The most scenic Southern wineries worthy of a getaway

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Nashville is the charming Arrington Vineyards. It’s the epitome of a picturesque winery offering views of Tennessee’s rolling hills countryside. Whether you buy a bottle of wine, sip on a wine flight, or order a frosé for those hot Southern days, there is plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the 95-acre property, which includes 16 acres of vineyard. Picnics, which pair perfectly with the vineyard's 22 wines, are encouraged at the picnic tables on the vineyard’s hillside.

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Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery serves up an elegant Southern wine experience in Northern Virginia, a short drive from Washington, D.C. The Tuscan-inspired winery was designed to look like a Mediterranean estate. Surrounded by lush vineyards and forests, you’ll be enchanted by the outdoor patio with its water fountain centerpiece and the green pathways that lead visitors through the grapevines. A meal at the onsite Le Grand Cru Bistro is a must.

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Just off the Scenic Highway in the northern part of South Carolina, travelers will find a taste of France in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Styled after a French chateau, Victoria Valley Vineyards grows grapes on 47 acres, resulting in some delicious European Vinifera wines. You'll want to spend the entire day sipping Victoria Valley whites, reds, and rosés on the terrace while snacking on sandwiches, brie dip with crackers, and desserts like chocolate cake from the on-site deli.

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Hubert Mussat and Katy Groves-Mussat opened Farmer and Frenchman Winery in 2016 in Henderson County, Kentucky. The duo runs the small farm vineyard and winery, one of our favorites. Take a tour and then sip and savor various wines while overlooking bucolic farmland and woods. Make sure to book reservations for the restaurant, which honors the family's blended European-American heritage using Kentucky ingredients in European-style recipes. There are three solar-powered cabins for guests who want to spend more time in the Bluegrass State countryside.

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Alabama is home to 14 wineries, most of which make their wines from muscadine, Alabama's only native grape. The first vines at Jules J. Berta Vineyards were planted by a Hungarian immigrant in 1987. To honor his father, Jules opened the winery in 2008. It is Alabama's first producer of vitis vinifera wine grapes. Enjoy whites, reds, muscadines, and fruity blends, along with wood-fired pizzas, while taking in the beauty of Northern Alabama. There's even a bed and breakfast on Lookout Mountain should you wish to extend your stay.

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Banner Elk Winery & Villa has everything you could want in a wine-powered escape. The winery specializes in French-American and American varietals. Many visitors opt to stay in a luxurious suite at the vineyard's lakeside Tuscan-inspired villa. It’s not hard to see why. With views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a Banner Elk wine in hand, it’s a picture-perfect wine experience.

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What makes Treehouse Vineyards so spectacular is right there in the name—treehouses. This North Carolina winery serves fantastic muscadine wines that can be enjoyed in a treehouse 30 feet off the ground. One treehouse can be rented in hourly time slots, while two others are available for overnight stays. If you do spend the night, you'll have plenty of time to explore the winery's horse stables, tree swings, pond, creek, and wines!

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If you’re craving something sweet, head to the country's southernmost winery, just a one-hour drive from Miami. Specializing in tropical fruit wines, Schnebly Redland's Winery is also lush and tropical in style with coral waterfalls, palapas huts, and palm trees galore. Opt for a patio tasting: the fruit wine mixed with the outdoor scenery will make you feel like you were on a tropical vacation. Before you go, grab a bite at the onsite restaurant, The Redlander, which serves farm-to-table cuisine and fresh seafood.

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Built on a ridge that sits 1,600 feet above sea level in Dahlonega, Georgia, Kaya Vineyard and Winery is surrounded by rows and rows of grape vines and stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can spend an entire afternoon tasting whites and reds made from European, Italian, and American varietals, perusing the gift store, or enjoying panoramic views on the patio. If you indulge a little too much, it doesn’t hurt to book a stay in one of the six luxurious, on-site cottages.

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Wine lovers will find plenty to love at Fall Creek Vineyards. The Texas Hill Country vineyard is one of the oldest in the region. Its Tow Tasting Room is set on 400 acres on Lake Buchanan and open Saturdays only for tastings, while the Driftwood Tasting Room, open daily, is a short 22-mile drive from Austin and 74 miles from San Antonio. Consider spending the night in one of two master suites at the on-site Wine Country Inn in Driftwood, a luxurious retreat that pairs perfectly with the wine.

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Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery looks more like a Swiss chalet in the Alps than a winery in Georgia. Styled after a raised Craftsman-style cottage, this massive winery has a restaurant and tasting room overlooking the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Whether you have a cabernet at the stone-and-cedar bar or a sip a chardonnay on the veranda overlooking the vineyards, Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery has all the charm and hospitality you would expect from a Southern wine experience.

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Book an appointment before making the 45-minute drive from Little Rock, Arkansas, for an enchanting wine tasting that starts with tasting wine in a yurt. Then, you're led on a guided winery tour followed by the chance to bottle, wax seal, and label your own wine bottle. If you don’t want to drive home after, there's an onsite Honeymoon Cabin calling your name.

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Great wine, charcuterie boards, and homemade pizza are enough to warrant a visit to any winery, but it’s the Italian-inspired design and gorgeous landscape at the Duchman Family Winery that makes people never want to leave. Duchman is located in Driftwood, Texas, in the heart of Hill Country, the state’s most notable wine area. While you can easily vineyard hop in the region, you’ll find yourself more than happy to spend the day tasting the Duchman Family Winery’s Italian grape varietals under the shade of oak trees.

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Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere at Wild Bush Farm + Vineyard, formerly Pontchartrain Vineyards. Neil Gernon and Monica Bourgeois purchased Pontchartrain Vineyards post-pandemic and the duo have been creating wines from native muscadine and hybrid grape varietals. Bring a blanket to sit on the grass and enjoy an outdoor concert or to bask in the sun with a glass of wine in hand. With a location well off the main tourist path, this winery is a great choice for those who want to try Louisiana wine like locals.

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Located 60 miles west of Washington, D.C., Linden Vineyards is a peaceful respite for sipping fine wines. Each year, the vineyard produces 4,000 cases of wine from its trio of vineyard sites. Whether you stop to savor the single vineyard Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, this is a journey to the Blue Ridge Mountains you'll want to savor. We'll drink to that.

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