foodsandflavors ~™ Yadkin Valley Wines Things to know before visiting the
Yadkin Valley Wine Country Writer/Photos John & Carrie Byrd Here are some pointers that all visitors to the vineyards of the Yadkin Valley should know when planning your trip. These tips will enhance your experience and make for a more enjoyable day (or weekend.)
To learn more about visiting Yadkin Valley Wineries:
John & Carrie Byrd Yadkin Valley Wine Tours yadkinwinetours.com 336-408-3394
Check websites for hours of operation as well as policies regarding pets, children and outside food/coolers. Not all vineyards are open every day of the week. Several have food trucks on the weekends and do not allow outside food to be brought in and many do not allow pets or anyone under 21 on their property. If you are traveling with a group of eight or more people, please be sure to call ahead the week prior to your visit. Some vineyards require a reservation for larger groups and may turn you away if you’ve not called ahead. They have to plan ahead as well and staff accordingly. Please also be sure to stick to your reserved time as the vineyards sometimes have multiple groups throughout the day and showing up late can cause a problem. Please keep in mind that outside alcohol is prohibited by state law. If you do bring a picnic, be courteous to the staff and others coming to the property after you and clean up after yourself. If your group is too loud or intoxicated, the tasting room staff reserves the right to not serve you and ask you to leave. Whether you are doing a flight or a full tasting, be polite and give the tasting room staff member your undivided attention. There will be time for selfies and group photos afterwards. Most of the vineyards are doing some form of flight or tasting. If you are visiting on a Saturday, keep in mind that this is the busiest day for them, so it may take a little longer to maneuver from place to place. Fridays are a great time to visit! Only smoke in designated areas. Most vineyards in the area close at 5:00pm, so it’s best to show up no later than 4:00pm, as many have a “last call” at 4:30pm. You’ll want to allow yourself at least an hour at each stop to enjoy your time. Most of the venues in the area do not have meal service, so you’ll want to check to see if they have a food truck and/or music planned. These two things combined can make for a really fun afternoon. It can also help avoid any potential dietary needs not being met. While this may sound like a “list of rules,” it’s not meant to spoil your fun. It’s simply meant to help make your day better and more enjoyable as you navigate the vineyards of the Yadkin Valley and experience some really great wines, views and people.
Photos from Dynamis Vineyards – the newest winery in the Yadkin Valley. We’ll share more about Dynamis in our next column. 90
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