Take your own winery tour in our Sugar Mountain area! Find spectacular scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains, beautiful outdoor vineyard settings, live music and plenty of local wines. Two of these wineries are located just five miles from our village. (Photo above: Grandfather Vineyard)
Grandfather Vineyard
225 Vineyard Lane, Banner Elk
This longtime favorite winery is located five miles from the Sugar Mountain entrance off NC Highway 105 (going toward Boone). Relax on the banks of the Watauga River in the shadow of the beautiful Grandfather Mountain, while enjoying a big variety of unique wines. Located at an elevation of 3,300 feet, their distinctive terroir and challenging level of elevation creates a flavor profile in the Appalachian High Country AVA. At the Tasting Room, choose from four tasting options with a variety of wines ranging from dry, sweet, sparkling and dessert style. Their vineyard grows 10+ different varietals of grapes, including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, St. Croix, Lando Noir, Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc. They are open every afternoon, seven days a week. Children and dogs are welcome. They have snacks, or you can bring your own picnic. Go to their website for more info.
Banner Elk Winery
60 Deer Run Lane, Banner Elk, NC
Head to Banner Elk, just five miles from the Sugar Mountain entrance, for North Carolina High Country’s original winery. It is also one of the most acclaimed with many, many award-winning wines with new French-American and American varieties of grapes. Stop in for a tasting year round, open daily from noon until 6:00 PM. Find a laid back atmosphere and fun for the whole family, including your four-legged friends. During cooler months, the large tasting room is very inviting. Most folks take advantage of the big outdoor terrace and lawn with sunset views over the Blue Ridge. One of the favorite wines is their Banner Elk Blend, a dry Bordeaux style blended red wine. Their Seyval Blanc white wine is made from estate-grown French American hybrid grapes. Don’t miss their gold medal Cabernet Sauvignon, Heirloom Blend, Merlot, Sangiovese, Marechal Foch Reserve and the beloved Banner Elk White. Their Banner Elk Blueberry and Ice Wines make great souvenirs for porch sipping back home. Go to their website.
Linville Falls Winery
9557 Linville Falls Hwy. Linville Falls
Located 16 miles from Sugar Mountain (and just off the Blue Ridge Parkway) is this beautiful 40-acre vineyard. This farm in a fertile valley between hills is filled with rows of lush, green vines. Their grape varieties include Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Noiret, Marquette, Petit Verdot, Marechal Foch and flagship Riesling. Wines are also made from farm grown blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and apples! At an elevation of 3,200 feet, the grapevines thrive in the mountain climate. Cool nights and low humidity allow their grapes to ripen slow while developing fresh, vibrant flavors, giving way to wonderful wines. In addition to wine tastings, find artisan food items such as cheeses, specialty crackers, jams, snack mixes, salami and more! A food truck visits on busier days, or bring a picnic. Enjoy free live music May through October on every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. They are open daily March-December and Thursday-Sunday in January and February. Go to their website for more info.
Places to Stay
Find a variety of vacation rentals in the Village of Sugar Mountain, including cozy cabins, condos with big views and large homes for family gatherings. See our list of locally-owned rental companies.
More Things To Do
See our Summer Guide and Fall Guide for many other attractions and places to go. Looking for local beers? Go to Kettle Beerworks.