Sip wine at a vineyard named for a prize-winning cow

In the shadow of Pilot Mountain lies the Yadkin Valley, North Carolina’s first region to receive an American Viticultural Area distinction. The fertile area is a thriving home for dozens of wineries, but only one of these holds the distinction of being named for a beloved cow. RagApple Lassie Vineyards in Boonville is a standing testament to a pretty little black-and-white Holstein that captured the heart of a third-generation farmer and the title of Grand Champion at the North Carolina State Calf Show more than 50 years ago. Carrying on the championship legacy of the bovine RagApple Lassie, Boonville’s first winery is home to award-winning wines and an estate featuring tracts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Syrah, Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir.