Created by entrepreneur Tom Burgiss, a retired pharmacist, Thistle Meadow Winery is in its 6th year of operation. Still a small, family run business, the winery produces more than 1500 cases of wine each year. The wine is only available from the tasting room (some local restaurants and stores carry some of the varieties) since we have chosen not to ship our product. Our aim is to have our guests come by for a visit, a tasting, and wonderful, relaxing experience here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Just recently we were ranked third among North Carolina wineries by the South Eastern Winery Review and scored a perfect "10" in friendliness. We invite you to come to our winery, enjoy our fine wines and experience firsthand just how friendly we are.

Located in one of the luscious valleys of Laurel Springs in Alleghany County, Thistle Meadow Winery has some fifty varieties of wines available year around. Wines are made in small batches which allows for blending the complex flavors of the many grapes used from all over the world. Of course the winery welcomes visitors anytime during the year, but our favorite seasons are late spring, summer, and fall. However, there are many blistery days during the winter months when there is nothing better to do than come visit us and taste our wines. We encourage folks to come and taste the difference.

Directions from the Triad:

* The winery is only 1 hour and a quarter from Winston-Salem, and 2 hours from Greensboro.
* Take I-40 West to Winston-Salem; then take US 421 North
* Follow US 421 North to Hwy. 115 (near North Wilkesboro - Statesville exit) Exit right.
* Turn right at top of exit ramp. Follow Hwy. 115 to Hwy. 18 North.
* Turn right on Hwy. 18 North. Follow Hwy. 18 N to Laurel Springs.
* Approximately 1 mile from the Laurel Springs Post Office, turn right onto Elk Knob Road
* Follow Elk Knob Road (SR 1143) to the first driveway on the right (apprx. 0.3 mile). Turn in. Straight ahead.
 

Directions from Boone:

* We're just 50 minutes from downtown Boone
* Take US 421 South to Deep Gap
* At Deep Gap, take a left on US 221 towards Jefferson
* Take 221 bypass around West Jefferson and Jefferson
* Hwy 221 joins with NC 88 East; continue on NC 88 East to Laurel Springs
* NC 88 ends at NC 18 at the Laurel Springs Post Office. Take a left onto NC 18 North (towards Sparta).
* Continue on 18 North for one mile; take a right onto Elk Knob Road at Junction 113 (at the bottom of the hill).
* Our driveway is the first one on the right.

Directions from Charlotte:
* We're only two hours away from Charlotte!
* Take I-77 North until you get to Hwy. 421 (which crosses), then follow the directions from the Triad above.

Directions from Wytheville, VA
* We're just one hour, ten minutes from Wytheville, VA
* Head South on US Hwy. 21 towards Sparta, NC
* Once in Sparta, take a right turn at the second stoplight onto NC Hwy. 18 South.
* Follow Hwy. 18 South for approximately 11 miles, then take a left onto Elk Knob Road (SR 1143) at Jct. 113
* Follow Elk Knob Road for about 0.3 mile; take the first driveway to the right. Look for signs.

Directions from the Blue Ridge Parkway:
* Take state road 1143 (Elk Knob Road) from milepost 246
* Follow Elk Knob Road for about 2.5 miles; look for a big red barn in a meadow on the left side of the road.
* Turn left into the driveway (be careful - there's a sharp turn to the right where the driveway is located) once you're sure no one is coming around the curve.