My first-ever winery visit was to Summer Wind Winery, and it was everything I hoped it would be…read more I've always wanted to do something like this, and when my relatives came to town looking for something chill but vibey, my Uncle Daryl found the perfect spot. Even the ride there set the tone it was scenic & peaceful, and full of wide-open fields that felt like a refreshing change. It was the kind of drive that makes you slow down and just enjoy the moment. Once we arrived, the winery itself was stunning bold, beautiful. The wine selection was impressive, and I loved getting to explore different flavors. I figured out which wines I enjoy most, which ones aren't for me, and felt like I had a truly immersive first-time tasting experience. The staff at Summer Wind were amazing knowledgeable, friendly, and patient in answering my questions. Although I didn't get to order food this time, I saw plates coming out of the kitchen that looked absolutely delicious, so that's definitely on my list for next visit. I enjoyed myself so much that I'd love to make this a yearly tradition around this time of year. Summer Wind Winery gave me not just great wine, but a great memory, and I'll absolutely be back.

We visited SWV on a Saturday afternoon. The vineyard has beautiful views. Upon arrival, we were…read morecheerfully welcomed by the staff and presented with flight options. The pear sangria was refreshing. SWV offers a variety of food options which SWV freshly prepares upon ordering. SWV has indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor patio is adorned with colorful umbrellas, tables and chairs with spectacular nature views. The indoor seating is adjacent to the tasting room and well air conditioned. We enjoyed the wine & food at SWV and recommend that you visit SWV for an enjoyable wine tasting experience.

This! I've found a new favorite shop here in the Outer Banks. This outlet mall has changed in the…read morepast few years, so I was surprised this shop has actually been here for a few years and there are no reviews. This is actually my third time coming here. Every time I've come in has been a pleasant experience. The store itself is filled with gourmet food, wine, beer and even has a nice cigar section. It's also nice that they serve coffee drinks in the back of the store that you can actually sit and have a drink at the mini bar area. Very cozy and cute! However, I'm sure I've had too much coffee this morning (I'm still drinking an iced coffee from my last stop), so no more coffee so my heart doesn't explode. I settle on a few unique seasoning packs for $20 and am out the door before I decide to buy up a bunch of their delicious chocolates like I did last time I was here! Lastly, thank you to Maria for her prompt and friendly service!

Highly recommend visiting! Has a very unique atmosphere with a coffee/wine bar at very reasonable…read moreprices. We came back every day of our trip to get a delicious coffee and none of them disappointed. The staff is friendly and kind! Definitely check it out

Went out here to support the VHS band and it was a great reminder to why we enjoy this place. First…read moreoff, the band - always amazing :) Second, what a venue. Coming out here and I loved the fact that they were sooo supportive of our daughter coming with us. It was a full house and they were still able to be accommodating. With our daughter, it gets tough b/c they couldn't sit us at the bar. They talked with a couple at the sofa area and they were super cool with us being close by. Between the super awesome old fashioned and wine they gave us, I loved how creative and unique they are with their menu. Overall, this place is such a win. We look forward to our next visit! Food Taste: 5 Overall Service: 5 Value of food to cost: 4 Facility: 5 Ambiance: Small facility that is simple, yet tasteful. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: no

Great experience here - I happened to be in town visiting and this was across the street from my…read morehotel - from the time I walked in I felt very welcomed - I was handed a menu and given the low down on how the tastings work - I decided to go with a glass of wine - I ended up meeting some folks and the bar and just hung out - it's really a cute set up - huge bar - plenty of tables a sitting area with couches - it's also really clean - they also offer a small food menu but I didn't eat anything this visit

I went to the Tinis and Weenies night, which they hold every Wednesday, so this is what I'm rating…read moremy experience on! I saw the event advertised on social media and knew I had to check it out. It's gourmet specialty hot dogs paired with a wide selection of martinis, from classics like lemon drops and cosmos to more unique options like the pickletinis and caprese tinis. I went with a couple of friends around 5:45 and it was packed, but luckily people were leaving as we arrived so we were able to grab a spot. It was a little too chilly to sit outside, but they do have additional seating and I'd definitely sit out there when it's warmer. The food was great. I got the kimchi hot dog and loved it. The brioche bun really stood out, and the chili truffle oil fries were amazing. Everything comes out on a cute little tray, which was a nice touch. For my drink, I tried the pickletini. It was good, but definitely strong, especially if you're new to martinis. One friend got the caprese-tini, which was surprisingly good and came with a caprese skewer, so you get a little snack with it. My other friend got a dirty martini, which she enjoyed, and even as someone who isn't big on olives, I thought it was pretty good. Overall, we all had a great time and will definitely be back to try more of the menu!

This was either the third of fourth time my friends and I have done a drink making class here...one…read moreday we'll actually go for drinks lol. We always have such a great time at the drink making class and this was no exception. Marissa was our teacher and she was excellent! She was knowledgeable about the product and great with helping us make the drinks. She was also fantastic when she let my friend and I swap one of the syrups, hazelnut, for almond since we don't like hazelnut anything lol. The one sort of downside to this particular visit is it would've been nice to know they can't sell any bottles of alcohol after nine. My friends and I spent some time chatting after the class and when we went to buy some bottles, we were told we couldn't because it was after 9. Not a huge deal, but it would've been nice to know.

lovely little place. good wines. good prices. wonderful staff. Weve been to hundreds of wineries…read more many world famous. LOVED this place.

They had delicious wine slushes and very friendly staff members! Great little spot on a hot summer…read moreday.

Service was great. Over priced on tasting. Wine flights weren't all that. Don't try the tapas they…read morehad to offer. Nice selection of wine though.

I went here for my 1st time. I am glad that we made a reservation. The place is tiny....it is a…read morewine shop, not a restaurant. Very cute inside and the wine is all nicely displayed by price. Great for a 1st stop before dinner, 1st date or just something different especially if you like wine. The owners are very nice. I also met an employee Carolyn that was so sweet. We enjoyed a HH wine from 3 to 5. And then stayed for the grilled cheese Wednesday night special. Grilled cheese and a glass of wine for $20. Even though the sandwich was delicious, it was not a grilled cheese so we were a bit disappointed. I was expecting a true grilled cheese with melty cheese and warm and crusty. This was a warmish sandwich with cheese and meat. We did see other menu items that looked delicious and I definitely want to go back and try. If you love wine...especially from Portugal then you have to try this place.

Came here a few weeks ago with some girl friends, and we enjoyed! All 3 of us got the wine flight…read moreand chose our own flavors. The flight was more than enough for me. We ate prior to coming here so we didn't get any food, but i did end up getting a skillet cookie which was sooooo good. Thankfully we came on a warm day, so we were able to sit outside on the patio. The inside was super cute as well, but slightly cold. Which i understand because the weather has been super back and fourth. Our waiter was super nice and helpful. Next time i go back i would like to try their food to see how it is.

Mermaid Winery in Norfolk has been a good experience for me. It doesn't feel like a loud bar or a…read morepressure-to-drink environment. It reads much more like a cozy restaurant with wine, not a wine tasting room where everyone is hovering around flights. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the space itself is interesting and comfortable. It's an easy place to sit, talk, and actually enjoy the people you're with without feeling out of place because you're not drinking. No one makes it weird, no one questions your choice, and you're not the odd one out. The food is the real anchor for me. I go for the meal, the setting, and the conversation, and that's more than enough. It feels like a legitimate dinner spot, not somewhere you're just tagging along while others drink. If you're sober or choose not to drink but still like going out, being social, and enjoying good food in a relaxed environment, this place works. I'm comfortable here, I enjoy the experience, and I'd go again without hesitation.

We were on a Filipino food crawl and needed a break and decided to stop in at the Winery. We love…read morewineries and look for opportunities to visit new ones. We were the only patrons for much of our visit. My birthday daughter and I ordered wine sample flights and chatted up the owner. Wife shopped the gift area and picked out a nice bauble. The good: the owner was very engaging and told us about the wines (and wine slushies) they offer. We asked where the grapes came from and she explained that some came from Chile, some from California (I believe) and other places, and that she blends them here. (This would be expected with no attached vineyard.) The place was very clean, and the restrooms were easily accessible and spacious. The price of the flights was a mere $5 for six communion cup sized samples -- you choose 6 of I guess 12 - 15. Mulled wine is a welcome option on a winter day. The disappointing: While there is a good assortment of wines, and many were on the good side of okay, none stood out and said BUY A BOTTLE OF ME. The fruity sweet wines were VERY sweet, not really good for dessert wine or sipping. (Sorry.) But again, the reds especially were drinkable and pleasant. Verdict: a good stop if you need a break and a glass or two to go with your conversation. Just don't set expectations too high and you'll be fine.

Virginia Beach Winery is not my typical winery as I'm use to visiting but definitely worth the…read morevisit. The winery had a vintage style. Maria the owner was such a doll. Wine is made on site in the distillery and she has been in business for 8 years. We visited on a Saturday and there was a couple of vendors on site selling merchandise. 5 bucks for 6 samples is definitely reasonable. We indulged in the fruit infused wines, draft wines and slushies. I must say the draft wines were delicious and I wished those were bottled so I could have brought them home. All in all great places and would definitely stop in again.

My friend invited me out to Crystal Palate for a wine tasting on a Wednesday and I couldn't wait to…read morestop in. As a wine lover, I love trying new places where I can indulge in a variety of different wines. I was pleasantly greeted as soon as I walked in and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful this place was. They not only offer an assortment of wine, but also a variety of crackers, cheeses, olives, honey and other treats as well. We were offered a sample of the Sage Derby Cheese and it was so good, I bought two lol. Once everyone arrived, we went into the Wine Tasting Room to learn about the wines of the Pacific Northwest and to sample wines from that region. The class was very educational and I learned quite a few things. For example, Cabernet Franc is the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is my favorite wine. Once the tasting wrapped up, we were able to socialize with the group and the staff. We inquired about the membership and they even shared that they offer opportunities to wine school as well. Overall, I had the best time at Crystal Palate! The staff were extremely personable and the wines were great! Wine Wednesday EDUtastings are a great way to learn about different wines from specific regions so definitely stop in if you are a wine lover like myself! You will not be disappointed!!!

Okay... I officially have a new favorite spot, and it's Crystal Palate…read more At this point, my Wednesdays might as well be reserved because their wine tastings are THAT good. Each week they feature a different region and really take you on a full deep dive -- this week was the Pacific Northwest, and between the four wine samples and the education behind each one, I left feeling like I actually learned something (while still having a great time, of course). I brought a friend with me this time -- the same one who originally introduced me to Cooper's Hawk -- so it felt a little full circle being able to put her onto a place for once. And let me just say... she was impressed. Like, immediately texting people about it impressed. Now let's talk about that in-house herb cheddar. I don't even remember exactly what herbs were in it, but I DO know it was so good I had to buy some to take home... and my friend liked it so much she bought two. That should tell you everything you need to know. What really sets Crystal Palate apart though is that it's not just a tasting -- it's an experience. They offer classes, events, and even certification programs if you want to really get into wine and learn how to educate others. You can tell they genuinely love what they do, and it shows in every part of the experience. Honestly, I loved it so much I even asked if they were hiring -- that's how you know it's real. Great wine, great atmosphere, great energy... this place is a whole vibe. So if you're wondering where I'll be on Wednesday nights... you can find me and Lexi right here at Crystal Palate

The menu definitely lets you know that the chef is thoughtful about each component to every dish…read more There are sweet elements tied to savory elements and enough heat or acidity to address the different proteins. I really enjoyed each of the dish and all the beers that are on a tap is the highlight of the restaurant. There are two long tables in the middle for larger groups. The seats are surrounded by TVs and a great spot for the family. The second shift breakfast burger is delicious! The Pork belly BLT is also more refined and will please finer palates. The crispy apple jack chicken has all the ingredients for a delicious sandwich. But I would replace the 3 chicken tenders for a large chunk of chicken breast. That would make the sandwich perfect. If you're looking for a great restaurant for the family during your vacation... take a ride and check it out!

Stopped by for some much needed nutrition and what a neat place. Service was amazeballs and the…read morefood was delightful. The place is a little smaller than I thought, but it was perfect for lunch. Great place to visit as you wait to enter your Corolla beach house.