A Secret Garden Winery in Pikeville, NC

Max and his wife decided to visit the winery on a free Friday afternoon. It seemed like an interesting thing to do, and Max's wife likes the tasting experience.

Using GPS it was an easy place to reach. It is only forty two miles from their home in Raleigh.

Max was very impressed by the open and clean look of the vineyard with its neat rows of Muscadine vines. The parking is on the informal side with the yard being mostly grass.

Max and his wife were greeted by Linda's mother who lives right beside the small tasting room. Max's wife and Linda's mom immediately got into conversation as Linda's mom offered to start the tasting while waiting for her daughter, Linda Hall the proprietor, to arrive. Max's wife enjoyed the genuine and friendly nature of the meeting.

It wasn't until Linda arrived that Max and his wife learned that her mom is not really expected to start a tasting. Like Max's mom, Linda's sometimes forgets the order of things.

Linda was a most gracious host as Max and his wife sampled the offerings. All of the grapes for the reds, blush and white wines are grown in the vineyard just outside the tasting room.

Two of the fruits for the fruit wines are harvested elsewhere and made at this location.

Linda gave Max and his wife a tour of the winery, including the pond. She has a small bottling operation where she processes one bottle at a time. As this is truly a labor of love, she processes just enough wine to keep her small operation well stocked.

The vineyard itself is a vision of efficiency and careful planning. The neat rows of vines are support by a drip irrigation system that allows the effective use of water. The annual yield of 2000 to 3000 pounds of fresh grapes is more than enough to keep the winery stocked with fresh juice.

This winery is a wonderful place to sample some excellent wines made exclusively with native grapes.

Proprietors:
Linda Hall
Gerald Hall

Wines: Muscadine wines including Carlos and Noble.
Fruit wines including strawberry, blueberry and peach.

Hours: Thursday to Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM
Sunday 1 PM to 6 PM

Directions:

From I-95 exit 119A
Take Highway 264 East to Exit 43C
Take Highway 117 South to Exit 94 at Pikeville
Go past the stop light and continue two miles to Airport Road
Turn left onto Airport Road. Winery is two miles on left.

From I-95 Exit 97
Exit onto Highway 70 East towards Goldsboro
Exit onto Highway 117 Alt. North
At Airport Road bear right. Winery is two miles on the right.

The winery is located:

A Secret Garden
1008 Airport Road
Pikesville, North Carolina 27863

Phone: (919) 734-0260
*note: Please call before visiting.