NC High Country Focus: Wine & Local Food Scene

The High Country, including Boone and Blowing Rock, has a flourishing food and wine scene, with exquisite restaurants, farm-to-table options, and great wineries and breweries to explore.

Kick off the season with the Savor Wine and Food Festival in Blowing Rock April 20-23, 2017. Enjoy wine tastings, seminars, cooking classes, pairing dinners, and entertainment! Grand Tasting event downtown, plus satellite tents for more fun around town.

Area Wineries

Recently recognized as one of North Carolina's American Viticulture Areas, the High Country is specifically known for its topography and climate, producing grapes unique to the High Country. The three main area wineries are Grandfather Vineyards, Banner Elk Winery, and Linville Falls Winery. All have unique offerings of wines produced from grapes in the area. Most are open daily in the afternoon for tastings and tours in the summer on weekends. Click on the titles for more information.

Banner Elk Winery

in Banner Elk features some of the highest vineyards in the Eastern United States. The vineyards are located on Beech Mountain, which dominates the lovely view from the winery and Inn. Banner Elk Winery is the first commercial winery built in the area, debuting in 2006.

Grandfather Vineyards

Take a seat and enjoy the sights and sounds of the rushing water. The tasting room has a lovely rustic charm, with friendly folks ready to tell you about the unique wines produced at the winery. Enjoy wines like "Terraced Gold" and "Big Boulder Red" on the spacious patio or by the water's edge.

Linville Falls Winery

Family-owned and operated, the winery is an elegant attraction that's easy to find right off Highway 221in Linville. Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon are the staple grapes, and blueberries and raspberries are also produced on the 40-acre farm.

Local Restaurants & Farm to Table

Soon, visitors to the High Country will have a local food map guide to help them make culinary decisions throughout the area.

Neck of the Woods, a seven-county interactive and print map of local food, brew, and farm-to-table options, is in the final stages of development. The website already lists culinary businesses such as craft breweries, distilleries, farm tours, you-pick farms, farm-to-table dining, farmers markets, vineyards and wineries.

Artisanal

Artisanal means "hand-crafted." All recipes are made from scratch, and all food is prepared in- house. Chef Bill Greene, an Avery County native, made his way back home after cooking in famous restaurants like LeCirque in NY. Dine in rustic elegance. The main room overlooks the open kitchen or creekside on our beautiful terrace or in the rustic lounge. Reserve the wine room/private dining for your next social event. Open May 1st-Nov 1st.

Over Yonder

Over Yonder is the latest initiative by the owners of the award-winning historic Mast Farm Inn and Chef Andrew Long, now also a partner at The Mast Farm Inn. Chef Andrew Long has for years created a following of enthusiastic diners in The High Country. Over Yonder is a new restaurant that tells the story of historic Appalachian cuisine in a picturesque setting atop the rolling hills and peaks of Valle Crucis, across from the Original Mast General Store.

Rowlands at Westglow

Experience world-class culinary fare in a historic mansion, where the elegance of fine dining can be rediscovered amid gracious hospitality and the comfort of home. Mountain views and romantic fireside dining create a magical setting where you can enjoy the flavors of new American cuisine prepared with a flair of Southern sensibility. Rowland's features an indulgent dinner menu with an array of eclectic dishes including fresh seafood, prime steaks, and savory game meats. There is also a delicious gourmet spa dinner menu for the health-conscious. On the wine list, you will find bottles from all over the world, #including rare wines and some little-known gems from North Carolina vineyards. Find out why Katherine Stefan of Charlotte Taste Magazine writes "no trip to Blowing Rock is complete for foodies" without a meal at Rowland's. Open nightly to the public for dinner.

The Gamekeeper

Located between Boone and Blowing Rock, NC, the Gamekeeper is well known for interesting and delicious interpretations of Southern classics. The menu changes seasonally, blending the traditional with the exotic, satisfying both meat and veggie lovers. Quality and care is evident in all we produce. The freshest of local ingredients and humanely farm-raised meats are served. AAAA 4 Diamond restaurant, Gamekeeper has been named one of the 50 Best Steakhouses in America on MSN Lifestyle's website.

This is just a sampling of the many restaurants and food that the High Country has to offer. For more information, visit the Boone area tourism agency.