We spent a weekend in the NC mountains
recently to escape the heat, enjoying the scenery.
While we were there,
we took some time out
to wine a bit.
If you’re in the area, we recommend a visit to
Grandfather Vineyard and Winery
in Banner Elk!
The terraced mountain vineyard and winery
is nestled right on the Watauga River.
It’s true, you do feel better
if you wine a bit :)
There’s plenty of seating to
enjoy a glass outside. . .
Kick back and
listen to the water.
Pull up a chair and enjoy the lower humidity
and cooler mountain temperatures.
There are 4-legged ambassadors
at the winery to greet you. . .
A chair with a view, a dog and
a glass of wine is my recipe for relaxation and
guaranteed to lower your blood pressure :)
I hope you’re enjoying a getaway
this summer and staying cool!
Where are you planning to escape to this summer?
Even your pics feel about 10 degrees cooler Mary! Looks like you found a great place for a little get-away:@)
I am from Boone, NC. Live in Lenoir now, but still visit family in Boone. Have family in Banner Elk and Beech Mtn. You are right it does get 10 degrees cooler when you hit a certain spot going up the mountain. I love the Mtns. I rarely comment, but love your blog and all your talent.
Great pictures, Mary! We are at the beach for a week but it is hot here in Florida!
Beautiful place Mary…I could live there!
Love your getaway! I kept waiting for napa, but prefer the change of scenery. What a gorgeous river to relax by and of course wild about your swimming buddy. So many fabulous shots and I know how much you love your wine, what a great place for a cabin in the woods~
What a gorgeous spot for a summer retreat, Mary. I love all the adirondack chairs nestled about the property…perfect for propping ones feet and sipping some wine.
Our kind of place!
Happy weekend, Mary!
Loved all your photos- my favorite was the one of the barn with the trees and mountains framed in the window! Just beautiful- you have such a creative eye! ♥
Hi Mary, I love the virtual trips to your nearby wineries! It looks like the ambassador knew just where to sit to get a good scratch. Those riverside Adirondack chairs are so inviting! Linda
What a fun getaway, I just love to visit wineries :) It does look cool and refreshing~and all the eye candy, I LOVE the rain chain! I saw some napkins in a gift shop the other day that said “Someone forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water!”
Jenna
I just LOVE the mouuntains of NC. I have always said if I won the lottery I would like to have a beach house and a house in the mountains. The winery looks so COOL and relaxing, I love how they have so much seating to enjoy! WE went to OBX in June and no other plans for the summer:( Maybe some day trips. Have a great weekend!!!!
I love, love love the tiger lilies growing by the stream! Beautiful photos all, but that is my favorite!
I love the mountains but we are meeting the grandkids in North Topsail Beach. These pictures capture the lovely mountain scenery and I feel better just looking at them.
I’d love to wine a bit there. It looks like the perfect weekend getaway. Love the fun weather vane and rain chain for the winery.
What a wonderful place! I always enjoy your travel stories so much, thank you!
Glorious! Thanks for sharing this.
thanks for sharing your photo’s. I feel more relaxed just looking at them.
Looks like a perfect summer retreat! This makes me wish for a trip to NC.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful spot.
Love this one!
Tell my favorite brother-in-law “hi”… Looking forward to seeing you both soon….LL
As many times as I have visited NC, I have never visited any of the vineyards…Must remedy this at the first chance I get…
~Mary~
What a lovely spot, now that is relaxing ! You should go to Mackinaw Michigan in the summer to cool off, sit by the lake watch the ships go by , aahhh, its wonderful.
Have a super weekend.
Paula
IN.
Sounds like it was fun and relaxing.
Sounds like you would love our favorite NJ winery; Villa Milagro.
What a serene setting! Glad you enjoyed yourselves and had a wonderful time. A bit of relaxing never heard anybody..next question, where could I buy a yard flag like that? Did they have a gift shop? Does NC allow wine to be shipped out of the state? Some states don’t you know.
Hi Betty, They had the flags for sale at the winery :) According to this, “North Carolina is considered a permit shipping state, so wineries may ship directly to residents in other states following specific rules for each state regarding quantity shipped, permit procedures and costs.”
Foodiesleuth..there is a winery in Rose Hill, NC, that my niece always stops in and buys several bottle..her favorite is called Christmas wine..
Mary, what county is lake Norman in? Used to have a friend that lived in Monroe, and that county was dry and we’d have to go into Charlotte or find certain old shacks on back roads that would sell your booze. They would place certain colors of outside lights on to let you know if they had made a trip to Charlotte and bought booze back to sell. Now this was about 1961. I’m sure things have changed now.
Hi Betty, Lake Norman spans 4 counties, NC is no longer dry :)
Isn’t it wonderful to get away to the mountains to cool off?? How nice that it is not too far from your home. My sister just bought a place in Wilmington so I expect I will be visiting at some point!! LOVE this post…what a gorgeous place to chill with some wine! Hugs to Chloe and Gracie!
Beautiful pix…we just got back to FL yesterday from the Franklin, NC area. The cool mornings were such a treat from our muggy hot a.m.’s. at home!!
What a gorgeous place! Great way to cool off!
What a beautiful and relaxing place to be…and not JUST because of the wine! :-) I LOVE that weather vane!!!
Seeing those unripened grapes reminds me of the great anticipation we would have while waiting for them to ripen in my parents’ small orchard when we were kids. I made the grave mistake of eating one at the unripened stage once. ONCE! Never again! :-)
Have been to Banner Elk many times on our trek up and down Beech Mountain…however, have never been to the winery…adding this to our must visit list….can’t imagine sitting in those chairs with a great glass of wine overlooking the fabulous views and a great dog to pet!!
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