We kicked off the day with a hearty breakfast at Kosta’s Kitchen, just a few minutes from our house. It’s one of those unpretentious local gems that knows how to do breakfast right—fluffy pancakes, omelets, pan potatoes, crispy bacon, and hot coffee that actually tastes good.
Our first winery stop was Souther Williams Vineyard, tucked in the rolling hills of Henderson County’s Blue Ridge AVA. I rushed in to tell the girl behind the counter how much we loved it last time and that we came back just for their wine. Unfortunately, they were out of our favorite bottle, and her attitude didn’t quite match the warmth I remembered. Still, I admired how the vineyard was built to handle the colder mountain weather—something I’d worried about when we first visited. The setup included clear plastic sides that could be pulled down to block the wind and heaters tucked inside the covered patio, making it cozy even on a chilly day.
I had gone in ready to buy, but between the strange vibe and the wines not really wowing anyone in our group, we decided to pass. We left empty-handed—although a rare event that I don’t shop, Debbie did pick up a few items from the merchandise section before we moved on.
Next up was Stone Ashe Vineyard, one of the newer estates but already making a name for itself. The owners, Craig and Tina Little, planted their first vines in 2018 on what had once been a family apple orchard. The name “Stone Ashe” honors the surrounding mountains and the ashy soil that gives their wines a distinct mineral character. We sat outside, savoring the view across the vines and the Blue Ridge peaks. The wines were crisp and beautifully balanced, and the service was excellent. I ended up buying two bottles—one of their white Merlot, which completely blew me away, Coppedge and some local chocolate to give as gifts and a hat for Tim.
Our third stop was Point Lookout Vineyards, perched high on the ridge with panoramic mountain views stretching for miles. The property sits on land once used for Civil War lookout posts—hence the name—and is now one of the area’s most scenic tasting spots. They still serve mead, but thankfully we didn’t have to include it in our tasting. The staff let us choose only the wines we wanted, which made the experience that much better.
The only downside was the service—it was really slow. The place was packed, and it wasn’t clear what was going on behind the counter. There seemed to be only one person handling tastings while another woman was strictly in charge of the truffle chocolates and wouldn’t even look up, which made things move at a crawl.
By the time we were ready to purchase wine, the line stretched out and took forever. Still, the empanadas were delicious, and the wines were even better than I remembered. We found several new favorites: Cab Sauvignon Reserve, The Pavillion, The Cliffield, & The Petit Verdot and ended up joining forces to buy a case to split—the most wine we bought anywhere that day.
To wrap up the afternoon, we stopped at the Mast General Store in downtown Hendersonville. Founded in 1883 in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, Mast General started as a one-stop shop for everything from hardware to overalls. The Hendersonville location keeps that old-time charm alive—creaky floors, candy barrels, and rows of nostalgic goods that make you feel like you’ve stepped back a few generations.
Afterward, the girls wandered through downtown Hendersonville, shopping for gifts and picking up a few fun items for Barb’s upcoming pickleball party.
Meanwhile, the guys went ahead to our final winery stop—Burntshirt Vineyards.
Burntshirt is one of the area’s best-known wineries, named after a local mountain legend. Early settlers used to “burn their shirts” after a long day clearing fields to celebrate a good harvest. The winery’s vineyards span both sides of the Eastern Continental Divide, giving their wines a unique balance from the mix of elevations and soils.
We had planned to eat an early dinner at Burntshirt’s on-site bistro, but the timing didn’t work out. You had to order food by 5:30—the exact time of our reservation—and be finished by 6:00. That kind of killed the vibe, so we pivoted and found another option nearby.
Dinner turned out to be a highlight at Claywood, a farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of Hendersonville. Set in a renovated 1940s building, Claywood blends rustic warmth with modern Southern style. The restaurant sources nearly everything locally—meats from regional farms, seasonal produce, and house-made pasta. Many of us ordered the Bolognese, and not one person was disappointed. The food was incredible, the service friendly, and the atmosphere relaxed—exactly what we needed to end the day.
After dinner, we returned to our amazing house for one last night together. The guys settled in to watch Thursday Night Football while the girls gathered upstairs in the den, talking and laughing late into the night. It was the perfect close to our Blue Ridge mountain adventure!
Happiness is Possible 