Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery

Gorgeous place!!! We love it here. Feels exactly like Tuscany and their Montepulciano wines are superb!

I went here for a cousins wedding and while the wine was good there wasn’t enough or it nor was the bartenders friendly enough to warrant a return trip nor a friendly Unilocal.We quickly ran out of wine due to the bride and groom underestimating the alcoholic nature of the guests. This is very understandable considering the nature of weddings and everyone being happy and wanting to drink. The vineyard made it almost impossible for guests to order the wedding more bottles of wine. They claimed their registered was closed for the night. How is that possible. Not to mention that they were late to set up the wedding area and displace their regular wine tasters for the evening. What was the kicker to me was that they were unable to offer the most basic of services… Water. When I repetitively asked for water, there servers said it waste caterers job. I joked and said where’s the spring, do I need to fetch it myself and the servers were 100% serious that they couldn’t give me water. What a joke. So unprofessional. Do not waste your money and book this place

If you are looking for «traditional» Italian wines in NC this is the place to go! It is probably one of the most beautiful wineries in NC that I’ve visited and it has a stunning view. It would have been even better had they not been setting up for their festival the next day. The view was a little marred by the porta potties and hand sanitizer/​paper towel stands everywhere. The patio is a great place to go and drink a bottle while having a few snacks. They have a minimal selection that you can choose to buy and it’s okay, nothing spectacular. The red wine brownies that we were told were out of this world definitely flopped. We didn’t like it at all and ended up throwing it away. I’d more likely bring my own picnic basket and buy wine there except they won’t allow you to sit on the patio if you bring your own food. You have to use the picnic benches by the parking lot. I feel like as long as you buy wine it should be okay and I imagine they might relent (but maybe not). The tasting is a standard cost ($ 5 I believe) and set up. The wines are very good and they give an in depth talk about them. Overall this is a really nice spot and even better the wines are rather good! I definitely recommend this to anyone for a day trip from Charlotte.

It would be inaccurate to say that this is good wine «for North Carolina.» It’s actually decent wine! As someone who has been to Napa, Sonoma, Tuscany, and VA wine country, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, check this out. Great views, really friendly staff. No complaints at all.

The good: The tuscan style villa, the view, the location and the atmosphere are top of the line for the area. They have also good wines my group really liked the Reserve and the Dolce Vita, which was too sweet for my taste, but the women love it.
The bad: they advertised a «tour» we payed $ 30 for a tour which at the end was just to stand in the field and see the vines and the grapes like a 5 minutes speech, we were in shock and we asked them about seeing the winery and the process they asked the manager and he said that its no possible it have to be requested in advance…
I really hate when people try to outsmart the costumers advertizing something and delivering something else. The button line if you just want to take pictures of the tuscan style villa and the view you are good. But if you want to learn and witness the whole winery experience go somewhere else.

Now I certainly cannot afford a trip to Italy BUT I was able to swing a trip out to Ronda, NC and I’m sure glad that I did!
Raffaldini Vineyards is truly a unique spot out in the Yadkin Valley. I mean, who would expect to find an Italian style winery and vineyard out there? I guess most would not as this is the only Italian style winery in the state (as per the very engaging bartender who served us on our visit). Also per the bartender (or sommelier?), the Raffaldinis have been rocking the wine scene in Italy since the 1300s so I’m guessing they know a little something about the business.
First off, the grounds are absolutely beautiful. Yes, the winery is a bit off the beaten path but once you get there it’s like you’re in another world. A koi pond leads into a babbling brook which winds its way along the walking path to the beautiful villa where the tastings take place. Yes, the tasting room does seem a bit commercial with numerous stations, a hostess meeting you promptly at the door, and a separate area for purchases but it somehow feels much more mom and pop than Starbucks once you are actually served. To that point, the expansive tasting room and numerous bartenders eager to serve can seem a bit intimidating (especially to a wine novice such as myself) but we were quickly made to feel at home (albeit a fancy one) after a few moments of chatting with the wine aficionado who served us.
Tastings are a reasonable $ 7 and include all the wines that they are currently slinging (a number that totaled seven the day that we visited). The wines are largely of the drier side and tend heavily towards the reds over whites with only one sweet dessert wine saved for the end. There was no muscadine here that’s for sure! Again I am no wine expert, but I found each varietal to be quite tasty.
After your tasting (with complimentary wine glass), you can buy individual glasses of wine or a bottle to share and then retreat to sip your vino either outside on the veranda or upstairs. The upstairs area has both indoor and outdoor seating, and any seat outdoors here offers exceptional views of the valley. Seriously, the views here are worth the trip on their own.
I believe they often serve pizza here (or is that just a dream of mine?), but the day that we visited a local food truck/​stand was providing the nourishment. Also of note, the winery has a seemingly pretty decent wine club offer should you be interested in that sort of thing.
All in all, Raffaldini is an unexpected treat out in the Yadkin Valley/​Swan Creek area and one of what seems like numerous excellent wineries in that region.

We made a last minute decision to visit Raffaldini on the recommendation of a friend and were so glad we did. At seven dollars a person, the wine tasting is a cheap way to enjoy a classy afternoon. They have wine for every taste and the vineyard provides an absolutely gorgeous backdrop. Highly recommend!

Absolutely love this place! It’s by far one of the best wineries in North Carolina! Not to mention my favorite one and I’ve been to A LOT! :-)))
All their vines are mainly of the Italian variety and therefore, they produce ALL Italian wines… Which means most will be dry except their last one is a sweeter more dessert wine style. All grapes are grown on property and all wine is made in their winery.
Their wines from the tasting menu are as follows: Pinot Grigio, Vermentino Superiore (slightly similar to an Oaked Chardonnay), Girasole (rose), Bella Misto (Malbec style) Montepulciano, Sangiovese (chianti style), Montepulciano Reserva (most full bodied red… Like a Cabernet) and their last one is the la dolce vita (moscato Di’asti style).
I personally like the Sangiovese and la dolce vita the best which is funny because their on the opposite sides of wine flavor and taste. But this winery makes such exceptional quality wine you really appreciate all their varieties.
I have to also mention their location, they are located in the Yadkin valley wine region of NC… They’re winery may seem a little off the beaten path but it’s for a good reason — they have one of the best views of the blue ridge parkway (beautiful to visit in the fall) overlooking their vines. They encourage you to load up a picnic basket (provided for you) with goodies for you in their deli (sandwiches, pasta & chicken salad, cheese, grapes, bread, chocolate, etc.) and grab a seat on their piazza overlooking the splendid beauty of NC.
This is also a wonderful place for special events such as a wedding they even have surprise packages if your want to propose here as well. Just get a hold of the event coordinator and they can arrange any event you want to have here.

Beautiful grounds and great wine, but the tasting room is tiny. Tastings were conducted at breakneck speed to get customers in and out quickly.

Wow… of all the vineyards I visited in the area this place really stole the show. The views, the Tuscan-​style Villa tasting room, and landscape are just breathing taking. Wine tastings are $ 7 per person and include a taste of each of their wines currently available (7 when we visited) along with your wine glass. There was a good mix of white and red to try and were on par with the area. They also offer a variety of gourmet Italian-​style food items in their tasting room’s deli case. There is a picnic area with some nice umbrellas to enjoy your wine and food purchased at Raffaladini (they do not allow outside food/​drink). With three verandas located off the back of the tasting room there are plenty of seats to enjoy the view. If you are in the area this place is a must see and I look forward to returning.

This is without a doubt the best winery in North Carolina, especially for those who love dry reds. Jay, the owner, is hilarious and informative, and their staff is fantastic! I could spend (and have spent!) hours there, sipping wine and snacking on some of the charcuterie offered. Their patio is really nice in the spring through fall.
I highly recommend a visit — plan a day trip to the area as there are a few great wineries in the Swan Creek association. I also recommend their events, namely the Assemblagio Blending Trials in November. I have been to 3 or 4 of those annual events and will surely be back in 2015.
I’ve heard there may be an on-​site restaurant soon — can’t wait to check that out!

Nice winery! The inside is setup a bit like a tasting factory but hey I guess that is what people come for. The woman running our tasting was friendly and was informative about all the wines we were tasting. Of course my favorite was the sparkling sweeter wine that they have.
We went when everything wasn’t in full bloom so there wasn’t a ton to look at. If you go during prime season I can see how it would be a beautiful spot to spend the day. They have a small food section with things like cheese and crackers. You can buy a bottle of chilled wine, grab some cheese, and get ready to picnic away.

Hands down my favorite NC winery. It is absolutely worth a day trip up from Charlotte (especially since there are a number of other also very good wineries close by).
The wines are fantastic, Italian grapes mostly which seem to do fairly well in the local climate. I love the Montepulciano (red) and Vermentino (white). Bottle prices are fair considering quality and other NC winery prices (appr. 15 to 22 dollars a bottle here). Tastings are absolutely NOT stingy. And the location is beautiful! On a sunny day you can see mountains in the distance, the house is on a little hill so the views are great, the atmosphere is lovely and mediterranean.
Bring a picnic and some time. Or ask for the Amish store which makes great, cheap sandwiches and is fairly close by.

Loved this winery!!! I really felt like i was in Italy. The drive up to the winery was beautiful. We made the drive from Raleigh and it was worth it. A tasting was only $ 7 and you got to keep the glass. We need shared a bottle of wine for each couple. The wine good and the view was even better.
I would recommend this place for sure.

Loved loved this place. We moved from CT so this was our first experience with a NC vineyard. We just happen to get lucky and had the owner serve us our tasting. How impressive is that, he is hands on. The wine… even more important, was excellent. They also have views to die for and you can grab a bottle and enjoy the mountain and colors changing. They host tastings and special events but they do sell out quickly. A beautiful place for a wedding but they do clear out the day guests. Good for the wedding party but not so good for us. They only thing I would love to see if the vineyard being pet friendly. Would love to be able to bring out pooch. Hope to return for some of their special events. I felt like I was back in Italy even if for just a few short hours. The Pino and the Chianti like were my favorites

Stopped by because there was a food pairing event going on. Wines were very good, grounds beautiful. Food pairing… it was some cold squash in a small condiment cup with a cracker the size of a dime and some parmesan cheese on it??? Had I not been expecting something even a little more I wouldnt have been disappointed. But again their wines were very good. Just go for the wines.

Beautiful venue with friendly and knowledgable staff. Large vineyard with open views of the mountains. The patio looks nice but we were not able to enjoy it since it’s covered in snow today. They have a hangout upstairs where you can sit and enjoy your wine by the big windows with an awesome view. I can imagine that this would be a perfect spot for events.

One of the most scenic vineyards I’ve been to in NC. Though it is tucked away, it is completely worth the drive (approximately 1hr & 15min from Charlotte) The wine is good, I specifically enjoyed the Montepulciano, but I bet they would have something to suit any palate.
They specialize in Italian wines –and offer a nice tasting of all of their selections for $ 5 (seems to be the standard around this area).
The staff was knowlegeable and very friendly. We took our wine to the patio and enjoyed the incredible view.
Also to note, there are sandwich, cheese, and dessert options available for purchase. The venue seems to also be available for weddings or special events as well.

I really enjoyed my visit to Raffaldini. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. You can sit out on the balcony (or anywhere on the property) and enjoy the backdrop of cascading mountains. The wine is also pretty good and the tasting is super cheap.
They offer a small section of treats in an open refrigerator; however, I think Raffaldini should add a restaurant. There’s not much around here and if the place added a restaurant, you could stay all day. That being said, they allow you to bring your own food and even let you picnic in the vineyards.
I loved my experience at Raffaldini and I cannot wait to go back!

In an update to my review, we opened the second bottle of the Dolce Vita, and it was quite the difference. It had a different aroma and a much different taste (full of flavor!!), it was the wine that I fell in love with at the winery!
I am really not sure what makes a wine go bad or how it would happen, but the first one was definitely off, it was just a fizzed drink with no flavor, or I should say very bad flavor/​taste.
I am glad that I tried it again, because I really love this wine, it will be one of my go to favorites, especially that it can be found in the Charlotte market. I just hope that I don’t get bad luck again and get a bad bottle!
I forgot to mention in my previous review, the wine glasses that come with the tasting are a bit of a turnoff. They should have done the same with the dessert wine glasses as the wine tasting glasses and just put the logo/​name on the front and that is it. On the opposite side of the name/​logo is a website link (to their winery), but that just makes the glasses look unappealing/​cheap.