NC wine & grape industry has created 5700 jobs
 
About RayLen


joe and joyce neelyJoe and Joyce Neely were inspired by a trip to Italy to open a winery in North Carolina - no easy task less than ten years ago. RayLen produced its first wines in 2000 and opened its doors for business in 2001 with the completion of the Tasting Room. RayLen Vineyards & Winery became a bonded winery in April of 2001 when only four other wineries in the Yadkin Valley existed. Today, there are over twenty wineries in the AVA approved Yadkin Valley and over 70 wineries in North Carolina.

 

 

When Vintner Steve Shepard first began making wines for RayLen Vineyards & Winery in 2000, only 2500 combined cases of Chardonnay, South Mountain's Vineyard Chardonnay, Merlot, Carolinius, and Shiraz were produced. Today, production is over 10,000 cases of 16 different wines, including Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Pale Red, and the pre-eminent Category 5 Cabernet Blend. Awarded "Best in Show" in the Mid-Atlantic Wine Competition for the 2005 vintange, the Category 5 remains RayLen's most popular red wine. Named after the biggest and boldest hurricane, this Cabernet blend is powerful.


 

...and the rest of RayLen's Staff

Denell Faak

Denell Faak

Integrated Solutions International Accounting Administrator When you visit RayLen, you should have a glass of wine on the porch and enjoy the beautiful sunset. Favorite Wine: Eagle Select

Leah Shaw

Leah Shaw

RayLen Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room Specialist When you visit RayLen, you must bring Snook's BBQ and stay for the afternoon. Favorite Wine: The Riesling is a great surprise - it's lovely!

Evan Frisby

Evan Frisby

BB&T Credit Analyst When you visit RayLen, you need to try at least one wine you don't think you'll like... you might just surprise yourself! Favorite Wine: 2005 Merlot  

Stacy Johnson

Stacy Johnson

From Thyme to Time Personal Chef When you visit RayLen, Join the wine club so you can receive RayLen wine at your door! Favorite Wine: Depends which day it is! In the summer, I love Viognier and in the winter I shuffle between Category 5 and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Brian Perry

Brian Perry

University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Graduate Student. When you visit RayLen on a nice day you should take a load off and relax with a glass/bottle of wine on the rocking chairs outside. Favorite wine: Currently, 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Melissa Perry

Melissa Perry

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina Marketing Specialist When you visit RayLen, you must try everything - even those varietals you think you don’t like. You might find a new favorite! Favorite wine: Cabernet Sauvignon at the moment.

Keysha Macklin

Keysha Macklin

Goodwill Industries of NWNC Accounts Payable Clerk When you visit RayLen, you must have a glass of wine and go on a tour to learn about the wine making process. Favorite Wine: Yadkin Gold

Annabet Vestal

Annabet Vestal

Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corporation Applications Administrator When you visit RayLen, make it the FIRST AND LAST vineyard you visit that day, and you must try ALL the wines! Favorite wine: Cabernet Sauvignon

Diane Julian

Diane Julian

Forsyth County Tax Administration Dept IT Support Analyst When you visit RayLen, you must relax in a rocking chair at sunset with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. Favorite Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon

Karyn Howard

Karyn Howard

RayLen Vineyards & Winery Marketing & Events When you visit RayLen, you must buy some wine and enjoy the sunset Favorite Wine:  2007 Viognier  

John Marshall

John Marshall

RayLen Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room Manager, Resident Expert. When you visit RayLen, you must taste the Reds. Favorite Wine: Eagle’s Select

 

Sit and Sip

Taste the wines, tour the facility, and settle yourself in on the porch with a great bottle of wine, grown and produced by RayLen Vineyards & Winery.
 
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RayLen's Hours

OPEN FOR TASTING
** Monday to Saturday **
11 am to 6 pm - closed Sundays

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2007 Vintage

Look for 2007 vintage wines from North Carolina, a pinnacle year for the vineyards of North Carolina. If the vineyards were lucky enough to survive the late Easter freeze, the fruit produced that summer was exquisite because of the drought. RayLen Vineyards & Winery is currently offering several 2007 wines. Don’t wait to purchase your 2007 wines. The 80 cases of the 2007 Viognier sold out in 2 months!

Category 5

Although RayLen has a fine array of 16 different wines, there is one that nearly every guest asks for: Category 5. A powerful Bordeaux blend named after the biggest hurricane, this proprietor’s blend won “Best in Show” in the Mid-Atlantic Wine Competition for the 2005 vintage. Stop by and taste why Southern Living listed the Category 5 in their Holiday Gift Guide (November 2008).

 

Wine Tasting

Red Flight

A Red Flight is $6 and features the following wines:

  • Carolinius
  • Shiraz
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Category 5
  • Pale Red

White Flight

A White Flight is $6 and features the following wines:

  • Pinot Grigio
  • Chardonnay
  • Barrel Chardonnay
  • Viognier
  • Yadkin Gold
  • Riesling

Complete Flight

A Complete Flight is $10 and comprises the Red and White Flights as well as these Reserves:

  • South Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay
  • Eagle's Select
  • Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery Tours

 

RayLen barrels

Winery Tours

Visitors can experience the exciting world of the wine making process on an informative tour through the winery with RayLen's resident expert, Johnny Marshall. Whether the grapes are being harvested, processed in the presses, or aging in the oak barrels, there is always something to see on a tour.

 

Stainless vats

Tasting Room

RayLen's Store

RayLen furniture offerings

There is a great selection of wine-related items in the store -- including tee-shirts, glassware and other wine-related sundries. Also available for purchase is the beautiful funiture by 2-Day Design, which has been created from recycled wine barrels. The funiture line features a number of tables, chairs, wine racks, and cabinets.

Tasting Room

In the Tasting Room, guests have a choice of three different flights and get to keep a souvenir glass. Wine is available for purchase in the Tasting Room, on the website, or in your local wine shop.

Visit our Tasting Room...

Special Events

Special Events

RayLen Vineyards & Winery hosts five festivals a year. Festivals range in cost from $10 - $15 per person at a cash gate. Admission includes complimentary glass of wine , souvenir glass, music, and parking. Catered food is available for purchase. Reservations are recommended. Picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs are welcome. Pets and coolers are prohibited.

Case Club Members

There are dozens of benefits to being a Case Club Member or a Wine Club Member, including admission into Special Events and case purchase discounts. Ask one of the Tasting Room Specialists about joining one of the Clubs today.

Hotels/Limo

Limo Services

RayLen is a proponent of Responsible Wining.

  • Yadkin Valley Wine Tours (336) 413-6536
  • American Limousine (704) 576-5309
  • Park Avenue Limousine This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (336) 789-2078
  • First Class Limousine (Charlotte area) (336) 345-1227
  • Prestige Limousine Service, Inc. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (336) 312-3240
  • Vintage Treks (336) 408-4259
  • Blue Diamond Limousine (877) 277-7433

Bed & Breakfast

Enjoy a weekend get-away at one of these fine accommodations

Area Hotels

Hotels in the area