An invitation to visit the High Country’s finest wineries
Local Wineries Introducing The High Country Wine Trail
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n November 28, 2016, the Appalachian High Country was recognized as an American Viticulture Area (AVA) by the Department of the Treasury and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. This designation establishes the 2,400 square mile area above 2,000-foot elevation, across three states and eight counties as a unique viticulture area of the United States. An AVA is a designated wine-growing region that has distinct topography, climate and soil types. Most wine lovers are familiar with one of North Carolina’s other AVAs, the Yadkin Valley, and nearly all consumers are familiar with California’s Napa Valley. The High Country Wine Tour takes you to four of these wineries, about 30-40 minutes from each other. The four wineries include Grandfather Vineyard & Winery in Foscoe, NC; Linville Falls Winery in Linville Falls, NC, and their Tennessee cousins, Watauga Lake Winery and Villa Nove Vineyards Farm Winery in Butler, TN. Each winery is known for their distinctive wines produced from the grapes grown in the Appalachian High Country American Viticulture Area. Before you begin, check the individual wineries website for a complete listing of contact information and hours of operation. Each winery may also be hosting special events that you will not want to miss!
Read About the Wineries Here GRANDFATHER VINEYARDS FOSCOE. Grandfather Vineyard was founded in 2003 when Steve and Sally Tatum, in search of a hobby, planted a small block of wine grapes for some home winemaking. After a few years they realized the High Country of North Carolina had a similar climate as many of the famous grape growing regions around the world. In 2005 Steve and Sally tripled the size of the vineyard. Steve’s hobby then became more than just a hobby. After years of hard work, they opened their doors in May of 2011. Grandfather Vineyard is a terraced mountain-side vineyard located at the base of Grandfather Mountain right on the Watauga River. At the bottom of the vineyard is the tasting room and winery. They’re open Mon-
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day thru Saturday Noon to 6:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Live Music Thursday thru Sunday and Food Truck on site Friday thru Sunday ⃣ 828-963-2400. grandfathervineyard.com. See ad on page 41
LINVILLE FALLS WINERY NEWLAND. Family owned and operated, Linville Falls Winery is the culmination of a life-long passion for wine by owner, Jack Wiseman. Nestled in the lower end of Avery County near the Blue Ridge Parkway is a state of the art tasting room on a 40 acre farm with its staple grapes Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon, blueberries and raspberries. The winery is perfectly situated at 3200 feet with warm days, cool nights and minerally balanced soil. This magical
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VISITOR’S GUIDE SUMMER 2022
