Located 40-minutes south of Asheville is Stone Ashe Vineyard. But before you write this off as another wannabe regional vineyard, take our word for it; it’s not. If you didn’t know any better, when you drive up, you would swear you were in Napa or Sonoma Valley, California.
Stone Ashe Vineyard began 10-years ago when owners, Craig and Tina Little, began to dream. Influenced by estate vineyards in France, they began searching for the perfect location to grow their dream and grapes. Because they wanted to replicate French vineyards, they imported Bordeaux-based grapevines from regions in France with similar soil and weather to theirs.
Craig and Tina took the saying, “Location, location, location” to heart, knowing everything must work together to create the best wine: soil, climate, altitude, and rainfall. The land they selected was deemed unsuitable for agriculture because of the granite slope, but it would turn out to be the Primo spot for winemaking. So perfect was the location that they incorporated it into their name: stone for the granite mountain and Ashe for the soil variety.
All of this means nothing if the wine is of poor quality and the ambiance blasé. Again, Stone Ashe Vineyard delivers. Before we uncork a bottle, let’s start with the aesthetics. Customers rave that the drive to the vineyard is gorgeous, while the tasting room and facility views are breathtaking. The tasting room is rustic, with large beams and woodwork accenting the ceilings and walls. Comfortable seating dots in the room and large windows offer panoramic views of the North Carolina mountains. Outside there are tables and a grassy knoll for relaxing, sipping wine, or enjoying a picnic meal.
Stone Ashe Vineyards offers three red and white selections along with a rose, all of which are dry. In the red family, there are Meritage Red Blend, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. For those who prefer white, you can choose Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or Riesling. The rosé is the Bubbly Provençal Rosé variety. Reviewers all had positive comments about the wines they sampled. Some even compared their experience to that of Napa or Sonoma, California. For a more thorough and detailed description of each wine offered, please visit their website.
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. Visitors to the wine tasting commented that the wine was delicious, 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 for purchase and pair with any of their wines. Aside from purchasing wines in the shop, you can also order online.
Stone Ashe Vineyards is also available for private events, weddings, bachelorette parties, and corporate outings. Based upon reviews we read, their experience was top-notch, and the communication was very open, transparent, and concise.
Stone Ashe Vineyards is a rising star on the East Coast. For those familiar with visiting Napa or Sonoma Valley vineyards, you will be impressed by the wines, the ambiance, the stunning vistas, and the charm that is Stone Ashe Vineyards.
Insider Tip:
Children and anyone under the age of 21 are not allowed on the premises. You may bring your dog, but it must remain outside.