Roaring River Vineyards: A French-Inspired Winery Built Around a Historic Gristmill
In 2001, Tom and Joséphine Silvey were living in Charlotte and looking for a weekend retreat when they found a riverside property in Traphill, North Carolina, along the East Prong of the Roaring River. For Joséphine, who grew up near France’s Champagne region, the rolling hills felt like home. The couple bought the land intending to build a simple weekend cottage — but when Joséphine asked Tom to plant a few grapevines to remind her of France, he signed them both up for a viticulture seminar at Surry Community College and came out with, as she puts it, stars in his eyes.
What followed was nearly two decades of long-distance labor: the Silveys were living in Orlando at the time, driving back and forth, hauling supplies, and sleeping in a mobile home while they cleared land and planted vines. Tom’s job brought the couple to Rural Hall, NC in 2011, and from there the project accelerated. Their first grape harvest came in 2013; Tom retired from a 43-year career at Siemens in 2017; and in the summer of 2018 the couple moved into their forever home overlooking the vineyard. On Bastille Day, 2016, fittingly, they opened the Wine Tasting Room and Chez Joséphine Restaurant.
The site itself carries its own history: it dates back to 1870, when the old Brewer gristmill and sawmill used the river to power their grinding wheels. Roaring River’s tasting room was built in place of that old gristmill, and remnants of the historic sawmill and cabin are still visible just across the water.
Tom and Joséphine have described their roles at the estate half-jokingly as “Secretary of the Exterior” and “Secretary of the Interior” — a reflection of just how hands-on the couple has been in building not just a vineyard, but a full riverside experience with lodging, event spaces, and dining layered in over the years.
The Wines of Roaring River Vineyards
The Tasting Haus at Roaring River Vineyards pours French-inspired estate wines alongside German-style, locally sourced beers. The wine lineup includes Traminette, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Norton, and the winery’s fan-favorite Petit Rosé, produced in partnership with a local winery while the Silveys continued building out the estate. German-inspired food, shareables, and small plates round out the menu, designed to pair with whatever you’re drinking rather than compete with it. Regular events add another layer to a visit — from Sip & Solve wine bingo nights to the River Jams live music series featuring local performers on the covered porch.
Planning Your Visit
Address: 493 Brewer Mill Rd, Traphill, NC 28685
Phone: (336) 957-2332
Hours: Thursday 11am–6pm (May–October), Friday–Saturday 11am–6pm, Sunday 12pm–5pm
Roaring River is as much a destination as a tasting stop — the property includes vacation rentals booked through VRBO, an RV campground, and event spaces for weddings and private gatherings, all riverside. Outdoor dining spaces are pet-friendly, so both people and dogs are welcome by the water, and the covered porch overlooking the historic Brewer Mill site is a favorite spot for lingering over a wine flight.
A few practical notes we have learned from bringing groups here: the tasting room is closed Monday through Wednesday, so plan your visit for later in the week. We recommend budgeting at least two hours here if your group wants to eat at Chez Joséphine and take in the river views — this isn’t a quick tasting-and-go stop.
Where Roaring River Fits in Your Tour Route
Roaring River sits in Wilkes County in the foothills near Stone Mountain State Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, close to a small cluster of wineries around Elkin and State Road — including Elkin Creek Vineyard, Grassy Creek Vineyard, and Golden Road Vineyards, all within a short drive. That makes it a natural anchor for a foothills-focused day rather than a stop paired with the wineries further south and east in the valley.
Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per winery plus drive time between stops. Given Roaring River’s limited Thursday–Sunday schedule, we recommend building the rest of your day’s route around its open hours rather than the other way around. And because the drive out to Traphill winds through genuinely scenic foothills country, we’d suggest treating the drive itself as part of the day rather than something to rush through.
Wine Tour Transportation to Roaring River Vineyards
Ashe County Livery provides private, chauffeured wine tour transportation to Roaring River Vineyards from Ashe County, Boone, Blowing Rock, West Jefferson and across NC’s High Country. Our Roaring River Vineyards trip-planning page covers drive times, tasting-room hours, group sizes and pricing.
Travel in a luxury SUV, sedan, or Sprinter van with a professional chauffeur — everyone in your group gets to taste, nobody has to drive. We only charge from pickup to your last drop-off, and every tour includes a complimentary cooler with ice and water. Plan your Roaring River Vineyards tour or call (336) 484-1350.
Nearby wineries we also serve: Elkin Creek Vineyards · Grassy Creek Vineyard · Golden Road Vineyards — or browse all 54 Yadkin Valley wineries we provide transportation to.
Explore More from Ashe County Livery
- Yadkin Valley Wine Tours — Explore NC’s premier wine region
- High Country Wine Tours — Mountain winery service
- Wedding Transportation — Luxury transportation for your big day
- Airport Transfers — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI
- Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350
🍷 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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