By Carol and Ray Fischer, our "Romantic Getaways" correspondents. They love to travel, together, to warm places, exciting cities, and any place with a casino. As long as they are together, it doesn't matter where they go. They can always find romance.

I admit we were a bit skeptical when we set out from Raleigh toward North Carolina's Yadkin Valley, a newly designated AVA (American Viticultural Association--it means the government says the soil and climate is conducive to producing a quality grape) Region, to sample some of the first vintages from this rapidly growing wine area.

After all, the “experts” had said muscadine grapes were the ones that would thrive in that river valley; certainly we would spend the next few days surrounded only by barrels of sweetness. What we found were tranquil vineyards bursting with new life to become Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Riesling, among others. We explored immaculate wineries, learned how wine is made and bottled, picnicked in a grove by a babbling brook. We met people with a passion for their land and their wine; people with compelling stories of survival against nature's cruelest moments. And we tasted. Oh, yes, we tasted.

North Carolina is home to almost forty wineries now, most of which are clustered in the fertile northwestern valley of the state near the Yadkin River, and is the twelfth largest wine producer among the states. Each winery is a fingerprint on the hillside, as unique as its own label, from the large state-of-the-art producers to the rambling farm on which one can pitch in to help before sipping its wares under a shaded oak tree. Best of all, each is within an easy hour and a half to two hour drive from the Triangle, making the area a perfect spot to visit at a time when the price of gas makes long road trips prohibitive.

Our first stop was at Childress Vineyards, hobby turned passion of NASCAR owner Richard Childress. From business I-40 we headed south on Highway 52 and could see the vineyards as we approached the exit for highway 64 west. As our car climbed through picture-perfect rows of vines toward the opulent Tuscan-style villa which houses the winery, gift shop and tasting area, our first impression was that this represented an enormous financial investment by Mr. Childress. Yet this state of the art winery took second place compared to the people in whom he invested; each shares a love, knowledge and boundless enthusiasm for wine making and the Childress Vineyards, and it shows.

Determined to find the best of the best when he opened his winery in October of 2004, Richard Childress wooed winemaker Mark Friszolowski from a well known New York company. After much hesitation, Mr. Friszolowski sent a case of his wine down to Mr. Childress in North Carolina. “Send me your resume,” Mr. Childress pleaded. “That WAS my resume,” quipped Mr. Friszolowski, and the contract was signed.

Donna, our knowledgeable tour guide, shared a wealth of information about wine production while showing us around the pristine grounds where picnic tables sit invitingly by a pond with a fountain. She pointed out the unique trellis system which maximizes the time the grapes hang on the vine, allowing the fruit to ripen perfectly so the winemaker needs to “tamper” less with the wines. Thanks to her, I know that tannin, which comes from the skins of grapes, is what can make you want to pucker, and I know that when she describes the perfect balance on the palate of the Childress Cabernet Sauvignon she gets goose bumps on her arms.

Our tasting was conducted by Lisa, married to the vineyard manager, who had been up all night with him sitting watch for a threatened frost, a potential nightmare for the vineyard. Her lack of sleep did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm as she lovingly spoke about each pour before we sampled. Our mouths watered as she described in sensual detail different foods to pair with various wines.

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