Spirit Savvy hosts Bar Wars: The daisy doesn’t sound like much of a threat. But its namesake cocktail is soon to become the centerpiece of a local mixed-drink war.
BEHIND THE BAR
In the new, regular interview series Behind the Bar, Michael Franco talks to some of the talented men and women who keep the beer, wine and spirits flowing at some of Asheville’s favorite watering holes. Many a bar has been blamed for luring students away from their studies. But in Hank Fuseler’s case, the call […]
Boat drinks
Ahhh tiki cocktails … those sunset-colored vacations in a glass. When done right, they warm your taste buds with exotic spices and unexpected flavors. When done wrong, they coat your tongue with sugary dreck and your head with one mother of a hangover the next morning. Fortunately, in Asheville, there are plenty of places making […]
Spirits of the holidays: Local cocktails brighten the season
Traditionally, everyone has a beverage in their hand to raise high when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. Why not welcome the new year with some new spirits? Xpress asked two local bartenders to offer some fresh tipples for end-of-the-year toasts, and I offer one of my own.
The Wine Tunnel hosts a cork sculpture contest
Stop! Don’t throw away that cork. It could win you $100 worth of wine. The Wine Tunnel is hosting a cork sculpture contest (although screw caps and synthetic corks are also allowed). Enter your masterpiece at the shop at 148 Tunnel Road by 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, to win. The grand prize is […]
The Asheville Wine & Food festival whips up five days of culinary celebration
Now in its fifth year, the festival brings together local chefs, producers, nonprofits, breweries, wineries and more for five days of dinners and events.
Get ready to party with the Asheville Wine & Food Festival
Maybe you're not big on planning, or you're doing the Zen thing, or your calendar has a really small space to write in. That's understandable. But occasionally, a good party merits planning ahead. Here are three reasons to mark your calendar, or update your iPhone, or adjust your sundial — whatever you do — for the […]
Once a wine shop, twice a wine shop
Charlotte Street's retail offerings took a hit last year after Blue Water Seafood and The Wine Studio closed within a few weeks of each other. But now, a wine shop will return to complement The Chop Shop Butchery and City Bakery just down the road. Metro Wines will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, April […]
Sold: Santé Wine Bar
Santé Wine Bar is healthy (as its name, translated from French, suggests). Former owner Carla Baden wants to dispel rumors she's heard that the place is closing; it's not. It simply changed ownership. Allan Morse, an engineer, is Santé's new steward. He's neither changing careers nor making a detached investment. Rather, he's keeping his day […]
Wine Tunnel opens while Wine Guy and Sante are up for sale
The Wine Studio closing, holding a wake
The Wine Studio on Charlotte Street bases its reputation on providing straightforward talk about wine. Now, in characteristically upfront fashion, the Wine Studio is holding a wake. They're going out of business after almost three years. Carah Roberts, operations director, confirmed the closure. She says the wake will be the business' final way of showing […]
Asheville Wine & Food Festival to grow growing minds
The weekend just after Buncombe County schools get back in session brings the Asheville Wine & Food Festival. This year, ASAP’s Growing Minds program is an event beneficiary. “It’s about revitalizing our food culture and industry, and ASAP is the premier reason WNC has a vibrant local food culture now,” says event founder and director […]
Local painter leads the votes for the Biltmore wine label contest
Artist Marcus Thomas paints with his teeth. Video by Bob Peck.
Small Bites: Owner of 5 Walnut Wine Bar puts on his waders in the River Arts District
Matt Logan, the owner of 5 Walnut Wine Bar in downtown Asheville, has purchased a waterfront lot at 233 Riverside Drive with the intention of opening a business there. "It's about 1.8 acres between the Smoky Park Bridge and the train bridge," he says. "It's a complicated piece of property, because of the flood zone, […]
Small Bites: Falderal Winery offers DIY wine-making, along with wines made on site
A fascination with fermentation started early for Paul Kovacich, co-owner of Falderal Winery in Hendersonville. Kovacich says he began experimenting with the alchemy of sugars and yeast as a boy, when he was about 10 years old. Having received a more formal education in wine-making at Thistle Meadow Winery in Laurel Springs, near Boone, Kovacich […]
Wine tasting 101
Working behind the bar at Santé offers a grand opportunity to talk with folks about wine, and I make my very best effort not to dumb down the descriptions (or, on the other hand, not to sound pompous). It’s my job to make wine accessible and create an environment where people feel comfortable talking about […]
Wine love, anyone?
I admit it. I love wine. Not that I needed proof, but Facebook confirmed this for me after I submitted to one of those end-of-the-year applications whereby a list of your most frequently posted words is generated. My top two for 2010 were “wine” and “love.” Granted, it's a pretty common topic of discussion for […]