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Items filtered by date: December 2023

Wednesday, 31 January 2024 08:50

Judge Jay Wilkinson Returns for the Sequel ...

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Sicilian Love Stories

In case you missed author Jay Wilkinson's excellent presentation and book signing in November of last year, Ciao Asheville is pleased to announce that Jay will be back in mid July with a sequel presentation titled "Sicilian Love Stories", which tells the story of the four great Sicilian-culture-tinged romances in Jay's book "A Lie Will Suffice". Jay is a dynamic and engaging speaker so you won't want to miss this event. Stay tuned for more details.

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???? Film Showing ????

Roberto Benigni's

Life is Beautiful

Winner of 3 Academy Awards!

Sunday, March 3, 1pm

Metro Wines

169 Charlotte Street 

Join Ciao Asheville and Metro Wines for a showing of this 1997 comedy-drama film. There will be a group discussion of the film following the showing. Snacks provided "on the house" and wine will be available for purchase. This film is in Italian with English subtitles.

This event is *free* but registration is required. Seating is limited so call Metro Wines at 828-575-9525 to reserve your seat.

Tuesday, 23 January 2024 16:41

Basics of Burgundy

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News Release: January 23rd, 2024
About: "Basics of Burgundy" @MetroWines
 
Please join us for a class with Ayres Newsom, Proprietor of Vino Mondial, guiding us through the "Basics of Burgundy" and tasting 6 wines from the region, on February 11th @MetroWines on Charlotte Street from 2-4pm. 
 
"Burgundy is home to some of the world's most exclusive and sensuous wine!" says Ayres. "With all the romance of France in your glass, this is an exciting way to start your Valentine's Day Week."
 
Presentation includes three white Burgundies and three red Burgundies paired with charcuterie style small bites as well as:
* side by side comparisons of white and red burgundies
* the basics of the classification system in Burgundy
* the history of the region
* and why Burgundy might just be the best food wine in the world! 
 
What's Burgundy All About?

"When some people hear “burgundy wine,” they immediately think of red wine. “Burgundy” does not refer to the color of the wine, however, but to the region of France in which the wine is made. That region is called “La Bourgogne” in French, “Burgundy” in English.

Some of the world’s finest red and white wines are produced in this storied region. These sought-after red wines are made entirely from the Pinot Noir grape, and the world-famous white wines are made entirely from the Chardonnay grape.

While these wines are known throughout the world, few people realize that Burgundy is by far the smallest major wine-growing region in the world. In fact, the heart of Burgundy is only about 30 miles long by one mile wide – tiny by wine standards. Obviously, the villages are tiny, too, and are a mere kilometer or two apart.

Herein lies one of the most complicated aspects of Burgundy – namely, the terrain presents a compact arrangement of microclimates. These microclimates present a complex assortment of altitudes, slopes, exposures and soil types. Literally, two vineyards separated by a stone wall or a dirt road will produce grapes that make wines which can be very different in flavor as well as quality. It’s no wonder that Burgundy produces a greater variety of single-grape wines than any other region in the world and it’s also no wonder that Burgundy can be a minefield for the wine lover in the United States.

Wines made in Burgundy receive their quality classifications, called appellations, based on the region, village or individual vineyard in which the grapes are grown. In most cases, the more defined the growing area of the grapes, the more consistent the quality of the wine produced by those grapes. Oftentimes, the finest wines are produced by vineyards that are no more than a few football fields in size."

Event cost for the presentation and tasting is $55 (plus tax). Go here: https://metro-wines.shoplightspeed.com/february-11-burgundy-class-with-ayres.html

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Contact for MetroWines: John Kerr

Metro Wines Asheville

Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing

"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"

(828) 575-9525
 
Sunday, 21 January 2024 15:45

Ms. Fancy

Monday, 15 January 2024 08:02

Tess

Sunday, 14 January 2024 15:44

5 Star Review on Sunday!

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"Extremely knowledgeable staff, welcoming vibe and fair pricing.
Helped me understand things as a total wine novice.
Varying price ranges so a little bit for anyone."
Wednesday, 10 January 2024 11:35

Wine Language: A Quick Glossary

Understanding the language of wine can be a journey, much like wine tasting itself. As rich and complex as the beverage it describes, wine terminology can feel elusive to many. Fear not, fellow wine enthusiasts, we're here to help.

Tuesday, 09 January 2024 11:26

August Briggs Wine Tasting

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News Release: January 9th, 2024
About: August Briggs Wine Tasting @MetroWines
 
Please join us on Tuesday, January 30th from 4 to 6pm for a tasting of wines from August Briggs Winery, Calistoga, California. And meet the Owner of August Briggs, Matt Gasco! Gwen Bell will pour and discuss these well-made wines "at the bar" and "on the house" with no reservations necessary.
 
"We have chosen wines that represent the new grapes coming from Napa Valley," says John Kerr, co-owner of MetroWines.
 
On the Taste:
 
Pinot Blanc
Winery Notes: "This is our seventh release of Pinot Blanc and has now settled into the August Briggs portfolio as one of our favorites and definitely our customer’s favorite for the Spring and Summer. We once again purchased the Pinot Blanc grapes from the Dutton family and one of their oldest properties. This sustainable and dry-farmed vineyard has cool coastal air and moderate daytime temperatures which highlights the brightness of this European styled wine. The color is a light shade of straw with hints of green around the edges of the wine. This vintage is loaded with bright fruit flavors of grapefruit and pear and has a hint of minerals on the finish. It is a lovely and mouthwatering wine so be sure to order a bunch before summer is here!"
 
Pinot Meunier
Winery Notes: "Pinot Meunier is one of a few grapes that are more well-known for making sparkling wines than still ones. We have made a scintillating dry wine from these grapes for over 15 years and have found the wine to be grapes to be very aromatic much like pinot noir, as well as exuding an exotic spicy aroma as found in Rhone varieties. This wine makes a great porch quaffer, as well as, a perfect match with light to medium menu items.For the 2018 Pinot Meunier is an elegant vintage that shows the feminine side of this wonderful grape. The aromas and flavors are of cherry blossom, cranberry & orange peel. The palate has a satiny texture with nice balancing tannins that gives it a long and memorable finish. This is just great to drink and show off to friends.After hand sorting, the clusters were destemmed into a small open-top fermenter. After a two-day cold soak, the must was inoculated with Assmanhausen yeast. The cap was punched-down by hand, twice daily. Following primary fermentation the wine was inoculated for malolactic fermentation and barreled down to traditional burgundian barrels. The barrels used were 33% new French oak and 67% two year old French barrels. The wine was aged in barrel for 9 months."
 
Red Blend
Winery Notes; "Utilizing a “kitchen sink” approach we played with blending various amounts of Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Charbono from a mix of vineyards planted throughout the Napa Valley. The components of this wine change every year so be sure to sample this vintage and see if it hits your sweet spot! This wine has a deep saturated color of dark purple with rich aromas of blueberry, black fig, spice and pepper. The wine is medium in body which makes it accessible for drinking young and the fruit character is bold but balanced by bright acidity. The finish is lengthy across the palate with moderate fruit and oak tannins. This wine is a big bruiser if you want to match it with a porterhouse tonight or if you prefer it can be aged for additional complexity with another 3-5 years in bottle. The wine was aged in a variety of American and French oak barrels for 16 months then blended together for additional aging before bottling. Only 100 cases produced." 
 
About August Briggs:
   August Briggs Winery is an owner-managed craft producer of small lot and sustainably produced wines showcasing some of Napa and Sonoma’s premier vineyards focused on a restrained winemaking philosophy that highlights wines of provenance, not pretense. When you come visit us, it is likely you will meet with one of our welcoming owners, Matt and Colette, who live by their hands-on management style, ‘You get back what you put in’. 
 
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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
 
Tuesday, 09 January 2024 09:23

5 Star Review from a Winemaker!

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"Through a turn of fate and a leap of faith, I was fortunate to be a winemaker for 20 years. That worldly experience allows me to really appreciate this particular wine shop. They buy exceptional wines from extensive and surprising regions around the world. If you want a Condrieu, Pinotage, Priorat or Zweigelt you can find them here for example. You can also find great wines at a value price in the teens. I bought a Viognier for $15. A solid wine lightly oaked. Buy 6 wines get 10% off, 12 is 15% off. Over Christmas they tasted out a limited purchase of an Italian Frezzante (a semi sparkling wine less than 2 bars pressure). The wine was spectacular. Typically, you wouldn't find this particular wine outside of Italy but yet here it was in store. Amazing. They are rightly proud of what they buy, and you can rest assured that the bottles you purchase will be well made. I recently discovered them after living here five years. A distributor (Skyland) friend of mine told me to check them out over Thanksgiving. I've been twice and will happily drive the half hour to purchase wines. Prost, Salud, cin, cin! , sante! etc..."
Wednesday, 03 January 2024 15:17

Wine Tasting with Winemaker Michele D'Aprix

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News Release: January 3rd, 2024
About: Wine Tasting with Michele D'Aprix @MetroWines
 
Please join us on Friday, January 26th from 4-6pm @Metrowines to meet Winemaker Michele D'Aprix and taste 5 of her wines "at the bar" and "on the house" with no reservations necessary.
 
Michele D'aprix will be pouring to taste:
Maz Caz Blanc
Maz Caz Rosé
Maz Caz Rouge
Pierre Anglaire
Pentimento
 
In 2022, The Certified Wino said this of Michele D'Aprix: 
"I become more, and more enthralled by Michele every time I crack open a bottle from her or discover more of her story. She is the ONLY American female winemaker producing wine out of France. Michele got bit by the wine bug while bartending in Boston & attending UC Davis to obtain her degree in chemistry. She decided to use that background in chemistry to pursue a career in winemaking. Michele secured an internship in Burgundy where her days were spent with Pinot Noir, and the foundation for her passion as a winemaker was laid. She grew bored of playing with pinot & made her next move to the male-dominated Bordeaux. It was here that she was able to be experimentive & expressive with groups of varietals. She has become a Bordeaux crusader of sorts with her Pentimento red blend being a gorgeous & modern interpretation of Bordeaux wine. Michele also does some work out of the Rhone Valley with her other line-up, Maz Caz (meaning crazy in a good way)."
 
In Her Own Words:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=691859124973068
 
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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
Wednesday, 03 January 2024 14:24

Winebow Italian Wine Tasting

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News Release: January 3rd, 2024
About: Wine Tasting @MetroWines
Please join us for a wine tasting with Chris Curtis of Winebow on Thursday, January 18th from 4 to 6pm @MetroWines. The event is "at the bar" and "on the house" with no reservations necessary.
 
We will be tasting four Italian Wines from Northern Italy:
Lageder Terra Alpina Pinot Bianco 2021
Tiefenbrunner Chardonnay 2022
Lageder Schiava 2022
Tramin Lagrein 2022
 
Winebow was a big winner in the Wine Spectator 2023 Top 100 with 28 bottles in the Top 100 and 4 in the Top 10!
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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
 
Wednesday, 03 January 2024 09:24

Another, Another 5 Star Review!

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"Great atmosphere and good wine varieties. Service was very good."
Tuesday, 02 January 2024 17:06

Another 5 Star Review

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"These people couldn't be better to work with! Prompt service, great prices, helpfulness and knowledge... they make the sometimes stressful process of event planning/organizing so smooth and easy. Metrowine has helped me plan several corporate and festive events and Kristen is wonderful, available, and prompt 100% of the time. Excellent selection of wine and very good service. We greatly enjoyed the wine education Andy gave us on the wines we were interested in." 
Tuesday, 02 January 2024 16:59

5 Star Review

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"The staff are so kind and always eager to help you find a delicious bottle in your price range. We loved this place so much that we even hired them for our wedding wines - which they did an incredible job with!!! Highly highly recommend! Even for a casual stop by, there's always something intriguing to taste open."