About McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks
McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks sits on roughly 30 acres in Thurmond, Wilkes County, where the Yadkin Valley foothills start climbing toward the Blue Ridge. Sean and Patricia McRitchie opened it in 2006 and have run it as a family operation since, close enough to Stone Mountain State Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and historic Elkin to make it an easy stop on a mountain drive.
Sean McRitchie is a second-generation winemaker who grew up between the Napa Valley and Oregon's Willamette Valley and worked harvests in Australia, France and Germany before settling in North Carolina. The house style leans toward dry, European-inflected table wines, built from estate fruit and grapes bought from Yadkin Valley growers, and the list has included Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot, a Sparkling Niagara and the signature Ring of Fire Red.
The cider side is the historical footnote worth knowing: McRitchie produced North Carolina's first hard cider, pressed from locally grown apples out of the Brushy Mountains, in both drier and semi-sweet styles. Farming is deliberately low-impact and the winemaking low-intervention. The tasting room is small, with porches, gardens and picnic tables under the trees, so reservations are worth making even though walk-ins are accommodated when space allows.
North Carolina's first hard cider, made on 30 acres where the foothills meet the Blue Ridge.
✓
NC's first hard cider,McRitchie pressed the state's first hard cider from local Brushy Mountain apples, dry and semi-sweet.
✓
Second-generation winemaker,Sean McRitchie grew up in Napa and the Willamette Valley and worked harvests in Australia, France and Germany.
✓
Ring of Fire Red,the signature red alongside Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot and a Sparkling Niagara.
✓
Porches and picnics,a small tasting room with gardens, shade trees and mountain views minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
"North Carolina's first hard cider, made on 30 acres where the foothills meet the Blue Ridge."
Visit Pending
Score Breakdown
Ratings will appear after verified reviews
Wine Quality
Not yet rated
Tasting Experience
Not yet rated
Value for Money
Not yet rated
Family Friendly
Not yet rated
Dog Friendly
Not yet rated
Reviews Across the Web
, loading...
WN
Wino Notion
Not yet rated
Awaiting reviews
Scores from
Google Maps via its official API · Updated every 24 hours · Click any row to view full reviews
Featured Wines
Current Releases
Wines change with each vintage
For an accurate list of current-release wines and library bottlings from McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks, please check the winery's official website or contact the tasting room directly. North Carolina producers typically rotate vintages and offerings seasonally.
🍷
Tasting Experiences Vary
Current tastings, tours, and pricing have not been verified for this winery. Check the winery’s official listing or call ahead to confirm what is offered before you visit.
Photo Gallery
Recent Reviews from Our Community
No Community Reviews Yet
This winery does not have any published Wino Notion community reviews yet. Be the first to share a recent visit and help other wine travelers know what to expect.
Write the First Review →
Not Yet Reviewed
Piccione Vineyards
North Carolina
Not Yet Reviewed
Pleb Urban Winery
North Carolina
Not Yet Reviewed
Rayson Winery & Vineyards
North Carolina
Not Yet Reviewed
Rise of the Fallen Meadery
North Carolina