NC Wine Country Tour 2013

• Lodging costs (double occupancy rooms), including all taxes and fees
• All meals with the exception of one dinner. We allow you the freedom to explore the great restaurants on your own for one evening.
• Morning and afternoon snacks
• Route planning and detailed daily area maps
• Guide support along the route
• Van support along the route
• Luggage transfer
• Fees for all ferries, tolls for all highways and any park entrance or guided tour fees where noted
• Transportation back to starting point
• Costs for any special activities such as canoeing, kayaking, sailing or rafting
• where noted
• Complimentary photo cd of your tour, Carolina Tailwinds t-shirt, and water bottles

• wine tastings and vineyard tours
• gourmet cuisine
• rolling hills

Combining scenic back roads, vineyard tours and wine tastings, historic accommodations, fine dining, and vigorous bicycling, this tour packs a lot into a quick two day vacation!

Local cyclists treasure the country roads of the Yadkin River Valley. Rolling terrain with a backdrop of carefully tended fields of tobacco, corn, and grapes provides a setting that is rewarding and pleasurable. You'll quickly see why this area is one of the best-kept bicycling secrets in North Carolina.

Although North Carolina has long grown the world’s finest tobacco, changing times and legislative pressures have led local farmers to turn to wine grapes as an alternate source of profits. Grape growing and wine making have grown rapidly, with the latest count showing 250 vineyards and 26 wineries in North Carolina. The grapes cultivated in the Yadkin River Valley are typically European varietals, with some standard chardonnay and cabernet grown as well. The Yadkin River Valley was named an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in December of 2002, the first AVA in North Carolina.

• USA
  • North Carolina

This tour is scheduled within one day of other tours many times throughout the year. If you are interested in a 6-8 day cycling vacation, combine it with an adjacently scheduled Blue Ridge Tour, Virginia Multi-Sport Tour, Ocracoke Tour, or Northern Outer Banks Tour. An added discount will apply, and we will provide a free shuttle between the two tours.

The Brookstown Inn is a converted textile mill tastefully appointed with Early American decor. The Brookstown is located on the edge of historic Old Salem, a restored Moravian Settlement a short walk from downtown Winston-Salem. Restored buildings and exhibits along tree-lined streets make Old Salem a fascinating and pleasant experience. You may add nights to your stay at the Brookstown for a special rate available through Carolina Tailwinds.

The terrain on this tour is primarily rolling hills, with very few challenging climbs along the way. Route distances vary from 15 miles to 50 miles, with optional mileage add-ons. Flexible mileage is possible thanks to the support van. Should you tire or wish a shuttle ahead, simply hop in the van to catch a quick ride to the next vineyard along the way!

We visit two wineries each day. Each facility has a unique personality, reflecting the style and tastes of its owners. The wineries range in scale from small "mom and pop" vineyards operating in old farm houses to large operations with modern facilities. Each vineyard owner contributes a different perspective on the arts of viticulture and winemaking during our visits.

Depending on scheduling and time of year, we may visit any of the following wineries:
Hanover Park Vineyards, Westbend Vineyards, RayLen Vineyards, Windy Gap Vineyards, Rag Apple Lassie Vineyards, and Shelton Vineyards. Each is in the Yadkin River Valley AVA.