Ronda

Ronda has two identities layered on top of each other. On the surface, it's wine country. The Swan Creek AVA runs right through the area, and on a Saturday afternoon, the Raffaldini piazza is genuinely packed with visitors driving up from Charlotte and Winston-Salem to sip Sangiovese in front of Blue Ridge Mountain views.

But dig one layer deeper and you hit something older and more interesting. Junior Johnson was born here in 1931. Wilkes County carried the nickname "Moonshine Capital of the World" for a reason, and those mountain hollows funded what would eventually become NASCAR.

The same skills that made a bootlegger fast on a dirt road made him fast on a track. The county's primary economic activity for decades was untaxed corn whiskey, and locals will tell you that without zero apology. The modern wine scene didn't erase that history.

It just built on top of the same soil, sometimes literally. Tobacco fields were converted into vineyards starting in the late 1990s. Ronda itself is tiny, home to about 413 people, and sits right on the north bank of the Yadkin River.

The town hall is at 123 Chatham Street. There's no Main Street strip worth walking. The draw is the surrounding landscape and the wineries, not the town center itself.

Named after Benjamin Cleveland's estate called "Roundabout," it's a place proud of its heritage without needing to perform it for outsiders.

Reservations matter at Raffaldini. Walk-ins are accepted but there's no guarantee of seating, especially on weekends. Groups of 8 or more must email in advance or they'll be turned away at the gate.

This applies to limo and bus groups too.. Bring food to the vineyards. Outside food is welcome at Raffaldini's picnic areas and on the lawn.

MenaRick explicitly invites picnics. Just don't bring food inside the tasting room.. The wine scene here is not pretentious.

You don't need to know anything about wine to have a good time. Staff at both Raffaldini and MenaRick are known for being approachable and patient with newcomers.. NASCAR pride runs deep in Wilkes County.

Junior Johnson's connection to Ronda is a genuine source of local identity, not a tourist marketing angle. Don't confuse the two.. Moonshine is local heritage, not a novelty.

Wilkes County was once the epicenter of the illegal moonshine industry in North Carolina. Locals take the history seriously.. Stone Mountain State Park gets crowded on weekends but very quiet on weekdays.

If you want the dome trail to yourself, go Tuesday through Thursday.. Pets on a leash are welcome at most vineyard outdoor areas and at Stone Mountain's campsites. Check individual winery policies before bringing a dog inside..

As of spring 2026, the Clear Creek access to Stone Mountain State Park is closed for road construction. Use the main entrance via John P. Frank Parkway.

Ronda is extremely low-crime. The biggest safety considerations are environmental. The roads toward Stone Mountain State Park are narrow with tight corners and steep drop-offs on the sides.

Go the speed limit and do not try to pass on blind curves. First-time drivers frequently underestimate this. Cell service drops to nothing inside the park, so download your maps and trail info before you go.

Stink bugs can be a genuine nuisance if camping in fall — reviewers report them invading RVs by the hundreds in October. The trail signage at Stone Mountain is not always clear, and a 0.5-mile walk to the homestead has turned into unplanned 2-mile detours for visitors who miss the markers.

Pick up a trail map at the visitor center. There are no after-hours gates at the family campground, but note that alcoholic beverages and fireworks are prohibited throughout the park. Water in the Yadkin River area and at designated park areas is generally safe, but pack your own for hikes.

Sun exposure on the open granite dome can be intense in summer months; bring water and sunscreen.