NASCAR and Wine: The Childress Vineyard in Lexington, North Carolina

Kick back and watch the NASCAR race with a cold bottle of...wine? If you're anything like I, this idea seems a little weird, and you'd rather sit back with an icy-cold bottle of beer. Yet NASCAR owner Richard Childress hopes he can change your mind.

The Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina is something you have to see for yourself, whether you're a NASCAR fan or not. In fact many of the people who stop by the Vineyard everyday have no clue at all that it's actually owned by NASCAR car owner Richard Childress. Last year on our annual road trip to Charlotte my best friend and I stopped by the Childress Vineyards on our way out of town. This year we knew we'd have to make a return trip.

If you think it's a little strange that a NASCAR driver owns a vineyard or if you don't think NASCAR fans drink wine, it's time to change your mind! The Childress Vineyard is owned by car owner Richard Childress, but even non-race fans will love this place.

Every time we find ourselves at the Childress Vineyard, my best friend and I automatically feel like we're under-dressed and it's hard not to. Imagine walking in wearing your favorite jeans and a tee-shirt, only to be confronted by an antique looking door and classical music.

The main building is fairly large with a huge fountain in front. The designers took special pains to make the building look older, even though it was only built within the last few years. They used a slate roof and large brick and stone decorations on the building itself. Once you enter the building it's like stepping into a completely different world.

There is a huge lobby with a receptionist on display, which instantly makes me feel inadequate. They actually have a large restaurant to one side that serves lunch, but it's still a little off putting to see someone standing there when you enter the building, especially if you're only trying to get to the store and wine tasting room like we were. The meals there are pretty reasonable priced though and you can get out spending less than $15-20 per person.

The shop area is stocked full of everything you can imagine in terms of food. Most of the products are made with locally produced fruits and vegetables. I have to recommend the Black Bean Salsa, the Peach Salsa, and the Champagne Jelly with Blueberries. The Childress Barbeque Sauce and Childress Seasoning Blend are also great buys and taste great!

You can also pick up a bottle of wine from the store. Most of their wines are priced under $20, but there are some more expensive bottles as well. You can also grab a bottle of NASCAR themed wine, with one of the Childress drivers etched onto the glass. The store at the vineyard also sells wine openers, glasses, aprons, and clothing.

The most impressive part of the store is the large wine tasting bar along the back side. You can try nearly all of their wines and the cost of the tasting is pretty reasonable at around $15. It's something you need to check out if you make the trip. In addition they also provide tours of the vineyard during specific times of the day.

I make it a point to stop by the Childress Vineyard whenever I'm in the area, but I have to admit that I just run in, grab my stuff, pay, and run back out the door. It's a great place to visit, but I constantly feel like I'm under-dressed when I visit just because everything looks so expensive. Keep that in mind if you plan to visit.