Bottles of Sanctuary Vineyards’ wines.
When you’ve had plenty of sun and need a break from the beach, Sanctuary Vineyards provides the perfect refuge during your vacation to the Currituck Outer Banks.
Owned and operated by the Wright family, Sanctuary Vineyards is located on a quaint farm on the Currituck sound side, off U.S. Highway 158 in Jarvisburg, North Carolina. Although the Wright family has been farming here for seven decades, it wasn’t until 2002 that Sanctuary Vineyards started making commercial wines. Starting with one acre, the vineyard has grown to 25 acres over the years, stacking up awards and accolades along the way for its world-class wines.
Growing only European-style grapes, Sanctuary Vineyards produces more than a dozen different wines every year, from chardonnay and cabernet to merlot, pinot and syrah.
You can visit the winery for free tastings daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s always a good idea to call ahead or check social media to ensure the winery isn’t reserved for a private event or wedding.
Tastings usually take about 30 minutes. They’re held indoors.
“We usually have four to six wines available to taste,” said General Manager and Winemaker John Wright. “We encourage guests to pick the ones they’re most interested in. We recommend tasting dry to sweet and white to red, in general.”
Make sure to try Wild Pony White, Sanctuary’s No. 1 dry wine and bestseller that’s made with chardonnay, pinot gris, viognier, sauvignon blanc and chardonnel. It’s the perfect wine to take home to remember your family vacation on the Currituck Outer Banks. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds benefits the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.
Sanctuary Vineyards now offers Reserve Tasting with wines from its handcrafted line. Give yourself an hour to savor these wines, produced in small quantities. These wines are available first to members of Sanctuary’s wine club, The Bunch. Call the winery for more details.
For the fullest experience, take a free tour of the winery. Tours take place Monday through Friday at 1 p.m. Plan on staying at Sanctuary at least an hour if you take the tour.
It’s a good idea to make a reservation for wine-tasting if your group includes eight or more people. No sitter? No problem. Kids are welcome at the winery, which features a family-friendly atmosphere. There’s no official dress code either, but casual attire is welcome.
If you don’t feel like driving to the winery from your beach house rental, you can always come by boat. Kitty Hawk Kites offers a Vineyard Voyage for ages 5 and up. Climb aboard in Duck, NC, and make your way to the winery across the gorgeous Currituck Sound. An open air 4X4 safari truck will take you from the boathouse to the winery.
Be sure to come on Thursdays this summer to enjoy live music. Picnic fare is available to go from the winery’s café, Thyme and Tide, adjacent to the winery at the Cotton Gin.
For your convenience, Sanctuary provides wine tasting inside the Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg as well as the Cotton Gin stores in Nags Head, Corolla and Duck. Bottle prices range from $14 to $50.
Sanctuary Vineyards is located at 7005 Caratoke Highway, Jarvisburg, NC. For more information, call (252) 491-2387.
