Grandfather Vineyard Winery

Location & Atmosphere: Grandfather Winery is located near Banner Elk, North Carolina, not far from Boone, NC, on NC Highway 105. It is on your left as you are heading from Boone. The signage is okay, but not great, so you have to be on the lookout for it. The rather ugly town recycling center is right next to the entrance gate, but once you go through the gates, you enter a beautiful winery with the Watauga River meandering through the property, with tables and chairs scattered on the riverbank. You also will notice several rows of grapes growing on a steep hillside, and a large tasting building. All in all, a very attractive setting. Steve and Sally Tatum, local business owners, started the vineyard in 2003.

The Wines: Their dry wines are good to very good. The Cabernet Sauvignon is approaching the excellent mark. Like many mountain vineyards, this area does not get enough intense sunshine to grow the European varietals. They do grow a relatively small amount of sweet North Carolina grapes on the property. The grapes for their dry wines come from the nearby Yadkin Valley (and a portion from California), which is much sunnier.

The Tours: We are not aware that regular tours are available of the vineyard. The tasting building is nice, the employees knowledgeable about the wines, and there is a small but fun shopping area for wine items.

Other Amenities: The greatest feature of this winery is the great setting alongside the Watauga River, really a mid-sized, shallow mountain stream or creek with a at this point, and the lovely setting of tables and chairs. On a hot day, grab a cool glass of white wine, take your shoes off and wade through the creek- it is only 6 to 12 inches deep in summer- and feel yourself
relax. Most people who visit are already on vacation, but the pastoral setting and very good wines make for a relaxing place to “set for a spell.”

Rating: Overall, a fun and enjoyable experience in a beautiful setting. Definitely a great four-star experience!