NC winery named nation’s Best New Winery in USA Today 10Best contest
A North Carolina winery was voted “Best New Winery” in the United States by USA TODAY readers, and a second NC winery also made the top-10 list.
The annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by readers’ votes. Initial selections came from travel experts choosing the top 20 nominees in a number of categories, including best art museum, best farmers market, best outdoor water park and more.
As of Aug. 18, many 10Best categories are still pending, and results will be announced over the next few weeks.
All categories, winners and pending winners can be found at 10best.com/awards/travel.
Hendersonville NC: Best New Winery in the United States
• Stone Ashe Vineyard in Hendersonville won the top readers’ choice award for the best new winery in the United States.
“Craig and Tina Little spent years searching for American soil that would match their beloved Bordeaux region of France. They found it on 67 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, then mated grapevine clones from France with California rootstock,” USA TODAY 10Best said. “Stone Ashe has now opened their 3,100-square-foot tasting room for their wines with a full catering kitchen that can support wedding receptions and special events.”
Hendersonville is a little over four hours by car from Raleigh.
For more on Stone Ashe Vineyard, visit stoneashevineyards.com.
Flat Rock NC: Top-5 New Winery in the United States
• Marked Tree Vineyard in Flat Rock won a top-five readers’ choice award for the best new winery in the United States.
“Located on the crest of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Marked Tree benefits from the cool nights and ample sun to grow outstanding grapes with award-winning results,” USA TODAY 10Best said. “Their vineyard tasting room provides charcuterie boards, local mountain trout plates and other local delicacies to pair with their wines and mountain views. 10Best Wine Expert Ava Roxanne Stritt tells us that Marked Tree is ‘so new, the vineyard owners themselves almost always host you.’”
Marked Tree Vineyard came in fifth place on the list.
Flat Rock is a little more than four hours by car from Raleigh.
For more on Marked Tree Vineyard, visit markedtreevineyard.com.
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