Stonefield Cellars Winery — Attraction in Stokesdale

If you’re looking for a winery experience that’s equal parts charming, confusing, and mildly feral—look no further than Stonefield Cellars. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a gang of chickens that were clearly going through an identity crisis. With their suspiciously featherless necks and judgmental stares, they strutted around like buzzards on vacation. I’m not saying they were plotting something, but I did hear one cluck in Morse code.

The grounds had what I’d call a rustic chaos—think “secret garden” but if the gardener was legally blind and using a weed whacker as a cane. There’s an ambiance of wild freedom here, like nature just gave up halfway and decided to let it ride.

Enter Cooper: the feline face of the operation. He’s friendly, fluffy, and the kind of cat that insists on being involved in every single moment of your wine tasting. Pet me. Look at me. Talk to me. Honestly, Cooper has stronger customer service skills than half the people I’ve met in retail. He deserves his own tip jar.

Now to the wine—decent, though the prices made me question if I was buying the bottle or a small vineyard in France. And just when I thought I’d be sipping from elegant glassware, out came the plastic Chinet cups. Nothing says “bougie on a budget” quite like swirling a $12 wine in what looks like leftover wedding receptionware.

To pair with this upscale picnic experience? Cheese and crackers from a plastic container and a box. And I don’t mean a charming little charcuterie kit. No, I’m pretty sure I saw a staff member emerge from the back with a box of Ritz and a Target bag of cheddar cubes. We’re talking “aisle five, near the Lunchables” level cuisine.

But to be fair—the staff was absolutely lovely. Genuinely helpful, incredibly sweet, and totally committed to making sure you enjoy your stay…even if you’re dodging buzzard-chickens and chasing Cooper off every five minutes.

Would I come back? Absolutely. But next time, I’m bringing my own wine glass, my gardening shears, and maybe a feather boa so the chickens stop trying...

I called this vineyard 2 days before my wedding to ask if we could have a photo session at this location. Natalie was super nice and was able to squeeze us in. As soon as we got there, she offered us a complimentary glass of wine. She made sure the photographers knew the good spots in order to get the best possible pictures. Natalie was always by our side and was super supportive. Her warm personality really gives this place a sense of home. Me and my husband used to live in the area and would come here for wine tastings. Thank you Natalie for being a bright and fun addition to our special day. Every time me and my husband look at our pictures, we will always remember Stonefield...

If you need a safe and wonderful place to go to escape, you have found it! Great wine! Friday concerts offer a variety of awesome tunes and the winery has taken great care to ensure you are safe with proper social distancing in a manner that does not detract from a good time had by all. Natalie, Robert, Sarah, Jon, and Kelley even put up tents on the lawn tonight so most of us were shielded from the passing showers during the Friday Flavors concert. I encourage you to visit. You won’t be disappointed. Wine, food, music, all in a safe environment. What more can...