Enter the world of the vintner, the craftsperson who takes the simple grape and extracts a sensory experience second to none. The winery started in 1989, though the Waldenses had made wine in their homes since their arrival in 1893. The barn, which, once housed hand-milked cows now produces a quite different beverage.

Today, the owners and operators of Waldensian Heritage Wines preserves the tradition of fine wine making in a style much like that of their forefathers. They blend time-tested manual methods with a touch of modern technology to produce wines that they feel best preserve "the true taste of the grape."

There are no salaried or paid workers at the Winery. All production, distribution, marketing and so forth are done by volunteers. Of course there are some side benefits to working in a small winery. Besides the free wine-tastings held after a production run, there is the camaraderie and fellowship found only through a cooperative effort such as this.

Guided tours are available any Thursday through Sunday (excluding holidays) between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Larger groups are encouraged to make reservations by calling (828) 879-3202.