The MacNeill Uncorked: Local wineries partner for the nation’s second wine train tour

TRACK STAR: The MacNeill, a recently renovated 1940s-era first-class dining car, will make three wine-tasting runs this summer from Bryson City to the Nantahala Gorge and back. Guests will be able to sample wines from six area wineries with a leisurely meal during the ride. Photo by Lisa Yeary

Through the windows of the train, lush green mountains roll into bending rivers and swirling rapids, and kayakers battle their way through the Nantahala Gorge. Inside the train, they’re just taking away the plates from dinner. A server refills your glass with wine made just a few counties over, while the rugged Appalachian landscape drifts by, natural and untouched save for the tracks that cut through the hills like a vein. Candelabras on the tables impart a yellow haze to the room when the view goes black through the chiseled tunnels.

“Railroading is definitely a niche market, but wine is obviously something that is really popular, so we’ve decided to mix the two,” says Sarah Pressley, spokesperson for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which recently partnered with the French Broad Vignerons to host the MacNeill Uncorked, a wine dinner that rolls from Bryson City to the Nantahala Gorge and back .

“The MacNeill was a dining car first used by Norfolk Southern,” explains Peter Fland of local wine organization the French Broad Vignerons. “It was specifically built for a run called the Powhattan,” which ran from Florida to Chicago, “and it was one of their more elegant trains. It’s a mid-1940s dining car that has just been renovated. It is a great first-class car, and it’s a perfect place for a wine tasting.”

“This car definitely has a different feel,” adds Pressley. “It definitely takes you to a very vintage place. It looks like a classic 1950s dining car. … It has these great candelabras and that wood grain that makes you feel like you’ve taken a little bit of a trip back into the classic train era.”

The MacNeill Uncorked will make three monthly runs this summer, pairing six wines from Western North Carolina; with a three-course meal served throughout the course of a laid-back four-hour ride. “It’s just a leisurely putter up this section of track by the Nantahala Gorge and back,” says Fland. “[Wine] is going to become a cornerstone for tourism in Western North Carolina, it’s already well on its way. And I cannot tell you how many of these wineries are basically just mom and pop operations with just two or three people handling everything from the planting of the grapes, the harvesting, the making of the wine, to bottling and labeling it. And they’re making some damn good wine.”

The first tasting will feature wines from Parker-Binns Vineyard and WineryMountain Brook Vineyards, St. Paul Mountain Vineyards, Burntshirt Vineyards, South Creek Vineyards & Winery and Silver Fork Vineyard & Winery.

“This is part of an overall effort by the French Broad Vignerons to bring to the forefront the quality of the vineyards and the wines of this area,” explains Fland. “This is kind of a test market for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, and if it is successful, they will put a wine train into the schedule for the next year. And if that happens, then North Carolina will have one of two wine trains in the United States, the other one being the Napa Valley Wine Train.”

The menu offers a first course of local cheeses followed by a choice of barbecued pulled pork, beer-battered cod, pot roast, chicken salad or a vegetarian plate.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Jonathan Ammons
Native Asheville writer, eater, drinker, bartender and musician. Proprietor of www.dirty-spoon.com Follow me @jonathanammons

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

4 thoughts on “The MacNeill Uncorked: Local wineries partner for the nation’s second wine train tour

  1. Betty Taylor

    This sounds wonderful! Can you give me the dates and price per person, please. Thank you.

    • Gina Smith

      Hi, Betty. The dates and prices are listed in the sidebar next to the story. You can also find out more details by visiting http://www.GSMR.com or calling 800-872-4681.

      • Betty Taylor

        Sorry Gina. I originally opened this email on my phone and the sidebar was not visible. I have the information now. Thank you.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.