Addison Farms Vineyard

My husband and I were in Asheville, NC for the weekend to celebrate his birthday.  I did a little research to see what wineries are in the area.  Of course there's the prestigious Biltmore, but I wanted to save that trip for Christmas so we could see the holiday lights and decor.  Also, to visit the Biltmore winery you must purchase an admission ticket and it’s a pretty hefty price.  So I moved on to the next closest stop which was Addison Farms Winery in Leicester, NC, about 30 minutes away. 

While driving out to my ensuing winery stop I realized that traveling to each of these wine-makers is a great way to see the state that I’m from.  I’ve lived here all my life yet there are still so many places to explore right here in my home state.  On our drive we saw, rural farmlands and beautiful countryside.  My husband was a little leery when arrived at our destination.  The road to the tasting room is gravel and up a hill.  He was contemplating turning around if the road worsened, as his car is much nicer than my own and might drag.  However, once you get over the first hill it’s all smooth sailing. 

We parked right at the tasting room.  It might be called a room but it should have been called a tasting cabin and I mean a nice cabin!  There was a stone fireplace outside with lovely covered patio seating.  The exterior was mostly wooden with some accents of red and grey siding.  A stone path, which matched the fireplace, leads you to the door.  Surrounding the cabin I saw breathtaking views of the neighboring mountains and the 4.5 acre vineyard.

We got out of the car and walked toward the entrance and we were warmly greeted by Sam the dog and unofficial mascot.  He looks exactly like your stereotypical farm dog with a great personality to match.  Jeff Frisbee, owner and winemaker, wasn’t too far behind him.  Jeff is a respectable businessman and the type of guy that doesn’t mind putting in a hard day’s work.  He and his family own and operate Addison Farms.  Those 4.5 acres are no joke.  There’s a lot that goes into maintaining a successful grape harvest.

Jeff gave us a tour of the facilities and told the history behind what we saw.  He explained that the property was previously tobacco crop and cow pasture when his grandfather Addison was alive, hints the winery’s name AddisonFarms.  However, his grandparents weren’t wine drinkers.  The vineyard idea came to him and his wife in 2000, while on a trip in Barcelona.  When Jeff was laid off in 2009 his dream became a reality with the planting of their first grapevines.  As the vines grew so did the Frisbee Family vision.  In 2012, they opened the tasting room to the public. 

The tour continued indoors into the striking tasting center.  When we walked in we were overcome with a smell of new pine.  The wood flooring shined with natural light that the multitude of windows allowed in.  We explored the building and found much open space.  The section to the left has a stone fireplace that mirrors the exterior one.  There were scenic mountainous paintings on the walls with double sofa seating.  Other than that it was pretty undeveloped.  The section to the right features a wooden tasting bar with stone top.  It’s a standing bar with the same type of art on the walls.  The simplistic theme was continued in this area, as well. 

We did a tasting of the wines Addison Farms has to offer.  All the wines are your more customary dry wines.  They all had a common melody of flavor which tied them together.  Jeff offered descriptions and recommended pairing for each.  One of our favorites was the Coming Home, Cabernet Sauvignon.  This is the first wine the vineyard has produced with their grapes alone.  It was spicy, yet sweet with hints of cherry.  With 10 acres forecasted they hope to have more wines that consist of domestic fruit alone in the future.

Leaving that day, we felt like we made a friend.  Jeff Frisbee was a wonderful person to meet and we hope the best for his business.  Next time you’re in Asheville, or the surrounding area, stop in and see what Addison Farms Vineyard is all about.  A tasting will run you $8 but you get a fine, logo etched souvenir glass to take home.  Bottle purchases start at $13 and go up to $24.  Addison Farms is open to the public Saturday noon to 5pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm, and weekdays by appointment only.

Visit Addison Farms Vineyard online at:  www.addisonfarms.net

If have you visited this or another winery here in NC and would like to share your story, or offer suggestions for my next trip, please email it to natasha3911@aol.com.