Muscadine Vineyard in the NC Piedmont
Native Son Vineyard is a small, family-run muscadine winery in Franklinville, North Carolina, run by Mike and Tammy Capps out of a converted tobacco barn tasting cabin. Every wine here is 100% muscadine — no vinifera, no added sugar — grown on a former dairy and tobacco farm that’s faced the Uwharrie foothills since 2009. It’s an unpretentious, personal tasting experience, poured shot-glass style, straight from Mike himself.
Location | History | Amenities | Wines | Wine Club | Our Review | Photos & Videos | FAQs | Customer Reviews | Add Your Review
Location
Native Son Vineyard
1511 Mamie May Rd,
Franklinville, NC 27248
(336) 495-1428
Native Son sits just outside the boundary of the Haw River Valley AVA — the closest of North Carolina’s six designated wine regions. The AVA line actually runs along the Randolph County line rather than crossing into it, so while Native Son isn’t officially within an AVA, it sits right at the edge of one.
History
Mike and Tammy Capps bought the property in 2007 — a former dairy pasture and tobacco farm settled between Randleman and Liberty, facing WOW, Caraway, Daves, and Purgatory mountains, the tail end of the Uwharrie range. Planting began in March 2009: several hundred wooden posts strung with 9-gauge wire, eventually supporting over 500 muscadine vines. The first commercial crush came on September 8, 2011, and Native Son has been pouring ever since.
The name is fitting. Muscadines are genuinely native to the southeastern United States — wild cultivars thriving in the woods and ripening in late September long before European vinifera ever touched North American soil. Sir Walter Raleigh himself marveled at the abundance of the vine back in 1584, describing it climbing over shrubs and cedar tops across the sand, the green soil, the hills, and the plains alike. Today the vineyard grows Noble (purple), Magnolia (bronze), Carlos (bronze), and Summit (bronze) cultivars, all without the use of pesticides.
Amenities
- Groups welcome
- Hilltop vineyard view of the Uwharrie foothills
- Picnic-friendly grounds
- Rescue horses, a donkey, mules, sheep, a goat, and pot-bellied pigs on the property
- Guided tours available by appointment
- No pesticides used on the grapes
Wines
Best Known For: 100% muscadine wine with no added sugar.
Reds:
- Twisted Spirit — a dark, rich Noble muscadine with a hint of blackberry
- Noble Spirit — a deep, robust wine made exclusively from the Noble muscadine grape
Whites:
- Golden Warrior — an aromatic bronze muscadine blend (Carlos, Magnolia, Summit) and a visitor favorite
- Blue Warrior — bronze muscadine blended with blueberries
- Red Warrior — bronze muscadine blended with raspberries
- Peach Warrior — bronze muscadine blended with peaches
Blush:
- Bronzed Noble — a blend of purple and bronze muscadine (Noble, Carlos, Magnolia), dubbed the “Southern Zinfandel”
Also available: Muscadine cider, muscadine grape juice, muscadine jelly, muscadine hot pepper jelly, muscadine salsa, a Sangria Slush mix, and Goat Lady Dairy cheeses. In season, fresh muscadines and vegetables are sold as well.
Wine Club
We haven’t confirmed whether Native Son runs a formal wine club. Ask Mike or Tammy during your visit, and let us know what you find out in a review below.
Our Review
Native Son Vineyard is a genuine hidden gem — honest, no-added-sugar muscadine wine made with real care, poured by the people who grow it, on a farm they clearly love. Don’t expect a polished tasting bar; expect a converted tobacco barn, a shot glass, and Mike telling you the whole story while he pours.
The setting alone makes the drive worth it. Native Son sits on a former dairy and tobacco farm facing a run of the Uwharrie foothills, and the vineyard itself — muscadine vines Mike and Tammy planted back in 2009 — climbs the hill behind the tasting cabin. It’s about as far from a big-production winery as you can get, and that’s entirely the appeal.
What struck us most was how unhurried the whole visit felt. Mike doesn’t rush through a tasting menu — he pours, tells you about the grape, tells you about the farm, and lets the conversation go wherever it goes. We came in expecting a quick stop and stayed far longer than planned, working our way through everything from the bold, blackberry-laced Twisted Spirit to the bright, fruit-forward Golden Warrior. Every pour was crisp and genuinely complex rather than syrupy-sweet, which is a pleasant surprise if muscadine hasn’t won you over before.
Before we left, Mike invited us to walk up the hill to the vineyard itself, where the Uwharrie Mountains rise in the distance — a view that’s easily worth the trip on its own. Add in the rescue horses, donkey, mules, and pot-bellied pigs wandering the property, and it’s clear Native Son is as much a working farm as it is a winery.
Who this winery is for: First-time muscadine tasters, anyone who wants a relaxed, unpretentious afternoon over a polished tasting-room experience, and animal lovers who’ll enjoy the rescue horses, donkey, mules, and pot-bellied pigs on the property.
Want the full story of our visit — the tasting, the hilltop view, and the conversation with Mike? Read our full Native Son Vineyard write-up →
If you’ve been to Native Son yourself, leave a review down below — and if you know another Uwharrie-area winery we should visit next, drop us a line.
Cheers,
Brendan
Photos & Videos
FAQs
What are Native Son Vineyard’s hours?
Friday through Sunday, 2–5pm, and by appointment outside those days. Hours can shift seasonally, so it’s worth a quick call before you drive out.
Does Native Son Vineyard require reservations?
Reservations are recommended so Mike and Tammy can give you their full attention, especially for tours. Tastings themselves have historically been free.
Is Native Son Vineyard pet-friendly?
We haven’t confirmed their pet policy. Call ahead if you’re hoping to bring a dog along.
What wines is Native Son Vineyard known for?
Everything here is 100% muscadine with no added sugar. Golden Warrior, Peach Warrior, Blue Warrior, and Red Warrior are frequently mentioned visitor favorites, alongside the bolder Twisted Spirit and Noble Spirit reds.
Does Native Son Vineyard ship wine?
We haven’t confirmed shipping details. Ask during your visit and let us know what you learn in a review below.
Is Native Son Vineyard in a wine AVA?
No — Native Son sits just outside the Haw River Valley AVA boundary, which runs along the Randolph County line.
Customer Reviews
New Customer Here - We Are Already Hooked
We’re fairly new to Firstleaf Wine, but after just four shipments, we’re completely hooked. Out of 24 bottles, only one didn’t quite hit the mark for our taste. We make a point to rate each wine consistently to help others in our palate profile get better recommendations.
Long Time Wine Club Member
I’ve been a member for more than a year now, and as someone living in North Carolina, this is hands down the best and most affordable way to get high-quality, delicious wines. The value easily beats any liquor store, even here in NC where prices are already lower thanks to favorable taxes. Back when I lived in California, I used to snag great deals at Grocery Outlet, but I’ve never found anything like that in North Carolina—until now.
My only gripe? Occasionally, the wine selections in your order get swapped out automatically, and you have to call customer service to manually add your original picks back into the cart just to confirm your order. That process could definitely be smoother.
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