Banner Elk Winery | A lakeside winery just outside Banner Elk with sangria, live music and a big lawn by the water
Banner Elk Winery sits just outside town with a lake, a big grassy lawn, a covered porch and tables spread out by the water. On a weekend afternoon with live music going, it's one of the more pleasant ways to spend a few hours in the High Country.
The basics: Just outside Banner Elk. Drive in past the glamping and camping area on the right, stay left, and follow it down to the lake and main building.
What it is: A winery with substantial outdoor seating — tables by the lake, a front porch area, and a large open lawn where kids tend to run around. The indoor space is bigger than you'd expect, with a fireplace and a comfortable, lived-in feel. They pour red, white and rosé wines ($9-16 a glass, $29-59/bottle) plus sangria ($10/glass, $35/pitcher), and have food and snacks available to pair. The warm sourdough bread seemed to be a popular choice. The day we visited, a Sunday afternoon, there was live music and a relaxed, happy crowd.
What to order: The sangrias sets Banner Elk Winery apart — with creative flavors such as watermelon jalepeno, berry mango, apple and orange cinnamon and ginger peach mint — so that can be a refreshing break. You can order a flight of four samples that combines wines and sangrias, or just go with a flight of one or the other before committing to a full glass or bottle.
Good to know: As of May 2026, the winery is expanding its interior to add more bar space, additional bathrooms and seating are in the works. It's already a comfortable setup. Plenty of room for kids and dogs. The setting is green and lush rather than dramatic, with the lake as the main visual anchor.
The move: Go on a weekend afternoon when they have live music. Grab a flight, find a table near the water, and stay a while.
