September 30, 2019

Childress Vineyards was founded in 2004 by NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. With Childress Vineyards, he combined his two loves: California wineries and driving! With a convenient location to his RCR Racing operations, Lexington, N.C. is just an hour’s drive from Charlotte, yet it feels like it’s way out on the west coast. It’s actually the very start of the AVA (Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area,) which is the first federally-designated grape growing region in North Carolina!

Childress Wines was at the forefront of bringing back winemaking culture to North Carolina, which thrived until the Prohibition era. Since the early 2000’s, North Carolina now has over 100 wineries! Their property is comprised of 72 acres of vineyards and 11 varieties of European Vitis vinifera cultivars (for those of us who aren’t well-versed in wine terminology, that basically means “really good wine grapes.”) 

While it’s important to know the facts behind the business, what we’re especially concerned with are the wine barrels. Sure, the wine inside them is fantastic. Yet it’s what happens to them after they’re emptied that benefits us! Brewers much like ourselves will often take empty red, white, rosé, and other varieties of wine barrels and sock away gallons upon gallons of beer in them. Over time, the brew will absorb the notes of wine and wood! We’ve taken Childress barrels that had once held their Cabernet Franc and have been aging a Tropical Brett beer in them for nearly one year. Look forward to that coming out soon!

All in all, Childress Vineyards has excellent wine, very kind staff, and tasty food options. So the next time you’re feeling a little “staycation,” check out Childress! It’s like a trip to California, but only an hour away. Cheers!