Listed below are some of the most popular "frequently
asked questions" our visitors have asked in the past. The questions
are organized by topic. To see the answer, just click on the appropriate
question.
Winery Tours
| Buying Wine
Local Attractions and Accommodations
Festivals and Events
Winery Tours
Buying Wine
Local
Attractions and Accommodations
Festivals and Events
Winery Tours
How long does a tour generally take?
A tour of Thistle Meadow Winery will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour,
which includes time for tasting. Of course, if you taste several
wines or have lots of questions, it may take a little longer. Please note: Tours are available depending on availability of staff and level of customers in the tasting room.
UPDATE: For a number of reasons, we are not offering tours at this time.
Is the winery handicapped accessible?
Persons with wheelchairs, walkers, or canes may use our handicapped ramp, located on the side of the tasting room, and park their vehicles behind the tasting room in the designated area. The bathroom in the tasting room is ADA compatible. Certain portions of the winery, such as the barn and tank room, may be a tight fit,
but everyone enjoys the experience.
If only some of our group wants to do the tour,
is there something for the others to do?
Of course! Depending upon the time of your visit and the energy
of the rest of your party, here are some things they might do to
occupy their time:
- Play a game of Connect 4 or disc golf
- Play a game of corn hole
- Take a short hike into the woods - see if you can find some
wild turkey or whitetail deer.
- Get to know the winery dogs, Ries (short for Riesling - our beagle) and Bandit (our Lab / Border Collie mix). They love pets and treats!
- Go to downtown Laurel Springs and meet Linda Woody (what a trip!)
- Visit Freebornes for a bite to eat and look at all the motorcycles
Other Information
What hours is the winery open?
From April 12 through October 31, Thistle Meadow Winery is open
from 12:00 - 5:00 PM Monday-Thursday, from 12:00 - 6:00 PM on Friday-Saturday, and 1:00 - 5:00 PM on Sundays.
During late fall / early winter (November 1 - December 31), weather permitting,
we are open from 12:00 - 4:00 PM Monday-Saturday. Please
call ahead to ensure we are open due to mountain weather conditions. We are closed on Sundays during this period.
During winter (January 1 - early April), we are closed Sunday - Friday and are available by appointment only on Saturdays for parties of 8 or more. You must call or write beforehand to arrange your Saturday visit. Be aware: Weather conditions (snow and ice) may force us to cancel appointments at the last moment.
We are closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Do you have a brochure?
Yes - you can easily download
a PDF version of our brochure.
How do I get to the winery?
It's easy to get to Thistle Meadow Winery... just look at our map
and follow the easy driving directions. We're just an hour and a
half from the Triad, an hour from Boone, and two hours from Charlotte.
What hours are wine tastings available? Can I
come at any time or is there a set schedule?
Unless a bus tour has been scheduled, wine tastings are available
anytime during normal operating hours (see our hours above); we
request you arrive at least 45 minutes prior to closing to allow
time for your tasting. To be sure that your visit won't
collide with a bus tour, feel free to give us a ring at 336-359-2995.
UPDATE: Parties of 6 or more MUST call ahead to make a reservation; an automatic 20% gratuity is added for 6 or more people in a party. Thanks for understanding.
Is there a restaurant at the winery?
There is no restaurant at the winery, but feel free to bring a picnic lunch. Sorry, per NC ABC regulations, no outside alcohol is allowed.
Do you serve food with the wine tasting?
Crackers are available to help you cleanse
your palate between wine tastings, or to complement the wine. We also offer Ashe County Cheese, crackers, and charcuterie boards for sale in the tasting room.
How many wines can we taste during a visit to
the winery?
Each person will be offered the opportunity to taste 5 wines during a tasting.
How large a group can you handle for a visit?
Is bus parking available?
We can handle a small bus load (30-35 people) at one time, but no
more than that. Bus parking is readily available... you have the
whole meadow to turn around in! Bus or van tours MUST be scheduled
in advance. Please use our contact form
to request a group visit.
Can I have a private party at the winery?
Most definitely! Check out our services page
to learn more, or you can request more information via our online
form.
Buying Wine
What types of wine do you sell?
Gosh! We produce over 20 varieties of wine,
including reds, whites, and blushes - ranging from sweet to dry.
Because of this variety, you're sure to find a wine that you really
love.
Is there a limit on how much wine I can purchase
at one time?
Unless you have a special purchase-transportation permit, you can
transport no more than 20 liters (just over 26 - 750 ml bottles)
of wine in your vehicle. In case you're curious, a case of wine (12 - 750 ml bottles) represents 9 liters.
How much does your wine cost?
Most of our wines are in the $18.99 to $29.99 range (per bottle). You can
also opt to purchase wine by the glass and enjoy it on the porch.
Do you take credit cards? Which ones? What about
personal checks?
We accept all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover
and American Express. We also accept personal or travelers checks
with proper identification.
Do you offer discounts on case purchases?
We offer a 10% discount on case purchases (12 bottles). Mix 'n match is OK! Wine club members get 15% off a case.
Can I buy wine online or over the phone and have
it shipped to me?
We do offer some of our best-selling wines for online purchase, but for out of state sales only. Within the state of NC, we only sell wine at our winery in Laurel Springs, at one of our retailers, or during wine festivals and tastings.
Are your wines available to restaurants, retailers,
or wholesalers?
Absolutely. If you're interested in carrying any Thistle Meadow
wines, please fill out our distributor
/ retailer online form.
What types of ABC licenses do you carry?
We have licenses that allow us to conduct sales on and off premises,
to conduct tastings, and to participate in winery special events. Outside alcohol is not allowed.
Local Attractions and Accommodations
What other attractions are nearby for tourists
to see?
Here's a short list of neat places to visit:
- Blue
Ridge Parkway (Doughton Park, Cascades)
- New
River (enjoy canoeing, fishing, camping)
- Stone
Mountain State Park - Roaring Gap, NC
- Alleghany Jubilee - Sparta, NC
- Ashe County Frescoes - various locations in Ashe County
- Ashe County Cheese Factory - West Jefferson, NC
- Choose
and Cut Day - Find your own Christmas tree!
- Alleghany County Fiddler's
Convention - Sparta, NC
- Mount
Jefferson State Natural Area - Jefferson, NC
- Appalachian
Trail
- Mount
Rogers National Recreation Area
- Grayson
Highlands State Park - Volney, VA
- Virginia
Creeper Bike Trail - Whitetop, VA
- Tweetsie
Railroad - Blowing Rock, NC
- Grandfather
Mountain - Linville, NC
Is there anywhere to stay overnight near the
winery?
Alleghany County is blessed with several local bed and breakfasts
and a nice hotel in the county seat.
Festivals and Events
Does your winery participate in wine festivals?
We generally participate in at least a couple festivals per year. For a complete list of festivals we're attending
this year, please see our events page.
We are always on the lookout for other NC wine festivals.
If you know of one, let us know.
Do you ever sponsor special events at your winery?
Sure. Among other things, we offer our BIG annual wine tasting
celebration (the first Sunday in October) and sometimes offer live music, food trucks, and art classes. Take a look at our winery
events
page to see the full schedule.
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