Nottely River Valley Vineyards sits at 1150 Old Culberson Road outside Murphy, NC, in the far southwestern corner of the state — closer to Georgia and Tennessee than to anywhere in the High Country. That distance is real, and worth being upfront about: this is a full-day round trip from Boone, not a casual afternoon stop. But for anyone building a longer wine excursion into far-western NC, Nottely River is a genuinely small, family-run winery growing European-style wine grapes on a working farm that’s been in the same family since 1820.
A 93-Acre Family Farm Turned Vineyard
According to the winery’s own site, Nottely River Valley Vineyards, LLC is family owned and operated, established in 2008. The vineyard and winery occupy 10 acres of a 93-acre farm that has been in the same family since 1820 — more than two centuries of continuous ownership. The vines were planted with high-density spacing, and the winery’s own materials describe the first harvest happening in the fall of 2011, with the 2011 vintage released on November 1, 2012 — meaning it took roughly three years from planting to a bottled wine reaching the tasting room, a normal timeline for a new vineyard finding its footing.
What’s in the Ground: Old-World Grapes on Ancient Shale
The vineyard’s planting list, per its own “Terroir” page, includes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Primitivo, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and the French hybrids Chambourcin, Chardonel and Seyval Blanc — a broad mix for a small operation, spanning reds, whites and hybrid varieties bred for the Southeast’s climate. The winery describes its site in unusually specific geological detail: the vineyard sits on a terrace that was once the bed of the Nottely River, now flowing in the valley 100 feet below, filled with river rock for drainage and underlain by a layer of sedimentary shale the winery’s site describes as more than 500 million years old. Nottely River’s own description of its winemaking philosophy emphasizes “minimal intervention” and wines “fashioned after the Old World-style, hand-crafted wines of Europe,” including a below-ground, gravity-flow winery building with geo-thermal cellar cooling. One highlight the winery calls out on its own site: a 2022 Old Vine “Karen’s Block” Chardonel that, per the winery’s account, beat a $95 and a $65 California Chardonnay in a ten-person double-blind tasting. As always, treat current releases and pours as subject to change and check the winery’s own wine list before visiting.
A Small, Seasonal Tasting Room
This is not a large production winery with a big events calendar — it’s a small family operation with limited, seasonal hours. As of this writing, the winery’s own site lists its 2026 season opening April 24, with tasting-room hours on Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m., and notes that visitors outside those hours can call ahead for an appointment. That kind of scaled-back schedule is worth planning around directly with the winery before you commit to a date, since hours and the season’s opening/closing dates shift year to year.
What Else Is Nearby
Murphy sits near the Nottely and Hiwassee river valleys and is a reasonable base for a longer far-western NC excursion. The John C. Campbell Folk School, a well-known crafts and folk-arts school, is located in nearby Brasstown, NC, just a few miles from the vineyard, and could be worth combining with a visit if your group has time to build out a full day in the area rather than a single stop.
Planning Your Visit
Be realistic about the drive: Murphy is roughly 195 miles and about 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours from Boone by car — this is the farthest-flung stop in the western NC wine country, not a quick jaunt. A trip to Nottely River Valley Vineyards only makes sense as a full-day (or overnight) private excursion, ideally combined with other far-western NC stops so the long drive pays off. Given the winery’s limited Friday/Saturday hours, confirm the season and hours directly with Nottely River before locking in a date, and build the schedule around their open days rather than the other way around.
Wine Tour Transportation to Nottely River Valley Vineyards
Ashe County Livery offers private, chauffeured wine tour transportation to Nottely River Valley Vineyards from Boone, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, West Jefferson and across NC’s High Country. Our Nottely River Valley 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. Plan your Nottely River Valley Vineyards tour or call (336) 484-1350.
Other High Country wineries we serve: Shooting Creek Vines · Valley River Vineyards · Point Lookout Vineyards & World’s Edge Meadery — or browse every High Country winery, cidery and meadery we provide transportation to.
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- 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.
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