The Yadkin Valley, in the Blue Ridge foothills of northwestern North Carolina, was the state’s first federally recognized AVA and today anchors a wine region of nearly 50 wineries. Spread across seven counties along the Yadkin River, it grows both classic European vinifera and Italian varieties, with Winston-Salem as the gateway city.
Established in 2003 across roughly 1.4 million acres, the Yadkin Valley also contains the smaller Swan Creek AVA — its temperate climate and loamy, elevated soils have drawn frequent comparisons to Napa, though that framing is promotional rather than official.
Slightly Askew Winery
Using local juice and juices from some of the best wine regions in the world, Slightly Askew produces a large selection of fruit wines, as well as dry and semi-dry reds and whites. A different ...
Explore Slightly Askew Winery →Know the wines of Yadkin Valley
Wineries to visit
Best time to visit Yadkin Valley
More than 40 tasting rooms lie within an hour of Winston-Salem; explore the towns of Elkin, Mount Airy, Dobson and Yadkinville, and time a fall visit for the Yadkin Valley Grape Festival, held the third Saturday of October in downtown Yadkinville. Harvest generally runs late August into early October.
More about Yadkin Valley
Best Wineries to Visit in the Yadkin Valley (2026)
- Shelton Vineyards (Dobson) — the estate whose owners petitioned the AVA into being, with estate-grown wines and the Harvest Grill restaurant and adjoining hotel.
- Raffaldini Vineyards (Ronda) — “Chianti in the Carolinas,” a Tuscan-style villa known for Sangiovese, Vermentino and the Appassimento drying method.
- Jones von Drehle Vineyards (Thurmond, Swan Creek) — a family estate established 2008 on 65 acres, producing dry wines including Rhône-style Viognier, with an outdoor concert stage.
Yadkin Valley Wine Tours
Yadkin Valley touring is served mainly by local shuttle operators out of Winston-Salem rather than packaged online tours, letting you taste along the Surry County and Swan Creek trails without driving.