Shelton Vineyards facts for kids

Shelton Vineyards is a large, family-owned winery in Dobson, North Carolina. It is one of the biggest family-owned wineries in North Carolina. The vineyard is located in the beautiful Yadkin Valley, near Mt. Airy. The entire property covers about 406-acre (1.64 km²) acres. The wines made here show the special qualities of the Yadkin Valley land. Shelton Vineyards has won many awards for its wines over the years.

A Look Back: How Shelton Vineyards Started

Shelton Vineyards is located in Dobson, North Carolina. It began in its current form in 1994. That year, brothers Charlie and Ed Shelton bought the land. This land was just a few miles from where they grew up.

The winery building is very large, about 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m²) square feet. Around 200-acre (0.81 km²) acres of grapevines are planted in the vineyard. The vineyard is part of the Yadkin Valley AVA. This area has a climate similar to some famous wine regions in Europe. This helps the grapes grow well.

Yadkin Valley Becomes a Special Wine Region

In 2002, the Shelton brothers asked the government to make the Yadkin Valley an "American Viticultural Area" (AVA). An AVA is a special grape-growing region. It has unique climate and soil that affect the taste of the wine.

In 2003, the government approved their request. The Yadkin Valley became the very first AVA in North Carolina. This was an important step for winemaking in the state.

Grapes Grown at Shelton Vineyards

Shelton Vineyards grows many different types of grapes. These grapes are carefully harvested to make their wines. Each type of grape gives the wine a different flavor and style.

Here are some of the grapes grown:

• Cabernet Franc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chardonnay
• Merlot
• Malbec
• Petit Verdot
• Riesling
• Sauvignon blanc
• Tannat
• Viognier