carolina.
Owners Deane and Becky both grew up in military families. They raised their own family while Deane worked as a U.S. Navy officer, which required multiple moves. Eventually, the family agreed to put down roots. In 2015 Becky and Deane purchased an 85-acre farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. The rest is history.
Today they work with grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cold-hardy varieties such as Tannat, Chambourcin, and Traminette also appear in their wines.
Haze Gray Vineyards also makes a line of sweet wines inspired by blossoms. For example the Peach Blossom and Cherry Blossom wines try to capture the essence of orchards in bloom.
The Haze Gray Vineyards tasting room is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Sundays they’re open from 12-6 PM. If you plan to visit on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday then you must make an appointment.
Hidden Vineyard
Hidden Vineyard is the passion project of a family of crazy wine lovers.
One day they were sipping wine and tossing around the idea of buying their own land. Six months later they were the proud owners of their own vineyard.
I absolutely love stories like this! It’s inspiring to see people live out their dreams.
Hidden Vineyard is a multi-acre plot of land nestled in the Yadkin Valley AVA. The winery works with grapes such as Merlot, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay.
You can sample Hidden Vineyard wines at their tasting room, which is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM. On Sunday they’re open from 11 AM to 5 PM. Monday through Wednesday they’re closed. And if your group includes beer enthusiasts, don’t worry; the tasting room pours a wide selection of locally crafted beers.
The property also has a small tobacco cabin built in the 1880s. Overnight guests can book the cabin, which is located just 50 feet away from the Hidden Vineyard tasting room.
Shelton Vineyards
Shelton Vineyards makes dry wines and sweet wines in Dobson, North Carolina.
They work with a variety of grapes including Chardonnay, Riesling, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Manseng. Their wines range from dry red and white wine to sparkling wine and a port-style dessert wine.
Shelton Vineyards offers three wine tasting experiences. The “Classic Tasting” includes five pours for $15 per person. The “Reserve Tasting” includes five pours for $30 per person.
There’s also a “Grand Reserve Tasting,” which includes six pours of special reserve wines plus a cheese board. Tastings cost $60 per person. And you must make a reservation 48 hours in advance. Shelton Vineyards offers this one-hour experience on Sunday at 1 PM and Monday through Saturday at 12 PM and 4 PM.
The Shelton Vineyards tasting room is open seven days a week. Monday and Tuesday the tasting room is open from 11 AM to 5 PM. Wednesday through Saturday it’s open 11 AM to 6 PM. Sunday it’s open from 12-5 PM.
Stony Knoll Vineyards
Stony Knoll Vineyards produces exquisite wines from estate-grown grapes.
Their small family farm located in the Yadkin Valley AVA is steeped in history. Since 1896 this land has nurtured tobacco then cattle then hay.
Today Stony Knoll Vineyards tends to ten acres of vines. Winter hardy varieties like Arandell, Niagara, Chambourcin, and Corot Noir are well suited to the local climate. The vineyard is also home to Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Viognier grapes.
The Stony Knoll Vineyards tasting room is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. They’re closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. During the months of January and February they’re only open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 6 PM.
The winery offers a limited selection of snacks, so guests are encouraged to bring their own picnics.
If you’re looking for a place to stay, Stony Knoll has that too. The owners renovated the property’s original 1860’s home, which has hand-hewn logs, rock fireplace, and wood flooring. This cozy historic Wine Lodge is available to book online.
Surry Cellars
Surry Cellars is not your typical winery. Students make this wine!
Surry Cellars is located at Surry Community College in Dobson, NC. The college boasts a modern $5-million winemaking facility called the Shelton-Badgett NC Center for Viticulture and Enology. The facility is state-of-the-art, the wine is good, and the program is considered one of the best on the East Coast.
Students make this wine from vine to bottle under the close supervision of faculty. They grow and harvest the grapes and then craft and bottle the wine. They design labels and learn how to market the finished product.
Grapes such as Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Albariño, and Traminette appear in Surry Cellars wine.
If you’d like to try Surry Cellars wine then you’ll need to make an appointment at least one week in advance. Tours are available Tuesday through Friday.
Other American wine regions to visit
North Carolina and South Carolina towns with fun wineries
The wineries Dobson NC offers are just the tip of the iceberg. North Carolina and South Carolina have plenty of fun wineries to visit.
Mount Airy, North Carolina is another wine country town situated in the Yadkin Valley AVA. The wineries Mount Airy NC offers have one thing in common: they’re friendly! They encourage people to bring their kids, their dogs, and their curiosity. Mount Airy is located just 10.5 miles from Dobson, which is a roughly 18 minute drive.
Elkin, North Carolina is a tiny town nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills beside the Yadkin River. There are four wineries within a 15 minute drive of Elkin’s historic downtown. There’s great wine, a cute main street, and beautiful forests to explore. Elkin is the ideal weekend getaway.
Elkin, Dobson, and Mount Airy are specific towns set within the larger Yadkin Valley. Our list of the best Yadkin Valley wineries highlights small family-run boutique wineries spread throughout the valley.
North Carolina has another destination up its sleeve: Surry County. This county spans the Blue Ridge foothills of the Yadkin Valley AVA. Most Surry County wineries are small family-run operations that prioritize a sense of place and community.
Greenville, South Carolina is a small city with lots of activities. Our list of the best wineries Greenville SC offers shows you where to grab a glass of wine both in the city and just outside the city center.
The Myrtle Beach area is a popular vacation destination in South Carolina. Myrtle Beach has shopping, dining, and entertainment options galore. Plus wine, of course. These wineries in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina will quench your thirst in between fun activities.
Just 19 miles north of Myrtle Beach is the town of North Myrtle Beach, SC. The Barefoot Landing shopping center is one of the town’s attractions. Why not end your shopping trip with a glass of wine? Here are the best wine bars and wineries North Myrtle Beach offers.
Other Southern wine country destinations
The American South has plenty of wine country gems if you know where to look.
Blue Ridge, Georgia is a good example. Blue Ridge has gorgeous natural scenery and fun outdoor activities. With hikes, waterfalls, viewpoints, and wineries galore you’ll never be bored. The best wineries Blue Ridge GA offers reflect the southern hospitality of this charming small town.
Smith Mountain Lake is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. There’s camping, hiking, and watersports to keep you busy. And guess what else… They’ve got wine! The best Smith Mountain Lake wineries reflect the area’s easygoing attitude.
