Metro Wines Blog - Metro Wines Asheville

How to Research Your Roots

Saturday, 09 March 2024 08:52

Ciao Asheville Presents:

"Following the Footsteps: Discovering Your Ancestor's Homeland"

With Rhonda Roederer, Genealogist

Wednesday, April 10, 5:30pm at Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte Street

Join Ciao Asheville and Metro Wines as we team up with Rhonda Roederer, genealogist and founder of Heritage With Heart. Rhonda will take you on an inspiring journey as you learn to trace your lineage back to your ancestor's home. She’ll touch on how to navigate historical paths and uncover your family narrative so that you can experience the adventure of a lifetime by following in the footsteps of your ancestors and forging life-changing connections along the way.

Rhonda will discuss when and why the Italians immigrated to the US and how to locate key documents on finding your ancestor's Italian village of origin. You’ll learn how to use this information to plan a trip to Italy or your family’s homeland to discover your family’s roots and possibly meet distant family members. Rhonda will share key information to "know before you go". While she will focus on Italy and Germany for this presentation, the information Rhonda shares can apply to any ethnic travel!

$30 + tax. Includes a glass of red or white wine and snacks and DOOR PRIZES!

Seating Limited to 20. Click HERE or call Metro Wines at 828-575-9525.

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About Rhonda Roederer

Rhonda Roederer has been following her passion for family history for over 30 years, in particular, researching her German roots.

A Louisiana native, Rhonda now lives in North Carolina and is a full-time professional genealogist and educator. She is the Founder of Heritage With Heart and her experiences are diverse: uncovering family mysteries, writing heritage cookbooks, organizing large family events, and reuniting adoptees with their birth families.

As an educator, Rhonda has presented a wide array of seminars and workshops for numerous historical societies, conferences, libraries and on the international stage at the world’s largest genealogical conference, RootsTech.

Her approach is unique in that she shares her own case studies which take learners along her personal journeys of family discovery; while giving inspiration to search out their own lost or extended family.

Rhonda’s mission is to help bring families together, both physically and emotionally… one generation at a time.

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wine blog

Wilson Daniels Wine Tasting

Thursday, 07 March 2024 14:10

News Release: Thursday, March 7th, 2024

About: Wilson Daniels Wine Tasting

Please join us on Wednesday, March 27th from 4 to 6pm at Metro Wines on Charlotte Street to taste wines from Wilson Daniels. Our host will be Sommelier Nick Demos of Tryon Distribution. The event is "at the bar" and "on the house" with no reservations required.

We will be tasting:

Bisol Crede Prosecco DOCG 2022

Familia Torres Pazo Bruxas Albariño 2022

Peyrassol Commandeurs Rose 2022

Volpaia Chianti Classico 2021

Who is Wilson Daniels? "At Wilson Daniels, a thriving, family-oriented community is integral to how we do business, and has been for 40 years. We make decisions that promote the long-term health of our people, and our businesses. Above all, we promote a culture of balance, and collaborate within the industry to create more familial community. As industry leaders, we’re always trying to be better. It’s our responsibility to act in a way that inspires trust and confidence in our company and our prestigious portfolio.

Across select charities, we are very proud to support community initiatives and our employees work together to nominate appropriate charities and organizations to support. These funds are managed by employees who select and distribute donations on a local, regional and national level. Support to charitable efforts includes; Anne-Claude Leflaive Memorial Scholarship, 2020 Wilson Daniels Wine education Scholarship, Habitat for Humanity and The Wounded Warrior Project. Wilson Daniels also supports women in wine." See the list here: https://wilsondaniels.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Women_in_Wine_1-2024.pdf

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Contact for Metro Wines: Gina Trippi

Metro Wines Asheville

Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!

"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"

(828) 575-9525

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My Trip to Madrid: Following Eric Asimov's Wine Trail.

Friday, 01 March 2024 11:40

My trip to Madrid?

Let me start with a few general comments before we get to the point which is a follow up to the article written by Eric Asimov for "The New York Times titled "Madrid's Relaxed Spots for Great Wine." To put it concisely, Madrid is an architecturally beautiful and significant city that is sophisticated, clean and safe. And while the effect of Franco is still in the air, the sense of community in this 3 million plus city is palpable. More on the city later but know this: Madrid is my kind of town: 1700 taxis, museums and artichokes on every menu!

First, no, I did not visit a winery.

Yes, I did see "The Head of the Dog" by Goya at The Prado. Exceeded expectations. The painting encompasses every emotion and every existential (and I mean the word "existential" a la Sartre and not as a word to indicate "existing" or "extant" as the news media and numerous elected officials use it) thought about life and living. And while you may see this painting occasionally called "The Drowning Dog," this is just plain wrong. This title is an invention of some well meaning, I am sure, art historians. But Goya never intended for this and the other so-called Black Paintings to be seen by the public and, hence, never named these works on his walls. It is not at all clear that the dog is in water nor that he is drowning or decendeding as opposed to ascending. He could be, as a friend said, behind the sofa! BTW, this work confirms that depression became Goya.

And now...

Dear Eric,

You nailed it. I must admit that I doubted your assessment of the wine bars in Madrid but you nailed it. Truth be told, I thought you might be wired too tightly to "feel" and not just taste. I thought you might assess these establishments against an unfair rigid set of standards. But I was wrong. And I don't know if it was your article that coalesced the wine establishment owners you featured or just that great minds think alike, but all of the owners know each other by name and association.

Please know that I am aware that Madrid is a European capital and, accordingly, must offer wines that international government officials, tourists as well as their own residents desire. And I do understand that as Americans, it is reasonable to expect and, perhaps experience supports, might first be offered French Wine. But all that said, and balancing it with the fact that Spain has the lowest per capita wine consumption of any country in Europe, we found.....

You did not mention it, but we noticed a bit of sadness in the air when talk turned to Spanish wine. Some Madrileños have never developed or gained the respect Spanish wine so richly deserves. The future? We were told that the young people in Madrid have turned to beer! And several owners told us that the marketing of Spanish wine has been sluggish. The French and Italians are everywhere! There are many French wines on every list. And at more than one place, when we asked for wine, the first question back was: "French?" With some force, we said "No, Spanish!" I began to feel like I was fighting with them for them, for Spanish wine! You could say "when in Madrid, do as the Madrileños do but they might be doing French!

I don't know who is responsible, some wine organization, the government, whoever, but someone needs to figure out why Spain, or at least Madrid, does not fully appreciate the home team and, externally, tell the world that wines from Spain are extraordinary. Eric, you could get to the bottom of this dilemma! I told all the owners I met that I am now on a mission to promote Spanish wine. I am starting with you, Eric. Shake them up, Eric, drag them kicking and screaming. if necessary, into the often dirty but sadly necessary world of self promotion.

Your list.....

We started at Berria across from The Prado in Retiro. You described Berria as a sleek, handsome wine bar with stylized dishes and excellent bottles in every price range. True that. Berria also has an e-wine list with pictures and descriptions of their bottles. Way cool. (We, of course, took the name of the software company.) Berria was inescapably appealing but what was really impressive was the young woman sommelier. No letters behind her name. No classes. No BS. She said she was self taught via books and videos. Her knowledge was amazing and her appreciation of their wines made us appreciate the wine! One of those wines was a Chenin Blanc and Macabeo blend. Here, I will break to say that Chenin Blanc is blended quite freely with an array of other varietals -all, we found, to great results.

Next we visited La Fisna in Barrio Lavapies. You said this tiny rustic bar and bottle shop is a great place for food and wine. Agreed. You also said that Berria was a "hyperdesigned version of La Fisna." With all due respect, I totally disagree. This is an example of the "feel" not just the look or the taste. The two bars are wine worlds apart. La Fisna is a comfortable, almost neighborhood bar along a narrow medieval street that surrounds you in warm colors, brick walls, original doors, wafts of perfectly prepared food and history. Berria is new and sleek, lots of glass and tables and wine tech, an ad for Architectural Digest, that sits at a bustling traffic circle. That location is not a bad thing, just different. With the exception of extraordinary wine and food and a woman serving as sommelier, these two bars have nothing in common.

At La Fisna, we were welcomed by a young woman sommelier who was also "self taught." She introduced us to a Mencia Rosé. Lovely. And another Chenin Blanc blend. This time with Xarel·lo. We got to talking (Eric, if you knew me, you would know this happens) and she invited us to see the store room with their collection of wines. Wow. And then we got to talking to the owner, Delia. She has a degree in Business Administration and had been working in an office, but her passion was wine and, accordingly, she started the bar. I asked Delia about your visit. She said that she did not know it was you at the time. But one of your staff told Delia to remember your face because you were, essentially, the man with regard to wine. We invited Delia to visit us in North Carolina. She might. Imagine the wine tasting we will have then! Of course, "at the bar" and "on the house!"

In between following in your footsteps, we had lunch at El Jardín de Arzábal at the Reina Sofia Museum, where we had a Godello. We found Godello to be very popular rivaling Albariño for versatility and broad appeal. I can tell you it was a great pairing to artichokes and monkfish!

Cuenllas was next in Barrio Argüelles. The establishment opened, as you said, in 1939 as a delicatessen and gradually became a bar and restaurant. The staff wears starched white jackets, as you also noted, and oversees an international wine list. Cuenllas also has a stash of very hard to find wines and a collection of aged to perfection bottles served by the glass! We shared a 1983 Rioja! Who does that? The owner here, Fernando, studied at University of Kentucky, took over the business from his mother, is a friend of Delia (La Fisna) and knows Eric Solomon. He says he worries about bars like Berria that focus on wine with the young Madrid residents turning to beer. Eric, do something!

Note: We intended to bar hop and visit all nine of your recommendations but once we landed in one, any one! we just could not leave.

La Venencia, the Spanish Civil War era bar that has not been updated since that time, was next. So here, let me tell you how we fit our oh so American lifestyle into the manaña timetable and, also, try to avoid, tempting as it was, eating our way through Madrid. We would have breakfast about 7:30, then lunch about 3, then sherry, then check in on the news then down for the day. So when it was about sherry time, we set out for La Venencia. You said, as a holdover from civil war protocol, that there were to be no photos and no por favors. There was also no way in the door! People were taking photos outside, of course, and inside, they were packed tighter than a tin of sardines in Spanish olive oil. The crowd seemed to be mostly men, loud, sweaty men. Bottom line: no photos, no por favors and no sherry. We went back to the bar at our hotel and had margaritas rimmed in chocolate with James Brown blaring. Eric, I can highly recommend it! (The popularity of La Venencia at that moment in time may have been driven by the farmer's strikes in Madrid.)

We resumed the wine trail the next day after seeing "Monet in Giverny" at CentroCentro at Vinoteca García de la Navarra just around the corner in Retiro. You said this was a pleasant place with a long and deep wine list. Navarra also had a magnum of Juan Gil Silver Label on the bar. Yeah, we got that @MetroWines. This was the place that I discovered artichokes being all they could be. OMG. Underrated, underserved and under radar in the US. Here, we had a white blend of Albariño, Godello and Loureiro. I will say, Eric, I did not see Verdejo on many lists, nor, much to my great regret, was it recommended. Given the obvious commitment of Madrid to Juan Gil, they must have had a bottle of Shaya somewhere!

And then there was Ganz Wine Bar in Las Letras, the Barrio where Cervantes is buried. You said: "This comfortable, stylish neighborhood spot is a great source for beautifully chosen bottles at great prices." Indeed it was, but it was so much more. We told our server, Ludovic, that we are in the wine business and wanted something special, Spanish and different. He brought us four bottles from which to choose. The last bottle of the Albariño made "the traditional way" was the winner.

The diner at the next table said "good choice." As you might expect, we got to talking. Turns out he, Daniel, is a wine importer from Valencia. He also is worried about the turn to beer in Spain. He imports some Italian wine and had just met with Paitin! Eric, we love Paitin @MetroWines. Anyway, we sent Daniel a glass of our Albariño and before he left for his train to Seville for a trade show, he sent us a bottle of one of his wines from the Ganz collection, a young Palomino, the Fino Sherry grape. This style seems to be becoming popular in Madrid as we were served different versions more than once. And, indeed, this is an excellent solution to enjoying the sherry flavor with seafood, avoiding the increased alcohol in Sherry, and still being able to drive home! MetroWines customers can find one of these bottles on our shelves!

The last night, we got to talking to the couple seated next to us. Turns out their son is the sous chef at Frasca, Bobby Stuckey's restaurant in Denver. I think we had yet another Godello!

The wine world is small.

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The True Health Benefits Of Red Wine: Myth Vs. Reality

Friday, 01 March 2024 09:56

Red wine, with its rich and bold taste, offers a symphony of flavors that tantalize the palate and evoke a sensorial journey.

At first sip, one is greeted with a deep complexity that dances across the tongue. The robust notes of dark fruits such as blackberries, plums, and cherries unfold, painting the palate with a luscious sweetness tempered by a subtle hint of tartness. This fruity foundation is often complemented by earthy undertones reminiscent of leather, tobacco, or cedar, adding layers of depth to the wine's character.

Sunday Wine Tasting

Tuesday, 27 February 2024 19:39

News Release: Tuesday, February 27th, 2024

About: Sunday Wine Tasting

Join us on Sunday, March 10th from 2-4pm at MetroWines on Charlotte Street to taste 2 Spanish Wines, a red and a white Rioja, with Tom Leiner of Orsini Wines. The event is "on the house" and "at the bar."

"We continue our pop up Sunday Wine Tasting," says Gina Trippi, co-owner of Metro Wines. "Bringing you something to do between brunch and Sunday Night TV!"

Who is Orsini Wines?

"At Orsini Wines, we are passionate about providing the best imported and domestic wines. Our carefully selected wines reflect the values of our company: tradition and authenticity. Our team is dedicated to preserving and promoting these values in every bottle we distribute. We strive to be the premier wholesale distributor of exceptional wines."

Wine Enthusiast Magazine
“Orsini Wines is a go-to for wine enthusiasts. Their selection is vast and their quality is unmatched. They are a top wholesale distributor in the industry.”

Artuke Rioja 2022

Two maverick winemakers do a modern take on Tempranillo. A strong cherry-red accented by purple in the glass with floral accents and berry undertones on the nose and palate. Bright and clean thanks to Carbonic maceration turns this wine on bright and clean!

"In 1991, after years of working their family-owned vineyards and caring for the vines, Miguel Blanco, with his wife Conchi, followed their passion and began to bottle their own wine. Over the years, their sons, Arturo and Kike, have become involved, taking on much of the Winery’s responsibilities. “Artuke” is a blended version of the brothers’ names.

Following their belief in what their land can do, and knowing the quality of their fruit, the family has eschewed the Rioja classification system. This was a difficult decision, but they wanted to follow a more self-determining progression in elaborating the wine, rather than confine themselves to the timing and barrel aging regulations which would allow them DO Rioja status. In their minds this was a risk, but it was more important for them to express the fruit’s purity."

La Perla White Rioja 2021

VARIETAL: 92% Viura, 8% Malvasia. 40+ year old vines dry farmed. TASTING NOTES: A fresh white wine that is clean and citrusy, with a nose of stone fruit and green apple. Enjoy as aperitif or paired with grilled chicken, salads and pasta dishes.

"Our goal is to produce wines that respect tradition and the environment. The farming is organic

and the rows are grassed over. We encourage biodiversity and the dynamic it brings to the viticulture. Our vineyards are located in and around Fuenmayor, in the heart of Rioja Alta. The mountains and continental climate offer perfect conditions for Tempranillo. The altitude of the vineyards is higher than in most of Rioja, resulting in wines with good freshness."

The grapes are carefully hand harvested and the winery, spontaneous fermentation takes place with the native yeasts. No winemaking additives are used and the wines are very minimally fined or filtered. The resulting wines are traditional in style, with great balance. The concentration of the fruit comes from the hard work in and great care of the vineyards. Javier Pérez Ruiz de Vergara-Winemaker."

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Gina Trippi: Contact for Metro Wines

Metro Wines Asheville

Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!

"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"

(828) 575-9525

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Wine Club @MetroWines

Monday, 26 February 2024 14:44

Why our wine club is better than the national clubs.
Is it true? I’m sure you’ve seen the blitz ad campaigns in the Citizen Times, NYT and WSJ. In ¼ to full page ads, you’re offered something special. Something unique. A national wine club selling you something few can. Clean, quality, hard to find wines with no or little additives. And to ease you in, some will give you $100 to try them. I’m sorry to tell you that they’re not giving you the full story. To guide you through this thicket, we’ve devoted our entire newsletter to this one topic. By the end, I think you’ll see why the average member drops their national wine club after 1.5 to 2 years. But most of our club members have continued to stay with us over the last decade. Topic by topic here’s how our wine club compares to the national ones.

Better Value. Right out of the gate, you’re saving about $3 a bottle at Metro. Wine bottles are heavy which makes them expensive to ship. When they tell you it’s free shipping, don’t believe them. You still pay that cost and it’s taken out of the quality of the wine. Metro’s club is always priced at a discount so that the box price is competitive with the average Internet price. And you get further value when we find a great wine at a great price. When we do, you get wines that would normally cost you up to twice as much. Speaking of shipping, don’t forget an adult will need to be home for the day. You’ll have to wait there to sign for your shipment. At Metro, you can pick up at any time we’re open. And we’re open 7 days a week.

Real Wineries! Many nationals tell you their wines are limited or exclusive. Wines you’ll never see in a shop like Metro. And they are partly right – you’ll never see these wines at Metro. That’s because many buy bulk wines. The clubs then slap on their own label. We encourage you - Google these wineries. Virtually none can be found on the Internet. And how exclusive are these wines if they are sold nationally to anyone who joins their club? Metro fills your club box with real wines made at real wineries. They tend to be small wineries, many from family operations that have tilled the land for generations. These are vintners who use no or little additives and take pride in the care of their wine and land. When you buy from Metro, you support these families. And don’t forget. If a national club is not selling you bulk wine, chances are that Metro can get their “exclusive” wine for you too.

Better selection. Besides low quality, the biggest complaint we hear about national clubs is the small selection. Once they’ve shipped you everything they offer, they begin the cycle again with the same wines. And with bulk wines, the nationals can change the labels. But it’s still the same bulk wine in the bottle. Our club offers you all the wines available to Metro from around the world. Importers are constantly adding new wines to their portfolios in a battle for quality. We in turn offer them to you in our club.

You choose the style of wine and price you pay. Metro is competitive with national clubs by offering you the style of wine you like. Just tell us if you prefer a smoother fruit-driven domestic style or a more savory, structured Euro style. That begins your adventure! We select the wines for you. You’ll try grapes you know and those you don’t all in the style you want. In our traditional clubs, you’ll also receive notes describing the wine and pairing suggestions.

Unlike the national clubs, Metro offers you a custom club. You design the club to receive a very specific type of wine as well as decide the number of bottles, the frequency, and the price. Let’s say you want three bottles of Italian Chardonnay each month at $70. Or perhaps a case of rose for $220. We’ll set that up for you. You get the same service as the traditional club except we do not include the notes and pairing suggestions.

Wine Club Details: If you are interested in joining the club, please give us a call at 828-575-9525. Anyone can answer questions. Julie manages your club. She will sign you up and build your box each month. We’ll ask for your wine preferences, put your card information in our encrypted system. After that, your wine club box will be ready on the 1^st or 15^th of each month. Drop by at your convenience to pick it up. Here’s the details:

Tuesday Night Wine Club: Please tell us whether you want red or white wine in either domestic or Euro style. You will receive either 6 bottles of white or 6 reds. You can receive both white and red if you opt for 12 bottles, 6 bottles of each. Your box will be ready on the 15^th of each month (or the frequency you select).
6 bottles for $85 or 12 bottles for $170

Saturday Night Wine Club: Please tell us whether you want red or white wine in either domestic or Euro style. You will receive either 6 bottles of white or 6 reds. You can receive both white and red if you opt for 12 bottles, 6 bottles of each. Your box will be ready on the 1st of each month (or the frequency you select).
6 bottles for $121 or 12 bottles for $242

Custom Club: You tell us the style, price and number of bottles. Your box will be ready on the 15^th of each month (or frequency you select).

Call Julie at (828) 575-9525!

French Wine 7 Dinner at Table!

Saturday, 10 February 2024 14:34

Thursday March 7, 2024, 6:30pm
Only 12 guests!
$145 per person, including tax and gratuity.

Reservation: Text 984-312-5315
Further details including Cancelation Policy and Payment process, go here: https://contrasttours.com/dinners/
Wines will be available for purchase at great pricing from Metro Wines.

Please note:
* Given the farm to table nature of the restaurant, some minor changes may occur to the food menu.
* Chef inspired Vegetarian option available upon request.

MENU:
* 6 NEW BRUNSWICK OYSTERS  Heidi's Bread, House Cultured Butter.

DENIS VERVIER POUILLY-FUISSÉ CLIMATE LAMURE, 2019
100% Chardonnay

CHATEAU FARLURET, BARSAC-SAUTERNES, 2016
90% Sémillon, 10% Sauvignon Blanc

Two rather upscale pairing with these oysters, the Pouilly Fuissé is a very delicate Burgundy wine from one of the finest plots in the appellation, in one of the top climates (appellation with particular merit within the appellation). A delicate minerality and notes of apricots. This Sauternes with oysters is one of my favorite pairings, marrying the saltiness of the oyster with the relative sweetness of the wine, they cancel each other, letting the palate enjoy a more flavorful oyster magnified with a firework of savors from the Sauternes.

* WOOD ROASTED PORK  Heirloom Grits, Early Spring Vegetables

DOMAINE RICHEAUME, TRADITION 2018, Red, Biodynamic
Syrah 47%, Grenache 43%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

PATRICK GALANT, CAIRANNE OLD VINES 2016 and 2017
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah. 12 months in small oak casts

The Domaine Richeaume Tradition is a fleshy and fresh, wine from Provence, exhibiting definite savors of plum and black currant. The Cairanne Old Vines, has velvety tannins infused with violet savors, leather, garrigue spices. Both will enchant your palate with this dish.

* BLACK FOREST CAKE Cocoa-Cherry Frosting, Amarena Cherries

CORINNE DEPEYRE AMITIÉ 2015, Organic
100% Late Harvest Grenache Rouge

This wine is amazingly unique, it evokes Banyuls, but in a substantially drier and fresher variation, loaded with cherry savors, a wine made for chocolate pairing, especially a Black Forest of this magnitude.

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Cyprus Wine Tasting!

Friday, 09 February 2024 14:25

News Release: Friday, February 9th, 2024

About: Cyprus Wine Tasting: Tsiakkas Winery

Step outside of your wine comfort zone and join us @MetroWines, 169 Charlotte Street in Asheville, on March 15th from 4-6 to taste wine from Cyprus! Josh Austin of Freedom Distribution will present wines from the Tsiakkas Winery including Xynisteri White, Mouklos Dry Red and Keo St. John Commandaria dessert wine. The tasting is "at the bar" and "on the house" with NO reservations necessary.

The Winery:

Pitsilia is a mountainous region of rocky land at the heart of Cyprus, covered with steep slopes and centuries-old stone terraces. Although remote, the community is rich in culture and history: distinct architecture and landscaping, Byzantine monuments, countless nature parks, a traditional cuisine and warm hospitality.

Dotted around the region are our nine vineyards, covering approximately 20 hectares of land; half privately-owned and half through dedicated partners. The core of the vineyards is situated around Pelendri and Agros between 700 and 1440 meters, where the temperate climate and demanding terrain have guided us in forming some spectacular landscapes.

The region boasts some of the highest altitude vineyards in all of Europe. It’s not just bragging rights though, the temperate climate of the region is key to the production of quality wine in Cyprus. We have an average of 7°C difference compared to the coast, as well as four distinct seasons rather than the infamous eight-month Cypriot summer. This allows for the slow ripening of grapes, providing expressive fruit aromas and bright acidity in the final wine.

While exploring the region, you can’t help but notice the stone terraces that score the landscape – even deep inside the pine forest. The slopes make conventional agriculture near impossible, but by carving out the land, locals have been able to make it accessible to farming, while respecting and promoting biodiversity. Still, the narrow paths forbid mechanical management so each and every vineyard is cared for and harvested by hand.

Our vineyards are located in the Troodos ophiolite, a layered geological structure raised through the ocean floor as a result of complex plate tectonic movements. The Troodos ophiolite is unique in the world for both its completeness, as well as its complete exposure at today’s surface. This means that the vines are growing on geology that is normally found kilometres deep under the Earth’s surface.

History of WineMaking in Cyprus from Wine Searcher:

The Cypriot wine industry was at its zenith during the Middle Ages and has seen a consistent, gradual decline over the intervening centuries. The island's location once made it a useful port of call on voyages from Greece and Italy to Egypt and the Levant. Cyprus was of great use to medieval merchants and traders. Not only did the island's wine find markets abroad, most notably in southern Europe, but the ships which exported the wines provided a market in their own right.

The downside was that Cyprus was useful not just as a trading post. It was also desirable as a strategic military stronghold. Over the millennia Greeks, Romans, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians and Venetians ruled the island. Later both the Ottoman and British empires added Cyprus to their conquered lands. Several hundred years later, Madeira served merchants and armies in the eastern Atlantic in a similar way.

Commandaria and Cyprus Sherry
When the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem arrived on Cyprus in the late 13th Century, fleeing defeat in the Holy Lands, Cyprus's vinicultural history began in earnest. The knights arranged their land ownership according to strict social hierarchies, the top level of which were the commanderies. The Grand Commandery was the collective property of the knights themselves, and this was where the majority of medieval Cypriot vineyards were located. From this tranche of history, Commandaria dessert wine derives its name.

The arrival of Islamic rule with the Ottoman invaders in the late 16th Century slowed Cyprus's wine production almost to a halt. This lasted until the British Empire took control of the island in the 1870s. The British began to replant the once-prolific vineyards to produce fortified wines known as Cyprus Sherry (sherry was not then a protected name of origin).

Phylloxera-free
The phylloxera louse which was decimating vineyards in mainland Europe at that time fortunately never made it to Cyprus. Even today the vines here grow on their own original rootstocks. The fear of inadvertently introducing phylloxera to the island delayed Cyprus's experimentation with the "international" varieties as they swept around the globe.

The world of wine is constantly expanding. Ancient grapes are coming into the market. Discover these treasures!

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

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