Winter wine tours in the NC mountains are a quieter, cozier version of the fall rush. The leaf crowds are gone, the tasting rooms are warm, and several High Country wineries stay open through the holidays, a few with Christmas trees growing next to the vines. If family is in town for Thanksgiving or friends are up for a ski weekend, a winery afternoon is an easy plan.
Here are mountain wineries to look into for a November or December visit, with the winter hours and holiday closures each one has posted. Treat it as a list to research. Mountain winter hours change with the weather, so check each winery before you go.
Wineries Near Banner Elk
Grandfather Vineyard & Winery (Banner Elk)
Open year-round, on reduced winter days of Friday through Sunday. Grandfather closes Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and it takes no reservations: seating is first come, first served. Food trucks rotate on winter weekends.
Banner Elk Winery & Villa (Banner Elk)
Lists itself as open daily, with reservations by email.
Eagles Nest Winery (Elk Park)
On Old Beech Mountain Road, open Thursday through Sunday afternoons and evenings, with live music on Fridays and food on site. A good evening stop after a day on Beech Mountain.
Linville Falls Winery: Wine and a Christmas Tree
Linville Falls Winery also grows Christmas trees, so in November and December you can choose and cut a tree and visit the tasting room in one stop. The winery says the weekend after Thanksgiving is the busiest of its tree season, and it has posted limited hours on Thanksgiving Day itself.
Wineries Near Boone and West Jefferson
Mill Camp Wines & Cider (Boone)
Wines and ciders a short drive from downtown Boone. Mill Camp posts fall hours of Thursday through Monday; check for winter hours before a December visit.
Old Barn Winery (West Jefferson)
Open every day for tastings, with a food truck most weekends. Pair it with a stroll through downtown West Jefferson or a visit to an Ashe County tree farm.
Thistle Meadow Winery (Laurel Springs)
Open Monday through Saturday from November 1 to December 31, weather permitting, and closed all of January. Thistle Meadow closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day and can host groups.
See the full list on our High Country wineries page.
What to Know About Mountain Wineries in Winter
- Afternoon hours. Most mountain tasting rooms open around noon, and several cut back to weekends in winter.
- Weather matters. Some wineries close on snow or ice days. Call ahead if the forecast turns.
- Short days. It is dark by late afternoon in December, and back roads between wineries are steep and unlit.
- Holiday closures. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve and Day are the most common closures.
Leave the Mountain Driving to Us
Winding grades, early dark and the chance of ice make winter the worst time to be the designated driver. Ashe County Livery runs private High Country wine tours from your cabin, hotel or rental in Banner Elk, Boone, Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain or West Jefferson, in vehicles for small groups up to 14 passengers. Request a quote or call (336) 484-1350.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are NC mountain wineries open in winter?
Several are. Grandfather Vineyard stays open Friday through Sunday in winter, Thistle Meadow is open Monday through Saturday through December 31, and Old Barn Winery lists itself as open every day. Hours vary with the weather.
Which mountain wineries are open Thanksgiving weekend?
Grandfather Vineyard closes Thanksgiving Eve and Day but posts winter weekend hours, and Linville Falls Winery has posted limited Thanksgiving Day hours and calls the weekend after Thanksgiving its busiest of the tree season. Confirm before you go.
Can we combine a winery with a Christmas tree farm?
Yes. Linville Falls Winery grows Christmas trees on site, and Old Barn Winery is near several Ashe County tree farms.
Do you pick up at ski resorts and cabins?
Yes. We pick up at homes, cabins, rentals and resorts across the High Country, including Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain.
Related holiday reading
- Thanksgiving Week in the High Country: A Family Guide
- Choose-and-Cut Christmas Tree Farms Near Boone, West Jefferson and Banner Elk
- High Country Christmas Events 2026
- Holiday Wine Tours in the Yadkin Valley
🍷 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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