North Carolina’s wine map got a little bigger in 2025. The Tryon Foothills — the rolling countryside around Columbus and Tryon in Polk County, right up against the South Carolina border — is now the state’s seventh officially recognized wine region, even though grapes have actually been growing here since the 1800s. We’re visiting the wineries here one at a time and building this page out as we go.
Region Overview | Wineries We’ve Visited | The Tryon Foothills AVA | Visiting Tips | FAQ | Own a Tryon Foothills Winery?
Region Overview
Polk County sits in the Inner Piedmont region of the Blue Ridge Mountains — low mountains and rolling hills rather than dramatic peaks, with elevations ranging from around 712 to 1,656 feet. The area is known locally as part of the “isothermal belt,” where the surrounding mountains moderate temperature extremes enough to give the region one of Western North Carolina’s longest growing seasons. Grape growing here isn’t new: vineyards were first planted in the area in the late 1800s, and old markers like the historic Tau Rock Vineyard sign still point to that history along Highway 176.
The region has a distinct character beyond the wine, too — the town of Tryon has a long-standing equestrian culture, with several hunts historically passing right through local vineyards, and the area’s real estate and tourism branding has leaned on the word “foothills” for decades, which is part of why the new AVA carries that name.
Wineries We’ve Visited
Green Creek Winery
Columbus, NC — A small, family-owned winery crafting handcrafted wines since 2005, best known for the Chardonnay Rosso — a red wine made from Chardonnay juice fermented on Chambourcin skins. Free tastings, a patio with mountain views, and a picnic-friendly lawn make it an easy, laid-back stop.
Read our full Green Creek Winery review →
More Tryon Foothills wineries coming soon as we visit them.
The Tryon Foothills AVA
The Tryon Foothills AVA became official on September 29, 2025 — North Carolina’s seventh federally recognized American Viticultural Area, and its newest by several years. It covers approximately 176 square miles entirely within Polk County, named for the town of Tryon, and doesn’t overlap or nest inside any other established AVA — a clean, self-contained appellation.
At the time of its approval, the AVA was home to roughly 77.7 acres of commercially planted vineyards spread across about a dozen vineyard operations and four wineries, growing 14 different grape varieties — including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Malbec, Malvasia, Merlot, Muscadine, Muscat, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Tannat, and Viognier. That mix of European vinifera, French-American hybrids, and native muscadine in one small AVA is fairly unusual — most regions lean heavily toward one style or the other.
Visiting Tryon Foothills Wineries
It’s an easy Asheville add-on: The region is about 45 miles south of Asheville via I-26, making it a straightforward day trip if you’re already exploring Western North Carolina.
Check hours before you go: Many wineries here keep limited weekly hours (often Thursday–Sunday afternoons) rather than being open daily.
Bring a picnic: Several wineries in this region have lawn or patio areas built for lingering rather than a quick in-and-out tasting.
Ask about groups: A few wineries here are tour-bus and group friendly, but it’s worth calling ahead so they can prepare properly.
FAQ
What is the Tryon Foothills AVA?
A federally recognized American Viticultural Area established September 29, 2025, covering approximately 176 square miles entirely within Polk County, North Carolina. It’s the state’s seventh and newest AVA.
Where is the Tryon Foothills wine region?
In Polk County, North Carolina, near the town of Tryon and the South Carolina border — about 45 miles south of Asheville.
What grapes grow in the Tryon Foothills?
A genuinely wide mix — Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Malbec, Malvasia, Merlot, Muscadine, Muscat, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Tannat, and Viognier are all grown within the AVA.
How is Tryon Foothills different from other North Carolina AVAs?
It’s the newest, and one of the smallest and most self-contained — it doesn’t overlap or nest inside any other North Carolina AVA, unlike Swan Creek, which sits within Yadkin Valley.
Own a Tryon Foothills Winery?
We’re actively visiting wineries in this region. If you run a winery in the Tryon Foothills, get in touch — we’d love to come taste what you’re pouring.
Looking for wine delivered instead? Browse our full Best Wine Clubs guide to find your perfect match.