Brewery/ Winery tours - X Marks the Scot

Dirka Skene · #1 10-22-2009, 10:05 AM

So, there are lots of Breweries and Wineries in North Carolina that offer tastings and tours, but which ones are worth it? I heard about a brewery somewhere that has a large tap room with an even larger beer selection and reasonable prices, but I have no idea which one it is.

cavscout · #2 10-22-2009, 10:15 AM

I can highly recommend the Biltmore Estates Winery tour. They have a huge tasting area after the tour where you can sample everyone of their wines as long as you can walk to the bar

Beautiful setting as well.

Dirka Skene · #3 10-22-2009, 11:32 AM

I heard tours at the Biltmore were expensive.

piperdbh · #4 10-22-2009, 11:40 AM

I can't say about breweries, but the WoodMill Winery in Lincoln Co. is well worth the trip. They make wine from muscadine and scuppernong grapes, as well as black-, blue-, and strawberries. Dupin Winery in Duplibn County is good, too, and convenient to those in the eastern half of the state. Shelton is good, if you prefer European-style wines. It's in Yadkin County, I believe, (near Elkin) as are a few others I can't recall at the moment.
Start with these three and branch out form there.

Happy tasting!

cavscout · #5 10-22-2009, 11:43 AM

I don't recall what we paid but we also spent the day on the estate so that made it a much better deal for us with the tour of the house, walking the grounds and gardens, driving the property and then the winery tour. It might have been $50 per head (the wife and I) for the day and unlimited samples

I'm pretty sure they provided the tasting samples in real wine glasses also. It was a very nice time. Well worth the price. I'd pay it again in a heart beat to spend a beautiful day in the mountains with my wife. All the other stuff is just gravy

cavscout · #6 10-22-2009, 11:55 AM

I know you said in North Carolina but just to throw it out there, If you happen to go south on I-85 into GA...(only about 4 hours)

Chateau Elan has some very nice wines (their muscadine is awesome!)

http://www.chateauelan.com/epicurean/winery/

If you still have room after teh tour, Paddy's Irish Pub is on teh grounds as well and they have some excellent Buffalo Wings in Guinness Green Sauce

Dirka Skene · #7 10-22-2009, 12:12 PM

So, I checked out the Biltmore website and that sounds like a pretty good idea.

Hellequin · #8 10-22-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavscout

I don't recall what we paid but we also spent the day on the estate so that made it a much better deal for us with the tour of the house, walking the grounds and gardens, driving the property and then the winery tour. It might have been $50 per head (the wife and I) for the day and unlimited samples

I'm pretty sure they provided the tasting samples in real wine glasses also. It was a very nice time. Well worth the price. I'd pay it again in a heart beat to spend a beautiful day in the mountains with my wife. All the other stuff is just gravy

I believe it's up to $65 a person but it's well worth the price if you make a day of it, which is not hard to do at all. Grreat wine with unlimited tasting and the history of the place is fantastic. Absolutly a wonderful place.

cavscout · #9 10-22-2009, 12:31 PM

Don't forget the $10 discount if you buy tickets online !! So depending on what day you go, it could be as low as $45. Hmmmm, I'm getting that itch

Dirka Skene · #10 10-22-2009, 01:40 PM

They have a behind the scene winery tour and a red wine and chocolate seminar that's included in the admission. Sounds like it's time for a kilted outing!!!