When traveling on I-85 from the Triangle to Charlotte, make a quick (or not so quick) NC wine stop on exit 76 to check out Old Stone Winery (http://www.osvwinery.com/index.html) just outside Salisbury. A few short miles off the exit, the winery is right there on the road. Don't be fooled by the store front (next to a hair salon) that is different from many other North Carolina winery locations nestled in rolling hills or with views of mountains or countryside. Just go inside for one of the most fun and informative tastings at a North Carolina winery!
At Old Stone Winery, customers can taste 19 wines for a fee of $3.00 that includes a glass to keep! The winery makes wine with the historic muscadine grape as well as more traditional wines with other grapes. The muscadines are grown on 18 acres behind the winery building. While the owners of Old Stone Winery do purchase the non-muscadine grapes from another vineyard, it is only a few miles down the road. They try to keep it as local as possible and use mostly Rowan County grapes. The owner (who poured for our tasting) said that they are getting ready to make a purchase of some Norton grapes from a vineyard in the Yadkin Valley, but the goal is local and definitely ALL NC! The wine making process goes on right behind the tasting room. The tanks are visible through a glass. If you don't have time to go and are curious about the wine making process, the Old Stone Winery has a nice video on the website showing the process from beginning to end.
The tasting was enjoyable! My kids got some nice grape juice, so they were happy too. The 19 wines I tasted were of many varieties, but were all quite good. The chardonnay we tasted first was outstanding! A special cabernet savignon was also a standout! They have something for everyone and something at several price points. Their sweet wines are acclaimed and their dry selections are of great quality. I know I will want to stop by again in December (they are on the way to visit my family in South Carolina) to try the holiday wine! I highly recommend Old Stone Winery. 
As always, I am not a wine professional; I am just an enthusiast who loves wine tasting, road-tripping, and experiencing local flavor in North Carolina! Check back soon as I continue to take you on the journey through North Carolina wine country! Next stop: Zimmerman Vineyards. My goal: Visit ALL North Carolina wineries! NC Winery Count: 28
