RESERVATIONS HERE! 

News Release: Thursday, April 5th, 2018

Chris Curtis of Country Vintner will host the July gathering of The Asheville Wine Focus Group.

The Country Vintner has served North Carolina as an importer and wholesaler of fine wines since 1995.  Our portfolio is incredibly diverse and dynamic, featuring classic iconic wineries and exciting new brands from around the world. 

We serve restaurants and retailers across the entire state from the coastline of the Outer Banks to the mountains of Asheville.  All of our wines are received into our temperature-controlled distribution center on refrigerated containers and are delivered to our customers on refrigerated trucks.

If you shop @MetroWines, you are familiar with Country Vintner Wines including Secateurs, RAATS, DMZ just to name a few!

You must reserve a seat. Please call (828) 575-9525.

WINNERS!

Carpinus Takaji Furmint       

The name of the winery, Carpinus (Latin for hornbeam, the English translation of the Hungarian name), is after Gyertyános, our largest current vineyard. It is the goal for Carpinus Winery to be an example of a Tokaj winery that with top quality work and family cooperation, without compromise, can run sustainably and build a stable position in the world wine market. Continuing local values established by families from the wine region is of particular importance. The vineyards are located in the Tokaj Wine Region. The vineyards are classed first and second growths according to the historical classifications.

They also grow Hárslevelű, Sárga Muskotály and Sauvignon Blanc. The expectations of Carpinus are that by making the very best wine possible, they can present the natural assets and varieties of the varied terroirs of Tokaj Wine Region. They strive to cultivate the crop with environmentally friendly practices. The individual attributes of the vineyards (soils, aspect, microclimate) are expressed through the single-vineyard wines. The wines are characteristically fresh, elegant and harmonious, and to be enjoyed.

• 100% Furmint

• Sustainably Farmed

• All stainless steel fermentation

• Vines planted 1985-1990

Participant Comments:

* "Fresh. I like the lemony taste."

* "Could be used as an aperitif."

* 11% alcohol means you could drink the entire bottle!"

" Dry Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc drinkers would like this wine."

CELLER el MASROIG

Celler el Masroig is situated in the southern part of Montsant, bordering on Priorat. It was founded in 1917 as the Cooperativa of El Masroig. It is an association of grape and olive oil producers with approximately 300 members who are associated owners of the company. In the early years of the Cooperativa, the focus was on producing quantities of wine rather than quality wine. They produced wines with high alcohol content and very deep color that were sold to the domestic market and often used to “improve” other wines. Then followed a period in which the major products were mistelas, fortified wines.

Today, the Cooperativa’s members own almost 500 hectares of vineyards. The winery uses two main methods of vinification: Traditional fermentations begin when bunches are destemmed at the winery. Alternatively, bunches may be kept in tanks to permit them to undergo carbonic maceration before pressing and a low-temperature fermentation.

Despite its eighty years heritage, the Cooperativa el Masroig continually strives to improve methods of production and the quality of the wines, while maintaining and enhancing their traditional identity.

2013 Celler el Masroig Pinyeres           

• 50% Garnacha, 40% Carignan, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Fully destemmed, fermented with native yeasts

• 12 months in neutral oak barrels

Participant Comments:

* "Low tannins make this wine totally quaffable!"

* "Great nose with a good cherry taste."

* "Drinks way better than the price."

First, BRAVO and THANK YOU to our January Asheville Wine Focus Group! The group really GOT IT! They played wine shop owners for the night and they made decisions. In the end, the group almost unanimously liked one of the whites and one of the reds best of the four we tasted. The winners for the evening were a white blend from New Zealand called "Hunky Dory Tangle" and "Broadside Cabernet Sauvignon" from Paso Robles. Thanks to our astute group, you will see both on shelf @MetroWines!

The group of 10 was tough but fair. They were asked to say whether they liked the wine, whether we should we offer it in the shop, and what the bottle should cost. The group also offered their opinion on whether they liked it, thought others would like it, thought it best for a party, with food or alone. They also focused on the quality to price ratio. The group was working!

"Hunky Dory Tangle" is a blend of 10% Riesling, 55% Pinot Gris and 35% Gewurztraminer. The winery says the wine presents honeysuckle, jasmine, quince, lime and lemon on the nose with ripe apple, lychee and mandarin flavors on the palate. What the group liked about "Hunky Dory Tangle" is that it presented as a wine everyone could like. Whether you enjoy Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, you could find something to like in "Hunky Dory Tangle" served with or without food.

Broadside is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 14 months in neutral French and American Oak Barrels. The group found that this Cabernet was lighter and more complex than many of the Cabernets coming out of California which they thought to be too big and bold. Broadside, they said, would stand up to heavy flavors but at the same time would not overwhelm food and, could, unlike many other west coast Cabernets, be enjoyed without food.

Broadside says: 

Broadside produces wines focused on purity and true varietal expression. Our winemaking favors a natural approach in that our wines are minimally handled to best express the grape, site, and vintage. The 2015 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a vintage marked by frost, wind, drought, and the resulting record low yields from our vineyards. So low, in fact, that we elected to use all of the fruit originally intended for our vineyard designate and Ephemera bottlings in this 2015 Paso Robles Cabernet. Low yields of flavorful fruit, produced a serious, concentrated, yet still elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh boysenberry, peppercorn, and sweet tobacco notes highlight ample fruit in the nose, complemented by subtle notes of toasty oak vanillin and cigar box. Cassis, green olive, and fresh berry acidity greet the palate with an underlying current of fine tannin, coalescing in a dry, persistent finish.

The Asheville Wine Focus Group meets the first Wednesday of every month. Seating is limited to 10. If you want to join us, call (828) 575-9525 as soon as possible! There is no charge. We value your opinion.

Mike Tiano of Haw River Wine Man will host in March.

AN ORGANICALLY GROWN COMPANY, IMPORTING,

DISTRIBUTING AND DEMOCRATIZING WINE SINCE 1995.

Rise Over Run (https://www.riseoverrunwine.com/) hosts The Asheville Wine Fcous Group on February 7th.

Rise Over Run is an anthology of singular wines from steep and often challenging sites, and the dedicated families who farm them. Even down to our name, the inception of Rise Over Run emanated from our mutual passion and respect for challenging viticultural microclimates, often individuated by vertical, rocky slopes where little else can thrive. Many are viticultural marvels, and the finished wines are expressions that could not be recreated elsewhere. Our book is a compilation of these wines that have stories to tell, and we are excited to be the ones doing so.

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News Release: Wednesday, January 2nd, 2018

Our FIRST gathering of Asheville Wine Focus Group will be hosted by Advintage Distribution! Details TBA.