Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery — Restaurant in Elizabethtown

Trust me, This Review is worth the Read 👌 See Below:

If you're looking for an escape, a hideaway if you will…A place where all the entities of the hustle and bustle culture are left miles down the highway nowhere in sight… you found it.

I found myself at Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery for 2 nights and I left feeling refreshed and if i'm being honest, I'm already looking for an excuse to return for more country respite.

Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery (also an Award Winning Distillery) has put so much thought into each of their spaces. It's bursting with a homegrown & heartfelt essence that is just what the soul needs; oftentimes without realizing it, our souls have become so accustomed to the fast paced digitized way of life, we often forget, that homegrown is the way we were grown and a return to that is a return to ourselves. The heartfelt touches throughout the property remind us to slow down and smell the roses… and I mean this literally! The rose garden on the property is immaculate and stops you in your tracks!

The cottages you stay in on the property are simply lovely. With each cottage having its own unique name. I loved how they all had rocking chairs on their back patios that overlooked the lake or forest behind it. It was the perfect spot to sip your morning coffee and enjoy nature or wind down at night with a glass of your newly purchased bottle of wine. The cottages all have different features, so you can select which one is best suited for your needs. The cottage I was in was fitted with a kitchen and even a washer and dryer which was an added bonus for me!

The restaurant on the property was called “The Cork Room.” The tasty dishes carefully crafted stood out even by city slicker standards. I HIGHLY recommend The Shrimp and Grits! I ordered it 2 nights in a row! It was simply perfection! We also loved the Pimento Cheese Dip, The Fried Green Tomato Appetizer, and the Cape Fear Monster Burger with Sweet Potato Fries! The executive chef Timothy puts great pride into his food and he is as friendly as they come! Don't forget to order a wine flight with dinner! It's a great way to select your favorite wines to take back home to the city with you. On Saturdays and Sundays they offer a warm breakfast and I was thoroughly impressed! I had the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict and it was done perfectly! My husband had the Breakfast Burger that oozed with Egg Yolk perfection!

On the property they offer a lovely day spa, where you can experience self care at its finest! My husband and I got a full body massage and it was so peaceful.

One of the unique features of this property is the extensive collection of artwork! From Picasso, to Salvador Dali, to hand drawn sketches by Marilyn Monroe and Micheal Jackson! Around every corner you will find authentic artwork you thought would only be viewable in a museum far far away! They also feature celebrity outfits throughout the property! Famous outfits worn by Micheal Jsckson, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and More!

The property has dozens of friendly farm animals that brought smiles to our faces. The donkeys loved to be pet! Not to mention the resident peacock named Elvis! He will cruise by you, unbothered and adorned with his beautiful feathery display.

Don't forget to take a Distillery tour from Brenda and see how their spirits are made! What a unique process it is! After your tour, walk on over to The Tipsy Toad Gallery to have your own personal Distillery/Wine Tasting!

The rocking chairs overlooking the lake and the walking trails beyond it weaving into the forest… are the perfect way to rock or walk off the food and wine slumber you may find yourself in.

At the end of the day as the sun begins to set, head inside the restaurant and ask them to turn on the big fire pit next to the Muscadine vines and the Koi Fish Pond!

I digress, Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery is so much more than a place. It's an Exhale. It's a Taste. It's a Feeling. It's a Pace. I hope you see for...

A Magical Daddy-Daughter Spring Break Stop at Cape Fear Winery On our way from Greenville, South Carolina to Bald Head Island, my 11-year-old daughter and I planned what we thought would be a quick detour—just a simple stop at Cape Fear Winery to visit an old friend. But what began as a brief pause turned into one of the most cherished memories of our lives.

We were greeted at the onsite restaurant by Alex, a dear friend I hadn’t seen in over 20 years since our days working together at Bald Head Island, selling that incredible island’s finest cottages and homes. Reuniting—with my daughter by my side—was already something special.

The restaurant was full of charm and creative energy. One of the most captivating features was its rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia collection, with over 50 original pieces, including real outfits worn by icons like Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, and Mick Jagger—just to name a few of these legendary stars. Autographed photos and detailed descriptions accompanied many of the displays, turning the space into a living tribute to music history. We found ourselves completely absorbed, reading each story and imagining the lives behind those garments.

Above the bar hung a tastefully vibrant mural, painted in blended hues inspired by different types of wine—deep reds, rich golds, and soft whites. Each stroke of the artist’s brush flowed into the next, creating a colorful yet elegant visual experience that perfectly reflected the winery's creative spirit.

After a warm meal, Alex brought us to the gift shop, where he introduced us to Tipsy—a true gem of the resort. Her joyful personality and kind-hearted nature were immediately infectious. You could tell she genuinely loved people, and the feeling was mutual. With confidence, Alex left my daughter Eve in Tipsy’s care, and he and I returned to the bar to catch up on old times and reminisce about our Bald Head Island days.

About an hour later, Tipsy came back with Eve absolutely glowing—and with a phone full of unforgettable moments. She showed me the photos of Eve feeding animals, laughing joyfully, and even a peacock eating out of her hand. As a dad, seeing my daughter in that moment of pure joy and connection with nature was beyond special.

Later, Alex gave us a personal tour of the 16-acre property. Every winding path revealed a new surprise—from peaceful ponds and hidden cottages, to whimsical statues, a rustic party barn, and even a full outdoor concert venue. But the true heart of the visit came next.

We arrived at a charming, farm-style animal sanctuary—complete with llamas, Shetland ponies, donkeys, peacocks, and more. But the most touching moment was learning about the rescued kangaroo. Alex shared how he once found the animal chained to a post in a cramped 4-foot space. Though it wasn’t for sale, Alex refused to leave without it. After bringing it back, the kangaroo was so conditioned by confinement that it wouldn’t move more than 4 feet in any direction—until Alex patiently, lovingly coaxed it into freedom, one step at a time. That story was unforgettable. It’s the kind of experience that stays with you.

We only meant to stop for a moment—but we didn’t want to leave. Thankfully, Alex had one room left, with the rest booked for a wedding party. Eve and I felt incredibly lucky to stay the night and extend what had become a perfect day. That evening, we looked through the photos, knowing we’d made memories that would live with us forever.

Cape Fear Winery was so much more than a stop on the road. It became a powerful and personal chapter in our journey—a mix of friendship, creativity, kindness, nature, and wonder.

Alex, Tipsy, and the rest of your wonderful staff—thank you for your gracious hospitality and for giving us the gift of this experience. It’s a place we’ll...

My husband and I planned a visit to get wedding details. It seemed to be the perfect place for a wedding, especially lake front. When we set a date and put down a hefty deposit, we returned a week later for our scheduled appointment for food tasting and going over wedding details. Derrick wasn’t there and no one was expecting us, even though we drove over an hour to get there. No one knew what to do. We reschedule for the following week and again, Derrick wasn’t there and neither was the person that rescheduled us. So they hurriedly threw together some food samples while we waited for someone to show up. Only to find out the lake has been drained leaving only mud and stumps sticking out of the ground. Not because they told us but because we walked the grounds. The lady that finally showed up said verbatim “we could just superimpose a lake in the photos with photoshop”. I seriously couldn’t believe that came out of her mouth.

Then they rescheduled us for a week later for another detail planning. Derrick was there and was rude and could not give us any information about photographers, officiants or anything other than the food. He dismissed every concern and made my husband and I feel as if our wedding was beneath him. Even our choice of cake disgusted him as he told us.

Then after numerous emails, phone calls and trying to finalize details about lodging for family etc, I waited. ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING, I called and spoke to Derrick and he said “the magic happens within the week of the wedding so all the details will be finalized.” And as the days passed, no photographer, no officiant, no information other than they were going to TRY to put our wedding in the vineyard between the aisles of vines because they overbooked us and another wedding. I was furious. So we cancelled. I was told the deposit was non refundable. They did not hold up their end of the contract we signed. It was a nightmare and Derrick is the worst for communication. Even reaching out to the owner and leaving him several messages was no help. They just kept the money and were happy not to have to deal with any of it.

Since all that happened no one apologized, no one offered any sincere ownership of their faults in taking away from our wedding day. And of course they kept our money. We didn’t get ANY services for what we paid other than us spending a lot of mileage back and forth, paying for food while we did visit, and having numerous phone calls and emails taking up much needed time to plan an actual wedding. This place is awful and I would never recommend anyone going there. They make it seem great and tell you what you want to hear to get your deposit, but if you want a good wedding BEWARE THEY DO NOT CARE!!! If what you want is important, they will NOT...