Jonathan and Vickie Redgrave with their dog Cooper, owners of Mountain Brook Vineyards.
Photo by Rachel Pressley
Husband-and-wife lawyers and law-firm owners Jonathan and Vickie Redgrave purchased Mountain Brook Vineyards last May from an 80-year-old local, Dennis Lanahan. Since then, they’ve been flipping the vineyard into a fully loaded retreat.
The couple has always enjoyed wineries, traveling to see the latest trends of the industry. So, after their children were grown, they decided to move to Western North Carolina from Northern Virginia to explore available properties in the Polk County area. After bonding so well with Lanahan, they knew Mountain Brook Vineyards was perfect. He needed help with the land, and they were ready to make their dreams come true.
Photo by Rachel Pressley
Tell me about the expansion you all are completing.
Jonathan: What you see at the vineyard today is all new construction. It was a multimillion-dollar expansion we have been working on since we bought the property last May. We’re currently working on our wedding venue, “Victoria Meadows.” It’s located on the property; there will be an open-air arbor at the end of a nice drive through the woods, a pavilion, and a large patio area.
Vickie: With the help of an extremely talented local architect, Vic Knight, we offer a two-story tasting room, two outdoor pavilions, a projection screen for streaming movies outside, surround-sound music for live entertainment, a concession stand, and a lawn for picnics, cornhole, and other kinds of gaming, like life-size Jenga. We also have one of the largest outdoor fire pits in the region, where visitors can relax and where we’ll host events like “Weenies and Wine.”
What kind of grapes do you grow?
Jonathan: We currently grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay.
What foods do you offer with the wines?
Vickie: Cheeses from local businesses like English Farmstead Cheese in Marion and the Mill Spring Farm Store. We want to add local breads and meats for picnics in the summertime, as well as food trucks. We’ve also been recently working with a local chocolatier.
Favorite wines?
Vickie: Right now, we have 13 different wines in total. In fact, our 2015 Oaked Chardonnay won the North Carolina Fine Wines Case Top 12 N.C. Wines, and our Petit Verdot won double gold at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair. Our current staff favorites are the Cabernet and our red blend, Magis.
Mountain Brook Vineyards, 731 Phillips Dairy Road, Tryon. A wine dinner will be hosted by the vineyard at Lavender Bistro on Friday, April 12, 6-8pm (82 North Trade St., Tryon, lavenderbistronc.com). The Wine Comedy Tour comes to the vineyard Saturday, April 6, 8-9:30pm. Tickets are $20. Mountain Brook Vineyards is sold at Asheville Wine Market (65 Biltmore Ave., Asheville); The Tryon Bottle (15 South Trade St., Tryon); Chestnut (48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville); Corner Kitchen (3 Boston Way, Asheville); The Esmeralda Inn & Restaurant (910 Main St., Chimney Rock); and the Tryon International Equestrian Center (4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring). Mountain Brook Vineyards is open Wednesday and Thursday, 12-6pm; Friday and Saturday, 12-8pm; and Sunday, 12-7pm. For more information, visit mountainbrookvineyards.com. 828-817-4376.
