Stone Ashe Vineyard sits on a mountain bluff at roughly 2,700 feet in elevation on Green Mountain Road outside Hendersonville, NC, in the far southwestern corner of the state’s wine country. It’s a serious estate winery in a genuinely dramatic setting — rows of Bordeaux-cloned vines running down steep slopes, a modern tasting room, and long views out over the ridgelines of the Blue Ridge. This isn’t a casual roadside stop; it’s a destination people plan an afternoon around, and it rewards the trip.
From Dentistry to a Bordeaux-Style Estate
Stone Ashe was started by Craig and Tina Little, who shared a vision in 2010 to build an estate vineyard modeled on the great growing regions of France. After successful careers in dentistry, they spent three years searching for the right site before finding land rich in what they describe as “stony ashe” soil — providing internal drainage, steep slopes suited to high-density planting, and a micro-climate that supports efficient photosynthesis and balanced fruit. That soil is where the winery’s name comes from. Stone Ashe has since become something of a family affair, and the winery’s own site describes an ongoing evolution as they continue building out the estate. (Source: Stone Ashe’s own “About” page.)
What to Taste
Stone Ashe planted classic Bordeaux varietals — Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot — alongside Chardonnay and Riesling, chosen specifically for the terroir of the Crest of the Blue Ridge AVA. The winery has described its goal as producing wines meant to compete on a world stage rather than simply serving tourists passing through. As with any small-production winery, the exact pours change with vintage and season, so treat any specific bottle list as a snapshot rather than a promise — check Stone Ashe’s current offerings before you go. Visitors must be 21 or older, and the winery also runs a biannual wine club with spring and fall allocations that include early releases and wine-club exclusives.
The Setting and the Experience
What sets Stone Ashe apart is the site itself: a working vineyard on a steep bluff, with the tasting room built to take advantage of the elevation and the views. The winery hosts periodic events tied to new releases — recent examples on their calendar have included the debut of a crisp white blend called “Tether” alongside a lightly oaked Merlot rosé called Primrose, a hands-on Wine Blending Workshop where guests blend four estate-grown varietals into their own Bordeaux-style red, and seasonal gatherings like a Harvest Party and a Spring Wine Dinner. Groups larger than six are asked to make weekend reservations given the winery’s modest production and intentionally intimate setting, and an automatic 20% gratuity applies to parties over six. No outside food is permitted and there’s no smoking or vaping anywhere on the property.
What Else Is Nearby
Stone Ashe sits in Hendersonville’s wine and cider corridor, an area with a genuine concentration of small producers within a short drive of one another — part of what makes it worth building a full day around rather than a single stop. Downtown Hendersonville itself, with its historic Main Street of shops and restaurants, is a reasonable add-on before or after a tasting if your group wants to stretch the day.
Planning Your Visit
Be honest with your group about the drive: Hendersonville is roughly 95 miles and about 2.5 hours from Boone by car via US-221, and a similar stretch from Banner Elk or Blowing Rock — this is a full-day trip, not a quick afternoon detour, and it makes far more sense as a planned outing than a spontaneous one. Stone Ashe’s own site lists hours as Thursday, Sunday and Monday from 12 to 6pm and Friday–Saturday 11am to 6pm, though hours, tasting fees and reservation policies change, so confirm directly with the winery before you go. One detail worth knowing before you book any transportation: Stone Ashe has specifically told visitors that Uber and Lyft pickups from the property have been unreliable, and asks guests to plan accordingly — which is exactly the kind of problem a scheduled private vehicle solves, since your ride is arranged and waiting rather than hailed on the spot from a mountain bluff with patchy cell service.
Wine Tour Transportation to Stone Ashe Vineyard
Ashe County Livery offers private, chauffeured wine tour transportation to Stone Ashe Vineyard from Boone, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, West Jefferson and across NC’s High Country. Our Stone Ashe Vineyard 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. Plan your Stone Ashe Vineyard tour or call (336) 484-1350.
Other High Country wineries we serve: Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards · Jeter Mountain Farm · Bold Rock Cidery — or browse every High Country winery, cidery and meadery we provide transportation to.
Explore More from Ashe County Livery
- High Country Wine Tours — Mountain winery shuttle service
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- Wedding Transportation — Luxury shuttles for your big day
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- Airport Shuttle Service — CLT, AVL, GSO & TRI transfers
- Airport shuttles by town: Boone · Blowing Rock · Banner Elk · West Jefferson · Linville · Beech Mountain
- Ashe County Livery — Premium transportation in NC’s High Country
- 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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