Muscadine grapes are thick-skinned, sweet, and so tied to North Carolina that a muscadine variety called the scuppernong is the official state fruit. These grapes are native to the South, and they grow happily in our hot, humid summers, which is why vineyards across the state have built whole farms around them.
This list covers seven North Carolina vineyards where muscadines are the star, from a pick-your-own stand in Johnston County to a family farm with a fishing pond and rental cabins. Save it for late summer, when the grapes ripen, or keep it handy for a year-round road trip full of gift shops, tasting rooms, jams, and wide open farm views.
1. Duplin Winery, Rose Hill, NC
Rose Hill is a small Duplin County town, but it carries a big reputation among muscadine fans. Duplin Winery sits right on N Sycamore Street, and it has built its entire identity around the South’s native grape.
The tasting room here centers on the company’s award-winning muscadine lineup. It is a good first stop if you want to understand why this grape has such a loyal following in eastern North Carolina.
A winery tour adds another layer. Guests learn about the family history behind the business, which gives the visit more substance than a quick shopping trip.
Snack lovers should keep an eye out for the Muscadine Pineapple Habanero Salsa. Sweet grape plus pineapple plus a little heat is a combination that makes a strong case for bringing a jar home.
Timing matters here. Hours run 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Thursday and 10 AM to 6 PM on Friday and Saturday, and the doors stay closed on Sunday.
Saturday afternoon tends to be the busiest stretch. If you prefer a slower pace, weekday mornings and afternoons are usually much calmer, which leaves more time to ask questions and browse.
2. Lu Mil Vineyard, Elizabethtown, NC
A farm equipment family started a vineyard to test their own machines, and it grew into one of the more interesting muscadine stops in the state. The Taylor family had long used their farm site as a proving ground for new agricultural equipment.
When they wanted to test ideas for the growing grape industry, they planted muscadines. The vineyard is named for Lucille and Miller Taylor, whose family farm it sits on.
Today the property spreads across more than 58 acres. The first estate products came from the 2005 muscadine harvest, and the gift shop and tasting room opened to the public in December 2005.
I like this stop because it is more than a quick shop visit. There is a pond for fishing, cabins you can rent, and a gift shop stocked with muscadine juice alongside BBQ sauces, jams, jellies, and dressings.
The holiday season brings its own draw. Lu Mil has hosted a country buffet dinner, a stroll through holiday lights, a drive-through display, and visits with Santa.
Hours are 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 1 PM to 6 PM on Sunday. Free parking is available, and weekdays tend to be quieter than Saturday afternoons.
3. Hinnant Farms Vineyard & Winery, Pine Level, NC
Bragging rights do not get much bigger than this. Hinnant Farms describes itself as the oldest and largest commercial muscadine vineyard in North Carolina.
For grape fans, the real headline is the U-Pick Grape Stand. It runs from mid-August through September, which is prime muscadine season in Johnston County.
Picking your own is the best way to get a real feel for these grapes. You can fill a bucket, taste the difference between bronze and dark varieties, and head home with a haul for jelly, snacking, or sharing.
Curious about how a vineyard this size works? One tour runs daily at 12:30 PM, so plan your arrival around it.
Tastings are offered every day but wrap up an hour before closing. Hours are 11 AM to 6 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 8 PM on Friday, 11 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, and noon to 5 PM on Sunday.
Dog owners get a nice bonus here, since dogs are welcome inside. Weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so a weekday morning visit is the easier choice.
4. Gregory Vineyards, Angier, NC
Grapes and a steakhouse on the same property is a pairing you do not see every day. Gregory Vineyards in Angier combines lakefront vineyards with Lane’s Seafood and Steak House, so a grape outing can easily turn into dinner.
The vineyard proudly calls itself North Carolina’s 106th winery. Its focus is a selection of muscadine products, including juices.
Tastings work a little differently here. Guests sit at a table in the dining area, and a server brings out one bottle at a time, which keeps things relaxed and personal.
My favorite detail is the porch. It overlooks the vineyard and ponds, giving you a peaceful view of the rows that produce all that fruit.
Pick-your-own muscadine season runs from August through September. That makes late summer the best time to come if you want grapes straight off the vine.
Plan carefully, because the schedule is limited. Gregory Vineyards is open Thursday from 5 PM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from noon to 9 PM, with free parking on site.
5. A Secret Garden Winery, Pikeville, NC
Quiet is the whole point at this Wayne County stop. A Secret Garden Winery is a boutique, family-owned vineyard in Pikeville that celebrates what it calls the pure taste of America’s native grape.
What sets it apart is the approach. The family crafts its muscadine products naturally, with no added chemicals and no added sulfites.
That hands-off philosophy fits the setting. The vineyard is small and peaceful, the kind of place where you step up to the tasting room bar, chat with the family, and take your time.
Timing your visit for late afternoon is a smart move. The grounds are known for Carolina sunsets, and the open vineyard views make it easy to linger.
Options range from crisp, lighter styles to sweet, traditional Southern reds. That range shows off how different muscadines can be depending on the grape and the style.
This is a weekend-only stop, open Friday and Saturday from 1 PM to 7 PM. I would save it for a slow Saturday when the goal is simply to unwind outside the city.
6. Cypress Bend Vineyards Inc, Wagram, NC
Road trippers heading through the Sandhills should know about Wagram. This small Scotland County community is home to Cypress Bend Vineyards, a working muscadine vineyard and winery on Riverton Road.
The operation covers the full picture, from growing grapes to making estate products. A retail boutique on site lets visitors browse and take home a taste of the vineyard.
Cypress Bend also shows up beyond its own property. The team takes part in offsite festivals, so you may spot them at events around the region.
Practical perks make this an easy stop. Dogs are allowed inside, there is a gender-neutral restroom, and the free on-site parking lot means no hunting for a spot.
Hours run Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 PM, with the doors closed Monday through Wednesday. That schedule makes it a natural fit for a long weekend drive.
7. Cauble Creek Vineyard, Salisbury, NC
Most of this list leans east, but the Piedmont has a grape story too. Cauble Creek Vineyard in Salisbury specializes in grape production and unique styles, bringing a Rowan County twist to the muscadine map.
The family-run atmosphere is a big part of its appeal. Service is friendly, and the people running the vineyard are known for making guests feel welcome.
Space is another plus. The grounds are roomy, with pretty views and plenty of room to spread out for an easy afternoon.
Planning a gathering? There is a separate space for private events, which makes Cauble Creek useful for more than a casual visit.
Dogs are allowed, and the free on-site parking lot keeps arrival simple. A gender-neutral restroom is available as well.
Hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 6 PM. Pair it with a stop in downtown Salisbury, and you have a full day that wraps up this muscadine tour of North Carolina on a sweet note.
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