Why you should visit wineries in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
This blog post covers the best wine bars and wineries in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
In case you’re unfamiliar, Myrtle Beach is a popular tourist town located on the east coast of South Carolina. This town packs a punch.
People flock to Myrtle Beach for the beaches, golf courses, fishing, and water-sports. Theaters, live music, shops, and restaurants pepper the town. It’s impossible to get bored here. But it is possible to get thirsty, which is where we come in.
We’ve compiled a list of the best wine bars and wineries in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Our list includes two Myrtle Beach wineries that serve easy-drinking fruit wines and wine slushies. They’re the perfect place to cool down on a hot day.
Our list also includes two Myrtle Beach wine bars that are slightly fancier but still approachable. One wine bar stocks unique wines from small family estates. The other pairs wine and cocktails with delicious small plates.
And all the best Myrtle Beach wineries and wine bars have one thing in common: they’re fun!
If you’re interested in exploring the greater Myrtle Beach area then check out our list of the best wine bars and wineries in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It’s super easy to visit both towns in the same trip.
Now let’s explore the sweeter side of Myrtle Beach!
How to access Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The town of Myrtle Beach is easily accessible from several major cities.
If you already live in South Carolina or North Carolina then great! You can simply hop in your car and drive to the 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.
Luckily there’s an airport in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is located 4 miles from the center of town, which should be a roughly 11 minute drive.
The next closest town is Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington is about 77 miles north of Myrtle Beach. Wilmington International Airport (ILM) serves the city. It should take about 90 minutes to drive from the Wilmington airport to your destination.
The third closest town is Fayetteville, North Carolina. Fayetteville is located 109 miles from Myrtle Beach. If you fly into Fayetteville Regional Airport (FAY) it should take you about 2 hours and 5 minutes to drive to the wineries on this list.
Charleston, South Carolina is 97 miles south of Myrtle Beach. Charleston International Airport (CHS) serves the city. It should take about 2 hours to drive from the Charleston airport to the heart of the city.
By the way, Myrtle Beach is a short drive from its neighbor North Myrtle Beach. The two towns are 19 miles apart, which is a 25 minute drive. In case you plan to visit both towns (which you totally should!) we’ve compiled a list of the best wine bars and wineries North Myrtle Beach offers.
The best wine bars and wineries in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Boardwalk Winery
Boardwalk Winery considers their wine “a vacation in a bottle.”
This South Carolina winery specializes in fruit wines. They make, label, and sell over fifty different wines in flavors like blackberry, peach, mango, raspberry, and blueberry (just to name a few). Their fruit wines come in four different sweetness levels: dry, semi-dry, medium, and sweet.
And if you’re looking for traditional red wines and white wines they have those too. Boardwalk Winery even serves frozen wine slushies, which sounds like the perfect way to beat the heat.
Boardwalk Winery tasting room is located within Broadway at the Beach shopping center in Myrtle Beach. Typical wine flights cost $6 for seven samples, which honestly is a great deal.
The tasting room hours of operation change continually throughout the year so be sure to check the Boardwalk Winery website for seasonal changes. In general they should be open from 12-6 PM everyday except for major holidays.
Beach Winery
Beach Winery is a paradise for sweet wine lovers.
You’ll find Chardonnay and Riesling grapes mixed with fruit flavors like mango, blueberry, raspberry, and peach. Wines range from semi-dry to medium to sweet. In addition to fruit wine Beach Winery also carries chocolate wines, holiday wines, and mead. These are easy wines to enjoy especially if you have a sweet tooth.
Their cheerfully decorated wine tasting room is a great place to sit back, relax, and sample some tasty wines. You can taste any seven sample wines for only $6. Which is an excellent deal. Oh and there are wine slushies as well. What’s not to like?
If you’re thinking hmm this sounds a lot like the previous winery – you’re right! Beach Winery is related to Boardwalk Winery. They have similar menus and similar prices. And they’re both located within Broadway at the Beach shopping center.
Coastal Vino Wine Shop
Coastal Vino is a wine bar and wine shop. If you’re an adventurous wine drinker you’ll like Coastal Vino.
Unique wines from far-flung locales fill their shelves. You’ll find an array of wines from Italy, Spain, France, and Australia. Most fine wine comes from small family estates and vineyards. And of course there are interesting grape varieties.
There are several ways to sample the great wines at Coastal Vino. You can pull up a stool at the small bar and chat with the owner David. Or purchase a glass of wine to enjoy at the small cafe tables outside. And since this is both a wine bar and a wine shop, you can buy a bottle of wine to take home.
Coastal Vino specialty wine shop is located at Market Commons in the Soho district of Myrtle Beach.
But be sure to double check the opening hours before you go. According to the Coastal Vino website, the shop is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 PM to 5:30 PM. According to Yelp, the shop is open Wednesday through Saturday from 2-7 PM. And according to the wine shop’s Facebook page, they’re open from 1-6 PM on Wednesday and 1-6:30 PM Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. As you can see, there’s a lot of variation. Luckily all three sources agree that the shop is closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
The Tasting Room on 9th
The Tasting Room on 9th is a wine bar with delicious food. They consider themselves upscale without being stuffy.
This stylish wine bar offers a great wine selection and a stellar cocktail menu. It’s the ideal place to go if you love both!
Of course they serve wines by the glass. They regularly host deluxe wine tastings too. For example, they hosted a “Free Thursday Wine Tasting” every week in December.
And if you’re hungry this is the place to go. The Tasting Room on 9th serves small bites and sharable plates like burrata, hummus, and ceviche. More substantial fare includes flatbreads and a French dip. The pastrami sandwich looks incredible too. Oh and you can build your own charcuterie boards. Perfection!
As if that wasn’t enough they also have a small retail store with bottles of wine and wine accessories for sale. Maybe you know someone who needs wood chips to create smokey cocktails? From bottles to wine keys, there are gift ideas aplenty for the wine lover in your life.
The tasting room is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 4-9 PM. On Saturday and Sunday they’re open from 4-10 PM. Monday and Tuesday they’re closed.
The Tasting Room on 9th regularly hosts fancy dinners called “The Tasting Menu Series.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: a series of tasting menus. Each dinner includes five courses crafted by Chef Robert Kaufman. Each course includes a wine pairing selected by sommelier Lisa Lee. If you love food and you happen to be in Myrtle Beach when one of these dinners is happening you should check it out. You can reserve your seat at the table via the Tasting Room on 9th’s online shop.
Other American wine regions to visit
South Carolina and North Carolina towns with fun wineries
Myrtle Beach is within easy driving distance of its neighbor North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The two towns are only 19 miles apart, which is a roughly 25 minute drive. North Myrtle Beach is known for its shopping center Barefoot Landing, which has lots of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. And where should you quench your thirst after a long day of retail sessions? We’ve got you covered. Here are the best wine bars and wineries North Myrtle Beach offers.
If you travel inland a few hours you’ll eventually reach Greenville, South Carolina. Greenville is a small city with lots going on. If you need some inspiration for your trip, here’s a list of the best wineries Greenville SC offers. This list covers Greenville wineries and wine bars both in the city and just outside the city center.
South Carolina wineries aren’t the only worthwhile wine destinations in the Carolinas.
Elkin, North Carolina is a tiny town nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills beside the Yadkin River. It’s a roughly four hour drive from Myrtle Beach, which makes it good for a weekend getaway. This historic town has exactly four wineries and they’re all within a 15 minute drive of downtown Elkin. With great wine, a cute downtown, and a beautiful landscape there’s something for everyone.
Mount Airy, North Carolina is another wine country town located in the Yadkin Valley AVA. The wineries Mount Airy NC offers are very open and unpretentious. Kids and dogs are welcome as is a curiosity to learn about wine.
Surry County is situated within the Blue Ridge foothills of Yadkin Valley. These Surry County wineries are family-operated businesses that demonstrate a passion for wine, for the land, and for their community.
Dobson is a small town located a roughly 17 minute drive from Mount Airy. It’s the birthplace of the Yadkin Valley AVA and has North Carolina’s largest winery. But the smaller family-owned wineries tend to be the best wineries in Dobson NC.
Other Southern wine country destinations
Napa Valley is often the first thing people associate with American wine. But Southern states have plenty of lovely wine country towns too.
Blue Ridge, Georgia is known for its beautiful natural scenery and abundant outdoor activities. There are hikes, waterfalls, viewpoints, and wineries aplenty. And what’s the best way to end your day? With a glass of your wine of choice, of course! The best wineries Blue Ridge GA offers reflect the town’s southern hospitality and endless charm. It’s perfect for a quiet getaway.
The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia hide another vacation destination: Smith Mountain Lake. You’ll find camping, picnicking, hiking… and wine, of course! The area’s rural charm and easygoing attitude are evident in the best Smith Mountain Lake wineries.
