Wine Tasting and Boat Ride from Duck: Sanctuary Vineyards
Taste wine at a working vineyard after crossing open water by boat.
A wine tasting and boat excursion from Duck takes you by water across Currituck Sound to Sanctuary Vineyards on the mainland, where you tour the winery, meet the winemakers, and sample award-winning wines. The journey includes a scenic boat crossing, overland transport through marsh and farmland, and time to browse the vineyard shop before returning to the Outer Banks.
Step-by-step itinerary
Boat ride and wine tasting tour
- Depart Outer Banks by boat
- Cross Currituck Sound to Sanctuary Vineyards
- Travel by van through marsh and fields
- Tour Sanctuary Vineyards winery
- Enjoy private wine tasting
- Shop for wines at vineyard
- Return to Outer Banks by boat
The experience
How do you get to a vineyard on the North Carolina mainland without a car? The Vineyard Voyage departs Duck and crosses Currituck Sound by boat, landing at a historic hunting lodge boathouse on the far shore. From there, an air-conditioned van carries you overland through the marsh and across agriculture fields that date back to the 1800s, reaching the 33 acres of Sanctuary Vineyards. The route itself is part of the experience: you move through working farmland and waterfowl heritage country, not a highway.
At the vineyard, you get a behind-the-scenes tour of the winery and a private wine tasting led by the master winemakers. You'll smell the French oak barrels, learn how grapes become wine, and taste the wines Sanctuary produces: over 7,000 cases seasonally, with more than 100 awards to their name. After tasting, you have time to shop and purchase bottles to take home. Then the boat carries you back across Currituck Sound to Duck.
The whole outing runs about two and a half hours, though travel time across the water and through the fields is built into that. You'll need to be at least 21 to drink, and the experience suits any fitness level. This tour sells out frequently, so book early.
What’s included
- An in-person English-speaking guide leads the experience.
- air-conditioned van transport takes you from the boathouse through the marshland and fields to the vineyard.
- a private wine tasting at Sanctuary Vineyards with the master winemakers is included.
Information
Lasts 2h 30m, from US$ 109 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Operated by Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School
Is this one for you?The boat crossing and overland van ride add travel time to the experience, so this suits someone who wants the journey itself to be part of the day, not just a way to reach the tasting room. You're on the water and moving through working farmland for the first half of the outing.
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Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the boat ride actually like across Currituck Sound?
The Vineyard Voyage crosses Currituck Sound by boat from Duck to reach the hunting lodge boathouse on the mainland. The crossing is part of the journey to the vineyard. It's the route in and the route back, and it's how you see the sound itself.
Do I get to walk around the vineyard or just taste wine indoors?
You travel through the vineyard's 33 acres by van to reach the winery, and the behind-the-scenes tour takes you inside to see the French oak barrels and meet the winemakers. The tasting happens at the vineyard, and you have time to shop the vineyard shop afterward.
What wines will I taste, and how many?
Sanctuary Vineyards produces over 7,000 cases of wine seasonally and has won more than 100 awards. The private tasting lets you sample their award-winning wines. The exact selection depends on what's available when you visit.
Is this trip only for experienced wine drinkers?
The winemakers lead the tasting and teach you the vine-to-glass process, so you learn as you taste. No prior wine knowledge is needed. You do need to be at least 21 years old to participate in the tasting.
How long does the whole thing take, and what's included in that time?
The outing is about two and a half hours total, including the boat crossing both ways, the van ride through the fields, the winery tour, and the wine tasting. Travel time across the sound and through the farmland is part of that duration.
Wine Tasting and Boat Ride from Duck: Sanctuary Vineyards
2h 30m · EN
from US$ 109 per person