Bio:   Banner Elk Winery is situated close to downtown in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains. Founded in 2006, it was the first commercial winery in Avery and Watauga counties. Winemaker Dick Wolfe makes a variety of wines from grapes grown on property and sourced from other local vineyards. The Marechal Foch is made from French-American hybrid grapes that produce a red wine with intense flavors and color. Banner Elk Red, a winemaker’s choice blend of Marechal Foch, sangiovese and merlot, has won a gold medal at the International Eastern Wine Competition in Sonoma, California, and was named the best red… Read More

Bio:   Beech Mountain Brewing Company is owned and operated by Beech Mountain Resort, making it one of a few craft breweries in the nation to be located at a ski resort. It is open to the public during ski season and also during summer months. Patrons are not required to have a ski pass to visit the brewery. The brewery produces small batches on-site in the Alpine Village at the base of the slopes. The flagship beer is the 5,506’ Pale Ale, named after Beech Mountain’s signature elevation. Other popular brews include the Beech IPA and the Patroller Porter. Seasonal selections… Read More

Bio:   Blind Squirrel Brewery is located on the Toe River in the small rural community of Plumtree, about 30 minutes from Banner Elk. The brewery combines craft beer, beautiful scenery, outdoor games and a rotation of food trucks. It is open three days a week (Friday-Sunday) from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Because of its seasonal operations schedule, Blind Squirrel brews 20-gallon batches and releases 1-2 varieties of fresh beer each Friday. The brewery also has 4-5 beers on tap from other local breweries, along with a variety of packaged beer and cider. The location on the North Toe River offers… Read More

Bio:   Flat Top Mountain Brewery creates high quality craft beer on Main Street East in Banner Elk. The brewery takes its name from nearby Flat Top Mountain. The brewery typically has 8-10 styles of beers available in the taproom. There are four year-round flagship offerings: Rollcast Kolsch, Top Coast IPA, Profile American Pale Ale and Big Falls Nutty Brown Ale. Those four are complemented by a rotating variety of seasonal beers and experimental small batches. Flat Top beers are named local landmarks and activities. For example, the Profile American Pale Ale is named for the Profile Trail at Grandfather Mountain, while… Read More

Bio:   Grandfather Vineyard and Winery produces a variety of wines in relaxing setting beside the Watauga River near the base of Grandfather Mountain. In fact, the property has a frame-worthy view of the profile that gives the peak its name. The business is a family affair. Steve and Sally Tatum — who opened Tatum Galleries furniture in Banner Elk in 1978 — planted their first grapes in 2003. They completed the winery in 2011. Their son Dylan is the winemaker. He graduated from Surry Community College in Dobson with a degree in viticulture and enology. The vineyard grows vitis vinifera grapes,… Read More

Bio:   Minutes from its namesake waterfall (and the Blue Ridge Parkway), Linville Falls Winery rests on a 40-acre farm. The Tuscan-style tasting room is surrounded by grape vines and fields of Christmas trees. The vineyard is located at 3,200 feet in elevation, blending warm days with cool nights. The elevation, climate and soil composition create ideal grape-growing conditions for owner Jack Wiseman, who operates Linville Falls Winery with his family. The winery produces both sweet and dry wines, with Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon as the signature varietals. The cabernet sauvignon is aged in American and French oak for two years, creating… Read More