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Tasting: Wines from Portugal

Tuesday, 09 July 2024 16:54
portugal wine map
News Release: Tuesday, July 9th, 2024
About: Tasting Wines from Portugal with Joseph Schwabauer
 
Join us on Tuesday, July 30th from 4-6 @Metrowines on Charlotte Street to meet James Schwabauer, learn about the grapes of Portugal and taste wines made in Portugal. The event is "at the bar" and "on the house."
 
Why Joseph Schwabauer? 
Joseph is a 12 year veteran of the wine business, doing it all from wine retail, restaurant wine lists and working with some of the best producers and importers on the supplier side. 
 
Why Portuguese wines?
From Wine Folly: "Because Portugal’s wine culture developed in relative isolation, many grape varieties do not grow anywhere else in the world. If you don’t recognize the grape variety on a Portuguese wine label, it’s a good thing. There are over 250 indigenous varieties and a few imports (including Alicante Bouschet) that have adapted well to the Portuguese landscape (i.e., they are delicious). To many wine experts, Portugal is the last frontier of wine in Western Europe; there is still so much to be tasted and explored. With all the excitement Portugal offers, let’s look at the major wines and regions."
 
"To put it succinctly, Portuguese Wines are the next big thing," says Gina Trippi, co-owner of MetroWines. "This is a great opportunity to expand your wine world."
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Contact for MetroWines: Gina Trippi
Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!
"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"
(828) 575-9525
 

WSET "Live" Classes

Tuesday, 02 July 2024 08:33
wset
 

News Release: Tuesday, July, 2nd, 2024
About: WSET "Live" Classes

Metro wines is again collaborating with Melanie Webber, Certified Wine Instructor, to present WSET classes at Quench!, our new Wine Bistro and location for The Asheville School of Wine in Reynolds Village, Woodfin.

Melanie Webber is a certified wine instructor, sommelier, writer and communications expert who helps wine industry professionals achieve their wine certifications and wine lovers deepen their appreciation and understanding of wine. At the core of everything Melanie does is her passion to make it fun to learn how to taste, assess and enjoy wine.  She holds the globally-recognized Diploma in Wine & Spirits from WSET as well as the French Wine Scholar and Spanish Wine Scholar certifications from the Wine Scholar Guild and is certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to teach WSET Level 1, 2 and 3 Awards in Wine. 

Melanie’s MWWine School is an approved program provider of WSET and Spanish/French Wine Scholar courses in Asheville, North Carolina and SLO County, California. She has taught WSET courses since 2018, helping hundreds of industry professionals and wine lovers achieve their certifications. She is also an adjunct wine studies professor at College of the Canyons.  Melanie has traveled extensively to wine regions around the world gathering material for classes as well for her articles for her blog, BottlePoet, and for a variety of other outlets.  Melanie’s article “The Wine Student” was shortlisted in the 2023 Jancis Robinson Wine Writing competition and is published at JancisRobinson.com.

"I am excited to offer a VIP discount for Hospitality and Wine Industry Trade and MWWS Alumni for all courses this summer in Asheville. Use code ASHEVIP to receive 10% off all course registrations. We are also pleased to offer payment options through Afterpay," says Melanie Webber.  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Asheville Course Schedule at a Glance:

* WSET Level 1 Award in Wines                  August 4
                                                                  One day class & exam

A beginner level introduction to wine, all in one day,  suitable for those starting a wine career or pursuing an interest in wine. You’ll explore the main types and styles of wine through sight, smell, and taste, while also gaining the skills to describe wines accurately, and make food and wine pairings, as well as learning wine service and etiquette. Tasting of 10 wines from around the world.

 

* WSET Level 2 Award in Wines                  August 5, 6 & 12
                                                                  Three day class & exam

For individuals seeking a core understanding of a wide range of wines, this qualification explores the major grape varieties of the world and the regions in which they are grown. Through a combination of tasting and theory, you’ll explore the factors that impact style and quality and learn how to describe these wines with confidence. The course includes tastings of over 35 wines.

 

WSET 3 Fall - Note from Melanie Webber:

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is one of the industry's most respected credentials, and, as such, it is a serious and challenging course that demands commitment – over 50 hours of private study is recommended. Please be sure to review the candidate specification before registering. Your work outside class hours is as important, if not more so, than your time in class. Successful candidates in my previous classes have formed tasting and study groups and practiced writing answers for the theory portion of the exam.  The exam consists of a blind tasting exam and a theory exam consisting of multiple-choice questions and essay questions. The good news is that everything you need to know for the theory part is in your book, so if you know your book and are able to apply knowledge you should be fine. Students tend to be the most nervous about the blind tasting exam, but most students pass that, it is the theory exam that provides the biggest challenges. "I make sure to space classes out so you have ample study time between sessions, provide homework with sample exam questions, and we taste all wines blind and I put you through many mock blind tasting exams." 

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* WSG Spanish Wine Essentials                 August 11 & 13
                                                                  Two day class & exam

WINE SCHOLAR GUILD SPANISH WINE ESSENTIALS
Fast-track your understanding into the intricate world of Spanish wine!
 
Whether a wine professional, inquisitive wine enthusiast or energetic epicurean looking to enhance your experiences through food and wine; WSG Essentials provide students with a solid foundation on the wines of Spain. In addition to 14 hours of classroom instruction and tasting of over 25 Spanish wines, the course includes a detailed and comprehensive 95-page course book rich with photographs, maps, illustrations and infographics to optimize learning and one-year access to WSG’s e-learning platform including online support modules and interactive activities related to your course
 
Not just an introductory course, WSG Essentials are a launchpad to the highly respected WSG Wine Scholar® certifications, the vibrant WSG Community and the first step towards wine mastery. Essentials are the perfect course to ignite a lifetime of learning and passion for wine.  
 
Class Dates: Sun/Tues, August 11th/13th, 2024
 Time: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Exam Date: Tuesday, August 13th
Deadline to register: July 28th, 2024
Location: Asheville School of Wines Reynolds Village
Educator: Melanie Webber, DipWSET, FWS, SWS 
Cost: $595
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Register for All Classes HERE: 
https://www.melaniewebberwine.com/coursebooking
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Stand by for More Classes:
Stay tuned for dates in the fall for WSET L3 and French Wine Essentials!  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Contact for Metro Wines: Kristen Calloway
Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!
"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"
(828) 575-9525
 

Sicilian Love Stories: Book Signing

Tuesday, 18 June 2024 14:41
 
Ciao Asheville Presents
Jay Sicily Love Stories
** BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND **

Sicilian Love Stories: A DiGiovanni Family History Sequel
Tuesday, July 16, 5:30-6:30pm, Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte Street

 

Can genuine love and romance spring from kidnapping, vendetta and the travails of difficult trans-Atlantic immigration to America? 
  Sicilian Love Stories: A DiGiovanni Family History Sequel answers that question with a resounding “Yes!”

Retired judge and author Jay Wilkinson is back to share four romantic sagas from his book A Lie Will Suffice in the expanded sequel to his entertaining and culturally educational presentation given last November at Metro Wines. If you missed Jay then, make sure you don't miss this dynamic speaker on his summer speaking tour!     

Jay’s family had strong links to organized crime and all the drama that goes with it: Atlantic Ocean crossings, murder, extortion, vendetta, bootlegging, labor influence on the New Orleans banana docks, two criminal trials, and a secret interment in the family burial vault. Jay will focus on the unique love stories from his family history that ultimately shaped the complex, but ultimately triumphant DiGiovanni-Guinta family history. 
 

$15 (plus tax) Includes a glass of white or red Sicilian wine and snacks.

Jay's book will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Payment by cash, check or Venmo only

Please call Metro Wines at (828) 575-9525 or register online herehttps://metro-wines.shoplightspeed.com/july-16-sicilian-love-stories-a-digiovanni-family.html 
to reserve your seat. Seating is limited to 20 people.

Note for attendees: Please park at the back of the parking lot at Metro Wines for this event.