Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ Issue 027 June 2013 | Page 24

Five Finds in the Foothills

W

hat could be better than
rolling topography and
gently curving roads in the North
Carolina foothills?
How about rolling topography
and gently curving roads leading
to five wineries?
For your next getaway, make
an excursion to Burke County, a
scenic region where wineries are
taking root in the foothills soil.

A good starting point is Lake
James Cellars, about 15 minutes
west of Morganton in Glen Alpine.
It’s a short jaunt out U.S. 70 to the
winery, located in a refurbished
textile mill. And the peaceful little
town of Glen Alpine provides a
great setting.
At Lake James Cellars, folks can
taste from a selection of 8-10
wines and learn the story of how
Mike and Betty Fowler started
making wine years ago in the cellar
of their Lake James home. The
wines became so popular with
family and friends that the Fowlers
decide to go at it full time.
Since that time, the wines have
won numerous awards. And a neat
thing about Lake James Cellars is
that it includes an antique mall

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with relics from more than 20
antique dealers.
Journey another 15 minutes or
so westward on country roads
along the southern perimeter of
Lake James and you’ll come to the
town of Nebo. Once you’ve found
Nebo, head southeast a few miles
to South Creek Winery.
The winery and vineyards are
situated in a bucolic setting on a
century-old farm. Wine tastings
take place in the Italian Renaissance farmhouse or on the large
outdoor patio.
Owners James and Mary Rowley
produce Bordeaux-style wines in
a place “where people gather and
become friends.”
A short four-mile drive southeast
along the country roads of western
Burke County takes you to North
Carolina’s newest winery. Silver
Fork Winery opened in April on
Continued On Page 30

Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine™