Tryon Foothills AVA

Tryon Foothills
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2025
Years of wine industry136
CountryUnited States
Part ofNorth Carolina
Other regions in North CarolinaAppalachian High Country AVA, Haw River Valley AVA, Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA, Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA, Yadkin Valley AVA, Swan Creek AVA
Growing season200–220 days
Climate regionRegion II-V
Heat units3743 GDD
Precipitation (annual average)49 to 65 in (1,200–1,700 mm)
Soil conditionsClay loam
Total area176 square miles (112,640 acres)
Size of planted vineyards77.70 acres (31.44 ha)
No. of vineyards5
Grapes producedCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Malbec, Malvasia, Merlot, Muscadine, Muscat, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Tannat, Viognier
No. of wineries4

Tryon Foothills is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Polk County within Inner Piedmont region, commonly referred to as the "foothills" of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the southwestern border of North Carolina. The wine appellation was established on September 29, 2025, as the nation's 277th and the state's seventh AVA by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Cory J. Lillberg, vineyard manager of Parker–Binns Vineyard, on behalf of the vineyard and winery operators of Polk County, proposing a viticultural area known as "Tryon Foothills."

The viticultural area, named after the embedded town of Tryon, North Carolina, encompasses about 176 square miles (113,000 acres) with five vineyards cultivating approximately 77.70 planted acres (31 ha) spread throughout the appellation and four wineries within the AVA. According to the petition, the distinguishing features of the Tryon Foothills are its topography and climate. The plant hardiness zone is 8a.