Mount Airy, North Carolina, is a charming small town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The town is well known for its connection to the iconic TV show "The Andy Griffith Show."
But Mount Airy is also gaining recognition for its growing number of excellent vineyards. This quaint Blue Ridge Mountain town, surrounded by rolling hills and fertile soil, has become a prime destination for wine enthusiasts and for good reason. Mount Airy's vineyards offer an inviting taste of the finest wines the well known Yadkin Valley has to offer.
In this guide, we will take you on a tour of some of the very best vineyards in Mount Airy based on our visits to them. We'll highlight the unique character, flavors and views of each vineyard as well.
Join us as we explore our favorite Mount Airy Vineyards that should be on every wine lover's itinerary when visiting Mount Airy.
Mount Airy Vineyards - Yadkin Valley's Finest
Mount Airy in Surry County, NC is within the Yadkin Valley, commonly referred to as the heart of North Carolina Wine Country. Yadkin Valley holds the distinction of being the very first American Viticultural Area (AVA). Brothers Charlie and Ed Shelton of Shelton Vineyards spearheaded the process to obtain that first AVA. The creation of the AVA was the beginning of growth for the valley, Surry county and NC Wine.
The Surry County Wine Trail has 18 different wineries, and 16 of those are within Surry County and nearby to Mount Airy NC.
During our visit to Mount Airy NC in the summer of 2024, we visited several Mount Airy NC Vineyards on the wine trail. While we still have several others yet to visit, the vineyards below are our current personal favorites.
This selection is based on the wine itself, the vineyard, service, and amenities. As our mountain adventures take us to new Mount Airy Vineyards, we'll update this guide.
Christian Paul Vineyards
Opening in November 2023, Christian Paul Vineyards is one of the newest Yadkin Valley AVA vineyards and is in Elkin, NC. The vineyard is 25-acres with 5.5 of those under vine.
The vineyard is owned and operated by Christian Paul Ercolani and Andrew Weyl. The Ercolani family has a wine making legacy in Tuscany and Umbria, Italy dating back many generations. Christian and Andrew continue that heritage today at Christian Paul Vineyards.
We visited on our way to explore downtown Elkin NC and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful property and tasting room. We immediately noticed the bright yellow tasting room building and rolling hills that surrounded it, full of young vines.
Given the vineyard is so young, the vines are still a few years from producing grapes. Christian said that he hopes 2026 is the year. In the meantime, grapes from other Yadkin Valley vineyards are currently used to make their wines, but under the careful supervision of Christian and Andrew.
The beautiful and open tasting room, built by Andrew, not only provides a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere, it also celebrates the Ercolani wine heritage, featuring the family crest and Christian's great-grandfather's wine press.
We visited the vineyard with the intention of both learning about it and sampling their wines. Tastings take place at the bar. Christian himself hosted our wine tasting, so we got the full scoop on the wines. We could see and hear the pride and passion Christian has for the wines they create.
The wines we sampled were absolutely wonderful. We sipped a mix of whites and reds, all with history to various areas in Europe and, in particular, Italy. Christian's family runs a vineyard today in Montepulciano Italy. In fact, when Christian poured us a glass of their 2022 Montepulciano, he used a specially designed aerator from that family vineyard! The Montepulciano was our favorite!
We enjoyed the wine so much; we grabbed a couple of glasses and sat outside enjoying the views and wine after our tasting and tour.
Round Peak Vineyards
Located in the country, just a short drive from I-77 near Mount Airy, NC is Round Peak Vineyards, named after nearby Round Peak Mountain. The vineyard has 12 acres of vines, growing mainly French and Italian varieties. They grow and make all of their wines on site.
We visited Round Peak Vineyards during our recent visit to Mount Airy, NC, and really enjoyed this casual and beautiful vineyard.
As we approached the vineyard, beautiful green rolling hills and the Blue Ridge Mountains providing a stunning backdrop greeted us and surrounded the vineyard itself.
We entered the casual and rustic tasting room, and selected our wines for our tasting, then headed out onto the back patio to sit and enjoy the wines. All the wines we tasted were excellent, but our favorites were the Montepulciano aged in Bourbon Barrel and the Vidal Blanc. I can't resist an excellent red wine aged in Bourbon Barrels.
The back patio offers stunning views of the vineyard and distant mountains. The vineyard delivers one of the best mountain views we've experienced. We really enjoyed the different red and white wines they offered while enjoying the stunning scenery.
Whether you're a seasoned wine connoisseur or simply looking for a beautiful place to relax and unwind, Round Peak Vineyards offers an excellent wine tasting experience. With its stunning scenery and excellent wines, it's no wonder that Round Peak is one of the best vineyards in Mount Airy, NC.
Shelton Vineyards
Shelton Vineyards, one of the largest and most prestigious family-owned vineyards in North Carolina, offers visitors a blend of friendly service, exceptional wines, stunning landscapes, and beautiful landscaping.
Brothers Ed and Charlie Shelton founded Shelton Vineyards in 1999 with a vision to produce world-class wines in the fertile soils of the Yadkin Valley. Today, Shelton Vineyards spans over 400 acres, with 200 acres dedicated to grape cultivation.
Shelton Vineyards is located just a short drive from Mount Airy, and should be on your short list when exploring the different Mount Airy NC vineyards.
As we pulled in, gorgeous rolling hills of green vines surrounded the main entry road. The grounds are full of beautiful landscaping as well, including a creek, pond, flowering trees, bridges and more. The vineyard property is really something to see.
The large and elegant tasting room offers a large bar for tasting, comfortable seating areas, and merchandise for sale. They even have a full-service restaurant, the Harvest Grill, which is on the Surry County Sonker Trail.
Before our wine tasting, the vineyard staff took us on a tour, allowing us to see behind the scenes and witness how this large operation produces such excellent wines. We even saw the large pressing machine where the grapes are placed after harvesting, the first step in producing their wines. This was a first for us.
They grow several varieties of grapes, including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Petit Manseng, Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Tannat.
Walking out of the back of the wine production facility and up the hill into the vineyards, we could really appreciate the sheer size of this vineyard. The views from there were stunning as well.
Shelton Vineyards is a stunning vineyard that produces some of the best wines in North Carolina, and a visit to this large and friendly vineyard is a must for North Carolina wine lovers. Be sure to taste their reserve wines. They are exceptional!
Old North State Winery - Closed
UPDATE: As of 10/15/204 the restaurant and winery located in downtown Mount Airy is closed.
Housed in a historic hardware store building on the north side of Main Street in Mount Airy, Ben Webb found Old North State Winery in 2002. As a native of Mount Airy, Ben aimed not only to produce outstanding North Carolina wine, but also to bolster the local economy.
Ben chose downtown Mount Airy for his winery to provide a vibrant spot for both locals and visitors to enjoy fine wine and the town's ambiance.
Today, Old North State Winery is a premier destination in Mount Airy and the Yadkin Valley, drawing tourists with its charming setting and quality wines. The main building serves guests and produces a variety of red and white wines.
The historic building is stunning, and the wine is exceptional. North Carolina residents might recognize their well-known brand, Fish Hippie.
During our visit, we savored a charcuterie plate and a wine tasting at the main bar. Our server was knowledgeable, guiding us through the different wines and helping us select those best suited to our tastes.
The charcuterie board was superb, and we thoroughly enjoyed all the wines. In fact, if you live in North Carolina, you may recognize their "Fish Hippie" brand, as it's featured in many NC grocery stores and wineries.
Overall, Old North State Winery offers a blend of excellent wines, delicious food, and historical charm, making it a must-visit destination in downtown Mount Airy, NC.
