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A Wine Tour of Asheville

Although Asheville, NC was named "Beer City USA", it should also be known that this eclectic southern town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers a great variety of wine shops and bars. The wine scene is growing in popularity for those who desire the nectar of the grapes. While in town you can plan an afternoon of wine tasting and/or purchase a bottle to take home and enjoy. Should you find yourself in a more festive and social mood you may choose to attend one of the many wine tastings and dinners around town. Whether visiting or living in Asheville be sure to visit these stores or their websites for current ongoing and upcoming events.

Wine Bars

If you are near downtown that is always alive and vibrant with street performers and many local chefs owned operated restaurants you will find many options to stop and enjoy a glass of your favorite wine. If you would like to unwind with a book and a glass of wine, stop in at The Battery Park Book Exchange (http://www.batteryparkbookexchange.com/).

Within the walls of this charming place you can purchase a book or just browse through the many selections while enjoying a glass of wine perhaps paired with one of the appetizers available. You may also sell or exchange books for your reading pleasure. After all Asheville is known for its allure to many past and present authors and if you are an aspiring writer or just want to get lost in a favorite book, you may find this place to be an inspiration. Thomas Wolfe actually stayed in the same building as this wine bar known as the Battery Park Hotel. After your glass of wine you may also enjoy a tour of his boyhood home downtown or visit his and William Sydney Porters (O.Henry) grave sites in the Riverside Cemetery nearby. F. Scott Fitzgerald spent many a day in this town writing and relaxing and don't be surprised if you see Charles Frazier (Cold Mountain) sitting at one of the local establishments as he sometimes calls Asheville home.

Across the street on the corner of Battle Square and Page Avenue, you will find the Sante Wine Bar (http://www.santewinebar.com), a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Weather permitting you will see many sitting outside on their sidewalk tables enjoying their favorite glass of wine. If you venture inside you are greeted with low light and couches and chairs intentionally grouped for conversation. Or you may choose to just sit at the bar and converse or sit silently and enjoy. No matter what, you will find this place in the corner of the restored Grove Arcade Building alluring and restful.

If you enjoy your wine while people watching and taking in all the sights, then you will enjoy a stop at The Flying Frog Café (http://www.flyingfrogcafe.com/). Here they not only have a great selection of wines but also offer many delicious Indian, American and German foods to pair with your choice. While having a full service restaurant downstairs, the upstairs bar is known for being a wine bar in a perfect location in the Haywood Park Hotel building for experiencing downtown Asheville.

Another local favorite is Zambra Wine and Tapas (http://www.zambratapas.com/). Here you can also enjoy tapas to accompany your wine. For your entertainment on select nights you may also enjoy belly dancers tableside to add to your evening. It is hard to miss their vibrant colored sign on Walnut Street as you wander around town.

Heading on down Walnut Street you will find 5 Walnut ( http://5walnut.com/). Here while enjoying your wine take time to admire the furnishings that were all made by local craftsmen including the cocktail tables that were made from salvaged wood. The wall has a painted mural by a local artist and the bartender of 5Walnut proudly displays some of her art work at their gallerly located next door to the wine bar.

It has been said and holds true here in Asheville that chocolate and wine do go well together. If you like both and are having trouble choosing you will surely want to visit French Broad Chocolate Lounge (http://frenchbroadchocolates.com/chocolate-lounge-main/). Inside this festive and often crowded lounge you may indulge in both. Many nights you will also find an enjoyable evening of live relaxing music.

Wine Shops

If you are one to enjoy the local downtown scene but prefer to take your wine back to enjoy at home or your local accommodations then Asheville also has a couple of great wine shops downtown. Proudly being the oldest wine store in Asheville the Wein Haus (http://weinhaus.com/) is a must see. This amazing store has been in Asheville since 1977 and is still thriving today. If you don't see what you want on the shelves and have time to wait they will be glad to order it for you although I bet you find it difficult to leave here empty handed.

A few more blocks away within walking distance you will find The Asheville Wine Market (http://www.ashevillewine.com/). Their great selection of libations will keep your eyes wandering and your mouth watering to tast a few of the varieties. Wine tastings are held here each Saturday afternoon from 1-4.

Heading out of downtown a short distance you will find a few more wine shops and bars to add to your adventure. Opened in 1999 and now offering two locations for your convenience The Wine Guy (http://www.theashevillewineguy.com/ ) is sure to carry your favorite bottle of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. Free wine tastings are available for you to enjoy on Saturdays from 2 – 5 in the North Asheville location.

Also located in North Asheville on Charlotte Street you may encounter “Girls on Grapes” a group of women who meet for monthly wine tastings. The Wine Studio of Asheville (http://winestudioasheville.com/) offers over 500 different wines and is proud to offer at least 200 of them for less than $12 a bottle.

Heading north on Merrimon Avenue, you will find Vino Vino (http://vinovinowines.com/). This exciting addition to the area is owned and operated by the owners of Stoney Knob Café, one of the local restaurants. Wine tastings are held each Saturday from 12-5. If you dine at their restaurant and save your receipt you get 15% off of your purchase.

Heading back south to the other side of downtown you find 6,400 square feet of wine selections at Appalachian Vintner ( http://www.appalachianvintner.com/). The walls are adorned with works of local artist. This wine shop owned and operated by two brothers who share a love of wine boasts a 28 foot cork-bound bar for your tasting pleasure. You are invited to attend free wine tastings on Wednesday and Saturday from 4-8.

Venturing a few more miles south on Hendersonville Road is worth the drive as you will find Wine Styles ( http://www.winestyles.net/Asheville). You may choose your favorite bottle of wine and have them uncork it to drink here with no added corkage fee. You may attend one of their wine tastings or hold a private one of your own.



East Asheville also has its own neighborhood favorite wine shop and bar known as Divine Wine (http://www.divine-wine-asheville.com/). Wine tastings are held on Friday from 6-8. It has become a gathering place for locals and tourist as well. There is a bar conveniently located inside the shop for your pleasure to enjoy your favorite glass of wine or local handcrafted beer.

West Asheville now proudly has its own wine shop to add to the allure of this growing trendy part of town. Within walking distance in this neighborhood you will find Hops and Vines ( http://www.hopsandvines.net/). While shopping you may want to purchase one of their winemaking kits and go home to make your own. Creative juices do seem to flow in Asheville.

The growing wine scene here is fast becoming known for offering International wines not available in other towns in North Carolina. While in Asheville you are sure to find the perfect wine for any occasion. Just being here is occasion enough. So raise your glass and enjoy your favorite wine while taking in all the beauty of this peaceful and relaxing mountain town. And for those wine lovers that have seen the movie "Sideways" it is okay to order Merlot. Asheville is known for its "Live and Let Live" attitude. Cheers!

Photos and story by - Deborah Pustorino