Asheville Beer City Festival this Weekend

June 2, 12 PM - 6 PM   Asheville's 3rd  Beer City Festival The first ever Asheville Beer Week includes ten days of celebrating beer and Beer City, USA, and will culminate at Asheville's third Beer City Festival. The ABA (Asheville Brewers Alliance) teams up with the folks from Brewgrass for Beer City Festival. It’s the brewer’s beer festival! Tickets are available at local breweries, Bruisin’ Ales and Barley’s. Get your tickets NOW! $40 (cash only).

Asheville North Carolina takes the top honors in BeerCity USA 2010 poll.

The votes are in and counted and Asheville emerged as the clear winner with 7389, 38.8% of  the 19,040 votes cast. Last year's tie with rival Portland Oregon is now a thing of the past thanks to the spirit of local beer enthusiasts.  The BeerCity USA poll coincided with American Craft Beer Week and ended with an outpouring of votes for the relatively smaller city of Asheville North Carolina. Read more about the BeerCity USA Poll...

There are 9 breweries in Asheville, NC according to the Brewers Association’s directory of U.S. Breweries.

• Asheville Brewing Co, 77 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Microbrewery
• Asheville Pizza and Brewing, 675 Merrimon, Asheville, NC 28804, Brewpub
• Craggie Brewing Co., 197 Hilliard Avenue, Ashville, NC Microbrewery
• French Broad Brewing Co., 101-D Fairview Rd., Ashville, NC Microbrewery
• Green Man Brewing Co 23 Buxton Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Microbrewery
• Highland Brewing Co 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste H, Asheville, NC 28801 Regional brewery
• Lexington Avenue Brewing - The LAB PO Box 7303, Asheville, NC 28802 Brewpub
• Oyster House Brewing Co./Lobster Trap Restaurant, 35 Patton St., Asheville, NC 28801 Brewpub
• Wedge Brewing Co., 129-B Roberts St., Ashville, NC Microbrewery

Vote for Asheville - "Favorite Beer City USA"

Now through the end of American Craft Beer Week on May 23 you can help make Asheville North Carolina the sole winner of the title, Favorite Beer City USA. Last year's vote ended in a statistical tie between Asheville and Portland Oregon. BeerCity USA 2010 is a chance for local beer communities to express their enthusiasm and support for their local breweries and local better beer bars, restaurants, stores and distributors. Most of us now understand the value of buying local for food. Shouldn't it be the same for beer?  VOTE NOW

Asheville currently offers 10 microbreweries,  a rocking beer tour, a world-renowned specialty beer store and five annual beer festivals. Need more? Check out the complete scoop on Asheville’s beer scene. 

Wine AND Beer Tasting tomorrow in Asheville

May 1, Appalachian Vintner, 2-B Huntsman Place, Asheville North Carolina. The grapevines are in bloom, the trade shows were done and there will be loads of new products hitting the shelves in the next few weeks at Appalachian Vintner. Stop by on Saturday and check out:

De Bortoli St Kilda Chardonnay- South Eastern Australia. St Kilda wines are produced by De Bortoli Wines, based in Bilbul in the Riverina region of New South Wales.
Vecchia Torre Leverano Rosato- Leverano Italy. 80% Negroamaro, 20% Malvasia Nera.Hill of Content Pinot Noir- Adelaide Hills, Australia. Hill of Content was born out of a desire to create interesting Region specific wines at a price that allows for “liberal” consumption.
De Bortoli St Kilda Shiraz- From its humble beginnings more than 75 years ago, the De Bortoli Bilbul Winery is today a substantial operation being one of the Riverina’s largest, employing approximately 200 staff.
Stoudts Brewing Company- We will be sampling their Pilsner as well as the American Pale.
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye- Sonoma County California. Hop Rod Rye is a high performance, turbo charged, alcohol burnin’ monster ale with dual overhead hop injection, made with 18% rye.

Please note beers are samples only and will be very limited for the 4PM-8PM tasters. If you would like to sample beer please come early. http://www.appalachianvintner.com/

Hops and Vines Celebrates National Homebrew Day with Sale

May 1-2, Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd., Ste 100, West Asheville North Carolina. Hops and Vines celebrates National Homebrew Day  by having their first ever homebrew sale. Saturday and Sunday, all homebrew equipment, beer kits and ingredient purchases (in stock items) will be 10% off! This is a great opportunity to stock up on bulk supplies or get a new gadget. http://www.hopsandvines.net

Homebrewers Night

March 6, 6PM-8PM, Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd. Ste 100 West Asheville North Carolina. Brewer's Alert! Come check out our new Homebrewer's Night! This in an informal club for homebrewers of all levels who want to share their creations, talk homebrewing, and get feedback on their beer. Just show up and bring in a sample of your homebrewed beer to share with others! This week we will pick a name for the club; if you idea gets chosen, you'll get 30% off any ingredient kit and bragging rights. http://www.hopsandvines.net

Wine Tasting: Warming Winter Wines

Jan 23, 3PM-6PM, Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Road, Asheville North Carolina. Winter has definitely arrived -- and with it a chance to revel in the joys of hearty, rich wines that warm the body and cheer the spirit.
Tierra de Luna Syrah-Malbec-Tierra de Luna means "Land of the moon." The ruby-colored Syrah/Malbec bursts with blackberry and cherry aromas that are accompanied by a light to medium-bodied, supple-textured wine filled with licorice, blackberries, and raspberries. $7.99
Windmill Old Vine Zinfandel 2006 -  Today, Windmill is into their 6th generation of wine grape growers. The rich soil, warm Lodi sun and cool San Francisco Bay breezes, in combination with natural viticultural practices enable them to produce the rich bright wines that they have become synonymous with.  $12.99
Beronia Crianza Rioja 2006  - Spain is definitely moving up with this voluptuous crianza from Beronia. This 2006 is a blend of 84% tempranillo, 13% grenache, and 3% mazuelo. It's absolutely charming and delightful with a mouth that is well fleshed out with big fruit levels. $14.99
http://www.hopsandvines.net

California Wine Tasting to Welcome the New Year

Jan 2, Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Asheville NC. A tasting of three delicious California Cabernets that are great value wines - see why you don't need to spend a lot for a great bottle of Cab!
2008 Haley's Mill - 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas and flavors of red berries, currants, and bell pepper,finishes with toasty oak. $9.99/btl

2007 Firestone Vineyard - Deep ruby in color this Cab has classic aromas of black plum, cassis and espresso. Flavors of black licorice, smoked meat, ripe plum and mocha are complimented by soft tannins and a plush mouthfeel. The finish lingers with notes of sweet spice and smoke. $10.99/btl

2006 Gnarly Head Cab - aromas of black peppercorn, cranberries and blackberries lead in this dark, bold Cab. Juicy currants breaks on the palate followed by hints of violets, earth, cloves and bay leaf supported by solid tannins. A great food wine. $10.99/btl

Wine Tasting Tomorrow

Nov 28, 3PM-5PM, Hops and Vines, Asheville NC. An adventure to South America to explore three different styles of wine from Argentina. South American wines are some of the best value wines on the market today. Vida Organica Sparkling Chardonnay - Golden-yellow colours with green hues, with delicate and persistent bubbles. Trapiche "Broquel" Malbec - Boysenberry, blackberry, plum and pumpkin bread aromas are effusive. Colonia Las Liebres, Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina, 2008. A massive wine from Argentina, the Bonarda grape is nearly exclusive to South America, where it excels at the high elevations of Mendoza Valley.

Wines to pair with your Thanksgiving Meal

Nov 21, 3-6PM, Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd. Ste 100, West Asheville NC. Free wine tasting includes:
Villa Wolf Gewurztraminer - Villa Wolf Gewürztraminer is clean, fruity and wonderfully light on its feet. It shows off the aromatic charm of the variety without becoming heavy or ponderous. A perfect accompaniment to turkey, cranberry sauce, and mixed nuts to name a few.
Domaine Antagnauc Pinot Noir 2008 Languedoc Roussillon, France Amazing value for an Estate Pinot Noir. Expressive nose of black cherry and spice.

"Les Perruches" - Domaine de la Cotelleraie is fully biodynamic and organic in all principals of viticulture.  This 100% Cabernet Franc wine shows the grape in it's fully glory, with earthy tobacco-scented dark berry fruit.  ITs a big mouthful of wine that deserves a big meal of turkey and stuffing with gravy, a perfect Thanksgiving match.  

Website: http://www.hopsandvines.net

Asheville Wine Consulting presents: Wine 101

September 27 from 5-7:30pm at Hops & Vines in Asheville NC. This class is the answer to all the boring 101 wine classes out there! Discover a new way to experience wine! Tickets are $25/person and includes tasting of 8 wines, light nibbles, maps, tasting sheets and more!

Website: http://www.AshevilleWineConsulting.com

Wine Tasting this Saturday at Hops & Vines

September 12 from 3PM-6PM at Hops & Vines, 797 Haywood Rd. Ste 100, West Asheville NC. Sample wines from the "old World":
Domaine du Couron Viognier, Cotes du Rhone, France -Perfumed aromatics, ripe fruit and firm acidity are perfectly balanced in this delightful end of summer white!Campos de Luz Old Vine
Garnacha, Carinena, Spain - The garnacha grape, much like its tempranillo counterpart, can be expressed in a myriad different ways. Delightful wine for 10 bucks!
Vecchia Torre Primitivo, Salento, Italy - One of our favorite wines in the shop, this primitivo is sure to please every red wine lover!

Contact: 828-252-5275

Website: http://www.hopsandvines.net

Wine Tasting Tonight at Hops & Vines

September 5 from 3PM-6PM at Hops & Wines, 797 Haywood Road, Asheville NC. Wines off the beaten Path: Take a detour from the traditional likes of Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah and discover some new favorites!  Fred Loimer Gruner Veltliner, Austria- The national grape of Austria, gruner veltliner can be vinified in many different styles. DeBortoli Petit Verdot, Australia – A traditional minor grape in Bordeaux, petit verdot takes on an entirely new incarnation as the leading role in this wine. Ajello Majus Nero d’Avola, Italy – Often called Italy’s answer to syrah, nero d’avola is grown almost exclusively on the island of Sicily

FREE Mead Tasting in Asheville

August 14 from 4-7PM at Hops & Vines, 797 Haywood Rd. Ste 100 West Asheville NC. Fox Hill Meads is Western North Carolina's only meadery producing award winning meads using local honey and ingredients. Jason, owner of Fox Hill Meadery will be here to pour the mead and tell you more about his products:

Blackberry Honey Wine (mead) is a light, refreshing, fruity style
Traditional Mead is made from multiple honey varieties and is aged with oak
Ginger-Apricot Honey Wine (mead) is a meld of ginger spice, apricot, and honey sweetness
Spiced Mead blend is our most popular mead
Special Reserve Mead is a big, strong, complex honey wine

828-252-5275 or http://www.hopsandvines.net