This Tiny Winery Town in North Carolina Is a Hidden Gem for Wine Lovers

The West Coast dominates when it comes to U.S. wine, but it’s high time that the East Coast gets some recognition for its wine producing regions as well. In fact, the country’s first grapevine was discovered in North Carolina all the way back in 1548, and the state continues to be a regional wine epicenter. Oenophiles who wish to explore this underrated wine destination should head to the gorgeous Yadkin Valley—which boasts over 250 wineries and vineyards hidden within its rolling mountains—and stay in Dobson. This charmingly inviting winery town in North Carolina promises visitors drinks, food, and views galore. 

Why Dobson Is a Wine Lover’s Dream

Although the Yadkin Valley has many towns that are worth visiting (like Mount Airy and Elkin), Dobson is the birthplace of its wine culture. It was here that brothers Charlie and Ed Shelton campaigned for federal recognition of the Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area, a unique wine county that we think rivals Napa. As such, the town serves as the perfect base point for exploring the entire area, especially for those interested in completing the Surry County Wine Trail, which will take you to 19 wineries. If you’re looking to do wine tastings in North Carolina, few destinations can rival this little-known wine-obsessed small town. 

The Best Wineries to Visit in Dobson

Anyone who visits Dobson should spend at least an afternoon in Shelton Vineyards. Yes, that is Shelton as in the brothers who helped Yadkin become a recognized AVA. The property is the largest privately owned winery in North Carolina, growing a wide variety of grapes that include cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, Malbec, petit verdot, and tannat. It offers daily tastings, wine-pairing dinners, concerts, festivals, and other fun events that make it an epicenter of the town's social life. 

Besides this spot, Dobson has many other hidden-gem wineries, like the aptly named Hidden Vineyard and Stony Knoll Vineyards. The first is a boutique property that produces pinot gris, chambourcin, cabernet franc, and many other grapes. It stands out thanks to its farmhouse-style tasting room that makes you feel right at home from the very first moment that you enter, and for letting visitors walk right through the grapevines. Meanwhile, the lovely Stony Knoll Vineyards left behind its former life as a tobacco farm to focus on growing syrah, corot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and other varieties. Visitors who want to spend a perfect weekend wine trip in North Carolina can stay overnight in a renovated 19th-century tobacco cabin. You can visit many of these Dobson vineyards on the convenient Yadkin Wine Shuttle tour, which lets you indulge in a day of tastings without worrying about having a designated driver. If you’ve checked out all the best spots in town and still can’t get enough, consider driving half an hour to the waterfront Roaring River Vineyards.

More to Do Beyond Wine

While wine is Dobson’s main attraction, the town offers many other fun activities. To enjoy the state’s unrivaled nature, head to Fisher River Park, where you can fish, paddle, kayak, or canoe. Those who want to stay on land can also go on walking trails along the river, or mountain bike down a 6.3-mile wooded trail. Other points of interest include The Farm, where you’ll be able to pick your own fruits, attend festivals, and pet animals, and the historic Rockford Village, which recreates life in the region in the early 1800s. 

Although not many people outside of North Carolina know Dobson, there’s no denying that it’s one of the state’s best wine towns. It’s a perfect gateway to exploring the many wineries and vineyard experiences in the Yadkin Valley and beyond.