July 1, 2018
It seems only fitting that my first post is about wine. Don’t worry, it won’t be my LAST one about wine.
I’m just going to start this out by saying that I didn’t have super high expectations for my first wine tasting trip in North Carolina. After all, I have visiting some fantastic wineries, including ones in Napa, Sonoma and Italy. How could these wineries in the mountains on Western North Carolina possibly compare? Let me tell you, they did not disappoint.
My friend and I (because I needed a chaperone) visited four wineries just south of Asheville, NC and north of Greenville, SC, perfectly situated for an easy day trip from anywhere in Western North Carolina or the Upstate of South Carolina.
Hendersonville, NC is most well known for its vast array of apple orchards. The same soil that produces bushels of apples in the fall seems to be perfect for growing grapes as well. Driving past apple orchard after apple orchard, my first stop was St. Paul Mountain Vineyard. The tasting room is beautiful and spacious, however I opted to enjoy the sun on the outdoor patio overlooking the 5 acres of vineyards. There are several tasting options, but, since this was my first stop of four, my friend and I decided to split a tasting of 6 wines- she had 3 whites and I had 3 reds. The server explained each wine as he poured it and gave us plenty of time to enjoy each, along with the scenery, before serving the next wines. The Queen was my favorite, although I would gladly have another glass of any of the ones poured.
When the wine is so good you forget to take a picture before it’s almost gone!
Burntshirt Vineyards, also in Hendersonville, was the 2nd stop. The setting of this vineyard is absolutely stunning. I wanted to sit on the patio forever. With wine, of course. Inside are a couple of spacious tasting bars as well as a cute gift shop. Outside, the porch exudes southern charm with plenty of chairs where you can sit and sip your wine while overlooking the vineyards. Although there were a lot of people enjoying wine on this Saturday, the layout of the patios, tasting room and gazebo do not make it feel crowded at all. The many seating areas are separated in way that make each feel unique and cozy. Again, I opted for the patio (there was live music) to enjoy my glass of Meritage- which was rich and delicious. My friend went with the Sunset Sippin’ and said it was wonderful as well. Their food truck was also open serving sandwiches and snacks, perfect for enjoying on the patio. The list of awards they have won is impressive- just as impressive as the grounds.
Create repurposing of wine bottles at Burntshirt Vineyards.
On to Tryon for stop number three at Overmountain Vineyards. Turning off the main road, the driveway takes you past the neatly maintained rows of the vineyard up to the tasting room. The indoor tasting room is fairly small, but the patio is beautiful and sit slightly above the vineyards for an incredible view. Or gravitate out back under the shade trees to the adirondack chairs in the grass for a cozy area to relax while enjoying your wine. If you are needing to stretch your legs, there is a 2-mile loop of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail to enjoy. The trail starts and ends near the tasting room. Check out their schedule for Wine and Food pairing dinners, which they hold once a month.
Beautiful views to enjoy while sipping your wine on the patio at Overmountain Vineyard.
One last stop for the day was Mountain Brook Vineyards. (GPS will try to take you to house just before the drive leading to the Vineyard, look for the signs at the driveway for the Vineyard instead). An unpaved driveway leads up the hillside well off the road to the peaceful setting. The tasting room is in the upper level of a “round house”, which makes the porch wrapping around the building perfect for unobstructed views and conversations. I recommend the Magis, a woody red blend that has won several awards. I also highly recommend the spinach artichoke dip for a snack (you know you need one). Situated on the top of a hillside, the views of the vineyards and the mountains make a very peaceful setting for enjoying a glass or a full tasting.
Perfect rows of vines at Mountain Brook Vineyards
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