RayLen Vineyards and Winery

Open: Year Round

About Us:

Joe and Joyce Neely were inspired by a trip to Italy to open a winery in North Carolina - no easy task less than ten years ago. RayLen produced its first wines in 2000 and opened its doors for business in 2001 with the completion of the Tasting Room. RayLen Vineyards & Winery became a bonded winery in April of 2001 when only four other wineries in the Yadkin Valley existed. Today, there are over twenty wineries in the AVA approved Yadkin Valley and over 70 wineries in North Carolina.

When Vintner Steve Shepard first began making wines for RayLen Vineyards & Winery in 2000, only 2500 combined cases of Chardonnay, South Mountain's Vineyard Chardonnay, Merlot, Carolinius, and Shiraz were produced. Today, production is over 10,000 cases of 16 different wines, including Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Pale Red, and the pre-eminent Category 5 Cabernet Blend. Awarded "Best in Show" in the Mid-Atlantic Wine Competition for the 2005 vintange, the Category 5 remains RayLen's most popular red wine. Named after the biggest and boldest hurricane, this Cabernet blend is powerful.