🎁 Here Are a Few of Our Favorite Things!🎄
Gift Ideas for Yourself or the Wine Lover on Your List! |
Celebrate the season at Raffaldini Vineyards, where old-world Italian tradition meets the magic of the Holidays. Whether you’re hosting, toasting, or gifting, our award-winning wines bring warmth and sophistication to every holiday moment.
Browse our exclusive holiday bundles to find the perfect bottle—or mix and match to build your own thoughtful gift. Looking for something extra special? Join us for festive tastings and cozy gatherings around the vineyard, surrounded by stunning winter scenery.
Round out your gift list with our curated accessories and custom sets, or let our helpful staff assemble a beautifully wrapped basket that’s ready to place under the tree. From elegant glassware to limited-edition wines, each option is crafted to make your holiday gifting effortless and memorable.
This Christmas, share the artistry—and the joy—of Raffaldini Vineyards with friends and family, and savor moments you’ll remember long after the last sip.
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Wine Club Member SpotlightErnie and Kathy Holley
We’re Ernie and Kathy Holley, retired chemical engineers who met while working for Texas oil refineries; Ernie a South Carolina native and Kathy from Indiana. After marrying, we traded that gritty world for North Carolina’s beauty, and our 40-year marriage has thrived despite demanding careers. Now, in these go-go retirement years, we’ve ditched commutes & work stress for hiking sticks and backpacks, determined to savor life while our bodies are strong. We love leading our retired siblings and trail-loving friends on epic adventures: Our nation’s fabulous National Parks, including the Smoky’s, Zion, Yellowstone, and Glacier; the ancient paths of the Camino de Santiago; Tuscan vineyards and olive groves along Italy’s Via Francigena; misty moors and hills of Scotland’s West Highland Way; the Grand Canyon from rim to floor; and Haleakala’s volcanic silence at sunrise. Our home base rotates between Hilton Head’s salt-kissed fairways and beaches, North Carolina’s Piedmont, and Maui’s sun-drenched shores. Kathy rules the kitchen with bold flavors (think tomatoes, Sagrantino and ravioli), while master gardener Ernie introduces NC native plants into the landscape and volunteers at Tanglewood Arboretum. Together, we’re having fun proving retirement isn’t an ending—it’s hopefully our grandest adventure yet. Members since 2015, Riserva Level.
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Food Trucks
December
Sunday, December 7 – Southern Noodle
Family Days
Friday, December 26-31 – Holiday Week
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Afternoon of Holiday Cheer
Friday, November 28 | 11am-5pm
The Holidays are in full swing, and we invite you to help us celebrate the holiday season! The entire family will enjoy holiday shopping and live tunes while you craft your own holiday decorations and letters to Santa and enjoy complimentary cookies and apple cider. Story time for the children will be fun for all. We will have a food truck as well as a local coffee and tea vendor to keep you energized while you enjoy the afternoon. Santa Claus will be flying down from the North Pole to be at Raffaldini for photos and to listen to everyone's wish list!
Local musicians RG Absher and Naomi Orr will fill the winery with holiday tunes on an array of instruments, from hammered dulcimer and violin to Celtic harp, flute, penny whistle, and bagpipes. A Wilkes County native and MerleFest regular, RG brings rich folk and Celtic traditions to his music. Naomi blends the lilt of Ireland, the spirit of Scotland, and a touch of Appalachian magic, creating a warm and enchanting soundtrack for the season.
To Admission is Free for Everyone so please consider clicking the button below to RSVP now. We look forward to seeing you for a day full of Holiday Cheer!
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Beyond the Vines...Into the Community
Raffaldini Vineyards is proud to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC. This holiday season, please consider joining Barbara Raffaldini in making a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank. For every $10 received, Second Harvest can provide up to 60 nutritious meals for children, families and seniors in need who reside across the 18 counties of Northwest North Carolina. A secure link to our virtual food drive at Second Harvest Food Bank is below:
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December Events
Wreath Making Class
Sunday, December 6, 2025 | 1pm - 3pm
Embrace the magic of the season with a festive afternoon at Raffaldini Vineyards! Join us for a hands-on wreath making class where you’ll create your own beautiful holiday wreath to take home—perfect for your front door or as a heartfelt gift. Enjoy a complimentary glass of Raffaldini wine as Blue Mountain Flowers guides you step-by-step through crafting a one-of-a-kind design using fresh greenery, ribbons, and natural accents.
Relax, sip, and get creative surrounded by the stunning winter views of Raffaldini Vineyards. All materials and supplies are included. Space is limited—reserve your spot early for this merry, wine-filled workshop!
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Ferrero Roche Inspired Yule Log Class
Sunday, December 14, 2025 | 1pm-3pm
Join us for a decadent holiday baking experience as we guide you through creating a Ferrero Rocher–inspired Yule Log—rich, chocolatey, and perfect for your festive celebrations.
This fun, educational baking demonstration will showcase techniques for building, filling, and decorating this elegant dessert, all while you enjoy the warmth of Raffaldini hospitality.
🎟️ Your ticket includes:
• Live demonstration
• Samples of the featured dessert
• Small bites
• Two glasses of Raffaldini wine
$55.00 per person
Space is limited—reserve your spot early!
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Holiday Schedule
As we enter this season of gratitude, we want to extend a heartfelt grazie to our Raffaldini famiglia—our loyal guests, club members, and the dedicated team who bring the spirit of the estate to life each day.
In honor of the Christmas Holiday Season and to allow our staff time to celebrate with their own families, the winery will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Please also note our upcoming holiday schedule: we will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. We are deeply grateful for your continued support and look forward to sharing many memorable moments with you throughout the holidays and beyond.
Christmas Eve – Closed
Christmas Day – Closed
New Years Day - Closed
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Save the Dates
January 2026
Makes a Great Gift!
Traditional Italian Baking Class
Saturday, January 10, 2026
This classic Italian dessert-making demonstration features two timeless favorites: a fragrant Olive Oil Cake with Candied Orange, made with our premium Raffaldini olive oil, and a silky Madagascar Vanilla Panna Cotta paired with Raffaldini wine-poached pears and a bright white balsamic glaze using our own balsamic. Discover how simple ingredients come together to create elegant, unforgettable Italian sweets.
🎟️ Your ticket includes:
• Live demonstration
• Samples of both featured desserts
• Small bites
• Two glasses of Raffaldini wine
$55.00 per person
Space is limited—reserve your spot early!
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Raffaldini Sip and Paint Party with Wine & Design
Sunday, January 25
Join "Wine & Design" for a paint and sip class at the Fattoria! Their expert artist will help guide you on your artistic journey. Guests can choose one of their Italian landscapes or wine themed portraits to paint. The experience will include two glasses of wine with cheese and fruit.
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🍇 Join La Famiglia Raffaldini Online! 🥂
We invite you to join the vibrant La Famiglia Raffaldini on social media! Connect with us online to receive daily updates on new releases, exclusive offers, and upcoming events. Share your Raffaldini moments with us by tagging your posts with #Raffaldini.
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Raffaldini Wines Now Available Across NC
We understand that you can’t visit Villa Raffaldini every day, so we have partnered with a wholesale distribution firm that connected us with owners of boutique wine shops and restaurants all over North Carolina that will share our story as well as our wines with you. Click here to find restaurants and wine shops carrying Raffaldini wines near you:
Don’t see your favorite wine shop listed? Please email me directly and I will work with our wholesale partner to get our wine in a store near you.
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Planning a Visit?
We encourage you to read our visitor experience guide. Your cooperation will help us provide the best possible experience for all our patrons.
We have partnered with Tock to provide a reservation system for tastings and flights at the Villa and on the Piazza. Our continued goal is to provide the best experience for you, our valued customers and friends. While walk-ins are welcome and a reservation is not required, we believe that making a reservation will enhance your visit.
As a general reminder to all our guests, to provide a safe, relaxing, and intimate experience for our guests, all visitors must be at least 21 years of age. Infants and children are no longer permitted at the Tasting Room, except on holidays and specially designated family days when we can appropriately staff and have child-friendly activities available. Please see our calendar for a full list of Family days.
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