Sip on Cloud Wine at these Unmissable Vineyards & Meaderies near Raleigh!

When the warm rays of the summer sun start beating down on your skin, you wouldn’t be the only one who desires a crisp Chardonnay, a sweet Muscadine, or a succulent glass of honey mead.

You could go to the store to buy a bottle, but with so many amazing wineries, vineyards, and meaderies around Raleigh, why would you not try some locally produced wine?

Within an hour’s drive of Raleigh, there are some fantastic, award-winning vineyards where you can sample North Carolina’s finest quality wines. Many of these wineries and meaderies offer guided tours, tasting experiences, and have farm-to-table restaurants, making them perfect locations for a date night or fun day out with your friends.

So if it’s wine o’clock where you are, be sure to grab your partners in wine, rock-paper-scissors to select a designated driver, and then head to one of these places…

Vineyards and Wineries near Raleigh

We’ll begin this list with vineyards and wineries, which are all located within approximately an hour’s drive from Raleigh, making them the perfect day trip.

Read more: Sip and Savor: 14 Top Wine Bars in Raleigh (and nearby)

Chatham Hill Winery, Cary

• Address: 8245 Chapel Hill Rd, Cary, NC 27513
• Website: https://www.chathamhillinc.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 11.7 miles
• Drive time: 15 minutes

Just outside Raleigh in the suburban town of Cary is Chatham Hill Winery, an award-winning winery that’s one of the oldest in North Carolina. 

It was established in 1999 and specializes in small batch wines in a European style, sourced from Yadkin Valley and beyond. They are most well known for producing crisp Chardonnay, floral Viognier, steely dry Riesling, and Chenin Blanc.

If you prefer reds, they also produce fine reds from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Malbec, and Syrah varieties.

It features a spacious tasting room, where barrels line the walls and opens up to an immersive view of the fermentation vessels and tanks. They also have a lovely outdoor seating area with umbrellas and have regular markets, live music events, and sometimes have food trucks, though they allow BYOF (bring your own food).

The tasting room is open daily, but they also offer guided tours and also doubles as an event space. Currently, Chatham Hill Winery is closed for renovations – check the website for reopening dates.

In 2023, it was the winner of the Silver Diamond Award for Best Wine Bar by 5 West Magazine.

Cloer Family Vineyards, Apex

• Address: 8624 Castleberry Rd, Apex, NC 27523
• Website: http://www.cloerfamilyvineyards.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 21.1 miles
• Drive time: 25 minutes

We discovered Cloer Family Vineyards in Apex on our bike ride along the American Tobacco Trail. What a hidden gem this winery is in the Raleigh area!

This quaint vineyard is nestled amid rolling fields and grazing sheep just 20 minutes from Raleigh–Durham International Airport.

This charming, family‑run winery opened in 2010 and sits on an 18‑acre former farm, using its red barn as a tasting room. 

The Cloer family is known for nurturing muscadine vines (Carlos, Noble, Magnolia, Dixie Red, Ison) and is one of only two family farms in the Triangle to grow, harvest, press, bottle, and sell on‑site. You won’t get fresher wine than that!

While they don’t create a huge variety of wines, focusing on quality over quantity, they do have a curated flight of around five wines available for a $5–$6 tasting. You can also take guided tours of their wine-making facility.

When you visit, you can stroll along the vineyard rows, stroke the cows, or sit outside in the peaceful shaded seating area. Children and dogs are welcome, so it’s a vineyard the whole family can enjoy. Bring your own picnic and lawn chairs, and make yourself comfortable.

Cloer also hosts regular events and live music series, as well as wine tastings.

Gregory Vineyards, Angier

• Address: 275 Bowling Spring Dr #9052, Angier, NC 27501
• Website: http://www.gregoryvineyards.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 27.3 miles
• Drive time: 30 minutes

A short drive south of Raleigh through the countryside brings you to Gregory Vineyards in Angier, a family‑run rustic vineyard and restaurant, which is part of Johnson County’s Beer, Wine and Shine Trail.

Set on a working farm boasting about 20 acres of lakefront, Gregory Vineyards grows muscadine grapes and produces on-site a series of award‑winning unfortified, fortified wines, brandy, and even legal moonshine. 

Join guided tours or come for wine tastings on Fridays and Saturdays between 12pm and 3pm, or come for dinner at the onsite Lane’s Seafood & Steak House on Thursday – Saturday from 5pm to 9pm. On a summer’s day, grab a table on their sunny and scenic “wine porch” overlooking the vines and water.

If you fancy making your own wine at home, they offer pick-your-own grapes in August through September.

Read more: How To Have A Christmassy Day Out in Johnston County!

ZincHouse Winery & Brewery, Durham

• Address: 6225 Wake Forest Hwy, Durham, NC 27703
• Website: https://www.zinchouse.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 18.8 miles
• Drive time: 30 minutes

Perched on an expansive 87‑acre estate just minutes from Durham, the stately ZincHouse Winery & Brewery is an architectural showpiece that would make the perfect backdrop for a special occasion, such as an anniversary or engagement celebration.

It has a lavish multi‑level tasting hall, a fountain courtyard, and sweeping views of the vineyard and pond. 

Currently, ZincHouse does not produce its own wine, but they do have a Sommelier‑led program where visitors can sample from a range of 400 national and imported wines and rotating craft beers, but they do have future plans to create in‑house labels.

The onsite tasting room has been designed to be a relaxing environment. It has an outdoor area with firepits and heaters, and a cozy indoor space with wooden accents that beckon you to linger for a while. 

This is an adults‑only (21+) venue open Wednesday – Sunday, and also holds regular events including guided “Art of Wine” tastings every Wednesday evening, as well as live music nights, food trucks, and comedy nights. 

Melanated Wine, Durham

• Address: 4608 Industry Ln f, Durham, NC 27713
• Website: http://melanatedwine.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 21.3 miles
• Drive time: 25 minutes

Over in Durham, in the Southside industrial park, is the first black-owned and woman-owned winery in Durham – Melanated Wine.

It was founded in 2021 by Lashonda Fort‑Modest, who produces wine from mostly Yadkin Valley-grown grapes, mostly semi‑sweet Riesling or a smooth red blend of Cabernet Franc and Syrah.

Melanated Wine hosts regular drop‑in tastings, but you can also book a self-guided tasting, which reserves you a table for one hour.

The winery’s “Uncork the Culture” ethos extends beyond the glasses: it regularly hosts community‑centered events like poetry nights, paint‑and‑sip sessions, and more.

Be sure to try one of the wine slushies on a hot day! Melanated is ideal for a thoughtful date night, celebration, or hangout with friends on a Friday night after work.

Hinnant Family Vineyards and Winery, Pine Level

• Address: 826 Pine Level Micro Rd, Pine Level, NC 27568
• Website: http://hinnantvineyards.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 38.7 miles
• Drive time: 40 minutes

Over in Pine Level, Hinnant Family Vineyards & Winery spans over 100 acres, declaring it the largest muscadine vineyard in North Carolina.

This family undertaking began in 1971 and has grown from a humble family vineyard into a business that produces more than 25,000 cases a year.

Its Carlos muscadine and Magnolia rosé have landed top honors at the North Carolina Wine Competition in 2024.

When visiting Hinnant Family Vineyards, you can simply rock up to the tasting room and sample wines via a flight, or you can attend a public tour each day at 12.30pm. If you have a group of 8 or more, you must book a guided tour ahead of time.

During warmer months, be sure to check the website for events, such as art classes and live music. There are even U-pick grape opportunities every September.

Fireclay Cellars, Siler City

• Address: 1276 Bowers Store Rd, Siler City, NC 27344
• Website: http://www.fireclaycellars.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 45.5 miles
• Drive time: 50 minutes

Named after the red‑clay farmland that’s native to the area, FireClay Cellars in Siler City is a boutique, family‑run estate that’s been quietly reshaping North Carolina’s wine scene since opening its barn‑style tasting room in 2019, though they have been growing grapes since 2010.

The vineyard has a delightful, open tasting room which is open Friday – Monday, and offers a thoughtfully curated flight of in-house Chardonel, Traminette, Chambourcin, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc blends.

Children are allowed to visit with their parents, but pets must be kept at home. Beyond the tasting room, you can also book tours every Monday, Friday, and Saturday afternoon, which last about 20 minutes (40 minutes with wine tasting at the end).

Rock of Ages Winery and Vineyard, Hurdle Mills

• Address: 1890 Charlie Long Rd, Hurdle Mills, NC 27541
• Website: http://www.rockofageswinery.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 51.3 miles
• Drive time: 1 hour

In Person County, just north of Durham, Rock of Ages Winery & Vineyard is a striking Old–English–meets–Western lodge turned winery, run by husband-and-wife duo, Kevin and Kim Moore.

Spanning across 26 vine‑studded acres, encircling a four‑acre lake, this winery offers daily between 1pm and 5pm, offering tastings of 33 different wines, ranging from native muscadine to European‑style reds and whites like Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, etc. 

No bookings necessary, unless in groups of 8 or more. They don’t offer guided tours.

A Secret Garden Winery, Pikeville

• Address: 1008 Airport Rd NE, Pikeville, NC 27863
• Website: http://www.asecretgardenwinery.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 57.7 miles
• Drive time: 1 hour

In the sleepy town of Pikeville, A Secret Garden Winery is a warm, organic haven founded in 2002 by the Hall family.

The intimate tasting room and peaceful garden setting are open every Friday and Saturday from 11am – 5pm, and invite you to sample their naturally fermented, sulfite-free wines made without the use of chemicals and preservatives. 

Explore a small but charming menu of dry, semi-sweet, and fruit-infused bottlings, pairing your pours with cheese, crackers, and chocolate.

Seven Springs Farms and Vineyards, Ridgeway

• Address: 332 Axtell Ridgeway Rd, Norlina, NC 27563
• Website: http://www.sevenspringsvineyards.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 56.5 miles
• Drive time: 1 hour

Nestled in a tranquil countryside setting surrounded by natural springs in Warren County is Seven Springs Farm & Vineyard, a family-run establishment that has been planting vines since 2017.

Run by the Williams family, this winery produces primarily sweet muscadine wines, as well as classic dry styles like Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

You can take scenic vineyard tours and tastings any day of the week from 1pm – 5pm on Sunday – Thursday, and 12pm – 6pm on Friday and Saturday. Each tasting session includes sampling seven wines in the tasting room and comes with a take-home glass.

Grove Vineyards & Winery, Gibsonville

• Address: 7360 Brooks Bridge Rd, Gibsonville, NC 27249
• Website: http://www.grovewinery.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 73.3 miles
• Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Grove Vineyards & Winery sits on the banks of Lake Cabernet in Gibsonville and is known for its European-style single-vineyard wines. 

It was established in 2004 and is a family-owned estate spanning 44 acres, and produces wine using 80% of its own-grown grapes from its estate, and has a production capacity of 3,000–5,000 cases annually.

Over the years, Grove has won a series of awards and accolades, most notably, in 2018, the Grove’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon won the Double Gold Medal for the second year in a row.

The winery’s tasting room is available for tasting reservations, and you can also book onto tours and tasting experiences. General tastings come with six wines to sample, whereas tours and tastings come with 10 samples.

Beyond wine tasting, Grove offers a variety of entertainment and events, such as live music and Mother’s Day brunches, and is also the host of the NC Piedmont Highland Games in October.

Meaderies near Raleigh

In case you aren’t familiar with mead, it’s also referred to as honey wine, as it’s made with fermented yeast and honey. It’s not quite a wine, and not quite a beer, but an alcoholic beverage that’s somewhere in between. 

Here are the top meaderies in the Triangle region.

Honeygirl Meadery, Durham

• Address: 312 Blackwell St, Durham, NC 27701
• Website: http://honeygirlmeadery.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 24.8 miles
• Drive time: 30 minutes

In downtown Durham, amongst the bustling American Tobacco Campus, is the Honeygirl Meadery, the city’s first meadery and a pioneer in this unique beverage scene.

It was founded in 2014 by Diane Currier and quickly gained city-wide recognition for its small-batch, seasonal meads crafted from local fruits, flowers, herbs, and honey sourced from both local and global apiaries. 

Each mead is hand-crafted and hand-bottled, and you can sample a diverse selection in its 3,000 square foot tasting room called Ment Beverage Co., which is open daily.

At Ment BeverageCo., you can sample a wide range of Honeygirl Mead, but they also have other alcoholic beverages, including cider, craft beer, and Durham’s first sake!

Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham

• Address: 1104 Broad St Suite C, Durham, NC 27705
• Website: http://www.moondogmeadery.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 26.6 miles
• Drive time: 30 minutes

Tucked beneath Joe Van Gogh in a basement on Broad Street, Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop is a newer craft meadery in Durham, opening in 2021 by Derrick Forrest and Kenneth Thrower.

While they only have a small selection of hand-made meads, they also stock more than 200 craft drinks from around the state.

The meadery also hosts lively events, from free board game nights to music bingo to karaoke, trivia nights, and live bands.

Starrlight Mead, Pittsboro

• Address: 130 Lorax Ln, Pittsboro, NC 27312
• Website: http://www.starrlightmead.com/ 
• Distance from Raleigh: 33.6 miles
• Drive time: 40 minutes

A welcome addition to the Chatham Beverage District of Pittsboro is Starrlight Mead, which holds the title of North Carolina’s oldest meadery.

It was founded in 2010 by Ben and Becky Starr, who are pioneers who helped create the Chatham Beverage District when they opened their tasting room, The Plant, in 2018.

This meadery has garnered many accolades over the years, including the Gold Medal for the 2024 NC Mead and Cider Competition for its Blueberry Off-dry.

Head to their tasting room for free tours of the facility on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and 4pm, or enjoy the tasting room ambiance between noon and 6pm on Saturday and 1pm to 5pm on Sunday.

Starrlight Mead also hosts the popular Mead Fest every September, which is free to visit. This family-friendly celebration features live Renaissance music, food trucks, sword fighting demonstrations, home mead making demonstrations, and arts and crafts vendors.