6 Chatham County Events for Wonderful Wine-Lovers this Winter

If you enjoy a glass of fine wine, Chatham County has got you covered! From winery tours to an annual “Spa-la-la-la-la,” you’ll be able to avoid the winter blues this month by pampering yourself and your taste buds.

North Carolina is fast-becoming known for its plethora of wines. With optimal climate and rolling terrain, Chatham County and the surrounding areas have produced several incredible wineries that use locally-sourced ingredients to make unique but delicious products. From honey-based wine made by Starrlight Mead to the fortified wines of Fair Game Beverage Company, there’s something for everyone.

To experience these delicious wines for yourself, try out any of these six events, all happening this month.

1. Tour the Fair Game Beverage Company and Try Fortified Wine (Fridays and Saturdays, Weekly)

Fortifying wine is an old tradition in which brandy was added to wine for several reasons: to enhance flavor, to stop a fermentation, or to prolong the shelf life of a wine. (Port, Sherry and Vermouth are the best known styles of fortified wine.)

Curious? You can try it for yourself when you tour the Fair Game Beverage Company, a distillery located right inside Chatham County. The distillery is truly a North Carolina company, sourcing grape wines from Benjamin Vineyards, a winery and vineyard located in the Haw River Valley. The fruit used for apple and peach wines comes from Western North Carolina, as well as from Sandhills and Piedmont producers. The result is a unique, but delicious set of wines and spirits. See the process yourself when you tour the distillery, where you’ll also enjoy a tasting of one of the products!

Price: 10 / person, includes wine tasting and souvenir glass
When: 6:30 p.m. on Fridays; 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays
Where: 193 Lorax Lane, Pittsboro, NC 27312
For more information: To find out more and to RSVP, click here.

2. Warm Up with Spiced Apple Mead (Saturday, January 9)

It’s taken awhile, but it’s finally beginning to feel like winter around here. But that doesn’t mean you should stay indoors for the next two months! Come out to the Wine Merchant in Cary and enjoy a tasting of Starrlight Mead’s spiced apple mead, all warmed up and toasty. With a wonderful apple flavor enhanced with spices of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, this mead tastes like apple pie in a glass!

Starrlight Mead, based in Chatham County, produces meads, which are honey-based wines sourced entirely from North Carolina beekeepers. For a full list of their meads (which includes Blackberry Mead and Pomegranate Pink Peppercorn Mead) click here.

When: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, January 9
Where: 4240 NW Cary Parkway, Cary, NC 27513
For more information: To find out more and to RSVP, click here.

3. Relax and Unwind at Cloer Family Vineyards’ “Spa-la-la-la-la” (Thursday, January 14)

Come enjoy a special Ladies’ Night Out at Cloer Family Vineyards in Apex, where the focus is entirely on you. Allow yourself to be pampered as you forget about all the stresses of your New Year’s Resolutions and life in general. You can even come in your pajamas!

While it is a bit of a trip for Chatham County residents, it will be worth it! The evening includes: a glass of wine, foot and hand treatments, facials, and much more. Gifts are also available for purchase at the end of the night, including wonderful wine/chocolate/spa packages, perfect for Valentine’s Day. Be sure to RSVP by January 11!

Price: $30 / person
When: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, January 14
Where: 8624 Castleberry Road, Apex, NC 27523
For more information: To find out more and to RSVP, click here.

4. Try New Classic Wines at Fearrington Village (Thursday, January 14)

Get the scoop on what’s new in wine when you attend the “New Classic Wines” event at Fearrington Village, where you’ll explore Sauvignon Blanc from Casablanca in Chile, Riesling from the Finger Lakes in New York, Viognier from Virginia, and much, much more. Wine Director Maximilian Kast will lead you through a world tour of some of the best “new classic” wines of today.

Price: $35 / person, includes wine, cheese plate, service fee and tax
When: 6 p.m., Thursday, January 14
Where: Fearrington Village
For more information: To find out more and to RSVP, click here.

5. Explore the Diversity of Spanish Wines (Thursday, January 21)

As most wine-lovers know, Spain is home to some of the most famous grapes in the world, from Albrarino, Verdejo, and Viura to Tempranillo, Monastrell and Garnacha. In this wine tasting event, you’ll be lead by David Kemmerer of Ole Imports, one of the leading Spanish wine importers in the United States, as you try these delicious and diverse flavors from the Mediterranean.

Price: $35 / person, includes wine, cheese plate, service fee and tax
When: 6 p.m., Thursday, January 21
Where: Fearrington Village
For more information: To find out more and to RSVP, click here.

6. Learn How to Make Your Own Mead (Saturday, January 30)

If you visit the Starrlight Mead tasting (See Event No. 2 above) and you like what you see (or taste!), you’re in luck! The Meadery is hosting a DIY mead making class at the end of the month. At the class, you’ll learn to make your favorite beverage at home and leave with a 1-gallon bubbling mead of your own. This is typically a popular class, so be sure you sign up quickly!

Price: $55 / person; $50 for Mead Club Members
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, January 30
Where: 480 Hillsboro Street, Suite 1000, Pittsboro, NC 27312
For more information: To find out more and to RSVP, click here.