November 17, 2025
Tryon Foothills becomes North Carolina’s newest AVA
The new designated wine region is the state’s seventh
by Jacqueline Pennington
Just an hour and half west of Charlotte lies a region at the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains that has been growing wine grapes for centuries. In late September, the wine industry in this region was recognized by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as North Carolina’s seventh American Viticultural Area, or AVA. The Tryon Foothills AVA encompasses 176 square miles of Polk County and vinters there can now officially mark their wines to showcase the characteristics of the region’s unique terrior. The national recognition is something the growers in the region have been working towards since 2007. It is an accomplishment that emphasizes the quality of the wines coming from North Carolina’s wine country.
There are three commercial wineries in the region utilizing fourteen grape varieties that thrive in the particular climate and topography of the region.
Mountain Brook Vineyards
Victoria and Jonathan Regrave brought their dream of owning a winery to life in 2017 when they relocated to Western North Carolina and purchased Mountain Brook Vineyards. Their winemaker, David Coventry, makes an array of wines using skills he garnered from his time working for wineries in California. Mountain Brook Vineyards produces a blend called ALLIN that’s primarily tannat and syrah along with single varietal wines including cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, albarino, and a blanc de noir. They boast a large outdoor tasting room overlooking their vineyards and offer tasting flights and small bites to their visitors.
Parker-Binns Vineyard
Bob and Karen Binns started the vineyard in 2008 after getting restless during their retirement. Three generations of the Binns family have joined the vineyard and they hope their great-grandson will one day continue the legacy. The rustic winery has a food truck on site called Relish that serves a menu of tacos, burritos, and sandwiches. Winemaker Johnny DeMarco makes single varietal wines like petit manseng, chardonnay, and merlot along with a selection of blends using grapes like cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and muscat.
Over Mountain Vineyards
Frank and Lita Lilly bought the land for their future vineyard in 1990 and started planting cabernet sauvignon in 2000. Frank studied in the Viticulture and Enology program at Surry Community College and worked with North Carolina winemaker Lee Griffin to hone his skills. Sofia Lilly, their daughter, is now the winemaker and utilizes cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, petit verdot, petit manseng to make single varietal wines and blends along with ports that are poured in their tasting room that overlooks their vineyards. The property also boasts three luxury villas that allow customers to stay on site.
