After fall comes winter, sometimes a little sooner or later than expected. There are activities coming up that everyone will want to know about. One of those activities is the Poinsettia and Winery Tour, being held on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

This is a great opportunity to see how poinsettias are grown, get first dibs on colors, visit some local wineries and dine on some delicious food. The great thing is that you do not even have to drive — you can ride a chartered bus to all of the stops. The tour is $25 for members of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and $35 for non-members.

Part of the tour will be a visit to Rockwell Farms, Morgan Ridge Vineyards, Patterson Farm and Cauble Creek Vineyard. We have already started registering, so it is important to sign up as soon as possible.

To start the day, we will leave the Rowan County Extension office at 9 a.m. and make our way to Rockwell Farms, which has more than 36 acres of greenhouses. They use modern technology to raise all of their crops, from annuals to poinsettias. Imagine seeing 36 acres of reds, whites and pinks. It is truly a site to behold.

The next stop will be Morgan Ridge Vineyards, where you can sample local wines and taste their local beer. Morgan Ridge will also host a tour of the vineyards and winery. Morgan Ridge specializes in vinifera-type grapes, which are the traditional wine grape. We will finish the tour by having an exquisite lunch, featuring dishes that use some of the vineyard’s bounty.

After lunch, we will make our way to the next poinsettia tour at Patterson Farms. Patterson Farms grows a variety of crops. Their poinsettias have become a staple during the holidays. Red and white poinsettias are the primary poinsettia colors, but there are some beautiful mixes of pinks and reds. Some even have combinations, such as the Glitter variety, which is a red splashed with white.

Our last stop will be at the beautiful Cauble Creek Vineyard. The tour will consist of the muscadine vineyards and shop. If you prefer the sweet taste of muscadine wine, then Cauble Creek will be a stop that you don’t want to miss.

Rowan County has a rich history of agriculture, and this is a great opportunity to see it. I hope you all can join the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, Cooperative Extension, and all of the farms on Nov. 17.

For more information on the Poinsettia and Winery Tour, please contact the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce at 704-633-4221, or visit www.rowanchamber.com to register.