Wine Celebrities in Asheville
Sunday, 30 July 2023 16:55
After we married and Sean had spent a number of years in the wine industry, we noticed that there was a gap in the market. We were yearning for wines that were easy to enjoy, highlighted the amazing fruit of California, and didn’t break the bank—so we made them.
We began by producing wines from premier appellations throughout California, sourced from vineyard sites strategically located near the cool, marine influences of the sun-filled California coast. With the help of a family friend and colleague, Will Bucklin, our initial production featured a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast Chardonnay, and Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc.
Fast forward to today our dedication to producing quality wines at an approachable price has remains. Since we don’t own vineyards, we work diligently with sustainable, experienced farms throughout California and Oregon. We’ve developed strong relationships with some of the best growers in the industry so that we can contract the finest fruit. Today, you can find our wines at restaurants and gourmet grocery stores in 49 states and, of course, here on our website. Our family and team have grown, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds."
Join Local Wine Clubs!
Sunday, 23 July 2023 11:14
Letter to the Editor – Wine Time? Shop Local!
Your Sunday, July 9 “Wine Time” article didn’t mention that Asheville has the absolute best wine clubs right here. There are at least three in town. Ours has all of the pros and none of the cons listed for the national clubs you mentioned. But your article missed one con we don’t have and two pros we do have. Con: all of these national clubs have expensive shipping fees. If they say there are no fees, trust me, it’s coming out of the quality of the wine. And the two pros: local clubs are a better value, and all of your club dollars stay in Asheville and support your community. So, consider the local clubs before sending your dollars out of town and NC.
John Kerr, co-owner, Metro Wines
Italian Wine Class
Monday, 17 July 2023 14:24
Materra Wine Tasting
Wednesday, 12 July 2023 15:25
Sommelier and wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman), a British expatriate living in Paris, is to increase his business. He concocts a plan to hold a blind taste-test intended to introduce Parisians to quality wines coming from elsewhere in the world. Spurrier travels to the not-yet-famous Napa Valley in search of contestants for his Judgment of Pairs taste test, where he meets vintner Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) of Chateau Montelena. Barrett wants no part in it, believing it to be a set-up designed by the French to humiliate New World wine producers. Barrett's son, Bo (Chris Pine), secretly passes Spurrier a couple of bottles of the Chateau's Chardonnay for the competition. Pretty and nonconformist university graduate student Sam Fulton (Rachel Taylor) arrives at Chateau Montelena seeking an internship, and is promptly put to work in the vineyards.
Sean Minor Wine Tasting
Monday, 10 July 2023 10:25
After we married and Sean had spent a number of years in the wine industry, we noticed that there was a gap in the market. We were yearning for wines that were easy to enjoy, highlighted the amazing fruit of California, and didn’t break the bank—so we made them.
Initially, our brand was called Four Bears and we love sharing the story behind the name. We have four children - three sons and a daughter. Early on, we would convene at the kitchen table to taste various lots of wine, play around with potential blends and talk about what we liked and didn’t like. At one point, our 4-year-old likened this practice to the idea that we were like Goldilocks searching for just the right bottle.
We began by producing wines from premier appellations throughout California, sourced from vineyard sites strategically located near the cool, marine influences of the sun-filled California coast. With the help of a family friend and colleague, Will Bucklin, our initial production featured a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast Chardonnay, and Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc.
Fast forward to today - our children have grown up, our business has evolved and our name has changed (we now go by Sean Minor Wines) but our dedication to producing quality wines at an approachable price has remained. Since we don’t own vineyards, we work diligently with sustainable, experienced farms throughout California and Oregon. We’ve developed strong relationships with some of the best growers in the industry so that we can contract the finest fruit. Today, you can find our wines at restaurants and gourmet grocery stores in 49 states and, of course, here on our website. Our family and team have grown, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds."
Support Wine Independence!
Monday, 03 July 2023 08:11
The Cecione family is one of only 3 families that were working the land when Chianti Classico became a designation! The winery is still worked by the family and with a mere 4 hectares dedicated to viticulture. Wine made from grapes grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides in the vineyard. Certified organic.
Truth be told, there is so much injustice in the world and, for most of it, we are helpless to fight back. But here, we have the power to show the "Consortium" that they are probably political, pointless and passé. Buy Cecione! Exercise the bang of your buck, literally.
The Language of Dreams
Sunday, 04 June 2023 18:19
News Release: June 4, 2023
About: Learning the Language of Your Dreams @MetroWines
“Dreams are pure nature,” says Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung. On Sunday, July 16th from 2-3:30 at Engaged in Reynolds Village, Tayria Ward, Ph.D, takes us through the beginnings of learning how to understand our dreams. "Nature is offering us this gift, let’s listen!" says Tayria.
Tayria tells us that dreams provide profound, practical, useful and healing insights, designed by the psyche to communicate what we need to know now. Learning the language of your dreams is a powerful tool not only for self-development and self-awareness, but for learning about the multi-layered world we live within. "I help individuals to learn this language and understand the value presented to them regularly in their nightly visions," says Tayria.
At this event, hosted by Metro Wines, Tayria will share a brief lecture offering insights into how to develop a relationship with your dreams, explaining why they are important, and giving a brief history of dreamwork. Bring your questions and bring your dreams, as the rest of the time will be spent interacting with those who attend.
About Tayria:
Tayria Ward has a Ph.D. in Depth Psychology. She lives in Asheville, NC, where she has a private practice offering dream analysis, psychological and spiritual mentorship to clients from all parts of the world. Tayria has worked intensively with her own dreams and those of others for nearly 50 years, and for nearly 30 years has been an avid student of indigenous ways of knowing and being. She conducts a monthly Global Community Dream Symposium wherein persons from all over the world come to share their dreams and listen to the collective dreaming mind. Tayria also teaches to a wide audience in regular interviews and lectures.
One of her major tools to restore and improve health psychologically, emotionally, physically, socially and environmentally is focusing upon the messages consistently coming through in dreams. "Dreams are the language of the soul," says Carl Jung. Tayria has also studied world religions for many years, worked intensively with shamans from Africa and a variety of other traditions, and studied the theories of Carl Jung including completing her doctorate in Depth Psychology. Tayria worked for many years in analysis of her own dreams with some of the finest Jungian analysts. She is uniquely qualified to assist persons on an in-depth spiritual and psychological quest. https://tayriaward.com
The event is $15 and includes a presentation on learning the language of dreams by Tayria Ward, questions and answers, and a glass of wine and light snacks. Reserve your seat by calling (828) 575-9525 or online here: https://metrowinesasheville.com/events.
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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
Low Alcohol Wines
Friday, 02 June 2023 10:03
Low Alcohol wines are becoming scarce. What’s up? The temperature! Scorching heat waves and other climate-driven calamities have ruined harvests in Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere. Parts of Bordeaux are burning, Chile continues to battle devastating wine country fires and it seems California fights fire in vineyards on a daily basis.
Red wines produced in Bordeaux, Tuscany, Piedmont and California had higher alcohol between 2010 and 2019 than registered in the 1990s. Climate change is the catalyst. Winemakers are trying to harness the alcohol through the timing of the harvest. The longer the grapes hang on the vines, the more intense the sugar and, hence, the alcohol level. But, winemakers explain, you cannot control the alcohol by simply picking grapes earlier. For example, if you harvest cabernet sauvignon grapes early to achieve a lower alcohol content, you risk producing a tart wine with heavier vegetal flavors such as green pepper.
ABV or ALC, indicates alcohol by volume. The amount of alcohol in a container is shown as a percentage of the overall volume of the drink. And don’t think you can lower the ABV by aging the bottle! ABV is not affected by age as the sugars have already converted to alcohol. But the taste of the alcohol may become smoother and more understated giving the impression that the volume has been reduced. The percentage of alcohol in a wine bottle is is posted on the label, usually marked ALC.
Wines with higher alcohol levels are rounder and richer in texture offering deeper and more concentrated flavors and often seem sweeter to the palate. Some wineries aim for this style as these higher alcohol wines tend to score higher points from the critics. That said, many wineries, particularly mass produced nationwide brands actually aim for this style! But if this is not the style you want, we can help!
Metro Wines has assembled a list of low alcohol wines and can direct you to bottles from around the world to meet your menu or event.
Alois Lageder Schiava is 11.5% alcohol. This bottle, due to its versatility and popularity has been a Thanksgiving tradition at Metro Wines. Schiava is a grape variety native to Trentino-Alto Adige, in northern Italy. Historically known for producing light-bodied and lighter-colored wines, the grape is light and tart with aromas of strawberry, raspberry, rose, lemon and smoke and boasts a spicy black pepper backbone that helps it pair nicely with heavier and spicier foods, even Thai Chili Basil!
Also from Alois Lageder is an organic Pinot Grigio at 12% alcohol. Brilliant straw yellow with a green shimmer in the glass. The nose is pronounced and expressive aromas with flowery and somewhat spicy notes. And the palate presents rich flavors with a slight smokiness and a strong, fresh finish.
An all around good choice for summer, low alcohol wines have a lower calorie count and tend to pair better with food!