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Purchase Barnard Griffin Sangiovese Rose at Table Wine in Asheville, North Carolina.

2016 Barnard Griffin Sangiovese Rose

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Case of the Month – Dry rose fans rejoice as the Barnard Griffin Sangiovese Rose is back and it’s great again!  With eleven Best of Class and numerous gold awards at prestigious wine competitions, it is one of our country’s top pink wines.  I can say with certainty that it is very deserving of the praise. We poured this one last Friday and every single person that tasted it loved it.  We ran out!  Not to worry, 20 cases arrive today……….even better, I’m putting it on sale through May 10th.  Believe me when I say that this is one of the most satisfying wines to drink during the spring and summer seasons.  Stop by the store or email me at josh@tablewineasheville.com to place your order.  Here’s the deal:

2016 Barnard Griffin Sangiovese Rose
Regular Price: $13.99/bottle

On Sale Through Saturday, May 13th
$10.99/bottle on solid case purchases — That’s Over 20% Off!

Dry rose sales continue to surge in the United States, and it’s wines like this one that are making that happen.  Please note that this is not anything like White Zinfandel, Lancers, or Mateus.  I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with those wines, but Barnard Griffin’s Rose is decidedly dry.  With ripe and creamy notes of strawberry, raspberry, orange and pomegranate balanced by crisp acidity, this is the wine you want to drink on warm sunny days.

Not sold yet?  I’ll give you one more chance to try it for free.  Stop by next Saturday, April 22nd — we’ll have it open for our free wine tasting that day. Otherwise, stop by the store and pick some up!  Cheers and happy spring and summer drinking and eating!

Perfect Grilling Wines Tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, North Carolina.

Top Value Grilling Wines – Free on Fridays Wine Tasting

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Friday, April 12th from 4-7pm – Join us Friday for a free wine tasting starring some top value grilling wines.  These are guaranteed to make your grilled meats, fish, and vegetables taste even better!

If you’re like me, one of your favorite things to do during the warmer months is grilling………….and drinking wine of course!  From steaks and chops to fish and veggies, I love the charred, smoky flavors that grilling contributes to foods.  Join us to sample three of our favorite “grillmates,” aka wines that are perfect for pairing with foods off the grill, but also totally enjoyable while you are grilling said foods!  Up first, it’s a crisp and delicious dry rosé from Corisca.  I love sipping on this one while I’m grilling, and I also love it with grilled fish and asparagus too.  Next in the lineup is a juicy and spicy, Grenache-driven Cotes du Rhone that is ideal for barbecued chicken or pork slathered in peppery barbecue sauce.  To finish, we’ll got with an Old Vine Zinfandel, one of the all time great grilling wines.  From babyback ribs to thick cut steaks, this one hits the spot every time.  Stop by, taste, learn, and save big on all of the featured tasting wines. Can’t make it by, but want to place an order?  Just email me at josh@tablewineasheville.com.

Table Wine, Asheville's premiere wine shop.

The Wines
All of the featured tasting wines are on sale the day of the tasting: take 10% off if you mix any 3, 15% off if you mix any 6, or 20% off if you mix any 12.

1. 2016 Vetriccie Ile de Beauté Rosé (Corsica, France) – The new vintage of Vetriccie’s dry rosé is as crisp and refershing as ever.  A blend of native Corsican grapes (40% Niellucciu, 30% Sciaccarellu, 15% Grenache, 15% Merlot), it’s light, aromatic, and perfect for seafood, fish, and green vegetables.
Tasting Price: $9.89/bottle | $9.34 in mixed six packs | $8.79 in mixed cases

2. 2015 Finca Sophenia Malbec Reserve (Mendoza, Argentina) – We’ve been longtime fans of Finca Sophenia, and the new vintage of their Malbec is another winner.  From high altitude vineyards in the Tupungato sub-region of Mendoza, all fruit is hand harvested and aged for 12 months in French and American oak.  The resulting wine is a steak’s best friend!  Ripe, yet restrained, this one offers up notes of punch red berries, violet, and oak spice.
Tasting Price: $15.29/bottle | $14.44 in a mixed six pack | $13.59 in a mixed case

3. 2014 Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi, California) – For six generations, Klinker Brick has been family owned and operated, and they are one of the qualitative leaders of the vast Lodi AVA.  I recently tasted the wines with Farrah Felten-Jolley, daughter of the owners of Klinker Brick, and I was deeply impressed.  Their Old Vine Zinfandel comes from 16 different vineyard blocks with an average age of 86 years.  Deep, layered, rich and opulent, this one of my go-to wines when grilling steaks or chops.
Tasting Price: $19.79/bottle | $18.69 in a mixed six pack | $17.59 in a mixed case

Josh Spurling
Owner/Operator at Table Wine
828.505.8588

Cabernet Sauvignon Showdown wine tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, North Carolina.

Cabernet Sauvignon Showdown – Try 3 For Free Wine Tasting

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Saturday, May 13th from 2-5pm – Our Cabernet Sauvignon Showdown is one of our most popular free wine tastings of the year!  We’ll pour you three different Cabs from various regions and at different price points.  

Cabernet Sauvignon continues to be the go-to red wine for many wine drinkers, and I completely get it.  The grape yields bold, full bodied, and powerful red wines with overt aromas and flavors.  Sometimes, Cab-based wines can be quite tannic and astringent and best paired with food.  Other times, they can be lush, opulent, and perfectly fine as a cocktail wine.  For this tasting, I have intentionally selected 3 distinctly different styles of Cab, and I invite you by to taste them.  Up first, it’s a soft, plush, and fruit driven Cabernet from Paso Robles.  It also happens to be the best selling Cab in the store!  Next, it’s a slightly more structured version from Mendoza, Argentina.  With fine grained tannin and bolder, more intense flavors, I think this one is tasty by itself but better with a grilled steak.  Lastly, we’ll pour you a more powerful and “serious” Cab from Napa Valley.  From the glorious 2014 vintage, this one is powerful, structured, and best enjoyed with grilled or roasted meats.  If you love Cabernet Sauvignon, you don’t want to miss this.  Stop by, taste, learn, and save on all of the tasting wines.  Can’t make it by, but want to place an order?  Just email me at josh@tablewineasheville.com.

Table Wine, Asheville's premiere wine shop.

The Wines
All of the featured tasting wines are on sale the day of the tasting: take 10% off if you mix any 3, 15% off if you mix any 6, or 20% off if you mix any 12.

1. 2014 Broadside Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles, California) – This is the best selling Cabernet in the store!  I completely understand why. Husband and wife Stephanie and Brian Terrizzi take a hands off approach in the making of their wines.  They harvest healthy and ripe fruit, ferment with indigenous yeasts, and age in completely neutral oak barrels.  This minimal intervention allows the ripe and sumptuous fruit to really shine through.  Soft, round, and full of flavor, this is one of California’s top Cab values.
Tasting Price: $13.49/bottle | $12.74 in mixed six packs | $11.99 in mixed cases

2. 2013 Finca Decero Cabernet Sauvignon “Remolinos Vineyard” (Mendoza, Argentina) – Decero means “from scratch,” and that is exactly how proprietor Thomas Schmidheiny started.  He found a beautiful piece of land, planted it with vines in the late 1990’s, and today Finca Decero is one of Argentina’s most lauded estates.  I love this wine and constantly recommend to folks who want Napa-like style, but don’t want to pay $30+.  It’s really well put together and complete with ripe, full flavors and fine grained tannin.
Tasting Price: $16.19/bottle | $15.29 in a mixed six pack | $14.39 in a mixed case

3. 2014 Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California) – Jonathan and Susan Pey specialize in small lots of Cabernet Sauvignon, and I think they craft one of Napa Valley’s top value versions of the grape.  Grapes comes from the Oakville, Rutherford, and Oak Knoll AVA’s and are blended to create a highly stylish and delicious Cabernet.  I am always fond of this wine, but the 2014 vintage is one of the best I’ve tasted from the Pey’s.  Classic in style, well mannered, and highly enjoyable, I think you’ll like it too.
Tasting Price: $29.69/bottle | $28.04 in a mixed six pack | $26.39 in a mixed case

Josh Spurling
Owner/Operator at Table Wine
828.505.8588

Free dry rose tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, North Carolina.

Free on Fridays Wine Tasting – Dry Rose Rollout 2016

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Friday, April 29 from 4-7pm – Join us for a free Dry Rose Wine Tasting as we pull the corks on some deliciously dry pink wines from the glorious 2016 vintage.

Spring has sprung and dry roses have arrived at Table Wine!  I was first introduced to dry roses by Eberhard Heide in 2003 when I moved to Asheville and started working at the Asheville Wine Market.  I was young and thought all pink wines were sweet and sappy.  Eb quickly corrected me, and I’ve been enjoying these dry, crisp and refreshing wines ever since.  On to the wines!  Up first, the Ameztoi Rubentis comes from Spain’s Basque region, and it is always a customer and staff favorite.  Slight effervescent and super high in crisp acidity, this stuff goes down way too easy.  Up next, the La Belle Etoile Rose comes to us from famed Tavel producer Chateau Manissy. Primarily Syrah, it offers tons of refreshment at a very fair price.  To finish, the Chateau Pesquie Les Terrasses Rose is a classic, Provencal-styled wine that makes me want for a caprese salad.  Stop by the store, celebrate the arrival of dry rose season, and stock up for the warm and sunny days of spring and summer!  Can’t make it by, but want to place an order?  Just email us at josh@tablewineasheville.com.

The Wines
Save big on all of the tasting wines!  Mix any 3 of them and save 1, 0%, mix any 6 and save 15%, or mix any 12 and save 20%!

1. 2016 Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina  (Getariako, Txakolina) – I know, you’re like what the heck does that say.  Don’t worry about it folks, this stuff is straight up delicious.  A 50/50 blend of Hondarribi Beltza and Hondarribi Zuri from vineyards that range in age from 20 to 150+ years old, this remind me a bit of a strawberry/lime Snapple, minus the sugar.  Yum, yum, yum!
Tasting Price: $17.99 in mixed 3-packs | $16.99 in mixed 6-packs | $15.99 mixed cases

2.2016 Chateau Manissy La Belle Etoile (Southern Rhone Valley, France) – Chateau Manissy owner and winemaker Florian Andre apprentice at Domaine de la Mordoree for 3 years before founding his estate.  Florian then approached the religious order that owned the Chateau de Manissy. Apparently many had tried and been turned down by the Brothers. In this case, however, they were impressed by Florian’s resume and plans.  La Belle Etoile means “beautiful star,” and this was the name given to the wine by the Manissy Brotherhood’s missionary preist.  A blend of organically farmed Syrah, Cinsault and Bourbolenc, it is lighter than Tavel, but nonetheless delicious.
Tasting Price: $12.59 in mixed 3-packs | $11.89 in mixed 6-packs | $11.19 in mixed case

3. 2016 Chateau Pesquie Les Terrasses Rose (Southern Rhone Valley, France) – Many of you have enjoyed the red wine from this all-star Ventoux estate.  Wait until you try their rose!  I tasted this one for the first time just last week, and I was smitten with it.  A blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah, this is the type of wine I refer to as a “porch pounder.”  Completely dry, beautifully aromatic, and just a joy to drink with or without food, it will run out quickly.
Tasting Price: $14.39 in mixed 3-packs | $13.59 in mixed 6-packs | $12.79 in mixed cases

 

Super Saturday Wine Tasting with Sour Grapes at Table Wine in Asheville, NC.

Super Saturday Wine Tasting – Tour de France with Sour Grapes

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Saturday, April 29th from 2-5 p.m. – Super Saturday Wine Tasting!  We’re taking you on a Tour de France with special guests Daniel Lukin-Beck and Katerina Dordelman of Asheville’s own Sour Grapes — sample 9 awesome small grower/producer, organic and biodynamic French wines for just $5 — free if you’re a Grape Nut!

Our next Super Saturday adventure will give you the chance to try some incredible French wines from local distributor/importer Sour Grapes.  Led by the passionate Devon Price and the cool and calm Daniel Lukin-Beck, Sour Grapes has established itself as one of our top sources of high quality, estate grown, organic and biodynamic French wines.  For this tasting, we’ll focus on the wines of Vignerons de Nature, a small group of independent growers and producers committed to organic and biodynamic viticultural practices.  We’re talking farmers with dirt under their fingernails, folks who know that good wine is made in the vineyard, real wines from real people!  Sour Grapes direct imports these wines and they are some of our favorite French wines in the store.

Sour Grapes Wine Tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, North Carolina.

If you’ve had bad luck with organic wines in the past, you obviously haven’t tried the right ones — these are the right ones!  We’ll pour you samples from a variety of famed French wine regions with an emphasis on the vineyards and producers of Southern France.  This guarantees to be a great chance to taste, learn, and save big on some great wines from some wonderful small growers/producers.  No RSVP is required and you do not have to be a Grape Nut to attend — just pay $5 before you begin the tasting and have a great time.

The Wines
Save big on all of the tasting wines!  Mix any 3 of them and save 10%, mix any 6 and save 15%, or mix any 12 and save 20%!

1. 2016 Le Ballon Vin Blanc (Languedoc) –Equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino from organic vineyards in Southern France. Stainless steel fermentation results in a fresh, dry, crisp white wine perfect for sunny spring and summer days.
Tasting Price: $8.99 in mixed 3-packs | $8.49 in mixed 6-packs | $7.99 in mixed cases 

2. 2014 Francois le Saint Sancerre “Calcaire” (Loire Valley)– Pure Sauvignon Blanc from calcareous soils farmed organically. Tiny production and a stunning example of mineral-rich, racy and restrained Sancerre.  Did anyone bring goat cheese?
Tasting Price: $22.49 in mixed 3-packs | $21.24 in mixed 6-packs | $19.99 in mixed cases 

3. 2015 Chateau de la Selve Viognier (Rhone Valley) –From biodynamically cultivated vineyards in the lesser known Ardeche section of the Rhone Valley. Fermented with native yeasts in neutral oak.  Super aromatic, full bodied, yet fresh Viognier.
Tasting Price: $15.29 in mixed 3-packs | $14.44 in mixed 6-packs | $13.59 in mixed cases 

4. 2016 Chateau de la Selve Rosé “Maguelonne (Rhone Valley) – Lovely expression of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah from biodynamic and organic vineyards fermented with native yeasts. Dry, perfumed, red and white fruits, flowers. Delicious!
Tasting Price: $12.59 in mixed 3-packs | $11.89 in mixed 6-packs | $11.19 in mixed cases

5. 2015 Le Ballon Vin Rouge (Languedoc) – The perfect house red! A blend of organically cultivated Grenache, Cinsault, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all fermented in steel. Medium bodied, fresh, spicy.  Great with bbq chicken, great with friends.
Tasting Price: $8.99 in mixed 3-packs | $8.49 in mixed six packs | $7.99 in mixed cases

6. 2015 Domaine de L’R Chinon (Loire Valley) –Full on NATURAL WINE! No junk in the trunk here folks.  Just pure, certified organic, Cabernet Franc from older vines fermented with native yeasts.  Unfined and unfiltered and bottled with very low sulfur addition.  Earthy, spicy, mineralic, funky good.
Tasting Price: $17.99 in mixed 3-packs | $16.99 in mixed 6-packs | $15.99 in mixed cases 

7. 2012 M. & S. Bouchet Cabernet Franc (Loire Valley) –Just 100 cases of this wine make it to the US each year……..most of it goes to Parisian bistros. We got 15 of those case.  85 year old, biodynamically farmed Cabernet Franc with serious soul!  Aged for 2 years in neutral oak and bottled without fining or filtration and minimal sulfur.  Josh’s current freakout wine!
Tasting Price: $21.99 in mixed 3-packs | $21.24 in mixed 6-packs | $19.99 in mixed cases
Wine of the Week Price: Just $21.99/bottle or $18.99/bottle if you buy a solid 6-pack! 

9. 2015 Domaine Duseigneur Cotes du Rhone “La Chapelle” (Rhone Valley) – One of the leading biodynamic estates in the Southern Rhone, this is a prime example of how clean farming results in great tasting wines. Equal parts Grenache and Syrah result in an explosive, rich, decadent red wine. Serve with barbeque please!
Tasting Price: $12.59 in mixed 3-packs | $11.89 in mixed 6-packs | $11.19 in mixed cases 

9. 2015 Chateau les Croisille Cahors “Silice” (Southwestern France) – Organic Malbec from old vines in France’s top Malbec appellation. 12 months aging in French oak results in a boisterous, full bodied, warming red. Enjoy with lamb, beef and such.
Tasting Price: $16.19 in mixed 3-packs | $15.29 in mixed 6-packs | $14.39 in mixed cases           

10. 2012 Domaine Duseigneur Lirac “Antares” (Rhone Valley) – Chateauneuf du Pape like flavor and style at a fraction of the price! Old vine Grenache and Mourvedre combine to create a sumptuous, heady red wine with ripe notes of plum, blackberry, spice and oh so much more. One of the best wines for the money in the store.  Lamb chops, medium rare, please. Yep!
Tasting Price: $24.29 in mixed 3-packs | $22.94 in mixed 6-packs | $21.59 in mixed cases                

 

Sangiovese Takeover wine tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, NC.

Try 3 For Free Wine Tasting – Sangiovese Takeover

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Saturday, April 22nd from 2-5pm – Drop by Table Wine for a free “Sangiovese Takeover” Tasting!  This is your chance to try the new Barnard Griffin Sangiovese Rose along with some classic Tuscan interpretations of the grape!

I love Sangiovese in all its various forms and styles.  It creates everything from dry and refreshing roses to full bodied, long lived red wines………and everything in between.  Join us as Sangiovese takes over the tasting bar!  Not familiar with the grape?  Not to worry as I will guide you through the tasting and tell you about the grape and the wines.  To start, the Barnard Griffin Sangiovese Rose always reminds me of picking strawberries in the summer as a kid.  It literally smells of sun-soaked strawberries but remains crisp and dry on the palate.  Up next, the Poggio Vignoso Chianti flows with juicy, ripe red fruits.  It makes me want a big plate of eggplant parm.  To finish, the Brunelli Poggio Apricale is what I like to call “Poor Person’s Brunello.”  90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot from younger Brunello vineyards, it is rich, ripe, and savory.  Bring on the bolognese!  Getting hungry yet?  Stop by this Saturday, taste, buy and get to cooking!  Can’t make it by, but want to place an order?  Just email us at josh@tablewineasheville.com.

The Wines
Save big on all of the tasting wines!  Mix any 3 of them and save 10%, mix any 6 and save 15%, or mix any 12 and save 20%!

1. 2016 Barnard Griffin Sangiovese Rose  (Columbia Valley, Washington) – I’ve been selling this wine for over 10 years and it’s always great!  100% Sangiovese fermented in stainless steel, it just hits the spot on so many different levels.  It’s dry, it’s packed with aromas and flavors of ripe summer fruits, and it goes down super easy.  Pour this at your next outdoor spring or summer party and your friends will think you’re a certified sommelier.
Tasting Price: $12.59 in mixed 3-packs | $11.89 in mixed 6-packs | $11.19 mixed cases
Special Case of the Month Price: Just $10.99/bottle on your solid case through May 10th!

2.2015 Poggio Vignoso Chianti (Tuscany, Italy) – There are oceans of horrible Chianti on the market — thin, sour, and astringent, they just plain suck.  This is not one of those!  Rich, complex, and packed with ripe cherry and plum fruit, this tastes more like a Classico.  With a bit of complexity in the form of leather and earthy spice, it’s a wine I could have a conversation with just as much as I could chug it.
Tasting Price: $13.49 in mixed 3-packs | $12.74 in mixed 6-packs | $11.99 in mixed case

3. 2015 Brunelli Poggio Apricale (Tuscany, Italy) – This one really does it for me!  From younger vines located on the outskirts of Montalcino, it gives me Brunello-like heart and soul at a fraction of the price.  I pick up notes of wild cherry, blackberry, black tea and savory spice all offered up on an opulent and open knit palate.  Who’s bringing the bolognese over?
Tasting Price: $17.99 in mixed 3-packs | $16.99 in mixed 6-packs | $15.99 in mixed cases

Asheville, North Carolina's best free wine tasting at Table Wine.

Try 3 For Free Wine Tasting – Ben’s Picks

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Saturday, April 15th from 2-5 p.m. – Join us as Josh gives up his position at the tasting bar and lets long time employee Ben Fort take over for the day.  Ben will taste you on three of his favorite wines.

When Josh asked me to pick the wines for Saturday’s free wine tasting, I immediately knew which wines we’d pour as my picks.  We’ll start with a lovely white, beautifully balancing rich fruit and refreshing acidity, that always hits the spot especially on a day where I grab some Chinese take-out on the way home.  Next is the “entry level” field blend from my favorite producer in the Langhe, G. D. Vajra.  It is quite literally the family’s house wine and a perfect pair with some of my favorite foods from salmon or roast chicken to mushroom risotto.  Finally, we’ll taste the current vintage of a wine I’ve sought out every year since their appearance at #10 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list back in 2008.  Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel is excellent time and again as the accompaniment to my Grandmother’s pulled pork recipe or spending time with the best of friends telling (mostly) true stories of years gone by.  There’s much more to each of these stories so stop by, taste, learn, and save; this and every Saturday at Table Wine.  Can’t make it by, but want to place an order?  Just email us at josh@tablewineasheville.com.

Wine Consultant Ben Fort.

The Wines
Save big on all of the tasting wines!  Mix any 3 of them and save 10%, mix any 6 and save 15%, or mix any 12 and save 20%!

1. 2015 Tenuta Sant’Antonio Scaia Bianco (Veneto, Italy) – After inheriting their Father’s 20 Hectare estate, the four Castagnedi brothers purchased another 30 hectares of hillside vineyards on which they grow fruit for their Scaia wines. All four brothers are actively involved as they grow grapes with low yields, which they hand harvest, resulting in grapes that require minimal intervention during the winemaking process.
Tasting Price: $11.69 in mixed 3-packs | $11.04 in mixed 6-packs | $10.39 in mixed cases

2. 2014 G. D. Vajra Langhe Rosso (Piemonte, Italy) – G. D. Vajra is a true family estate winery with parents and children working collaboratively to produce wines of character. This is the wine they describe much as a soccer team, with different grapes playing different roles in the wine much as different positions on the field make up the team.
Tasting Price: $14.29 in mixed 3-packs | $13.59 in mixed 6-packs | $12.79 in mixed cases

3. 2015 Seghesio Zinfandel (Sonoma County, California) – Since 1895 Seghesio has been essentially synonymous with Zinfandel with 300 acres of prime Sonoma County real estate under vine. Now in their 5th generation, the Seghesio family has always sought to “sustainably produce great estate wines from vineyards the family first tended in the late 1800’s.”
Tasting Price: $24.29 in mixed 3-packs | $22.94 in mixed 6-packs | $21.59 in mixed cases

Free Chateau Montelena Wine Tasting at Table Wine in Asheville North Carolina.

Free on Fridays Wine Tasting – Chateau Montelena Wine Tasting

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Friday, April 21st from 4-7 pm – Yep, you read that right as we’re hosting a free Chateau Montelena Wine Tasting on Friday!  Truly one of California’s blue chip estates, we will pour you an all-star lineup of their current releases.  This guarantees to be the best free wine tasting in Asheville!

Founded in 1882, Chateau Montelena is one of California’s most historic and respected estates.  With 120 acres under vine, the winery produces about 50,000 cases of wine each year, and they make 7 different wines.  That’s really not a lot of wine!  Bo Barrett is still running the show here, and he continues to turn out great wines rooted in balance, class, and finesse.  Join us and see what we’re talking about.  We’ll start with their Dry Riesling, a 1,500 case production wine that is guaranteed to convert the most avid Riesling hater.  Up next, the estate’s Calistoga Zinfandel is just singing this vintage with bbq-friendly notes of briary fruit and peppery spice.  To finish, it’s the new vintage of Montelena’s Napa Valley Cabernet, and they knocked it out of the park this year.  What’s new?  Talk is cheap, let the wine do the talking and stop by to taste, learn and save this Friday at Table Wine.   Can’t make it by, but want to place an order?  Just email us at josh@tablewineasheville.com.

The Wines
Save big on all of the tasting wines!  Mix any 3 of them and save 10%, mix any 6 and save 15%, or mix any 12 and save 20%!

1. 2015 Chateau Montelena Riesling  (Potter Valley, California) – We know, you hate Riesling because it’s so sweet and syrupy.  Wrong!  This one is completely dry and completely delicious.  In fact, it is actually sold out at the winery, but we’ve got a couple cases up for grabs.  Possessing bright acidity along with exotic tropical notes, this one makes us want for spicy Thai or Indian food.
Tasting Price: $22.49 in mixed 3-packs | $21.24 in mixed 6-packs | $19.99 mixed cases

2.2013 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel (Napa Valley, California) – Montelena’s Zinfandel is a rare Zinfandel treat.  As opposed to the extracted, jammy style often encountered, this one is balanced, medium bodied, and old school in style.  Briary red berries, earth, and spice all come out to play in this red wine that would pair nicely with a wide range of cuisines, from red sauced pasta dishes to smoked brisket.
Tasting Price: $35.99 in mixed 3-packs | $33.99 in mixed 6-packs | $31.99 in mixed case

3. 2013 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California) – Bo Barret’s Cabs are never the biggest or most extravagant, but they are always delicious, and this is no exception.  Mored medium bodied and seductive, it exhibits silky tannin and balanced acidity making it a perfect pair for a grilled steak.  Classic Napa Cabernet aromas and flavors of dark cherry, currant, tobacco, cedar, and licorice all make an appearance.  Drink now through 2025.
Tasting Price: $53.09 in mixed 3-packs | $50.14 in mixed 6-packs | $47.19 in mixed cases

Excelsior Estate Cabernet Sauvignon at Table Wine in Asheville, NC.

Best Under $10 Cabernet Sauvignon Ever

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Case of the Month – The 2015 Excelsior Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is hands down the best under $10 Cabernet Sauvignon I’ve ever tasted.  I know, that sounds grandiose, but I’m prone to grandiosity when describing wine, and this one is 100% deserving.  Our friend Zingo Munger of Cape Classics, the importer of the wine, says 2015 was an exceptional vintage………so does every wine writer out there.  Dry, warm, and sunny conditions led to a bumper crop of super high quality grapes, and it is clearly evident in this wine. Ripe, supple, and possessing complexity pretty much never found in a Cabernet Sauvignon in this price range, this is guaranteed to be a critic’s choice for best Cabernet Sauvignon value of the year.  It’s the 2015 Excelsior Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and it’s our new Case of the Month — here’s the deal:

2015 Excelsior Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – On Sale Through April 12th

Just $9.99/bottle or $7.89/bottle (over 20% off) on your solid case!

Stop by the store Friday, March 10th (4-7pm) to taste this one for free.

There are several things going for Excelsior’s Cabernet Sauvignon.  In addition to the nearly perfect vintage, this is a family owned estate.  Freddie and Peter De Wet are the 4th and 5th generation of their family to tend the vine.  Their 400 acres of vineyards are situated in Robertson and their limestone-clay rich soils are ideal for the vine and all of the grapes are hand harvested.  Additionally, the 2015 is “bulked up” with 10% Petit Verdot — this adds darker fruit, complex mineral notes, and additional structure.  Last, but not least, the wine is aged in “real deal” French and American oak barrels for a period of 9 months — no oak chips or artificial oak flavoring here.  100% estate grown fruit, attention to quality in the vineyards, real oak barrels, an attractive package……….how do they do it for less than $10??  I don’t know, but I encourage the De Wet’s to keep up the good work!

The resulting wine is a thing of beauty.  Deeply colored and offering up a “$40 nose” of dark currant, cassis, licorice, tobacco, graphite, and spice box, this does not smell like an $8 bottle of wine.  On the palate the wine exhibits soft and plush flavors of dark cherry, currant, herb, creamy mocha and more — this doesn’t taste like an $8 bottle of wine either! All in all, I’ve always been a big fan of Excelsior’s Cabernet Sauvignon and all of their wines, but this year’s release is off the charts.  I can say with absolute certainty that this is the best under $10 Cabernet Sauvignon I’ve ever tasted.

Stop by Friday, March 10th (4-7pm) or shoot me an email at josh@tablewineasheville.com to place your order.  I’ll be glad to hold your wine through the end of the sale period. Cheers and happy drinking and eating in Asheville!

Best free wine tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, NC.

Free On Fridays Wine Tasting – Will’s Picks

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Friday, April 14th from 4-7pm – Join us this Friday for a free wine tasting featuring some of new Table Wine employee Will Russell’s top picks.  

In case you didn’t know, I joined Table Wine 2 months back after a long stint as the wine buyer at Greenlife/Whole Foods.  I am so happy to be working with Josh and Ben and cherish the opportunity to increase my wine knowledge and share it with you.  I’ll start the tasting with one of my favorites, the new vintage of Domaine Salvard Cheverny Blanc.  This lovely expression of Sauvignon Blanc with just a touch of Chardonnay is one of the wines that first drew me to the Loire. Next up, the new vintage of Bodegas Muga Rosado is in fine form this year.  With great richness balanced by zesty acidity, I enjoy this one especially with lighter fish courses or spicy shellfish preparations.  One of the first wines I tasted with Josh when I joined the team was the Torre de Golban Ribera del Duero Reserva — I knew I’d found my new home!  We’ll finish with this big, structured Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero.  There’s so much more to each of the wines than words can purvey.  Stop by, taste, learn, and save every Friday at Table Wine.  Can’t make it by, but want to place an order?  Just email us at josh@tablewineasheville.com.

Table Wine Consultant Will Russell.

Wine Consultant Will Russell.

The Wines
Save big on all of the tasting wines!  Mix any 3 of them and save 10%, mix any 6 and save 15%, or mix any 12 and save 20%!

1. 2016 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Blanc  (Loire Valley, France) – I love drinking wines from the Loire Valley.  Cheverny may be one of most underrated appellations in the Loire. It has never mounted a significant threat to the powerhouses of Sancerre nor Pouilly Fume. However, I don’t think the brothers Delaille are looking for a fight. Year after year they put their heads down and turn out spectacular, affordable wines that convey the chalk and limestone soils not far from the river banks.
Tasting Price: $15.29 in mixed 3-packs | $14.44 in mixed 6-packs | $13.59 mixed cases

2.2016 Bodegas Muga Rosado (Rioja, Spain) – If you knew me well, you might ask why I have chosen two Spanish wines, as I am a hardcore Franco-phile.  I am actually an equal opportunity drinker and happen to love roses from Rioja. Bodegas Muga is relatively new to the game in Rioja, having been founded in 1932. Their rose is a blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Viura and 10% Tempranillo fermented in wooden vats for 15-20 days. The end result is a rich, pretty and impeccably balanced rose that smells and tastes of white peach with notes of wild strawberries.
Tasting Price: $14.39 in mixed 3-packs | $13.59 in mixed 6-packs | $12.79 in mixed case

3. 2012 Torre de Golban Ribera del Duero Reserva (Ribera del Duero, France) – I’ve always leaned toward Ribera del Duero for my favorite expressions of Tempranillo. Torre de Golban is a side venture of the famed Dominio de Atauta. The high altitude and hot, dry climate make for wines of great concentration and depth. It spends 18 months in French oak and 2 years in the bottle prior to release. It is big, with strong dark fruits, a firm backbone of integrated tannin and subtle notes of cedar and tobacco. I want a thick, juicy, grilled bone in ribeye with this one.
Tasting Price: $22.49 in mixed 3-packs | $21.24 in mixed 6-packs | $19.99 in mixed cases
Special Wine of the Week Price: Just $18.99/bottle on your solid 6-pack!  Drink now – 2022.

Events

De Maison Spanish Wine Tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, North Carolina.

Super Saturday Wine Tasting – Legendary Spanish Wines

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Want to taste some legendary Spanish wines along with some legends in the making?  Stop by the store on Saturday as Mike Tiano of the Haw River Wine Man joins us to pour six prized and famed Spanish wines from the De Maison portfolio of Andre Tamers.  Just $5 to try all 6 wines — free for Grape Nuts!

De Maison Selections Tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, North Carolina.

Our next Super Saturday Wine Tasting is a really special one.  Mike Tiano will be running the tasting bar, and he’ll be pouring you an all-star roster of wines from the famed De Maison Selections portfolio. Founded in 1996 by Chapel Hill resident André Tamers, De Maison is easily recognized today as one of the top US-based importers of small family estate Spanish wines.  We’re talking legendary names like Remelluri in Rioja, Vina Sastre in Ribera del Duero, and Do Ferreiro in Rias Baixas……….. just to name a few.  We’ll pour you wines from these historically significant producers along with wines from some of André’s newer producers.  This is a golden opportunity to taste and learn about some of the best of the best Spanish producers and their wines.  No RSVP is required and you do not have to be a Grape Nut to attend — just pay $5 before you begin the tasting and have a great time.

The Wines
Save big on all of the tasting wines!  Mix any 3 of them and save 10%, mix any 6 and save 15%, or mix any 12 and save 20%!

1. 2016 Ameztoi Txakolina (Basque Region, Northern Spain): This is the wine equivalent to a gin and tonic………minus the high alcohol.  Light, crisp, and bottled with a little bit of residual CO2 to give it a natural spritz, it is limey, salty, and bone dry.  Folks try to compare it to Vinho Verde, but it is so much more intense.

2. 2016 Bodegas Ostatu Rosado (Rioja, North-Central Spain): This family run winery is located in the Rioja Alavesa in in the town of Samaniego. They treat their dry rosé with the utmost of respect, using grapes from some of the estate’s oldest and highest elevation vineyards.  A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, and just a splash of Tempranillo Blanco fermented in stainless steel, it is one of the most refreshing wines we offer each year.

3. 2015 Do Ferreiro Albarino (Rias Baixas, Northwestern Spain): Like the title of the tasting proclaims, this is one of Spain’s modern legends of wine and arguably the greatest estate producer of Albarino.  From older vineyards planted close to the Atlantic Ocean, this is sublime Albarino with more than just fruit. There is exotic fruit, but there is also stated minerality and an intensity rarely encountered in this grape.

4. 2015 José Antonio Garcia Unculin (Bierzo, Northwestern Spain): Talk about a perfect red for Memorial Day weekend!  The young José Antonio Garcia is one of André Tamers’ newer producers, and we think he’s a legend in the making.  His Unculin is 100% Mencia from 60-80 year old vineyards, and it is pure drinking pleasure.  Comparable to good Gamay or Pinot Noir, it is medium bodied, juicy and easy drinking………perfect for washing down burgers or other stuff off the grill.

5. 2015 Costers del Priorat Petit Pissares (Priorat, Northeastern, Spain): This is another of De Maison’s newer producers, and we think they are destined for stardom!  One of the best values in estate-grown Priorat on the market, the Petit Pissares is a stainless steel fermented blend of 60% Garnacha and 40% Samso (aka Carignan) from the black slate soils of Priorat.  It is fresh and inviting on the one hand, yet “serious” and intense on the other.  Trust us, this is an exciting new Spanish wine.

6. 2010 Remelluri Rioja Reserva (Rioja, North-Central Spain): Telmo Rodriguez is one of Rioja’s brightest stars, and Remelluri is where he does his best work.  A traditional blend of Tempranillo and several other native grapes, this one is fermented with native yeasts and aged for 16 months in oak.  The resulting wine is magnificent — packed with brooding dark fruit notes and complex spices, this is a wine to drink now with food or hold for up to 15 years. Bravo!

7. Surprise Wine: Yep, there’s one more just to motivate you to stop on by.  It’s a red, it’s big, and it’s delicious!

Sensational Southern French Wines Tasting at Table Wine in Asheville, North Carolina

Free Wine Tasting – Wines of Southern France

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Get your weekend off to a great start with a free wine tasting starring some sensational Southern French wines.  You’ll get to try a crisp and aromatic white, an award winning and highly rated dry rosé, and plush and juicy red from a rising star producer.  

I continue to be amazed with the incredible wine values that come out of Southern France.  The Rhone Valley, Provence, and the Languedoc-Roussillon typically experience warm and sunny growing seasons, and you can certainly taste those attributes in the wines.  Join us as we introduce you to 3 great values perfect for spring and summer.  Up first, it’s a fresh and exotic white blend from Isle Saint-Pierre, an island in the middle of the Rhone River.  I love sipping on this refreshing little wine while sunbathing by the beach or the pool — you will too.  After that, it’s a dramatically delicious dry rosé from Chateau Puech-Haut, arguably the top producer in the region.  A blend of Grenache and Cinsault, the new vintage just received 92 points from The Wine Advocate.  That’s one of the highest scoring rosés of the vintage!  To finish, we’ll pour you one of my personal new favorites, a sumptous red from the Ventoux. A classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, I love this one with burgers, bbq, or lamb.  Sound good?  All you have to do is stop by, taste, learn and save big on all of the tasting wines.  Can’t make it by, but want to place an order?  Just email me at josh@tablewineasheville.com.

Table Wine, Asheville's premiere wine shop.

The Wines
All of the featured tasting wines are on sale the day of the tasting: take 10% off if you mix any 3, 15% off if you mix any 6, or 20% off if you mix any 12.

1. 2016 Isle Saint-Pierre Blanc (Southern Rhone Valley) – Isle Saint-Pierre is a small island in the middle of the Rhône river just 10 miles inland from the Mediterranean. This close proximity to the sea ensures a cooling influence resulting in fresh, easy drinking, “bistro-styled” wines for everyday consumption.  The white is made up of 70% Chardonnay, 25% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscat and is fermented entirely in stainless steel.  Offering up lovely notes of pear, apple, mixed citrus and honeysuckle, it is a white wine for all palates.
Tasting Price: $10.79 on mixed 3-packs | $10.19 on mixed 6-packs | $9.59 on mixed cases

2. 2016 Chateau Puech-Haut Prestige Rosé (Languedoc) – I’ve drunk a lot of  Puech-Haut wines over the years, and I tend to agree with Jeb Dunnuck of The Wine Advocate who called it “easily one of the top estates in the Languedoc.”  The new release of their rosé is another winner that I could drink for days. Primarily Grenache with a dollop of Cinsault, all of the grapes come from 30-60 year old, biodynamically farmed vineyards.  Quite pale in color but intensely aromatic with notes of white flowers, strawberry and white peach, it’s just straight up gorgeous.
Tasting Price: $19.79/bottle | $18.69 in a mixed six pack | $17.59 in a mixed case

3. 2015 Domaine Terrasses d’Eole Ventoux Rouge (Southern Rhone Valley) – I love happy stories like the one involving this small domaine.  For years, the family just grew grapes and sold them off to the local cooperative.  In 1998, son Stephane Saurel convinced his parents to start bottling their own wines………..the rest is history as this small, family run domaine is really clicking on all cylinders.  The red combines 65% Grenache with 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre.  Fermentation occurs in concrete and the resulting wine is simply delicious with notes of ripe cherry, blueberry, peppery spice and herb.  
Tasting Price: $13.49/bottle | $12.74 in a mixed six pack | $11.99 in a mixed case

Josh Spurling
Owner/Operator at Table Wine
828.505.8588