A Hidden Gem in Laurel Springs
Thistle Meadow Winery in Laurel Springs, NC is one of those places you’d never find unless someone told you about it — and once you visit, you’ll tell everyone. Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Ashe County, this family-owned winery specializes in something you won’t find at most vineyards: artisanal mead and fruit wines.
Since opening in 2003, Thistle Meadow has built a loyal following among wine lovers who appreciate something different. If you’re tired of the same Chardonnay-and-Cabernet routine, this is your kind of winery.
The Wines & Meads
Thistle Meadow’s lineup is unlike any other winery in North Carolina:
- Traditional Mead — their signature product, a smooth honey wine made from local wildflower honey
- Blueberry Wine — sweet and rich, made with North Carolina blueberries
- Blackberry Wine — a fan favorite, perfect balance of sweet and tart
- Cranberry Mead — a unique blend of honey wine and cranberry that’s especially popular in fall
- Traditional grape wines — they also produce excellent Muscadine and Scuppernong
The tasting room is warm and inviting, with a wood-burning fireplace in winter and a shaded patio for warmer months. The staff genuinely loves what they do, and you’ll learn something new about mead-making at every visit.
Why Mead?
Mead is the world’s oldest fermented beverage — older than beer or grape wine. It’s made from honey instead of grapes, giving it a unique sweetness and complexity that surprises most first-time tasters.
Thistle Meadow is one of the few meaderies in the Southeast, and their production is entirely handcrafted in small batches. It’s a genuinely unique experience you can’t get at a typical Napa-style tasting room.
The Setting
Laurel Springs sits in the heart of Ashe County, surrounded by Christmas tree farms, mountain pastures, and some of the most peaceful scenery in western North Carolina. The drive to Thistle Meadow is half the experience — especially in fall when the foliage turns the mountainsides into walls of gold and crimson.
The winery itself is modest and authentic — no pretension, no velvet ropes. Just good wine, good people, and mountain views.
Include Thistle Meadow in Your Wine Tour Route
Thistle Meadow pairs perfectly with other High Country wineries for a full-day tour:
- Banner Elk Winery & Villa — 45 minutes east, NC’s highest elevation winery
- Villa Nove Winery (Newland) — 40 minutes, Italian-inspired mountain wines
- Grandfather Vineyard & Winery (Banner Elk) — 50 minutes, award-winning wines on the Watauga River
With a private wine tour from Ashe County Livery, you can hit 2-4 wineries in a single day without anyone worrying about driving mountain roads after tasting.
Plan Your Thistle Meadow Visit
Ready to try mead in the mountains? Book a High Country wine tour that includes Thistle Meadow, or call (336) 484-1350 to customize your itinerary.
Ashe County Livery provides luxury wine tour transportation throughout the NC High Country and Yadkin Valley. See all our services.
🍷 Planning a Wine Tour in the NC High Country?
Ashe County Livery offers private, luxury wine tour transportation throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. Skip the driving and let our professional chauffeurs take you from winery to winery in comfort and style.
Serving Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, and all NC High Country destinations • (336) 484-1350
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