The High Country transportation company behind the Wine Trail Loop Shuttle
The Appalachian High Country Wine Trail Loop Shuttle isn't run by a tech startup or a tourism board. It's operated by Ashe County Livery — a family-owned transportation company based in West Jefferson, NC, that's been moving people safely through these mountains since 2022.
Founded by James and Dana Armstrong, ACL started with airport transfers and quickly grew into the High Country's go-to transportation service for wine tours, weddings, and everything in between.
The Wine Trail Loop Shuttle is the natural next step — taking our years of experience navigating mountain roads, coordinating winery visits, and providing safe, reliable rides, and packaging it into a hop-on hop-off service that anyone can enjoy.
"We've been driving these mountain wine roads for years. The Loop Shuttle just makes it possible for everyone — not just private tour groups."
— James Armstrong, Founder
After hundreds of private wine tours through the High Country, we kept hearing the same thing from visitors: "We didn't know there were wineries up here," and "We want to visit more than one, but the mountain roads make it hard to get around — especially after tasting."
The problem was clear. The NC High Country has seven incredible wineries, but there was no safe, easy way to visit multiple wineries in a day. No Uber up here. No taxis. Winding two-lane roads with no cell service. Visitors were either limiting themselves to one winery or designating a driver who missed the experience.
So we created the Appalachian High Country Wine Trail Loop Shuttle — two scenic loops connecting all seven wineries with hop-on hop-off service. You park once at Grandfather Vineyard, hop on the shuttle, and taste your way through the mountains. We handle the driving. You handle the wine.
"Think of us like a drive-through safari — the shuttle is the ride, and the wineries are the experience. We get you there safely. They pour the magic."
From airport runs to the High Country's first hop-on hop-off wine shuttle.
James and Dana Armstrong launch ACL in West Jefferson, NC, starting with premium airport transfer service to Charlotte, Asheville, and regional airports.
Guests start asking about wine country. We add private wine tours to the Yadkin Valley and local High Country wineries — groups of 2 to 14 in luxury SUVs and Sprinter shuttles.
ACL becomes a top wedding shuttle provider in the NC mountains — serving 40+ venues from Mount Airy to Leicester with guest shuttles, bridal party transport, and getaway cars.
After hundreds of private wine tours, we see the opportunity: a scheduled hop-on hop-off shuttle connecting all seven High Country wineries. Two loops, one hub, and a ride anyone can book — not just private groups.
The Wine Trail Loop Shuttle is our newest offering — but it's backed by a full-service transportation company.
Hop-on hop-off service along the Appalachian High Country Wine Trail. Two scenic loops, seven wineries, runs Thu–Sat.
Learn more →Custom wine tours for 2–14 guests. Yadkin Valley, High Country, and Asheville area wineries. Your itinerary, your pace.
Learn more →Guest shuttles, bridal party transport, and getaway cars for 40+ NC mountain venues. Booked by the best planners in the region.
Learn more →Premium transfers to Charlotte (CLT), Asheville (AVL), Greensboro (GSO), Tri-Cities (TRI), and more from anywhere in the High Country.
Learn more →Executive transportation and group shuttles for business events, retreats, and corporate outings in the mountains.
Learn more →Blue Ridge Parkway tours, night-on-the-town packages, holiday shuttles, and custom transportation for any occasion.
Learn more →Every ride — whether it's the Wine Loop, a private tour, or a wedding shuttle — is operated under full North Carolina for-hire passenger transportation compliance.
Every vehicle in our fleet carries North Carolina For-Hire license plates — registered and inspected for commercial passenger service.
Every passenger on every ride is covered by $1.5 million in CSL insurance. No gaps. No exclusions.
We pay the NC Transportation Commerce Tax required of legitimate for-hire carriers.
For wineries and venues: partnering with an unlicensed or improperly insured transportation provider is a liability risk. If a company uses personal plates and a personal auto policy, the insurer may deny coverage after a serious incident — leaving your guests and your reputation exposed. ACL eliminates that risk entirely.
The family behind Ashe County Livery and the Wine Trail Loop Shuttle.
James Armstrong brings 30+ years of corporate experience and prior experience running a luxury transportation service in South Florida. When he and Dana moved to the NC mountains, they saw a clear gap — visitors and locals alike needed reliable, professional transportation in a region where rideshare barely exists and mountain roads demand experienced drivers.
What started as airport runs quickly grew into a full-service operation covering wine tours, weddings, and corporate events. The Wine Trail Loop Shuttle is their latest venture — born from hundreds of private wine tours and the realization that every visitor deserves safe access to these incredible mountain wineries, not just private groups.
Based in: West Jefferson, NC (Ashe County) · Serving: The entire NC High Country and beyond
Questions about the shuttle? Interested in a winery partnership? Planning a private tour or wedding? We'd love to hear from you.