Illumination Wines

What an amazing shop! The varieties of oils, vinegars, and honeys are just the beginning. If you…read moreare diabetic, keto, gluten free, dairy free, or vegan - they have something for you! Their sugar free keto chocolate chip cheesecake bar was absolutely amazing. They said that you could taste the difference between it and their regular cheesecake bars, but you could have fooled me! My husband had their vegan triple chocolate cupcake and was so surprised that it was vegan. I think this has become our favorite shop from just one visit. We will be back! The shop is cozy and the staff are incredibly nice as well. :)

Great selection of Oils & Vinegars and other miscellaneous items, HOWEVER, although they were "nice…read moreenough", I'm unsure if brown people are welcome. The entire time while visiting, I was watched, and not in a "May I Help You" Manner! It was very strange as the entire time I shopped, the vibe felt off. It made me very anxious to say the least. I hated to write this as I did spend a ton of money there but maybe for starters, sensitivity training, should be implemented as to make it feel more inclusive to everyone, not just those of one race. I could truly tell the difference in attitudes with those who came in the store. Upon reading the reviews, I do see that another reviewer has a post similar to mine so it's not an anomaly. It's a cute store and has so many things I'd want to try, but I won't return and will spend my money elsewhere from here on out.

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American Limousine

4.3(6 reviews)

13.8 mi

I reached out to American Limo for a last minute vehicle request due to another cancellation. It…read morewas literally 3 days before the wedding and I was frantically helping my friend try to locate some sort of transportation for her wedding. I reached out to American Limo via Yelp then later moved to email/text. Bill Payne was an absolute pleasure to work with and did everything he could to try and make this work for us. Unfortunately we did not end up using his services but I'm so so appreciative of his assistance. God bless you Bill!

Excellent service, prompt & professional driver. Had a…read morewonderful experience with this company. Spent a day with a group of friends doing a wine tour, could not have asked for a better driver or guide. Gentleman knew the area and history of many of the places we visited. Car was clean and in excellent condition. Everything was ready and waiting for us. Will definitely use this company again and recommend to all I know.

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Van in Black

3.9(19 reviews)

56.0 mi

We loved this service for my sister's bach weekend! Super clean and let us be girls!!read more

If I could leave a zero I would, the owner was rude, charged for an extra hour. The driver was…read moregreat but they don't know how to treat customers properly and would NeVeR ever tell anyone to use them

Nate called ahead to reserve us a table at our second stop!

NC wineries recommended by Van in Black.

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The first stop on the vineyard tour recommended by Van in Black.

NC Wine Gals

4.5(12 reviews)

18.3 mi•NoDa

Absolutely the best, extremely knowledgeable about the specific grapes and wines of this area…read more This is a California type wine tour not just a driver . There is a HUGE difference Highly recommend

We had a wonderful time visiting 3 vineyards. Our guide was sweet and kept us on schedule. The…read morecharcuterie board was great. It was, however, disappointing that we never received a pastry and a glass of wine prior to leaving and we were not given lunch, but instead had snacks. When I originally booked the tour, the website said it included both, pastry/drink and lunch. I just think for how long the tour is and for the amount of wine that is consumed, a lunch would be appropriate. But overall, we had a great time!

Harry, the wine Dorkie

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Wine tours are great for couples.

Southern Distilling Company

4.7(82 reviews)

58.7 mi

Came in on a Friday night close to closing (which we didn't realize until we got there)…read moreStaff were still amazingly friendly! My husband got a tasting and had a great conversation about the different selections flavors and ages. It was really cool to listen to. I ordered their whiskey espresso martini. It was SO good. And it looked good too I highly recommend and next time we will come earlier to take the tour and relax in their beautiful tasting room.

John had seen the billboard for this distillery on a previous visit- so why not detour for a…read moresampling! They have a spectacular event space right next door, but i wasn't prepared for how lush, rich & luxurious the inside of this distillery was! Complete with vintage cars & a speakeasy. We waiting for our tasting, the guy was in break- but Nole decided not to make us wait & presented us with the tasting. I'm not a high rye girl, but add I'll admit, I really enjoyed numerous samplings. Their bourbon was stellar, but the creamed bourbon stole the show! A sipping dessert. We also got to sample the house rum- please bottle & sell that too!! Pretty please. I love my bourbon, but i also love rum & gin too. I want it all. We bought 3 bottles total & almost bought swag too! There was a corduroy hoodie I wanted so bad! Again, rich & luxurious. Highly recommend! Thank you Nole for a fabulous experience!

14.7 mi•South End, Dilworth

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Bottles for sale

Nada's Italy

4.6(19 reviews)

We've travelled twice with Nada's Italy, and are scheduled to take our third trip with them in a…read morefew months. Our first trip was to the Amalfi coast, never could I imagine a more wonderful experience. Every minute from arriving in Rome, to arriving in Positano for 8 nights, and returning to Rome was amazing. Our journey director was outstanding. Our fellow travelers were fabulous, a group of 12. We would explore the coast from this beautiful spot in Positano, each day setting out for adventure in a lovely Mercedes van. We were mostly in places where we saw few Americans, we ate at wonderful restaurants, and had an absolute blast. We had a wonderful blend of active and down time, we learned and saw so much, and laughed every day ! Amazing! The next trip was Florence, Cinque Terra, and Tuscany, amazing as well. The hotels and villa we stayed in were top notch, our journey director amazing, another perfect trip. This was a more active trip, but we enjoyed every second, we felt like we saw a very real side of Italy, not just tourist spots. The Time we spent on each spot was magical. The charming town of Lucca and the Villa in Tuscany were top of our list. We are not organized tour people, but the small group, perfectly curated Nada's trips are beyond. We could not recommend them more highly.

Flavors of Verona and Lake Garda tour was perfect in every way. Our guide Daniela was our "mama"…read moreand our new best friend. Every detail was smooth, every hotel was amazing, every bite was better than the last.

Positano at night

The view from our balcony in Positano.

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Pasta

Southern Grace Distilleries

4.7(54 reviews)

40.1 mi

It was a scorching hot North Carolina day in April when we arrived for the afternoon tour at…read moreSouthern Grace Distillery. We had paid in advance and made it just in the nick of time to join our group of about a dozen people. The crowd was a mix of adults and children; personally, I didn't quite understand the presence of kids on a jailhouse and whiskey tour, but the group was ready to dive into the history. The tour kicked off with chilling news of hauntings. Our guide mentioned that the show "Ghost Hunters" had even visited the site, certifying the old jail as haunted--though fortunately by "friendly" spirits. The sensory experience was a bit of a rollercoaster. I generally enjoy the scent of bourbon, and the initial aroma upon entering the distillery is quite pleasant. However, the main room where we spent a significant portion of the tour had a scent that was overwhelming and wholly unpleasant. That said, the content of the tour was good. It provided a well-balanced mix of intriguing historical facts about the prison and the technical side of whiskey making. The kids got restless during the tour and actually started brutally kicking each other in the shins. They each had on shell toed Crocs, so you could hear the crunch of bone and flesh beneath each kick. Their parents let it go on indefinitely. The hour passed quickly and was well worth the $14 adult admission. The tasting at the end is not for the faint of heart. They serve hard liquor, and I do mean HARD. My lips were numbing and my face was next. I had to tap out after the third swig! On the bright side, the gift shop is fantastic. They have the most darling items; we walked away with two tote bags and a delicious pink lemonade drink that will be perfect for sharing with friends this summer. This is a unique, affordable way to spend an hour, provided you can handle the heat and the high proof!

Wow this was a micro craft distillery at its best. Customer service, selection, and knowledge. They…read moretruly deserve being the face of the charlotte area whiskey. 1st entering, you walk into a small area with a gift shop area, bar area, and small separate sitting area on the first floor. The small sitting area also houses their original small still they currently produce their gin in. Pretty cool piece of history. So about the juice...They're really got some good stuff. You can do a curated flight for 10 dollars each pour, you can also do single pours of whatever they have available as well from their core products to the single barrels. I really love what they're doing with the "Story" line where they experiment with different finishes and blends. I'm not a huge rye guy but they are certainly doing it right. That says a lot for me to grab 2 to take home of their rye single barrels..my bartender was so cool and knowledgeable I even grabbed the one he actually picked. Overall 10/10. They're giving the bigger names a definite run for their money. You will not go wrong supporting and drinking local with them. Hands down the best in the charlotte area. They do offer shipping but, you NEED to go in for the full experience and the option to grab distillery exclusive bottles. #Foodierunner approved lol

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Guard Tower

Black Tie Transportation

3.8(13 reviews)

84.7 mi

Inclement weather left our small side street completely impassable, and with an important business…read moretrip approaching, I reached out to Black Tie Transportation (after calling several companies). Stan answered and immediately put me at ease -- patiently walking me through the services, answering my questions, and assuring me I'd be well taken care of. Randy arrived a bit early, looking sharp and thoroughly professional. He handled my gear with care and got me safely to the airport despite the challenging conditions. When I returned, I spotted that same unmistakable professional presence in the arrivals hall -- James assisted with my luggage, and we were soon on our way to pick up my pet and head home. From the initial phone call through exceptional service in difficult weather, the entire experience was outstanding. I highly recommend Black Tie Transportation. These gentlemen are the definition of professionalism -- courteous, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. It shows in every aspect of the service they provide.

Black Tie Transportation was so easy and great to work with. They responded to my emails quickly,…read morethey called to confirm reservations and were where exactly on time. would work them anytime!

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The Speckled Pear

4.9(53 reviews)

0.1 mi

This was our first dinner at Speckled Pear and - wow! The phrase "gourmet dining" gets misused so…read moremuch it's become meaningless. So how about, "epicurean"?, "gastronomic"? OK, I'll just say we had "da** fine" meals. Fresh, seasonal ingredients combined in some unique and surprising ways, beautifully prepared and so, so delicious. Just look at the photos of a selection of our dishes. This was well worth an update of my earlier review. First, Speckled Pear has removed the community seating and the prepared food, bakery and produce counters from my earlier visits and replaced them with true "restaurant" tables. The focus is now squarely on dining, with lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch service. And oh, there's still a wine bar and bottles are still available for purchase. In my humble view a significant positive step. Our servers were excellent, including helpfully explaining some of the wine options (my wife and sister-in-law ordered a flight). Still a fairly casual environment. Great acoustics- I hate echo chambers. We sat close to other guests but were able to easily talk among ourselves without hearing any extraneous neighbor conversations. Dare I say, Speckled Pear is now a {insert tire company name} star-quality dining experience. In Fort Mill! PS - It's a small restaurant which filled quickly and early on the weekday we visited. Reservations are recommended.

Went in for lunch and absolutely loved it! Great vibes and service! Food was delicious and I can't…read morewait to go back!

Inside

Chicken and rice soup

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Delicious wine. Recommended by one of the owners!

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3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Linda C.

4 years ago

In response to our negative review: We at Illumination Wines are sorry to hear you had a less than pleasant experience. We would have appreciated if you had let any of the staff know of your disappointments prior to leaving so that we could have done our job to make your evening more enjoyable. Tastings of our wines are offered prior to purchasing so that you do not end up with a glass of something you won't enjoy. There are more wines offered by the bottle only. We accept suggestions from guest on types/brands of wines that may end up on a future Wine List. When entering the Winery, we have our guests start a tab at the bar and then let them choose between the 4 rooms inside, the front porch or any of the many tables in the front and side of building.) We are a seat yourself establishment and guests are able to move about freely. I assure we have not had any "Beer Guzzlers", however the night you were there, there were multiple groups enjoying Birthdays. Please no assumptions on how much has been consumed. When people get together and have a good time, it can be louder than what you'd get at a Fine Dining Restaurant. read more

Alex B.

163

4 years ago

It's like having a home to drink in that you don't have to clean at the end of the night!

Sheba C.

4 years ago

The staff and owners were amazing! Everyone needs to come to check it out!

Illumination Wines - wine_bars - Updated October 2026

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I've been to once of these concepts for beer and loved this so much more. While they did have a…read moresmall selection of beer available, I opted to stick with the wine. I tried three separate wines (I'm sorry I can't recall them I was a bit distracted by the date I was on ) but was happy with every pour. I had red while my partner had white and we were both very happy with our selections. Live music was provided and was the cherry on top to the ambiance. The owners were very nice and attentive to everyone's needs and questions throughout the nice. This is a great spot for dates or a girls' night out!

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We were very disappointed in the service here. The only thing we ordered was a wine bottle for $36…read more Our waitress came over, popped it open, and spilled about half the bottle. It was moscotto and looked like it had been shaken because it continually overflowed the bottle, so much so she put it in the ice box to contain it. There was wine on the table, floor, and (of course) the ice box. All she said was "That never happens." No apology, no offer to replace the bottle (we lost at least a glass and a half of wine), and no discount. I decided not to ask for manager purely because we were with friends and I didn't want this to become the "focus." On top of this, however, service was generally bad. We didn't order food, but it took about 10 minutes for our friends to have their order taken, another 20 for food to come out, another 10 for one person's food to arrive (she had a pizza that should've cooked the quickest), an extended period for the offer of the check and grabbing our cards. The only positive is the food seems good (based off of our friends), but that's it. I personally would never reccomend this establishment due to the lack of courtesy and attentiveness.

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