On Sunday I took a scenic drive to Elkin, North Carolina.   Why? Where?   My cousin Anita and her daughter were visiting her brother that lives in the area.  Anita lives in Guam and I hadn’t seen them for nearly a year.  We used to be neighbors before both of us left Washington, D.C.  last summer.  Therefore I was very excited to know that they were just a 3.5 hours drive away.   I’d never heard of this area.  It’s located an hour north of Charlotte and Winston-Salem is 40 minutes south.  After driving through Charlotte, one of my favorite Divascapes, the landscape became very scenic with mountains and lakes.    I also noticed exit markers for vineyards and wineries.  This part of the state is the Yadkin Valley region and a part of North Carolina’s wine country.   However, wine is produced in several regions throughout the state.    I had no idea that there were wine producers in this state at all.

Although most of my time in Elkin was spent catching up with friends I did get a chance to see the quaint town.  After having dinner at Dewey’s Thai Café (I know not a very Bangkok sounding name but the food was good) I checked into my hotel.  The hotel lobby had several guides about the local wineries.   I perused On The Vine magazine for ideas on sites to see on Monday.  I discovered that Elkin has four wineries but the vineyards are open for tours mostly on Saturday and Sundays or by appointment only on weekdays.  

We did not have a chance to visit a vineyard but sampled local wines at Brushy Mountain Winery on Elkin’s Main Street.   The street is lined with restaurants, antique shops and other businesses.  Many of the buildings are a rustic red color like the red clay in this region.    At Brushy Mountain we met the owners Ann and Matthew Mayberry.  

The winery is housed in a building where Ann’s grandfather operated a company that canned blackberries and other fruits in the late 1800s.   Ann was gracious enough to allow us to sample blackberry wine along with several other white and red varieties.  Typically tastings only take place on weekends.   Sipping wine and chatting with Ann was a great way to end our walking tour of Elkin. 

I was only there for two days but Elkin was a great discovery and I brought home a few bottles of its local flavor. 

 Salud! 

Professor Diva Mac

P.S.   Check out the Divascape Elkin photo album on the Professor Diva Diaries facebook page.      

Where are your summer travels taking you?  Leave a comment and let me know; we may cross paths!