Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival this Weekend in Blowing Rock

April 10 - 14   Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival  takes place in and around Blowing Rock NC.  For this year's Festival The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is partnering with the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival to bring Alaska Seafood to the Festival. Enjoy wine tastings, seminars, cooking classes, wine makers' dinner and much more.

Look for special Winemaker's Dinners featuring cold water delicacies, Seafood Presentations at Uncork & Grillin' and Chillin', Cooking Demos by the Executive Chef of Harris Teeter, and samplings at The Grand Tasting. 

Get links for the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival and Blowing Rock lodging and attractions on the Blowing Rock NC Visitor Guide.

Highlands Hosts Collective Food and Wine Festival this Week

May 17-19   Collective Food Wine and Food Festival Wine lovers from all over come together to celebrate the annual Collective Spirits wine festival. Indulge in private wine dinners, grand wine tastings, a gala dinner, live and silent auctions, a culinary sampling by local chefs, and symposiums conducted by leading wine specialists. All proceeds benefit exhibition and education programs of The Bascom, a nonprofit center for the visual arts.

During Collective Spirits 2012, The Bascom will showcase a number of exhibitions including Chicks: It’s All Gone to the Birds; Green Art – Tracy Kirchmann Celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Studio Glass Movement; and an outdoor installation of ceramics by Alex Matisse.

Get local information on the Highlands NC Visitor Guide

Wine and a 5K in North Wilkesboro this Weekend

May 5    8th Annual Shine to Wine Festival   An event featurig some of the best wine North Carolina has to offer as well as live music, art and food. Freeport Jazz is back by Popular Demand. Amazing artist and galleries in the downtown area. Hotel Packages are available which include shuttle service.

May 5    Dreams & Kitestrings - 5K Family Walk/Run    The race starts between  8 and 8:30 AM  on the Greenway behind the Express YMCA. The mission of Dreams and Kitestrings is to provide women and children the wings to soar by providing financial assistance to help achieve their education, athletic, and career aspirations. 

Find links for these events and more local information on the North Wilkesboro - Wilkesboro NC Visitor Guide

Mountain Spirits: Wine and Beer Events this week 5-3-12

May 5-6    Vineyards of Swan Creek Wine and Cheese Festival   Ronda, NC. Join the Vineyards of Swan Creek as each vineyard pairs one of their wines with a unique, local cheese from the Ashe County Cheese Factory.  The Vineyards of Swan Creek include Raffaldini Vineyards, Dobbins Creek Vineyard, Shadow Springs Vineyard, and Laural Gray Vineyard.

May 5, 11 AM - 3 PM - Whines and Vines and Wines, A benefit for the McDowell Animal Shelter. Woof! 20% of bottle purchases will be donated to the shelter. For the animals sake, please join us. Adoptable Dogs will be available. Music on the vineyard deck by Freddie Bradburn.

May  4 - 5, 11 AM - 5 PM The Days of Wine and Posies at Winehouse & Greenhouse at South Creek  Get your flowers at Banner Greenhouses (they are right across the street) and then join South Creek for the wine. You must be 21 or older to attend this event.  South Creek Vineyards and Winery is located at 2240 South Creek Road in Nebo NC.

May 5, 9:30 PM - Altamont Brewing Co.  1042 Haywood Road, Asheville NC.   Supercross Superfunk Cinco de Mayo with The Fritz! Free Event. Watch the last Supercross race of the season and get down with the sounds of Asheville funk band The Fritz.



May 4,  5 - 7 PM   Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC.  FREE beer tasting: Spring Seasonals - great thirst quenching beers perfect for your next grill out or float down the river. Highland Brewing Razor Wit - This Belgian-style Wit, or “white” ale, is an unfiltered wheat beer brewed with traditional ingredients and a Highland twist. ; Highland Brewing Little Hump Spring Ale This American Pale Ale is meticulously handcrafted for full floral hop aroma and flavor. Brewed with grains from America's heartland ; New Belgium Somersault - Somersault is a fun roll around on the tongue, while requiring only the minimum of palate gymnastics. Currently on Tap at the bar: Stone Ruination DIPA $5 pints and French Broad Kolsch $4 pints.   May 5 , 3-6 PM - FREE Wine Tasting: Edgebaston Wines from Stellenbosc, South Africa - Edgebaston "The Honey Pot" 2011 - This fresh white wine comes from a family run vineyard in South Africa's Stellenbosc region; Edgebaston "The Pepper Pot" 2010- This red wine is a blend of 46% Syrah, 46% Mourvedre, and 8% Tennat; Edgebaston "The Berry Box" 2010- This grenache based blend is arriving on a ship from South Africa this week.

May 4, 4-6 PM at  Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Road, Suite 102, Asheville NC -  Friday Winedown -  White and pink wines from France   Rick Bowman from Bordeaux Fine and Rare will  pour 7  wines new to the store.  From Bordeaux to Gascogne to the Rhone Valley, you’ll sample a couple whites, a couple of new and fresh dry rosés and some delicious reds.  Even better, all of the wines come from small, family owned and operated wineries where the production levels are small, but the prices are more than fair.  The tasting will conclude with a real “Wow Wine”, but it’s a surprise!  $5 per person.

May 5, noon to 6 PM, RagApple Lassie Vineyards, 3724 RagApple Lassie Lane, Boonville NC - Saturday Music Salons are back and will continue through the end of the year. The 2009 Chardonnay has been released with FREE tastings this weekend. The Back Door Cafe will be open from noon to 4 PM to feed all hungry tummies. To quote one customer: "the sandwiches are divine!" And of course, RagApple Lassie wines will be available for tasting.

May 4,  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.

May 5,   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. A local distributor will pour a few new wines from their portfolio. No reservations required and there will be special pricing on the wines sampled. 

May 5, 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.

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

The Days of Wine & Posies, Foothills Wine Festival, today in Nebo

April 28  11 AM - 5 PM   Winehouse & Greenhouse at South Creek Get your flowers at Banner Greenhouses (they are right across the street) and then join South Creek for the wine. Enjoy"The Days of Wine & Posies". You must be 21 or older to attend this event. 

South Creek Vineyards and Winery is located at 2240 South Creek Road in Nebo NC.

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival Starts Today in Blowing Rock

Holly Soukup 2012 winner

 April 11-15   Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival   Enjoy wine tastings, seminars, cooking classes, wine makers' dinner and much more. New this year is the Grillin' and Chillin' event. The Grand Tasting event is downtown and special guest this year is Teresa Guidice!

This year's events include:
April 11   Fire on the Rocks Chef's Challenge:  Experience the best culinary show you've ever tasted!  The Chef's Challenge is a battle between the area's best-known chefs. Diners judged the preliminary events and now at the finals too! Dine on 6 amazing courses at the finale. Finale dinner will be held at Crippen's Restaurant. Reservations are required. 828.295.3487.

April 12,  6 PM  Uncork The Festival:  A Taste of Ethiopia and South Africa, A Benefit for Wine to Water at Crestwood Resort and Spa.  Take a tour of Ethiopian and South African  with  sights and flavors, using the expertise of area businesses Climbing the Walls, Events by Elizabeth Ashley, The Gamekeeper, The Table at Crestwood and Wine to Water in a sublime collaboration of floral design, decor, food and wine. The atmosphere of Crestwood will be transformed  with the colors, tastes and aromas of these culturally distinct regions. Palates will come alive with the rich and bold flavors of an array of tapas-style food and complimentary tastings of 6 different wines, and senses will be heightened as guests journey through these two countries without leaving the High Country. Guests will be greeted with a complimentary Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival souvenir wine glass. Music by Scott Smith will complete the evening's festivities.

April 12-13  Wine Seminars and Cooking Classes:  An easy, laid-back atmosphere make these festival favorites. Ttwo days of seminars and classes this year offer you  more options and times. Held across town in several different locations, a class is always close by. Topics include Wine and Chocolate, Wine and Cheese, Wine and food/Spices, Hidden Treasures/ Best Values, Pasta and Wine, Cooking to chocolate and more.

April12-14   Wine Makers' and Vintner's Dinners:  Area restaurants team up with  wineries to create Vintners' Dinners.  Prix Fixe menus will showcase the best pairings the chef and vintner have to offer.  Nine restaurants participate.

April 13   Grillin' and Chillin': New this year, The Blue Ridge Mountain Club offers a true taste of North Carolina. North Carolina is famous for its barbeque, and here  you can get it in the most authentic way.  A whole hog pig pickin', barbequed chicken and all the fixins, including banana pudding.  And to go with this fabulous meal, enjoy a selection of North Carolina wines, North Carolina craft-made beers and music by some of the area's best artists. Your ticket price will include tastings of the North Carolina wines and craft beers. Full glasses and bottles of wine will be available for purchase from the vendors.

April 14, 2-6 PM - The Grand Tasting:    The Grand Tasting is the centerpiece of the Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival. Located in the heart of Downtown Blowing Rock under the main tent.  The tasting showcases an assortment of wines from North Carolina wineries as well as from vineyards around the globe. Find new favorites among international, domestic and NC vintages.  

April 14, 7 PM  VIP Charity Wine Gala:  The Gala celebrates the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival in style. Area wine lovers, foodies and dignitaries alike will gather at the elegant Broyhill Furniture Showroom for an entertainment-packed evening including a performance by the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and music by Old Gold Jazz Trio of the Wake Forest University School of Music.

Additional Festival Events include: Bartenders' Brawl, Barrels of Fun, Flights and Bites, Cork and Canvas at the BRAHM, Coffee Cupping Sessions, Sunday Champagne Brunches and a variety of Musical performances.

Get a link for the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival and other Blowing Rock Information HERE.

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival this week in Blowing Rock

April 13 - 17  Blowing Rock NC hosts the annual  Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival.  The festival is five days of celebrating everything wine. Events include “Uncork” the Festival, the Grand Wine Tasting, Fire on the Rock Chef’s Challenge, Wine Seminars, Cooking Classes and Winemaker Dinners throughout the village at Blowing Rock’s best restaurants.

The festival  features a “Meet and Greet” with food critics, authors and wineries. There is also a gallery stroll, art competition, Bartender’s Brawl and “Dig Into Local,” sponsored by the NC Department of Agriculture. The Grand Wine Tasting takes place on Saturday under the main tent and showcases a wide variety of wines from North Carolina and from around the world.

Schedule of events:

Wednesday, April 13, 2011: Uncork the Festival - Australian food & wine! Bartenders Brawl Thursday, April 14, 2011: Downtown activities and shopping Cooking Classes Wine Seminars Wine Maker Dinners Bartenders Brawl Friday, April 15, 2011: Downtown activities and shopping Wine Seminars Cooking Classes Wine Maker Dinners Meet & Greet with festival VIPs

Friday, cont'd: Gallery Stroll Downtown Chuckleball at the Hayes Center Bartenders Brawl Late Night music and entertainment around town Saturday, April 16, 2011: Downtown activities and shopping Grand Wine Tasting in Downtown Blowing Rock Fire on the Rock Chefs Challenge Dig Into Local Food Show Late Night music and entertainment around town Murderous Vineyard- Interactive Mystery Theater Sunday, April 17, 2011: Fire on the Rock Finale Champagne Brunches

9th Annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival

May 15, Elkin North Carolina. 9th Annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival Taste the wines of the Yadkin Valley. open to the public, including families with children (for your safety and the safety of others, please leave your pets at home). Craft vendor displays and music will take place adjacent to the wine tasting area. There will be a roving Bacchus and activities for the youngsters.

WIN A CASE OF WINE: Complete the entry form you receive at check-in (including cell phone number you have at Festival) and drop off your entry at the Yadkin Valley Tourism Authority booth just inside the festival grounds from the main entrance. One entry card will be drawn every hour from 1p.m. until 5p.m. at the main stage, and five lucky entrants will each receive a full case of wine. Thanks to several Yadkin Valley wineries for their donations!