At the southern end of the Yadkin Valley wine region, there are six different wineries in Lexington, NC that make it the perfect weekend getaway for wine tasting.
The options span from small mom & pop wineries with unique character and quaint settings to the third-largest winery in North Carolina.
There’s more to Lexington than wine though – make sure you also check out the outdoor opportunities, amazing restaurants in Lexington, and the shops in Uptown while you’re here.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for keeping Stuck On The Go going! I was hosted by Visit Lexington, NC when visiting some of these wineries. All opinions are my own.
6 Wineries in Lexington, NC for a Day Out
With six different wineries within 20 minutes of Uptown Lexington, there are no shortage of choices here.
Grab a group of friends and spend an afternoon or two visiting a few of these spots! Visiting the wineries is definitely one of the best things to do in Lexington.
Weathervane Winery
Weathervane is definitely a local’s hangout and they have tons of events like live music on the weekends.
You’ll find both sweet and dry wines here and I love their slogan – “Award-Winning Wines Without the Attitude.” It’s really true too! Sid, the owner, poured my tasting and he made the experience so fun!
When you visit for a wine tasting, you have two options to choose from – you can taste their sweet or dry wines. With either tasting, you get to try five different wines.
My favorite was Temperature Rising which is a Tuscan blend but I also liked the Cirrus Red which is their Malbec. I’m not a sweet wine drinker but their Green Apple was refreshing.
If you’re like me then you love having snacks while you’re wine tasting so it’s important to know that they do sell Boar’s Head charcuterie packs and occasionally have food trucks.
You’re also allowed to bring your own picnic if you would like. Inside the tasting room, there is a small retail space where you can buy little gifts and sauces, jams, and jellies.
There is some outdoor seating in their courtyard and one table under a gazebo out near their vines. If you’re visiting on a weekend, I would recommend bringing a picnic blanket or chairs to set up on their lawn space because the seating will get taken early.
There are also cute cabins on property that are available as short-term rentals if you want to stay a few days.
Curran Alexander Vineyards
Curran Alexander is best known for their dry red wines and for good reason. Reds are the majority of what they have on their wine list.
The first thing you notice when you pull in the parking lot is the beautiful, historic home that is currently under renovation. Once it’s complete, you can come stay in one of the four restored bedrooms and enjoy views of the vineyard from the porch.
They are also in the process of building a new, larger tasting room. One thing that was very convenient was the large parking lot – they have plenty of space even on a busy Saturday.
They typically have live music at least one day every weekend when the weather is nice and this is a beautiful vineyard to take a walk in. They also have monuments around the vineyard where you can learn about historic events that took place here.
Right out the door from the tasting room, they have multiple tables set up and Adirondack chairs around a small fire pit. The weather was gorgeous so it was really a relaxing afternoon.
As I mentioned, they have mostly dry wines. I visited with my Mom and we both love dry reds so this was a great stop for us, but sweet wine drinkers won’t have as many options.
My favorite wine was their Southern Tour which is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and merlot. I believe our tasting included nine different wines so I thought it was a good deal too.
They do have a few snack items like the Boar’s Head charcuterie plates and hummus but you can also bring your own food.
Native Vines Winery
As the first 100% American Indian owned winery in the United States, this is a unique winery in Lexington located on a secluded, peaceful property.
They have cozy couches outside to enjoy under a covered patio during good weather but they also have some limited indoor seating. They are currently expanding behind the tasting room to offer more space.
A tasting here includes your choice of six different wines and here they do wines in small batches so there will likely be something different on the wine list each time you come in.
They have a few dry wines but their most popular ones are sweet and semi-sweet. My favorite dry wine here is probably the Native Red. Their White Buffalo is a semi-sweet Chenin Blanc blended with peach and one of their best sellers.
Try the Green Tea – it’s another semi-sweet but it’s made by fermenting tea instead of grapes. It’s different from anything I’ve ever tried. If you like fruit wines then they also have wonderful blueberry and blackberry options.
Bring your own snacks if you’re hungry and note that dogs aren’t allowed here. They have their own vineyard dog that’s so cute!
Want more ideas for wineries to visit in the Yadkin Valley? Check out these wineries near Elkin, NC. 🍷
Junius Lindsay Vineyard
This is a unique tasting room that’s actually located in an open-air pavilion. When the weather gets colder, they close in the building with vinyl curtains and heat the space as well.
It’s really a beautiful setting! They have two options for tastings – the Estate Tasting and the Premium Reidel Tasting. I was glad that I upgraded to the Premium Tasting but my sister liked the Estate Tasting – she is a sweet wine drinker.
Premium Tastings include 5 different dry wines plus a port or dessert wine and Estate Tastings include 3 off-dry wines plus a dessert wine.
I really liked a few of these – their bubbly rosé was good (I don’t usually like rosé) and I loved their Syrah Reserve and the Triomphe. I don’t usually like white wines either but their Second Leaf (a Viognier) was very good.
They lead our tasting at our table and I have to say, it made for a great experience. We were able to sit down and enjoy our tasting without rushing through it.
For food options, they sell small snack items but that’s about it – you can bring your own picnic though and this is the perfect place to have one.
They do occasionally have events that you can keep up with on their Facebook page.
Old Homeplace Vineyard
Old Homeplace is the winery that I knew the least about before visiting but it honestly blew me away. It’s located right on Lake Thom-A-Lex with tons of outdoor space to enjoy.
They have a huge back deck with tables and Adirondack chairs. There are also Adirondack chairs and picnic tables spaced out below the tasting room and down to the lake.
No worries if the weather is dreary though because they have a couple of rooms inside with couches and chairs for lounging.
If your group likes all different kinds of wine then this is a great option because they have dry, semi-sweet, muscadine, and fruit wines.
My sister is a sweet wine drinker and I like dry wines so it was nice that we both found something we really liked. It was also nice that they have slushies!
They also offer multiple different ways to enjoy their wines. You can do a tasting at the bar, order a flight of four different wines that you can enjoy anywhere you like on property, and of course, by the glass or bottle.
I really loved their Malbec and Firefly and my sister loved the raspberry fruit wine. We couldn’t decide if we liked the wine or the atmosphere better.
If you’re visiting with someone who doesn’t like wine, then they do have a couple of craft beer options as well as typical domestic beers.
They have a stage in front of the lake for live music – mostly on Sundays – and food trucks are typically on-site for events. This is another great winery to bring a picnic to though.
You can keep up with events on their Facebook page as well.
Childress Vineyards
If you’ve heard of any wineries near Lexington, there’s a good chance that it was Childress Vineyards. Owned by NASCAR legend Richard Childress, it’s one of the best wineries in North Carolina and the third largest.
We visited on a Thursday afternoon and it was pretty busy so I could only imagine the weekend! The tasting room and vineyard are absolutely beautiful and if you stay at the Holiday Inn Express beside the winery then you can have a view of the vineyard right outside your window.
This is the only winery in the area that you may want to make reservations – you should be fine walking in at the other places nearby. They accept reservations for their Luxe wine tastings and meals at the Bistro.
Reservations are not accepted for wine flights or their Champion tastings. You can try nine wines with the Luxe tasting and six wines with the Champion tasting. Both offer a sweet & light or dry & bold option.
The wine flights are self-guided and you can take your wines and sit outside to enjoy as you would like. In addition to typical wine flights, they have mimosa flights and slushie flights. I can already tell you I’ll have to come back to try those!
For wine flights or tastings head through the main doors when you arrive and visit the Lobby Bar or pick up flights in their retail space. The retail space is where you can buy bottles and they also have a great selection of gift items.
They have large parking lots but if you have someone with you that has mobility issues then there is a roundabout in front of the door where you can drop them off.
If you’re headed to the Bistro then once you park, follow the signs around the left side of the tasting room down to the Bistro building below the Terrace. I highly recommend eating here as it’s one of the best restaurants in Lexington.
The lawn area beside the Bistro is also where you’ll find the Corner Cantina which is only open on weekends. They provide a convenient spot to pick up wine or beer and small plates if you’re hungry.
As you can see, there are tons of ways to enjoy a visit to Childress Vineyards! They have a huge variety of wines so if you’re in a large group you’re likely to find something that will please everyone. They also sell beer for any non-wine drinkers.
Bonus: Bull City Ciderworks
Did you know that cider is officially classified as wine? Yep, it’s technically unfortified wine so I thought I would include it here.
If you think you don’t like cider but have only tried it from the grocery store or maybe hot apple cider in the fall then I encourage you to visit a local cidery and see what you think.
For the longest time, I thought I didn’t like cider but turns out I just hadn’t tried the right kind.
It’s really light and refreshing so perfect for a summer day. I loved their Orange You a Hippie which is made with orange and hibiscus and the Bludacris made with blueberries.
Jack & Oak is the perfect fall drink – it’s a pumpkin spice cider. While I don’t typically like pumpkin spice, this was delicious.
They have a super cool outdoor space in the Lexington Depot District which is in a former manufacturing facility. They have fire pits outside and tables set up under a large covered area.
Inside you’ll find a long bar with seating and some couches for lounging. They have 16 different taps plus wine and beer so this is really a great hang out spot for a group or a date night!
Uncorked Touring Company
One of the newest additions to the Lexington wine scene is Uncorked Touring Company which is a great way to experience the wineries without having to recruit a designated driver.
They offer multiple different tour options and their shuttle is set up like a pub booth with bench seats on each side and a small bar in the middle.
If you have a group of between 6 – 10 people then you can take one of their private wine tours or boozy field trips. If your group isn’t that big then they also have a ride share option.
This would be a great option for a girl’s weekend, a couple’s getaway, or any kind of celebration!
👉🏻 Exploring other wine regions in North Carolina? Visit these wineries near Boone, NC.
FAQs on Lexington, NC Wineries
Does Richard Childress own a winery?
Yes! Richard Childress owns Childress Vineyards located just six minutes from Uptown Lexington. It’s conveniently located just off Highway 64 and Interstate 285.
Mr. Childress is probably most well-known as a former NASCAR driver and current owner of Richard Childress Racing.
What restaurants are near Childress Vineyards?
The Bistro is located on site at Childress Vineyards where you can get a delicious upscale meal. If you want to try traditional Lexington style barbecue then Lexington Barbecue is the closest spot.
Speedy’s BBQ and Smiley’s are also not far away. Uptown Lexington is only six minutes away so you’re also a quick drive from Sophie’s Cork & Ale, Rustic Roots, or The Eatery.
Pour Folk Provision is also a great spot located in Goose and the Monkey Brewing.
Is there a dress code for visiting wineries?
There is no formal dress code for visiting wineries, but it is generally recommended to dress nicely. Leggings or jeans and a nice shirt or a dress work just fine.
I have been hiking before and gone straight to a winery though – if the winery is near great hiking opportunities then they are typically used to this. The only one on this list that I wouldn’t visit directly after hiking would be Childress Vineyards.
Most wineries are great photo opps because of the beautiful views so it’s a good idea to dress up if you want pictures!
Wrap Up: Wineries in Lexington, NC
If you’re looking for a fun day trip or weekend getaway, be sure to check out the wineries near Lexington, NC. There’s such a wide variety of options!
And don’t forget – if you need a ride check out some of the options that Uncorked Touring Company offers. Let them worry about the driving and you worry about the drinking! Seriously though, please be safe as you’re visiting these wineries.
There isn’t a bad time of year to plan a winery visit. In the warmer months you can enjoy the beautiful weather outdoors and in the cooler months you can enjoy fewer crowds!
