Raintree Cellars

So far so good, my winery a weekend pledge is going full force, 2 stops down and 100+ to go!  My next stop is just right up the road from Hickory, NC, off Hwy 70.

Tucked away in Eastern Burke County, is a little winery gem named Raintree Cellars.  It’s so small if you blink you might miss it.  The location, between a pawn shop and martial arts studio, in the small town of Hildebran and the outer appearance, of timeworn red brick, might make you second guess stopping in, but as you've probably heard before "don't judge a book by its cover".  And that’s just want I did.

I walk into the door and was immediately greeted by the owner, Ed Yoder.  He’s the type of guy you can get to know easily.  He tells great old-timer stories and doesn’t leave room for those awkward silences.  I guess he contains all the qualities you would desire in a wine tasting host. 

The inside of Raintree Cellars is open and crisp.  You have a 3 seated wine tasting bar and a few scattered 2 top tables.  The left portion of the area is dedicated to wine tasting and purchasing but there is also an area to the right where Ed displays his handcrafted wooden knickknacks.  Ed is a man of many trades.

Ed started his business due to the popularity of his homemade wine at his daughter’s wedding.  The “Fuzzy Blossom” is the wine he served then and is still his most popular wine now.  I was able to try a sample of it but unfortunately it was out of stock for bottle purchases.  It’s a scrumptious white wine with a peach aroma.  It’s has a light body with a slight sweetness.  I will definitely be back to nab a bottle of this liquid gold!   

Raintree Cellars offers over 20 different wines to choose from, so there is a little for everyone.  They have your sweet or dry, reds and whites with iconic names like “Golden Globe” (sweet white), “Torpedo Juice” (dry white), “Black Beauty” (sweet red), and “Lover’s Companion” (dry red).  They even have an offering of holiday wines, such as, “Sugar Plum” and “Kandy Kane”.  Can you say yum?

When visiting wineries I always purchase a bottle to take home to enjoy.  On this trip, I purchased the “Oldie Lodie”.  Ed told me it was his most “complex” wine and was costly to produce.  When I had the sampling at the bar the taste told a story of rich berries and cherries with an undertone of chocolate, nut, and spice.  The end has a distinctive pepper sensation.  I was quiet taken back and amazed by all the different flavors in just one little sip.  $20 is on the high side for my typical bottle of wine but there was something special about “Oldie Lodie” and I thought he was worth the investment.

All the wines offered by RaintreeCellars is made right there on the spot.  The location previously housed Ed’s father’s grocery store.  However, Raintree Cellars has only been located off Highway 70 for about 2 years.  Originally it was started in Ed’s home basement (cellar) off Raintree Street, in Burke County. 

I would have to say stopping in at RainTree Cellars was a real delight.  The inside is minimalist and there’s not much room for larger groups but that’s what makes it so exceptional.  Those close intimate conversations with Ed make you feel like he’s family.  And because the property has been owed by his family for decades, when you visit he will make you feel at home. 

Pricing per bottle starts at $10 (Fuzzy Blossom, sweet white) and goes up to $20 (Oldie Lodie, dry red).  The winery is open Wednesday through Saturday and offers free wine tastings.  The winery doesn’t offer shipping but they do attend about 10-12 NC festivals per year where you might be able to find Ed and his exotic wines.  Ed told me “alcohol is a trait of the Yoder Family” and it goes back centuries.  You can taste Ed’s passion and history with wine in each bottle he makes.

Visit Raintree Cellars online at:  www.raintreecellars.com

 If have you visited this or another winery here in NC and would like to share your story, or offer suggestions for my next trip, please email it to natasha3911@aol.com.