NASCAR team owner Richard Childress became the newest vintner in North Carolina's growing wine industry when he opened the doors to Childress Vineyards, his signature winery and world class winemaking facility in Lexington, NC in 2004.

Located at the crossroads of Highways 52 and 64, Childress Vineyards is easily accessible to visitors from all major cities in the state.

The general hours of operation are 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday and Noon until 6 pm on Sunday.

Just as quality is a hallmark at Richard Childress Racing, so it is at Childress Vineyards. Following this promise of quality, Richard challenged award-winning winemaker Mark Friszolowski to produce world class wines in North Carolina. Mark more than succeeded all expectations.

Varietals include white types of Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling and the red varieties of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec – the five grapes blended in the red wines of Bordeaux – plus Syrah and Sangiovese.

Childress Vineyards offers their Classic House wines, Varietals, Signature Reserves, sweet dessert wines, muscadine wines and a sparkler.

The winery has a comfortable, Old World feel with a rustic, aged look reminiscent of a Tuscan villa. Most of the winery's production facilities can be seen from open air walkways or viewing platforms, designed to give the visitors a highly interactive experience in the winemaking process.

Tours and wine tastings are conducted daily and visitors can also browse the Gift Shoppe in our Tasting Room. Wine tastings range in price from $10-$15 and souvenir glasses are included. Free tours are conducted daily at Noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm. on weekdays and every hour on the hour on Saturday and Sunday. Group tours can be scheduled by special arrangement.

Wine Enthusiast magazine recently name Childress Vineyards one of America’s Top 25 Tasting Rooms in the May 2008 issue. The magazine asked its editors and contributors to suggest tasting rooms that were memorable to them for a number of reasons. Wine quality was the top criteria considered, followed by décor, staff savvy, amenities and overall uniqueness.

Visitors can also enjoy lunch at the Bistro in seating overlooking the Fermentation Cellar or on the Terrace and lawns overlooking the vineyards. Lunch is served daily from 11 am to 3 pm and a Brunch menu is served on Sunday.

The winery hosts many special events that are open to the public. Among the most popular is the Music in the Vineyards series, free outdoor musical performances held on weekend afternoons at the winery from May through October. See the website for more information.

Banquet facilities are also available to rent at Childress Vineyards. The winery can accommodate groups of 250 for seated functions or up to 500 for wine receptions. An intimate Barrel Cave can host small meetings or dining events for 14 and the Barrel Room is available for functions of up to 50 people.

Our 35,000-square-foot facility at Childress Vineyards is poised to become a destination for visitors and North Carolinians alike. Designed by Winston-Salem, NC architect Kyle Troxell, the stone and stucco building, with its ornate terra cotta roof is inspired by the Italian Renaissance architecture of rural Tuscany. The winery's opulent interiors are the creation of Wolf Design Group in Atlanta, GA.

Wherever you turn at Childress Vineyards, you'll find an opportunity to experience old world charm, whether you're relaxing with one of our Chardonnays on a balcony or enjoying music and one of our Merlots in a sitting area.
Want to get an up-close look at winemaking? Our state-of-the-art wine production center is designed to be a highly interactive experience. Here you'll get to see, hear, smell and taste the winemaking process. And, you'll get to witness the craft of winemaking under the guidance of one of the most award-winning winemakers in America today, Mark Friszolowski. The wines Friszolowski has produced are both a commercial and critical success. In competitions from New York to California, he has received more than 300 awards, including many double-gold and gold awards for varietals such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Meritage, and specialty dessert wines. His wines were named to the 50 Best Wines of the World twice. They were also the top-selling Chardonnay and Merlot at New York City's Tavern on The Green restaurant and also featured at The Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center and at Windows on the World in the former World Trade Center.
o Discover the world of winemaking with daily tours and tastings. o Enjoy wine with Mark Friszolowski at a winemaker-hosted dinner o Get a taste of the wildlife with our wild-game dinners o Experiment with different wines and entrees at a "pairings" dinner o Browse our Gift Shop and Dine at our Bistro o Enjoy Fast Track Wine Club "Members Only" events. o Schedule your next special event at Childress Vineyards