North Carolina wineries have turned this stretch of the Blue Ridge into an increasingly compelling wine-country destination, and Saluda happens to sit between two federally recognized growing regions. The Tryon Foothills AVA stretches across Polk County, while the Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA encompasses wine country around Hendersonville. From our Bed and Breakfast in the NC mountains, guests can reach several wineries near Tryon, NC, and wineries near Hendersonville, NC, in roughly half an hour, while Biltmore Estate Winery and other wineries near Asheville, NC, make an easy longer day trip.
Guests ask us for wine recommendations almost as often as they ask about waterfalls, so we put together a list of the best North Carolina wineries. Here are the NC wineries we’d point you toward first.
Parker-Binns Vineyard
About 25 minutes from our Bed and Breakfast, Parker-Binns Vineyard sits on a 40-acre, family-owned estate in Mill Spring, making it one of the first stops we recommend when guests ask about wineries near Tryon, NC. The property is now part of the Tryon Foothills AVA, North Carolina’s newest federally recognized wine-growing region. Parker-Binns produces a broad mix of wines, including Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Chambourcin, and its tasting areas overlook the vines and foothills. ReLish Kitchen on the property is a great stop for lunch during your day of exploring North Carolina wineries.
Overmountain Vineyards
A few minutes further into Tryon proper, about 30 minutes from our inn, Overmountain Vineyards is a family-run winery producing estate-grown, French-inspired wines from grapes that include Petit Manseng, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. This is one of the North Carolina wineries most known for its history: a certified section of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail crosses the vineyard, following the route traveled by the Overmountain Men in October 1780 on their way toward the Battle of Kings Mountain. Tastings are seated, with outdoor pavilion space overlooking the foothills, and reservations are recommended, particularly for groups.
Mountain Brook Vineyards
Also in the Tryon Foothills AVA, about 30 minutes from our inn, Mountain Brook Vineyards rounds out this convenient cluster of North Carolina wineries. Its vineyard was first planted in 2002, and today the winery pours varieties ranging from Albariño, Chardonnay, and Petit Manseng to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Visitors can keep things casual on The Lawn, where tasting flights, wines by the glass, and bottles are available without a reservation, or reserve a more structured guided tasting in the Vintner Room. That flexibility makes Mountain Brook an especially useful stop when everyone in your group approaches wine tasting a little differently.
Burntshirt Vineyards
Burntshirt Vineyards is one of the better-known wineries near Hendersonville, NC, about 25 minutes from our Bed and Breakfast, and its Hendersonville estate sits within the Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA. The winery farms two vineyards totaling about 30 acres at elevations of roughly 2,200 and 3,400 feet, growing European vinifera varieties alongside French-American hybrids. Visitors can choose a traditional tasting, take a winery tour, or pair wine with a meal at the on-site Vintner’s Table. For groups of six or more, Burntshirt currently requires advance reservations for tastings, so this is one stop where planning ahead matters.
Stone Ashe Vineyards
Stone Ashe Vineyards, also in Hendersonville’s Crest of the Blue Ridge wine country and about 30 minutes from our inn, takes its inspiration from the classic wine regions of France. One of the best North Carolina wineries, the vineyard focuses on estate-grown and estate-bottled wines, including Bordeaux-influenced reds, in a polished tasting-room setting overlooking the surrounding mountains and vines. Stone Ashe is a 21-and-older property, and reservations are recommended on weekends and for groups larger than six, making it a good choice for couples looking for a quieter, more intentional wine-tasting experience.
Point Lookout Vineyards
One of the most popular North Carolina wineries, Point Lookout Vineyards sits high on Point Lookout Mountain near Hendersonville, about 35 minutes from our inn, and the name isn’t an exaggeration. At roughly 3,000 feet, the property offers expansive mountain panoramas stretching for miles. On clear days, views can reach toward Mount Mitchell and the Shining Rock Wilderness. The winery pours both wines and meads, and its mountaintop pavilion and broad views make it one of the more distinctive wineries near Hendersonville, NC. If scenery is as important to you as what’s in the glass, late afternoon is an especially appealing time to visit.
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards
About 25 minutes from The Orchard Inn, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards is one of the closest wineries near Hendersonville, NC. Located on farmland that has been in the Ward family for generations, the vineyard is part of the Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA and focuses on French vinifera grown in the surrounding mountain landscape. The tasting room offers indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the vines, and weekends often include live music and food trucks. With daily tastings and a relaxed setting, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards is an easy addition to a day exploring Hendersonville wine country.
Biltmore Estate Winery
About an hour from the inn, Biltmore Estate Winery is the outlier on this list, both in distance and in scale. Plan on roughly an hour from the inn to Antler Hill Village on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, where the winery occupies part of the estate’s former dairy complex. Biltmore Winery is the most-visited winery in the country, and for guests searching for wineries near Asheville, NC, it is understandably one of the biggest draws.
Complimentary wine tasting is currently included with estate admission and does not require a separate tasting reservation, but you do need a valid daytime ticket, annual pass, or qualifying stay on the estate to access the winery. Pairing a tasting with Biltmore House, the gardens, or the rest of Antler Hill Village can easily fill a day, so we generally recommend treating Biltmore as its own Asheville outing rather than stacking it with other North Carolina wineries.
Plan Your North Carolina Wine Country Weekend
Hours and tasting policies vary considerably among these wineries in North Carolina, and they can change seasonally, so it’s worth checking each winery’s website before you leave the inn. Walk-in tastings are available at several stops, but there isn’t one rule for the entire region. Overmountain recommends reservations, Stone Ashe recommends them on weekends and for larger groups, Burntshirt requires them for groups of six or more, and Mountain Brook welcomes walk-ins on The Lawn while recommending reservations for its guided Vintner Room tasting. Biltmore’s complimentary tasting does not currently require a reservation, although estate admission is required.
If you’re mapping out a full North Carolina wine trail weekend, we’d suggest organizing it by region rather than trying to cover everything at once. Spend one day exploring Parker-Binns Vineyard, Overmountain Vineyards, and Mountain Brook Vineyards in the Tryon Foothills AVA, and devote another to the Hendersonville wineries in the Crest of the Blue Ridge. Give Biltmore its own Asheville day if you have time. Saluda sits conveniently between those areas and many more North Carolina wineries, making it a practical base for exploring this corner of North Carolina wine country.
Your Bed and Breakfast in the NC Mountains for a Wine Country Getaway
If you’re planning a wine country trip through this part of North Carolina, where you stay matters as much as where you taste. You’ll want somewhere relaxing to return to after your day of vineyard-hopping, and our Bed and Breakfast in the NC mountains puts the North Carolina wineries in both the Tryon and Hendersonville wine regions within easy reach.
Our boutique inn offers 16 well-appointed rooms, suites, and cottages, with a range of mountain-facing porches, fireplaces, and other distinctive features, depending on the accommodation you choose. Removed from the hustle and bustle of the busier mountain towns, our Bed and Breakfast was made for a restful mountain retreat, with downtown Saluda only a short drive away.
Mornings at our Bed and Breakfast in the NC mountains start with a full, made-to-order breakfast included with your stay. Settle into the glassed-in dining porch overlooking the mountains with coffee or tea, freshly baked scones or muffins, and a rotating selection of breakfast dishes prepared with local ingredients whenever possible.
After a day exploring North Carolina wineries, you can stay right on the property for dinner at Newman’s Restaurant. Its seasonal prix-fixe menus are built around fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including produce from the Inn’s own organic garden and mini-orchard, and the extensive wine list is a fitting way to continue a day spent tasting your way through the region. Dinner is served in the mountain-view dining room or, weather permitting, outside on the terrace.
There’s plenty of reason to slow down between winery visits, too. Guests can book a massage or facial at our on-site spa, with aromatherapy and other enhancements available, spend time in the outdoor cedar sauna, pick up a book in the library, or relax on the terrace. If you want to make the getaway a little more special, we also offer several packages that bundle some of these experiences together.
The Romance Package, for example, includes a weekend stay in Holly Cottage, dinner for two at Newman’s, French Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a couples massage. Our amenities and packages make it easy to turn a few visits to North Carolina wineries into a relaxed mountain getaway rather than a packed tasting itinerary.
With the Tryon and Hendersonville wine regions within easy reach, our Bed and Breakfast makes a convenient home base for exploring this part of North Carolina wine country. Book your stay and spend your days visiting nearby vineyards, then come back to the quiet of the mountains, dinner at Newman’s, and a fresh breakfast waiting the next morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wineries are in North Carolina?
North Carolina has roughly 200 wineries statewide, although the exact total varies from year-to-year. The state’s wine industry spans several federally recognized growing regions, including the Tryon Foothills AVA and Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA in Western North Carolina.
Are North Carolina wineries open year-round?
Many are, but schedules vary by winery and can change seasonally, especially around winter and holidays. Some of the wineries in this guide operate most days of the week, while others have more limited tasting-room schedules, so checking current hours before setting out is the safest approach.
Is Biltmore Estate Winery worth the extra drive from Saluda?
For many visitors, yes. It’s farther from our Bed and Breakfast than the other North Carolina wineries on this list, but it is the most-visited winery in the country and allows you to spend a full day exploring Biltmore House, the gardens, and Antler Hill Village. The standard complimentary tasting currently does not require its own reservation, but admission to the estate is required.
Can you stay overnight near these wineries?
Yes. Our boutique inn is within convenient driving distance of all eight featured wineries and makes an easy base for a North Carolina wine country weekend, with a full breakfast included, dinner at Newman’s Restaurant, and spa services available on-site.
Which winery is closest to Saluda, NC?
Among the eight primary North Carolina wineries in this guide, Parker-Binns Vineyard and Burntshirt Vineyards are among the closest, at roughly 25 minutes from the inn depending on route and traffic. Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards is another nearby Hendersonville-area option and is also within an easy drive of Saluda.
Do you need reservations for wine tastings in North Carolina?
It varies for the North Carolina wineries. Many standard tastings welcome walk-ins, but Overmountain Vineyards recommends reservations, Stone Ashe Vineyards recommends them on weekends and for groups larger than six, and Burntshirt Vineyards requires them for tasting groups of six or more. Mountain Brook’s casual Lawn experience does not require reservations, while Biltmore Estate Winery’s complimentary tasting currently requires no tasting reservation but does require access to the Biltmore Estate. Always check the winery’s current policy before your visit.