Taps & Corks Tours

Hi, I’m Natalie Hampton, the creator of Tarheel Taps & Corks, a blog about North Carolina beer and wine. I have been visiting and writing about breweries and wineries since 2012 and have always dreamed of offering my tours to share my passion for these industries and their products. After retiring from higher education in 2020, I began working to make that happen.

Taps & Corks Tours offer more than just an opportunity to taste beer or wine. We offer guests a chance to learn, explore and shop at the tour locations, and spend some time taking in the sites, both indoors and out. Our tours can a relaxing afternoon some of North Carolina’s premiere breweries and wineries.

We partner with People-First Tourism, which supports authentic, personal experiences throughout North Carolina, and Visit Raleigh, our local visitor bureau.

Over the years, I have visited numerous wineries and breweries in North Carolina and beyond, although the rate of growth in both industries makes it hard to keep up. When I made my first visit to wineries in 2003, the state had 25 wineries and was expecting to open a dozen more. Today, the state is home to nearly 200 wineries and over 500 vineyards, many in beautiful, rural settings. There are about 350 breweries statewide.

Here in the Triangle area of North Carolina, we have a friendly group of seasoned wine bloggers who enjoy getting together regularly to celebrate NC wine. I also give food and history tours with a local company in Raleigh. Explore what we have to offer, and reach please reach out through our contact form if you have ideas for custom tours you’d like to share.