Located 60 miles northeast of Asheville is Linville Falls Winery. The family-owned vineyard sits on 40 acres in the Appalachian High Country, where the cool nights and low humidity make grapevines thrive. But before we uncork their wines, let’s learn how a simple North Carolina boy’s dream came to fruition.
Jack Wiseman grew up in western North Carolina, and he acquired his love for working the land from his grandparents. They also taught him a thing or two about making homemade wine at the ripe old age of eight. You might say they planted the bud of his dream, but it would take years before it blossomed. After serving in the Korean War, Jack lived in the Napa Valley area of California. Here, he learned more about winemaking, and his yearning to own his vineyard grew.
But Jack, homesick for the Blue Ridge Mountains, moved back to North Carolina. He married, had a family, and in 1962, planted Douglas Fir Christmas Trees. Locals scoffed at his idea, but Jack will have the last laugh based on his success. With this success, and at the ripe young age of 70, Jack had the means to make his dreams come true. Linville Falls Winery was born some years later with hard work and his passion for winemaking. Today, his family joins him in his career and keeps his vision for superb winemaking alive.
The winery’s estate resembles those you’d see in Tuscany or Napa Valley and is stunning. Linville Falls Winery is open seven days a week and serves wine by the glass, bottle, or flight. Food trucks are often on-site, and when they’re not, you can purchase local cheese, crackers, and jams in the Tasting Room. On weekends, musicians and bands perform, giving you the perfect background music to savor wine and drink in the scenery.
Linville Falls Winery produces a wide variety of wines, with Riesling being their flagship. While we can’t discuss all of them, we will highlight some standouts. And since they also grow blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and apples, you can bet we’ll showcase some of these wines.
Petit Verdot
This hybrid red wine features Marquette, Foch, and Noiret grapes to make a bold blend. This dry wine has a light body with pepper and black cherry notes.
Riesling
A semi-dry white with notes of apple and tropical fruit.
Cascade
This Pinot Gris blend is a dry white with notes of lemongrass and melon.
Brandy Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon
This dry red is seasoned in French Oak barrels for two years and aged for six months in American brandy barrels. The wine has a heavy body with notes of tobacco, oak, and vanilla.
Merlot
A medium-body red that is dry and aged in American oak barrels. The merlot has notes of plum, fig, and blackberry.
Blackberry
A sweet fruit wine.
Like their wines, Linville Falls Winery hosts various events, too. Examples are Yoga at the Winery, Murder Mystery Dinner, Pasta Making Class, and Summer Square Dance. Nearby is the iconic falls the area and vineyard are known for: Linville Falls. It’s a mile away and a short hike, so be sure to pack and plan for this adventure.
Additionally, children and pets are welcomed at Linville Falls Winery. And you can even bring your food for a picnic in the mountains. However, you can’t bring in alcohol. If you’re in their neck of the woods, we think a trip to Linville Falls Winery is worth your time. With their family story, varieties of wine, and special events, there’s something here for everyone.
Insider Tip:
Linville Falls Winery also sells Christmas trees at the Red Barn Tree Farm. Be sure to select your tree before sampling wine. As they advise on their website, “It’s a tried and true fact that wine makes your ceilings get taller.”