When you think of good wine, what usually comes to mind? A vineyard in Napa Valley, purple and crimson with the sunset? Streams of bright, red wine flowing freely in Rome? How about the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean and a brilliant fusion of Old and New World wines on the Outer Banks?
Because when you come to the Outer Banks looking for an exciting getaway, you'll also find several award-winning wineries and restaurants that offer a memorable experience for wine lovers of all experience levels. Don't forget to pick up a couple of bottles to enjoy back at your vacation rental while you're here! And local, Outer Banks wine always makes the perfect Christmas gift. Come enjoy the taste of Muscadine wine and fresh-pressed Scuppernongs at one of the delectable venues on our very own improvised Outer Banks Wine Tour highlighting some of our favorite spots to enjoy a glass on the Outer Banks.
Duck: The Vineyard Voyage
The first stop on our Outer Banks Wine Tour is its own wine tour in and of itself: The Outer Banks Vineyard Voyage. This spectacular boat ride and wine tour takes you from the town of Duck across the Currituck Sound over to Sanctuary Vineyards. Once there, you’ll arrive at a historic boathouse before enjoying a ride to the vineyard in an open-air 4x4 safari vehicle. At Sanctuary Vineyard, you’ll get a tour of the winery and receive a private wine tasting where you’ll learn the vine-to-glass process of these delectable North Carolina wines and you’ll get to meet the master winemakers and sommeliers that make these wines something wonderful to behold.
Even better, when you stay with Seaside Vacations during your Outer Banks vacation, you can save $10 per adult on Mondays and Tuesdays as part of our Club Seaside program!
Jarvisburg: Sanctuary Vineyards
And even if boat tours aren’t really your thing, you can still take advantage of this amazing vineyard that’s just a few minutes away from the beach and is part of the mainland Outer Banks! You’ll probably recognize driving past it on your way into town, but it’s definitely worth stopping by Sanctuary Vineyards for a tour and tasting for the wine-lover in your family group. Through our Club Seaside program, Seaside Vacations guests can receive a FREE Reserve Wine Tasting and a tour of the winery with their reservation number!
Be sure to try one of their delectable artisan wines that are cultivated on the Outer Banks and range from delicious red wines like Shipwreck, which is a fantastic full-bodied Shiraz, and Double Barrel, an aromatic red blend, to sweet, fruity dessert wines like The Lightkeeper, which is a delicate, strawberry rosé, and Sweet Serenity, an unbelievable Muscadine White Wine that is truly a local wine made from local indigenous grapes.
And after your trip is over, be sure to get a little bit of local Outer Banks flavor shipped directly to your door with Sanctuary Vineyard’s No-Fee Wine Club “the Bunch.” With your membership, you’ll receive a free VIP Tasting at Sanctuary Vineyard, 25% off case purchases at the winery, 1 ticket to your choice of Sanctuary Vineyard’s fun events, and much, much more. This way you don’t have to wait for your next Outer Banks vacation to stock up on your favorite Outer Banks wines!
Kitty Hawk: TRiO Restaurant and Market
TRiO Restaurant and Market is a popular spot on the Outer Banks known for their unbelievable selection of wine, beer, and cheese. Stop by for a FREE Onion Dip Appetizer through our Club Seaside Program when you book your vacation rental home with Seaside Vacations and stay for a delicious wine flight or seasonal wine tasting! TRiO received an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectacular in 2021 for their list of spectacular Old and New World wines. Choose from a Rosé Flight or 3 Flights of your choice sampling the best of what the wine world has to offer. And keep an eye out for their events where you will have the opportunity to taste a selection of curated wines paired with a charcuterie board picked from their Market, which is known up and down the beach for its delectable upscale offerings. Call them at (252) 261-0277 for reservations as these tastings fill up fast! And for around $25 per person, you really can’t beat the experience of a tasting guided by their skill and expertise.
Kill Devil Hills: OBX Winery
Voted 2014 and 2015 “Best of the Beach” Winery, OBX Winery has been serving up delicious, small-batch wines on the Outer Banks for 9 years. Stop by their shop in Kill Devil Hills and pick up a bottle of their specialty wines like “Pirate’s Kiss,” which is a decadent full-bodied red with hints of chocolate, or their yummy “Sir Walter Raleigh White,” which can be found to order at the Lost Colony Tavern in Manteo. And for the more traditional wine drinkers and Vikings in your family group, check out their “Sweet Mead” for a honied alternative to traditional wine that is inspired by a mead legacy as interesting as the history of the Outer Banks itself.
Kill Devil Hills: Chip’s Wine and Beer
When you’re ready for a spot on the beach where you can just relax and enjoy a wine tasting surrounded by people who love their products and love what they do, you can’t miss Chip’s Wine and Beer. Chip’s is known for its carefully curated selection of wine and beer, but their Kill Devil Hills location also boasts a relaxing Tasting Room adjacent to their retail space where you can take advantage of wine tastings and wine flights recommended by their expert staff any time of day. They also offer WiFi for guests, so this is the perfect place to find your new favorite wine that you bring back home with you after your stay! And while you’re there, be sure to check out their samplings of gourmet oils and vinegars. Don’t forget to ask for recommendations for the perfect pairings to add that extra spark to your favorite meal.
Manteo: Vineyards On The Scuppernong
Located in the heart of beautiful downtown Manteo,the next stop on your wine tour of the Outer Banks has to be Vineyards On The Scuppernong. The home base for a beautiful, local winery, Vineyards On The Scuppernong offers free wine tastings, wine accessories, specialty foods, and local art and jewelry. Come find your new favorite vintage and pick up a bottle of this locally-grown Outer Banks wine for everyone on your Christmas list. Their award-winning Scuppernong wines offer a delightful, refreshing taste with something for everyone to enjoy. Be sure to try their Apple Jack and Black “Beary” when in stock. These two delicious wines offer an exciting twist on traditional grape wines and will have you coming back for more.
Manteo: The Mother Vine
This stop is a little less traditional than our others in that you’re not really stopping by for a wine tasting, but this is undoubtedly a pit stop that any wine lover vacationing on the Outer Banks will not want to miss. Located in Manteo, down Mother Vineyard Rd., visitors on their way to the North Carolina Aquarium will see a large vine situated between two houses along with a sign announcing the presence of “The Mother Vine.” According to Atlas Obscura, this vine is believed to be 400 years and may very well be the oldest grapevine to still exist in North America. Even if you don’t decide to purchase a bottle of Duplin Winery’s Mothervine Wine, which is available at most local grocery stores, you’ll definitely want to stop and get a picture with this amazing piece of wine history. The Vine stretches 30 feet by 120 feet at last reckoning and is a beautiful testament to the history and culture of wine in America.
Book Your Next Outer Banks Vacation Today!
Take a look at our available rentals and book your next Outer Banks vacation adventure today so that you can explore the best wine offered on the Outer Banks before back to your cozy beach rental for a wonderful evening of family fun and conversation. Don't forget to pick up a bottle (or three!) of your favorite wines on your way back to your vacation rental to pair and enjoy with an Outer Banks Book because there's nothing in this world that beats a glass of wine, a good book, and the sound of the ocean waves nearby.
About the Author: Lauren is the author of two books and a travel enthusiast. She grew up on the Outer Banks and only left for a few years to get her degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and complete a tour in the Coast Guard before making her way back to the beach in 2017. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with a book and cup of tea in hand, planning her next travel adventure and trying to figure out what happened to the Lost Colony.
