Stony Knoll Vineyards

Location & Atmosphere:  Located several miles east of I-77 in Dobson, NC, Stony Knoll Vineyards is a small but pleasant winery. A modern tasting building overlooks the rolling hills of the vineyard, providing a nice view. Owned by Van & Kathy Coe, it is a North Carolina Century Farm, meaning that the land has been farmed continuously for more than 100 years, with a historic wine lodge on the property that you can rent.

 
The Wines:  They offer both a steel fermented Chardonnay, as well as an oak barrel version, and both are very good. The Viognier is solid. Their reds, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin are all very consistent, with a smooth and long finish. We didn’t try any of their wines that we didn’t like. We did not sample any of their sweet wines, all of which seemed to be made from vinefera (traditionally dry) grapes. We understand that Stony Knoll sells some of its grapes to other wineries in the area.
 

Events/ Shopping/ Other Amenities:  We were disappointed at the lack of other activities, although Stony Knoll does join with other area wineries in the Vineyard Stomp races. There were no shopping opportunities.

 
Tastings:  In the pleasant tasting room, wine tastings are available for $7 per person, and wines by the glass are $5. 

Value:  Costing between $12 and $20 per bottle, Stony Knoll’s wines are very reasonably priced. Mary and Kay (pictured left) are knowledgeable and pleasant for tastings.

Rating:This is a pleasant property, which has very good wines. But we struggled to find anything really outstanding or remarkable here. There was not a great porch to enjoy a glass of wine, nor any list of activities or items for purchase. Still, Stony Knoll qualifies as a solid three-star experience.