On Your Next Trip to Western North Carolina, Check Out the Area's Newest Award Winning Winery

Many Lowcountry residents take a weekend road trip to the mountains of western North Carolina for a reprieve from the heat of the summer months to enjoy the many cooling waterfalls and hiking trails of Pisgah Forest and Dupont State Forest. After a morning of recreation, the late afternoon hours are the perfect time to savor another cultural amenity the mountains around Hendersonville offer, fantastic wine vineyards. One of the area's newest wineries was recently awarded top honors in a USA Today Readers' Choice poll.

After a scenic drive and a wrong turn on Green Mountain Road--even GPS occasionally gets it wrong--we could see the winery's tasting building perched high above the road on the side of the mountain. Just ahead, the sign marking the entrance to Stone Ashe Vineyards. We ascended the long, curving driveway to the spacious parking area. Rows of grape vines covered the sloping terrain beyond the perimeter of the pavement in a symmetric blocking pattern--a future harvest to be crushed, pressed, clarified, aged, and bottled.

We entered the 3100-square-foot Chalet-designed building trimmed with cedar timbers, which included a catering kitchen, bar, covered patio, and deck. A 25-foot cathedral ceiling framed with Douglas fir timbers towered high above the tasting floor beyond the bar. There were plenty of wood tables for sitting with a large stone fireplace on one wall surrounded by a compliment of comfortable seating. Large windows afforded beautiful views of the surrounding mountain vistas. 

When it comes to wine, you could put almost anything in front of me, and I would think it was good. My friend, more refined and knowledgeable about wine than me, made the perfect choice of a slightly bubbly 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rose Wine.

We chose to sit on the open patio on black Adirondack furniture. The view from our chairs was majestic, overlooking the descending vineyard and valley with lightning streaking down onto the surrounding high peaks. The company rewarding and the wine refreshingly dry.

Beginning in 2010, Craig and Tina Little left their careers to pursue a dream. They started their search for American soil that would match their beloved Bordeaux region of France. After three years, they found the ideal site. They discovered an area in North Carolina near Hendersonville rich in 'stony ashe' soil providing internal drainage, steep slopes for high-density planting and external irrigation, and a micro-climate suited for efficient photosynthesis and elegantly balanced fruit. Their find would cover 67 acres of beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain real estate. The couple then mated grapevine clones from France with California rootstock, and Stone Ashe Vineyards became a reality.

Wine tasting is from 12-6 Thursday through Monday and is $15 per person. You will get to choose five wines to sample from their current selections. The staff was friendly and polite, and the facility was clean and beautiful. Reservations are not required unless you plan on coming with a party of five or more. Locally sourced charcuterie boards and snack boxes (spicy pimento or hummus) are available to purchase and paired with any of their wines.

Stone Ashe Vineyards offers seven wines on its website: 2019 Petit Verdot-$44.00, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc-$38.00, 2021 Chardonnay-$29.00, 2021 Riesling-$28.00, 2021 Cabernet Franc Rosé-$29.00, 2019 Coppedge Hill-$44.00, and 2019 Davenport-$40.00.

Stone Ashe Vineyards has a full catering kitchen that can serve wedding receptions and special events such as private events, bachelorette parties, and corporate outings. Its modern farmhouse motif and warm decor are the product of Polish + Pop Design of Charleston, S.C. For information, visit the website or call 828-551-5643. It is located at 736 Green Mountain Road.

Stone Ashe Vineyards was named the Best New Winery of 2022 in a USA Today Readers' Choice poll that ended July 18. This North Carolina viticulture jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains gives California's Napa Valley wineries a run for their money.

Spring Awakening In Asheville, North Carolina-Rejuvinate Yourself

Winter has finally ended. Thank goodness for that little bit of revelation.Thinking about spring and a close destination you can take in for that long weekend getaway, think Asheville, Nc. Asheville pops up on national rankings for a variety of things: Modern Maturity named it one of "The 50 Most Alive Places To Be," Self magazine labeled it the "Happiest City for Women," it is one of AARP Magazine's "Best Places to Reinvent Your Life," and was proclaimed the "New Freak Capital of the U.S." by Rolling Stone. In the 2008 book The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner, Asheville was cited by the author to be one of the happiest places in the United States. What makes Asheville the happiest place for women and the United States? Read the articles or just go there yourself and find out.

It has been a long winter and many of us have been anxious to get on with spring's warmer temperatures. Of course, warmer temperatures mean more sun, and more sun brings more fun. It also brings the flowers to bloom and Asheville is an excellent place to observe the spring awakening. The Western North Carolina area is blessed with a variety of elevations and terrain containing a variety of plants, trees and shrubs in and around Asheville. It is also home to the Biltmore Estate with its beautiful gardens and Grandfather Mountain where the majority of the spring bloom appears at various times through the season.

This is a list of when and what to look for on your visit. March: Iris, Crocus, Narcissus "Daffodil", Yellow Violet, Spring Beauty, and Dutchman's Breeches. April: Phacelia, Cersis "Redbud", Yellow Lady, Rhododendron, Pink Lady, and Painted Trillium. May: Tulip, Violet, Dogwood, Trailing Arbutus, Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalia, Mountain Magnolia, Wild Cherry, Japonica, Trillium, Crab Apple, and Pinkshell Azalia. If you are like me and don't know a Phacelia from a Cersis "Redbud" take the opportunity to do some research and if you don't have the time, just go and enjoy it first hand.

Aside from flowers blooming, Asheville comes to life with spring activity. It is at the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the most visited national park in the United States. Hiking, fishing, swimming, tubing, rafting, horseback riding, and a host of other outdoor activity is available. Named a must-see destination in 2007 by Frommer's, it boasts a thriving arts community, a vibrant and inviting downtown, numerous historic and architectural attractions, and unique shopping options. Restaurants and dining are plentiful featuring all cuisines. Many restaurants also feature live music from jazz to bluegrass. A guided walking tour called Food Tours is offered. Also named one of the top 24 cities in the world for drinking beer! A great place to stay is the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa overlooking Asheville. Don't give it another thought, take the trip.-Vacation Rick Travel

Visit Asheville's Top Attraction For a One of a Kind Experience

When you first see Biltmore House it looks like you could be at Disney World. The estate is the Vanderbilt's 250-room family home and country retreat in Asheville, NC covering 8,000 acres. This French Renaissance chateáu remains America's largest privately owned home. Some of its featured points are original art from masters such as Renoira, the Banquet Hall with a 70-foot ceiling, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, bowling alley, and priceless antiques. Formal and informal gardens, a winery, Equestrian Center, outdoor activities, and estate dining are all a part of the package. You can stay on the estate as well. Choose from the Inn on Biltmore Estate or the Cottage on Biltmore Estate. The Inn was awarded Four Stars by Mobil Travel Guide, Four Diamonds by AAA, and the inn is on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List for three years running. The two-bedroom, two-bath cottage is complete with your own personal butler and chef ready to make every detail of your stay special. Click here for a virtual tour of the cottage. Enjoy all this and the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for a vacation to remember.

Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa-A Cut Above the Rest

The Grove Park Inn Resort And Spa is one of the oldest and most famous of the grand resorts. Overlooking the Ashville, NC, skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Built from granite boulders hewn from Sunset Mountain, The Grove Park Inn opened in 1913.

 In the decades to follow it has become one of the South’s most famous and venerable resorts built on a long tradition of exceptional service and hospitality. The resort's lobby is known as The Great Hall measuring 120 feet across and features 24-foot ceilings and two gigantic 14-foot stone fireplaces. You get the feeling of spaciousness and mountain splendor.

A unique feature of the resort are the themed rooms called the Inspiration Series located on the Club Floor and Vanderbuilt Wing. This is a perfect location for parent getaways, honeymoons and anniversary celebrations. Choose it and you will experience one of the most enduring, original, and exciting resorts of America. Dine at the Sunset Terrace for a beautful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visit Package Deals for the best Grove Park has to offer.

Excursions:
-Accents On Asheville
-Asheville Historic Trolley Tours
-Blue Heron Whitewater
-Nantahala Outdoor Center
-Sandy Bottom Trail Rides
-Biltmore Estate