skip to main content

Items filtered by date: November 2021

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

briggs
 
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’. 
 
********************************************************************************************
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!

champagne toast
 
"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

michele
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
 
*******************************************************************************
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

winebow
 
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!
***************************************************************************
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!

Dog with megaphone e1426543715309 300x225
"Great atmosphere and good wine varieties. Service was very good."
Tuesday, 02 January 2024 17:06

Another 5 Star Review

scroll
"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

iStock 000021891045XSmall
"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."
Sunday, 31 December 2023 16:32

Lucy

Sunday, 17 December 2023 18:21

Rex, Jessie, & Woody

Tuesday, 05 December 2023 09:44

Sparkling Wine Tasting December 29th

greyhound sparkling
 
News Release: December 5, 2023
About: Tasting Sparkling Wines @MetroWines
 
Please join us on Friday, December 29th from 2:30 to 5:30 to meet Gwen Bell, "The Queen of Bubbles," from 3Keys Distributors @MetroWines and taste four sparkling wines "at the bar" and "on the house." 
 
"This is a unique opportunity to taste wines of this quality "on the house! presented by a top-notch representative." says John Kerr, co-owner of MetroWines.
 
Who is 3Keys?
(From 3Keys Website): 3 Keys distributes new and old world wines from family-run properties focused on quality, conscious farming methods and tradition.

Through our relationships with world-class importers and domestic wineries we’ve been able to do just that. Every wine we sell is vetted by our team of wine professionals to ensure that the only wines we represent are those we love and care about. We are lucky enough to represent some iconic wineries as well as up and coming start-ups worth paying attention to.

Our small size allows us to provide our customers with a personal wine buying experience few others can provide. We look forward to getting to know each of our customers as friends and clients.
 
The Tasting Includes:
Babylonstoren Sparkling Pinot Noir 
Castellroig Brut Nature Corpinat 18’ 
Clotilde GC Blanc de Blanc Champagne
Paul Launoise Composition Champagne NV 
 
And parking @MetroWines is free,close and easy!
********************************************************************
Contact for MetroWines: Gina Trippi
Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!
"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"
(828) 575-9525
Monday, 04 December 2023 15:10

Aiko

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 07:56

Micro Winery Burgundy Tasting on December 7th

glamourous lips
 
Micro-Winery Burgundy Tasting
for holiday gifts and celebrations
"At the Bar" and "On the House"
Thursday, December 7th, 4-6pm
@MetroWines on Charlotte Street

Meet Distributor Ayres Newsom and taste 5 wines from the world’s most famous region for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Burgundy! These small-production wines appear at a few wine dinners around town each year, but almost never in wine shops – until now!

Ayres Newsom will pour five wines from the world’s most famous wine region and answer your questions and remove the mystery from these wines. Micro-producers produce so little of these wines, almost none of these wines ever make it to the United States. But because the importer and distributor are located in Asheville, we have great access to these fine wines.
 
Since a summer during college in Burgundy, the importer knows each vintner personally and has maintained not only a business relationship but a friendship with them all for 40 years. “It’s a tiny region where the best wines are made by mom-and-pop operations, not large corporations.”
As one winemaker says, “I put my heart in every bottle of wine.” Each family owns the vines and personally works in the vineyards, pruning the vines, hand-picking and sorting the grapes, and overseeing the winemaking process in its entirety.
 
Wines on The Taste:
Crémant - Jean-Luc Joillot Agnes
From Pommard, 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. In blind taste tests, people choose this Crémant over many famous Champagnes. Like a true Champagne at half the price!

Chablis – Francois Servin Vaillons 1er Cru Chablis 2022
Muscular, with a firm streak of minerality underlying the lemon cream fruit. Quite crisp on the finish in its youth. A good candidate for aging, and a wonderful wine for the dinner table.

Montrachet – Paul Jouard Chassagne-Montrachet 2021
The most revered Chardonnay region on the planet. This wine is produced from just one acre. Classic Montrachet with floral, white peach and smoky pear. Nicely integrated with a bit of minerality and oak mid-palate that lingers to the finish.

Givry – Chofflet Valdenaire Givry Heritage 2020
Grown in reddish limestone soil with a little bit of clay. Elegant with flavors of black currant, raspberry, and cherry. Some vegetal notes of bark, typical of village-level red wines from Givry.

Beaune – Claudie Jobard Beaune "Les Epenottes" 1er Cru 2019
Just four barrels produced each year. The vineyard is next to the famous Epenots Premier Cru vineyard in Pommard & just below the sought-after Clos des Mouches vineyard in Beaune. Expect subtlety, complexity and elegance, with layers of cherry, tobacco, spice and flowers. The texture is like silk.
 
Aside from quality, why choose these wines for gifts, holiday celbrations or your own table?
Because you will be supporting LOCAL 3 times over since the importer, distributor, and Metro are all located right here in Asheville!
Monday, 27 November 2023 17:13

Trione Family Vineyards Tasting

trione logo new
News Release: November 27, 2023
About: Metro Wines Official Holiday Wine Tasting
 
Please join us on Friday, December 15th from 4 to 6pm @Metro Wines on Charlotte Street for our Official Holiday Wine Tasting with Trione Family Winery, Sonoma, California. Tasting four wines including Chardonnay, Syrah, Henry's Blend and Block 21 Cabernet Sauvignon. The event is "at the bar" and "on the house."
 
Chardonnay
Rich, inviting nose with an elegantly firm structure and a smooth lingering finish. This wine draws you in with its bright aromas of lemon zest, butterscotch cream, and hints of tart Granny Smith apple and caramel. Its youthful body is soft and silky on the palate. Pair this wine with grilled chicken or salmon with fresh herbs or sip on this without food! This wine will age gracefully for years to come.
 
Syrah
The 2016 Syrah is a Pinot lover’s Syrah; rich and inviting on the nose and palate.  A charcuterie of sweet, smoked meats comes to mind. The seductive aromas of peaty, wet earth with hints of plum, blueberry and wild blackberry preserves are ever present. This wine is rich and decadent with the body, balance and structure to age beautifully for the next 5-7 years. Enjoy this Syrah with almost any cuisine. 
 
Henry's Blend
The first impression of the 2018 Henry’s Blend is a rich, supple, aromatic mix of red fruits and fall spices. Silky smooth on the palate, this wine has a lingering finish that is seemingly endless. While fantastic now, the 2018 Henry’s Blend has the structure to age for many years to come. 
 
Block 21 Cabernet
This wine is a classic Bordeaux-style blend. It is composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot and 2% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. We hand-harvested and fermented each variety separately, then moved the wines to the barrel, where it aged for twelve months. Once we determined our blend, we returned the wine to the barrel for an additional twelve months, to ‘marry’ the varietals. We used tight grained French oak barrels exclusively for this wine. 
 
The 2018 Block 21 Cabernet Sauvignon is more Left Bank in style, reminiscent of the Medoc. While Pauillac in character, this wine is vibrant with hints of black currant, raspberry, and blackberry on the nose. It is rich, with a silky-fine tannin structure and mid-palate with a long lingering finish that foretells a long cellar life. Enjoy now and for the next 5-10 years. 
 
About the Winery
"Three generations, decades of farming, five ranches — our family is deeply rooted in the Sonoma County wine industry. Dedicated farmers for over fifty years, brothers Mark and Vic Trione own and cultivate close to 600 vineyard acres in three prime Sonoma County appellations: Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Coast.

The Trione Family has a rich history of grape growing and winemaking in Sonoma County which is best told from the beginning with the family’s patriarch, Henry Trione. Raised in Fortuna, CA by Italian immigrant parents, Henry has always been described as a true entrepreneur with great foresight."
 
More About Trione Family Winery: https://trionewinery.com/about/
******************************************************
Contact for MetroWines: Gina Trippi
Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!
"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"
(828) 575-9525
Sunday, 26 November 2023 13:18

Baby Girl

Sunday, 26 November 2023 08:58

Rioja Wine Tasting Wednesday: Bodega Lanzaga

lanzaga
 
*** Wednesday, November 29th ***
4-6 pm @MetroWines
"on the house" and "at the bar"

Featuring:
Bodegas Lanzaga Corriente 
Bodegas Lanzaga LZ 
Bodegas Lanzaga Estate 
Bodegas Lanzaga Tabuerniga 
Bodegas Lanzaga Las Beatas 
 

   Telmo Rodriguez is one of Spain’s brightest winemaking talents. He established Compañia de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez in 1994 to highlight notable vineyards throughout Spain planted with native grape varieties. In 1998, while working at his family winery, he started to buy old vineyards around the town of Lanciego. This was the catalyst for Bodega Lanzaga.

   The aim is to rediscover the ‘true’ historic taste of Rioja that he believes can only be achieved from the best sites. “We respect the capacity of generations of vine growers who observed these places and recognised their value”. Telmo is a vocal advocate for the potential of Spanish wine, believing it should sit at table with best of Burgundy and Bordeaux.

   Time spent working in France led him to question Rioja’s reluctance to acknowledge a wine’s origin, vineyard or village, on the label. “Our wines are not made by winemakers, they’re made by grape growers... Once you understand your place, you know how to work.” These are pure terroir wines, representing historical vineyards in the most transparent way possible.

Wednesday, 22 November 2023 13:28

Soji and Yoko

Wednesday, 22 November 2023 13:08

Holiday Wine Tasting with Bodega Lanzaga!

lanzaga

With Juniper Cooper and Bodega Lanzaga Luxury Brand Ambassador
*** Wednesday, November 29th * 4-6 pm @MetroWines

Featuring:
Bodegas Lanzaga Corriente, Bodegas Lanzaga LZ 
Bodegas Lanzaga Estate, Bodegas Lanzaga Tabuerniga 
and Bodegas Lanzaga Las Beatas
 

   Telmo Rodriguez is one of Spain’s brightest winemaking talents. He established Compañia de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez in 1994 to highlight notable vineyards throughout Spain planted with native grape varieties. In 1998, while working at his family winery, he started to buy old vineyards around the town of Lanciego. This was the catalyst for Bodega Lanzaga.

   The aim is to rediscover the ‘true’ historic taste of Rioja that he believes can only be achieved from the best sites. “We respect the capacity of generations of vine growers who observed these places and recognized their value”. Telmo is a vocal advocate for the potential of Spanish wine, believing it should sit at table with best of Burgundy and Bordeaux.

   Time spent working in France led him to question Rioja’s reluctance to acknowledge a wine’s origin, vineyard or village, on the label. “Our wines are not made by winemakers, they’re made by grape growers... Once you understand your place, you know how to work.” These are pure terroir wines, representing historical vineyards in the most transparent way possible.

Saturday, 18 November 2023 12:22

CinCin Recipes by Cat Lavezzo of MetroWines

marcello2
These recipes were created by MetroWines Buyer, Cat Lavezzo,
for an event sponsored by Ciao Asheville titled "CinCin" featuring Cocktails and Mocktails!
 

NA Bicicletta: lozGhiaNAAperitif
2oz Giesen NA Pinot Grigio 20z Soda Water

In a rocks glass, add the aperitif and wine, stir. Fill with ice 3/4 of the way and top with soda water. Garnish with an orange peel and oil if you wish!

NA Cabernet Cobbler:
4oz Ariel NA Cabernet Sauvignon (chilled) 1tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
1tsp Superfine Sugar
2oz NA Freixenet Sparkling Wine

In a large wine glass, dissolve the sugar into the lemon juice. Add ice and pour in the chilled Cabernet Sauvignon. Stir gently and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon oil and peel if you wish.

Cocchi Spritz:
30z Prosecco
2oz Cocchi Americano
2 dashes of peach bitters 1oz Soda Water
Orange oil and peel garnish

In a cocktail glass, add Cocchi Americano and bitters with ice, add Prosecco and top with soda water. Rim the peel around the glass and express the oils, toss in the peel.

Coffee Infused Cocchi Torino Vermouth: 360z of Cocchi Torino Vermouth
12tsp of Lavazzo Espresso ground coffee

Use the vermouth instead of water and brew! Serve warm or iced.

Thursday, 16 November 2023 15:02

New to Metro Wines: Bridget Kelly

IMG 4810
Bridget in Ireland
 
MetroWines continues to expand and embolden our woman power! Meet Bridget Kelly, our new Sales Consultant. Bridget and I both took the road less traveled and, in the end, as the Robert Frost poem says, it made all the difference.
 
From Sioux City, Iowa, Bridget rolled on to Kansas City, Missouri, where she studied at Kansas City Art Institute, to Sonoma, California where she lived in a 1967 Yellow Stone Cavalier Trailer amongst vineyards with her husband and 3 dogs, to Truckee California and Lake Tahoe, then 5 weeks traveling around the US, 5 weeks in Ireland, Scotland and France, and finally settling in Asheville. Bridget has a wide cultural and geographic outlook!
 
Along the road, Bridget started with a paper route at 12, later owned a  floral design business, worked in the Fremont Diner, a well known roadside stop where she was photographed at the register for "O" The Oprah Magazine,  and Uncorked Wine Bar in Sonoma. Bridget was also a blacksmith and a welder, with an anvil tattoo to prove it, a private chef, with a chef's knife tattoo to prove it, ran spotlights for a theater, did her share of office cubicle work and had a shirt with her name on it at an auto shop.  All that adds up to a broad professional perspective as well.
 
Bridget has two other tattoos that define her, a mason jar representing her father's characterization that she had "champagne taste on a mason jar budget" and a shamrock behind her ear because she is Irish and because the tattoo guarantees she is always wearing something green on St. Patrick's Day!
 
Bridget says her desert island movie is "Stardust" because it is a funny, magical romance story. And to pair with it, Bridget's desert island wine is Bernard Gaucher Champagne because the wine is rich but lively and "reminds you of the fine things in life" (that would be before she ended up on the desert island!)
 
All of this brings us to the heart of the matter, why did Bridget, with her varied career, settle on wine?  She says "because wine tells an ancient story to which everyone can relate and, wine, all through time, has tied science and art together. But, mostly, the right wine makes your day just that much better." Gina
Wednesday, 15 November 2023 15:50

Remy

Saturday, 11 November 2023 09:08

5 Star Review for Andy!

andy new
We greatly enjoyed the wine education Andy gave us on the wines we were interested in. And we got some excellent tastes of a few wines from France. Great staff; very friendly folks with an excellent selection from vintners worldwide. Highly recommended. JB
vessels of merriment asheville nc

Vessels of Merriment is back for another round at Grovewood Gallery! Celebrating its 5th run, this invitational exhibition will feature handcrafted drinking vessels by 15 studio potters from around the country. All artwork will be for sale, making this exhibition the perfect opportunity for holiday gift buying. Many types of vessels will be featured in the exhibition, including flasks, goblets, whiskey cups, wine cups, and tumblers.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, November 11 from 2-5pm, where several participating artists will be in attendance. Vessels of Merriment will remain on view through December 31, 2023.

MetroWines will be pouring wines at the Reception on Saturday, November 11th from 2 to 5. Join us!

Saturday, 04 November 2023 14:15

"Bringing Home to Thanksgiving" Wine Tasting

thanksgiving
News Release: Saturday, November 4th,2023
About: Wine Tasting Hosted by Advintage Distribution @MetroWines
 
Please join us on Tuesday, November 21st from 4 to 6 @MetroWines on Charlotte Street for our "Bringing Home to Thanksgiving" Wine Tasting. The Tasting, hosted by Advintage Distribution, is "on the house" and "at the bar" with no reservations necessary.
 
These wines are a collaborative effort between Carolinian winemaker, Jamey Whetston, who was an accomplished winemaker at Turley, and Carolinian artist, John Duckworth, whose work is represented at the Asheville restuarant, Plant. Both believe that wine, much like art, is a product of time and place.
 
The wines come from California’s central coastline and are all fresh and delicious yet also soulful and complex. The labels are all watercolors of scenes set throughout the South Carolinian low-country at certain "times’ and ‘places".
 
Add all this local lore to the MetroWines Philosophy that wine is about food, family, friends and community and you have "Bringing Home to Thanksgiving." Elegant wines, beautiful labels, a local connection, a storied history and perfect to accompany that upcoming Thanksgiving feast.
 
What more could you ask?
****************************************************************************
Contact for MetroWines: Gina Trippi
Metro Wines Asheville
Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!
"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"
(828) 575-9525
News Release: Friday, November 3rd, 2023
About: Official MetroWines 2023 Thanksgiving Wines 
 
Join us for a two-day tasting of The Official MetroWines Thanksgiving Wines! Joseph Schwabauer, CSW, FSW, of Kellogg Selections, will be our host. 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. 
 
The first event, Friday, November 17th from 4 to 6pm @MetroWines will feature wines from Empire Estate.  The next day, Saturday, November 18th from 3 to 6pm, National Sales manager for Terre Rouge & Easton Wines, Les Doss, will pour five wines to taste. And you can taste wines with small bites that present all the Thanksgiving Flavors. Both tastings are "on the house" and "at the bar" with no reservations necessary.
 
Empire Estate:
"If you watched Billions, you saw Paul Giamotti with a bottle of Empire Estate Wine," says Gina Trippi, co-owner of MetroWines. "This time he likes the wine!" 
 Empire Estate Wine in Billions 1
Empire Estate sits in The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The region has a long history of grape-growing and winemaking, but its sparkling wine production in the late-1800s is what initially put the area on the world’s wine map. With vineyards planted on mineral-rich soils, on slopes that hug the glacially-carved lakes, and a cool climate similar to many of the finest Old World wine regions, the Finger Lakes is an ideal terroir for making world-class sparkling wines.
 

Empire Estate, Blanc de Blanc NV 

A shimmering silver-yellow color with a persistent mousse, on the nose this sparkling wine displays fruit tones of green apple, golden peach & baked lemon, notes of toasted brioche, and racy mineral aromas of gravel & limestone. Refined bubbles and a brisk acidity hit the palate, followed by flavors of lemon cream, orange blossom & stone fruit, all leading to a long, mineral finish. 

Empire Estate, Brut Rose NV 

A vibrant rose-pink color with a persistent mousse, on the nose this sparkling wine displays fruit tones of red cherry, raspberry, & baked lemon, notes of toasted brioche, and racy mineral aromas of gravel & limestone. Refined bubbles and a brisk acidity hit the palate, followed by flavors of strawberry & lemon cream, orange blossom & stone fruit, all leading to a long, mineral finish.

Empire Estate, Dry Riesling 2019 

"Empire Estate was created to showcase an incredible winemaking region that we New Yorkers have right in our own backyard: The Finger Lakes. We crafted this wine to express the dry style of this dynamic grape - Riesling doesn't always have to be sweet!" 
 
Meet the Founder of Empire Estate, Thomas Pastuszak, formerly Wine Director at NoMad Hotel in New York, via video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbA410A3vi0
Read More about Empire Estate here: http://www.empireestatewine.com
 
Terre Rouge & Easton
"Wine Enthusiast says Terre Rouge is one of the top 100 wineries in the World,"  says Gina Trippi. "The 2016 Ascent Syrah from Terre Rouge, winemaker Bill Easton, received 100 points from Wine Enthusiast!" 
 
Five wines will be presented by Les Dos, National Sales Manager for Terre Rouge & Easton Wines, Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 3, Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), Certified Sommelier (CS). He is a 25 year veteran of the restaurant industry. His titles include General Manager, Wine Director & Sommelier. He owned and operated his own restaurant for over a decade. Before joining Terre Rouge & Easton Wines he worked for several other wineries in Napa and Sonoma. But those of you who have been around Asheville for a while know Les as the former owner of "Usual Suspects" the present Avenue M on Merrimon!!
Les

Terre Rouge, Viognier Fiddletown 2021

Viognier is organically-grown on our Fiddletown estate in granitic soils. Zesty fresh, floral, and spicy aromatics with fruit notes that suggest classic white peach and apricot flavors. This will be a perfect glass pour wine with its lively flavors. Bottled with a screw-cap closure for easy accessibility.

Easton, Zinfandel Amador County 2016 

This hand-crafted wine is made from grapes harvested in California's famous Amador County, long renowned as one of the best places in the world for distinctive Zinfandel because of its old head-pruned vines, mountain soils, languid blue sky days, and cool summer nights. This Amador County bottling is luscious, fruity, and tinted for current enjoyment both at home and at your favorite restaurant.
 
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points
Smooth and creamy yet firm enough for good grip, this is a big but well-balanced wine that offers plenty of ripe berries and plums along with hints of black pepper and sage. Moderate tannins seem to build on the palate and add a good bite to the finish.
 
Wine Spectator, 90 Points
Vibrant and sleekly focused, with a lively core of acidity and tannins, layered with raspberry, stony mineral and white pepper flavors. Drink now through 2025.
 

Terre Rouge, Garrigue 2014 

Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points
This blend of two-thirds Syrah and one-third Cabernet Sauvignon is earthy, smoky and black peppery in a very good way, as it reveals funky nuances from the potent aromas through flavors that are also ripe and full of black-fruit notes, to the lingering spicy finish. There aren't many pure Syrahs from the Foothills as good as this blend. 
 

Terre Rouge, Syrah, 'Les Côtes de l'Ouest' 2017

This 2017 vintage has beautiful color with rich, silky, wild raspberry fruit flavors laced with pepper, sage, tar, and olive/herb tones. Aromas are raspberry, smoky, wild gamey, peppery, and cinnamon. The wine has a clean purity of Syrah fruit that is reminiscent of many St. Joseph’s and other Northern Rhone's. It has forward fruit flavors and great acid balance. It is very smooth and savory in the mouth.

Terre Rouge, Grenache, "L'Autre" 2014 

This 2014 is very elegant, complex, and lively. It shows Grenache savory plum and black cherry flavors, coupled with Mourvèdre’s smoky gaminess, and a bit of richness and punch from the Syrah component. This is a dead ringer for a top Southern Rhône,; say a Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Gigondas.
 
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points
A slightly tawny color and extra spicy, meaty aromas make this appetizing blend of 75% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre and 8% Syrah interesting to taste. It's medium-bodied, peppery and savory and is backed by moderate berry flavors.
 
Join us and set a memorable table, host a happy party and greet friends with good taste!
                      
****************************************************
Contact for MetroWines: Gina Trippi
Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!
"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"
(828) 575-9525
  
Page 5 of 17