Mountain Spirits: Wine and Beer this week, February 2

Feb 2 , 5 - 7 PM, Brusin' Ales, 66 Broad Strteet, Asheville NC - New Belgium Brewing Fort Collins, Colorado: Trey from New Belgium Brewery, Fort Collins, CO serves up  a special line-up, including the new seasonal, Dig Pale Ale, with Sorachi, Nelson Sauvin, Cascade and Centennial hops, and two beers from the Lips of Faith Series, Biere de Mars and the new (and yummy) Cocoa Mole - Dig Pale Ale "Unearth your bottle-opener because this Pale Ale is something you can Dig;  Belgo IPA "When we set out to brew, we use imagination and salvation to guide us- not necessarily style guidelines. It's the Belgian way.  Lips of Faith: Biere de Mars "Again in 2012, we are pleased to offer one of our favorite harbingers of spring, Biere de Mars.  Lips of Faith: Cocoa Mole "Say Hola to a spiced up ale full of cocoa and ancho, guajillo, chipotle peppers.

February -  RagApple Lassie, 3724 Ragapple Lassie Lane Boonville NC - SUPERBOWL SPECIAL: Stock your cellar with RagApple Lassie wines for Super Bowl XLVI and if the total score is less than 40 or greater than 65, bring your original receipt dated before kick-off time, and get your original purchase duplicated FREE! For case purchases only, 7 points in either direction wins one bottle of wine!

Feb 3, 5 - 7 PM Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC -  Free beer tasting and pint night - Foothills Brewing Co. Winston-Salem, NC: Torch Pilsner; Hoppyum IPA; Peoples Porter; Sexual Chocolate.   Feb 4, 3-6 PM - FREE Wine Tasting:  South African Deals - Felicite Pinot Noir 2011- Made by Newton Johnson family run Vineyards, and produced naturally with respect for the environment, Felicite Pinot Noir is a great wine at a great price;   The Wolftrap Red 2010- This South African take on a Rhone style red is a blend of 65% fruity, juicy Syrah, 32% spicy Mourvedre, and 3% Viognier which is added for balance and brightness. The Wolftrap White 2009- This lovely white wine is a blend of Viognier, Chenin Blanc, and Grenache Blanc.

Feb 4, 4-8 PM at  Appalachian Vintner, 2-B Huntsman Place, Asheville NC - Asheville's "best Wine Tasting" Dan Davidsen from Millennium Beverage will be pouring at the wine bar: Post House Blueish White; Van Duzer Vintner's Cuvee Pinot Noir; Anglim Winery Cerise; Anglim Winery Central Coast Syrah; Post House Blueish Black; Free wine tasting.

Feb 3 , 7 PM until,  Classic Wine Cellar, 20 Church Street, Waynesville NC - Friday Night Live music with GReg Kidd and Chris Minick, tow local favorites performing favorites as well as originals.

Feb 3, 4 - 7 PM at Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Road, Suite 102, Asheville NC - "545" tasting - You get to sample 5 wines for $5. The  focuse is on the Portugal this Friday - there are more incredible wine values coming out of this country than any other these days.   Feb, 2-5 PM - FREE Weekly Wine Tastings: Sample Four Artisan Wines - a "Try Before You Buy" tasting featuring 4 great and affordable wines.  February 9 - There are 2 spots left for the wine and chocolate tasting, featuring six wines (average retail of $30) paired with six different handmade truffles from Blue Moon Chocolatier.  RSVP and pre-payment are required, and this one is filling up fast, so call  at 828.505.8588 to reserve your spot for this seated tasting.

Feb 3, 6 PM - 8 PM, at Divine Wine, 1011 Tunnel Road East Asheville NC . Friday Wine Tastings - It’s not just a tasting, it’s a party and you’re invited. Complimentary tastes of special wines, along with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres. Be sure to try the weekly special wines by the glass, or a cold, frothy, draft brew from the bar.

Feb 3,  4 PM - 7 PM  LaBouteille, 10 N Trade St, Suite A Tyon NC - Complimentary Wine Tastings every Friday. The last Saturday of each month 3-5 pm is a 10 beers for $10 beer tasting. Bring a dish of food to share.


Feb 4,   2 PM - 5 PM  The Wine Guy, 555 Merimon Ave and 1200 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville NC. FREE Saturday tastings are a great way to sample new favorites in a casual setting. Sample 4 to 6 new wines. Light hors d’ oeuvres will be served and all wines poured will be specially priced.

Feb 4, 12 PM - 5 PM at Vino Vino Wine Market, 178 Weaverville Rd., Asheville NC. Every Saturday anytime between 12:00 and 5:00pm enjoy a sampling of wines from around the world. A 10% discount on each of the wines we are featuring.

Feb4  , 11 AM - 5 PM  PM at Falderal Winery, 131 3rd Ave, Hendersonville NC.  Free tasting -  Regular Saturday Wine Tasting with all wines made on the premises.

Tasting Rooms:

Biltmore Winery, located on the Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC. Daily tasting and tours with Estate admission. Special events and tastings throughout the year.

Old North State Winery, 308 North Main Street, Mount Airy NC. Hours of operation are: Monday-Wednesday 11am-6pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-9pm, and Sunday 12pm-6pm. Sample wines and browse the gift shop featuring wine related and gourmet gift items.

RagApple Lassie, 3724 Ragapple Lassie Lane Boonville NC Tours are "on demand" noon to six PM daily. Tastings are available noon to six PM daily and include up to 11 varieties of wine.

Calaboose Cellars, 565 Aquone Road, Andrews NC. Closed for the winter - re-open March 22, 2012Tasting room summer hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Noon to 5:00. This week check out the "Warden's White".

South Creek Vineyard and Winery, 2240 South Creek Road, Nebo, NC

Daily Tastings at Wedge Brewing Company, 125 B Roberts St. Asheville NC. Micro-brewery regular Tasting room hours: Monday - Thursday 4 PM - 10+ PM; Friday 3 PM - 10+ PM; Saturday and Sunday 2 PM - 10+ PM.

Daily Tastings at Greenman Brewery, 23 Buxton Ave., Asheville NC. The tasting room is open seven days a week at 4 o'clock, or maybe earlier