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,
which includes time for tasting. Of course, if you taste several
wines or have lots of questions, it may take a little longer. We've
actually had folks stay after their tour of the winery and help
bottle!
Is the winery handicapped accessible?
Persons with wheelchairs may use the rear entrance, which is level
with the ground. Certain portions of the winery may be a tight fit,
but everyone enjoys the experience. Handicapped bathrooms are available
in the Burgiss Barn, which is next door to the winery.
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 bocce on our custom bocce court
- Tour the Burgiss
Farm Bed and Breakfast (next door)
- Take a short hike into the woods - see if you can find some
wild turkey or whitetail deer.
- Visit the Burgiss
Barn and enjoy a Sunday lunch buffet
- Go to downtown Laurel Springs and meet Linda Woody (what a trip!)
- Visit Stations Inn for a bite to eat and look at all the motorcycles
What hours is the winery open?
From April 1 through October 31, Thistle Meadow Winery is open
from 12:00 - 5:00 PM Monday-Saturday, and 2:00 - 4:00 PM on Sundays.
During winter (November 1 - March 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 the winter season.
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 tour of the winery. To be sure that your visit won't
collide with a bus tour, feel free to give us a ring at 800-23-1505.
Is there a restaurant at the winery?
No restaurant per se, but you can provide a catered meal for your
small group of friends with prior arrangement. For the ravenous
wine tasters who visit between meals, we offer plates of cheese
and crackers for a nominal cost.
Do you serve food with the wine tasting?
Yes, crackers, bread, and/or nuts are available to help you cleanse
your palate between wine tastings. You can purchase a cheese plate
if you're really hungry!
How many wines can we taste during a visit to
the winery?
The number of wines you can taste depends on a number of factors,
like the availability of wines, the number of folks who are on the
same tour, and the order of sampling. We're willing to let you sample
as many wines as you wish (within reason). Common sense is the best
judge!
How large a group can you handle for a tour?
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 tours MUST be scheduled
in advance. Please use our contact form
to request a group tour.
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 40 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.
How much does your wine cost?
Most of our wines are in the $9 to $20 range (per bottle). You can
also opt to purchase wine by the glass.
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 have no official policy on case purchase discounts at this time.
Plead your case to Tom - he likes to bargain!
Can I buy wine online or over the phone and have
it shipped to me?
At the moment, we only sell wine at our winery or during wine festivals
and tastings - mainly because we are concerned about breakage enroute,
bottle shock, difficulty in verifying the purchaser's age, and the
cost of shipping.
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.
Local Attractions and Accommodations
What other attractions are nearby for tourists
to see?
Here's a short list of neat places to visit:
- Burgiss
Barn (Sunday lunch buffet)
- Blue
Ridge Parkway (Doughton Park, Cascades)
- New
River (enjoy canoeing, fishing, camping)
- Stone
Mountain State Park - Roaring Gap, NC
- Mountain
Music Jamboree - Glendale Springs, NC
- 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. In fact, TMW offers a special
week-long winemaking getaway, which includes
accommodations, 2 meals per day, and recreational activities.
Festivals and Events
Does your winery participate in wine festivals?
We participate in at least 8 to 10 festivals per year, including
the annual NC Wine Festival, held each summer at Tanglewood Park
near Clemmons, NC.
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 5-course wine tasting
meals on a regular basis. Take a look at our winery
events
page to see the full schedule.
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