Wine, Brick Oven Pizza and a Family Story: Eating Your Way Through Two Mountain Vineyards

By Jon Tharp, Broker  ·  September 21, 2026

A $10 yoga class in the middle of a mountain vineyard, with food and wine on the calendar too. That is the kind of day Linville Falls Winery has been building its schedule around.

The winery's upcoming events page repeats the same handful of ideas again and again.

Food in the Vineyard at Linville Falls Winery

One recurring event is a food day billed as "a culinary experience that's as good for your body as it is for your taste buds." The winery describes it as local, healthy and delicious food, served from noon to 5 p.m.

The winery's listing does not spell out the full menu, so plan to arrive curious rather than with a specific order in mind. The pitch is simple: local, healthy food with a glass of wine in hand. Source: https://www.linvillefallswinery.com/all-upcoming-events-uYOTo

Yoga at the Vineyard

On yoga days, class starts at 11 a.m. and all you need to bring is a mat and $10. The winery says all proceeds are donated to charity, so the stretch does a little good beyond your own hamstrings.

The winery's own words sum up the appeal: can you think of a better way to start the day than treating your body to a good stretch while surrounded by mountain vineyard views? Source: https://www.linvillefallswinery.com/all-upcoming-events-uYOTo

Brick Oven Pizza Days

The other recurring draw is pizza. The winery asks, what is better to pair with wine than pizza, and answers with made-to-order brick oven pies in four flavors: Cheese, Pepperoni, Margherita and Hawaiian.

One note for anyone with dietary restrictions. There are currently no gluten free pizza offerings. The winery does stock gluten free snack items, and it welcomes guests to bring their own. Pack what you need and settle in. Source: https://www.linvillefallswinery.com/all-upcoming-events-uYOTo

In the Banner Elk Area: Grandfather Vineyard

Grandfather Vineyard is worth knowing before you walk through the front door. Owner Steve Tatum, an accomplished woodworker, created that door and showcased his skills in the design of the tasting room.

Steve and Sally Tatum bought the property in 2000. Steve first considered planting Christmas trees, a popular endeavor in the area, but his love of wine won out and grapevines went in the ground instead. The two met in 1977 working in the ski industry, later married, and built Tatum Galleries, an interior design firm and furniture gallery down the street in Banner Elk.

The winery credits the true success of its wines to their son, Dylan. He studied viticulture and oenology at Surry College, then came back to the Banner Elk area and finished the Business and Entrepreneurial program at Appalachian State University. Steve's original idea was to sell the estate-grown grapes to local wineries. Dylan fell for the winemaking process instead, and the winery followed. It has now been operating for more than a decade. Source: https://www.grandfathervineyard.com/aboutus

The Tasting Room and the Bordeaux Collies

Nicole Tatum is the Tasting Room Manager and a key leader on the team. She moved to the High Country in 2014, met Dylan shortly after, and took on managing the tasting room, developing the Wine Club, and overseeing accounting and administration. The two married on the winery grounds in 2017.

They share their home and much of their workday with three border collies named Casey, Willa and Hallie, nicknamed the "Bordeaux Collies." The dogs inspired the winery's Hair of the Dog wine labels, the sort of detail that makes a bottle easier to remember.

Steve's original ambition was modest. He said he "just hoped that my friends would come visit and maybe we will get a few tourists who want to take some wine home with them from the mountains." The winery, by its own telling, has surpassed all expectations since. Source: https://www.grandfathervineyard.com/aboutus

Making a Day of It

Two wineries and a calendar that rewards showing up on the right day. Start with yoga or a local food day at Linville Falls Winery, or hold out for a pizza day, then visit Grandfather Vineyard for a tasting and a look at that hand-built front door.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

how much is yoga at Linville Falls Winery

Yoga at the vineyard starts at 11 a.m. and costs $10. Bring your own mat. The winery says all proceeds are donated to charity.

does Linville Falls Winery have gluten free pizza

No. The brick oven pizza days offer Cheese, Pepperoni, Margherita and Hawaiian, with no gluten free pizza at this time. The winery carries gluten free snack items and allows guests to bring their own.