What wine pairs with breaking up?

So I read an article in the New York Times recently called The Stuff of Broken Dreams http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/07/fashion/museum-of-broken-relationships-los-angeles.html?_r=0 about a Museum in Los Angeles that displays the leftover relics from failed relationships. The owner of this museum talked about the future of breaking up. He predicted buying "Breakup Insurance" where you would call a number if you broke up and "someone will come and get you in a car, take you to a bar, buy you a drink and spend two hours talking with you".

This got me thinking, if I were the person you called on your "Breakup Insurance" number, what wine would I serve you to make you feel better? What do you serve with heartbreak?

Here are five factors to look for in wine following a breakup.

1. High Alcohol. Let’s be honest, the reason we are drinking here is to numb the pain. Just like Aspirin for a headache, get an "Extra Strength" wine with more of the active ingredient.

2. Low Cost. This isn't the time to buy a really incredible, complex, multifaceted wine. I'm not suggesting you buy rot-gut, but don't waste your money on a really nice bottle of wine. You won't appreciate all of the nuances and complexities. Get something $20 or under in my opinion. This also leaves more money to buy multiple bottles.

3. Low in Acid. I love wines that are incredibly tart. I'm very comfortable at about 9.5 on the pucker scale. But while the searing acidity may make my food taste twice as good, this isn't the time for that wine, you’ve had enough acid in your day already. You will be drinking a lot of this bottle, and likely on its own, and that much acidity can make your teeth hurt and your stomach feel sour. Opt for one from a warmer climate, like California, Argentina, or Australia that will have less of a harsh, acidic flavor.

4. Fruit-Forward. While I love wines that taste like dirt, this isn't the time for that either. Reach instead for a big, rich, fruity wine that will comfort you like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket. Fruity wines are made to fly solo without any food so it's a great choice for a night like this. Now is the time for a rich, hedonistic, indulgent wine like Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, or Chardonnay.

5. Drink Your Favorite. Go for a classic wine that you love, whatever that is. Whether it’s Moscato, Muscadine or White Zinfandel, choose a wine that comforts you and makes you happy. This is not a time to worry about the expectations of your friends or what Robert Parker thought of the wine. If it makes you happy, this is the night for it.

I think the wine that best fits all of these factors is hot climate California Zinfandel. It's high in alcohol, low in acid and tannins, rich fruity and easy drinking. If you don't want to over think it, try a Zinfandel from Lodi.

Breaking up is never easy, even if it’s amicable or you do the breaking up. Make your night better by taking care of yourself and indulging a little. Put on a good movie, wrap yourself in a blanket, cook up some comfort food and pop open a good bottle of wine. Hopefully things will seem better in the morning. Just don't call your ex!

Everyone knows that when it comes to Rosés, you drink the current vintage, right? The younger the better.

As a general rule of thumb, that's true. Age can diminish the subtle fruit flavors that swirl in a glass of rosé wine, making the fruit taste less "fresh".

But what if the wine was more of a serious food pairing wine and less of a "porch-pounder"? What if the flavors lean more mineral and less fruity? Believe it or not, there are some rosés that taste better after a few years in your cellar then they did right off of the shelf at your favorite wine shop.

As Eric Asimov mentions in his article There's More to Rosé than You May Think, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/06/dining/wine-school-rose.html?_r=1"the most serious rosés will benefit from a little more bottle age." He mentions Bandol, the crown jewel of Provence in France, as an ageable rosé. True enough, Bandol is incredible! Try Domaine Tempier for arguably the best wine from this region or Domaine Antiane for an affordable alternative.

Speaking of Eric's article, check out one of his favorite rosés from Provence (and a favorite of ours as well) Commanderie de Peyrassol. If you like the Commanderie, you should definitely try the MiP, Made in Provence. Its a smaller producer and there isn't a lot of their wine to go around, but we have some!

But Bandol isn't the only region with ageable rosés. Try wines from Tavel, the only wine region that I know of that only makes rosé wine! Also, the rosés from Sancerre, the home of everyone's favorite Sauvignon Blanc, drink tremendously well for a few years after bottling.

One of my personal favorite rosés is Montenidoli's Canaiuolo Rose coming from San Gimignano in Tuscany. This winery actually used to hold back their rosé for a year before releasing it because they liked it better after a year of age. Unfortunately, the wine didn't sell well because consumers thought it was too old, since it was last years vintage. Now they release the current vintage of their wine, but they still recommend waiting a year before you drink it.

Get some of our favorite ageable rosés here, https://www.metrowinesasheville.com/store/rose/

And don't forget to come by and taste 10 different Rosés for free at the third Great Rosé Tasting all day long on Saturday, July 16th!

Well, it finally happened. Rosé wine has finally made it into the mainstream and is no longer mistaken for its sweet cousin, White Zinfandel. It wasn't long ago that we couldn't get most people to even taste pink wine, let alone buy a bottle! Now our customers come in asking for it on their own, without me begging them to try it or anything!

But in the new age of Rosé, many people are intimidated by the huge selection of rosés available in many shops. To help out with your questions, here are 5 things to know about drinking pink wine but were afraid to ask.

1. You should drink your Rosé chilled. Treat it just like a white wine.

2. You can drink your Rosé all year long. It's not just for the warmer months. If you feel comfortable drinking a refreshing glass of Sauvignon Blanc in the winter months, you can definitely enjoy a glass of rosé. I actually think rosé wines pair incredibly well with Thanksgiving dinner!

3. Light colored Rosés aren't better than darker ones. There is the idea that paler rosés are better than darker ones. This is absolutely not true. They can be very different styles though. The pale rosés are usually much more delicate and light, perfect for sipping on the porch while the darker ones are usually more powerful and rich in flavor. For me, nothing pairs with grilled ribs or BBQ Chicken like a rich, dark colored rosé!

4. All Rosés don't taste the same. Rosés can be made from any red grape and depending on which grape is used, they can contribute different flavors. Rosé made from Cabernet can be powerful, ones made from Pinot Noir can be delicate and acidic, and those made from Syrah can be peppery and spicy. There are even some made from mostly white wine with around 2% of red wine added. These tend to be the most light and delicate, and more closely resemble white wines.

5. You want to drink the current vintage (usually).  Rosés are prized for being clean, fresh and fruity, and the longer your wine ages, the less fresh the fruit tastes. For that reason, you usually want to drink the fresher rosés. Although, some serious rosés might be able to age for a while. Some winemakers intentionally age their rosés for a few years before releasing them. These are usually more serious wines intended for pairing with food and less for picnics.

Well, I hope that helped! Feel free to email us if you have any questions. Until next time, happy drinking!

"The Farm", my favorite event venue in Candler, is holding their first-ever wine dinner and the Asheville School of Wine will be there!

Chef Mike Ferrari will be using skills he has learned working at 7 country clubs across the country to put together a tremendously innovative four course meal with wines paired by the Asheville School of Wine.

The dinner will be held at 6:00pm on Sunday, July 10th in the main barn. The cost will be $100 per person. If you haven't been to their fantastic facility yet, check out their website. It's absolutely breathtaking! http://thefarmevents.com/

Call the Farm for tickets at (828) 667-0666 or email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Come out next month for great food and wine, and have dinner in an incredibly beautiful setting!

In case you missed it in print, check out my new article about wines for warm weather in Sophie Magazine. These are some that I have been drinking as the weather warms up.

http://sophiemagazine.com/home-garden/spring-time-sippers-wines-to-drink-in-the-sun/

Grovewood Gallery, in the shadow of the historic Grove Park Inn, is hosting a show on artisan-made rocking chairs and the Asheville School of Wine will be there! The gallery will host works from ten American woodworkers ranging in style from traditional to very modern.

How often do you get a chance to see unique works of art and then sit on them?

Charley Stanley, educator at the Asheville School of Wine will be there at the reception this Saturday, June 4th from 3:00-6:00, to pour wines for you to taste as well as answer your wine questions.

Come out and see us this weekend at Grovewood Gallery!

Suffer from headaches when you drink red wine? Here is a great article on what might be causing your headaches and what you can do to avoid them.

Spoiler Alert, It's not sulfites!

If you've ever visited a salad bar, enjoyed a glass of orange juice, or worst of all, eaten a raisin or two, you have literally consumed multiple wine bottles worth of sulfites in that one sitting! They are loaded with the stuff.

So if we can't point the finger at sulfites, what is responsible for our headaches? Find out in this article!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/sc-red-wine-headache-health-0608-20160525-story.html

This week, we had the opportunity to host a Spanish wine tasting for a local business. We spoke about Spain and tasted a number of wines ranging from somewhat well known, to downright obscure! I love obscure grape varietals!

Here are the wines we tasted if you want to try them out yourself!

Vina Mayor Verdejo, Rueda, 2014 - Verdejo is kind of like Albarinos obscure little sister. It's powerful, lemon-curdy flavors are very refreshing, and it's a terrific wine for $14.99!

Ostatu Rioja Rose, 2015 - This is one of my new favorite roses! It's been a favorite of mine for years, but this vintage is especially good! Tart raspberry, a hint of cherries and a ripple of cinnamon-spice makes this one a home run at $13.99

Luna Beberide Mencia 2013 -  A great lesser known grape that I think resembles Pinot Noir. A little lighter and silkier, with a touch of earth and a good bite of acid. $17.75

Juan Gil Monastrell, Jumilla, 2013 - A house favorite! Monastrell is Spanish Mourvedre, and this is the most famous house for it. Big and rich, with a slightly smokey, spicy flavor. It's a real crowd pleaser at $17.99

To host your own private wine tasting, contact Metro Wines at (829) 575-9525.

That's right, THE John Grochau (pronounced Grow-Shaw)! If you've never heard of him, he's the owner and winemaker behind Grochau Cellars from Willamette Valley, Oregon and one of our favorite winemakers. His Pinot Noir has been a staple in the shope since we opened, and frankly it's so popular, we have a hard time keeping in stock!

If you haven't had the opportunity to try these wines, now is your chance! He will be here in person, pouring his wines and discussing his winemaking philosophy! Come by the shop Thursday May 5th, from 5:00-6:30 to meet the man and taste his wines! The tasting is, as always, on the house!

For more about Grochau head to their website here http://grochaucellars.com/. For more on the tasting, check out Metro Wines' Blog here https://www.metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/john-grochau-metrowines

Saumur is a village in the Loire Valley that makes terrific Cabernet Franc and world class Chenin Blanc. It is also Asheville's Sister City in France.

To learn more about this fantastic town and the wonderful wines that it makes, come to Metro Wines on Sunday, April the 24th from 2:00-4:00. Taste wines from Saumur and listen to representatives from the Asheville Sister Cities Committee and the Asheville School of Wine, as well as the music of Edith Piaf and hors d'ouvres!

The cost is $15 per person.

Once it gets above 60 degrees for a few days in a row, I'm ready for Rosé! My fridge is already loaded up with pink wine and I'm putting it away as fast as I can. To me, Rosé is synonymous with spring and eating outside.

If you aren't a fan of Rosé wine, you owe it to yourself to try some of the dry wines that are popping up all over the world. These are miles away from White Zinfandel and Mateus!

The best time to test drive some pink wine is Saturday, May 7th. Once a year we break out some of our favorite rosé wines to taste side by side, so that we can see the little differences between a rosé from Provence and one from Rioja, for instance. Winemakers all over the world have started making rosé and they all are a little different. Come taste the wines and learn about Rosé wine from the Asheville School of Wine!

Read more about it here http://www.metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/the-great-rose-tasting

Come by next month and try them out!

The Asheville School of Wine had a great turnout last week for our live-via-Skype wine tasting with our favorite South African winemaker, Bruwer Raats! We spoke to him while he was on holiday in Cederburg. The sun was setting behind him while he sat in the back of his truck.

We had a chance to not only taste some great wines, but also to ask Bruwer our questions about making wine in South Africa, his work with our favorite bargain wine Indaba and also the aging potential and food pairings for his wines.

Not only were the wines good, Bruwer proved to be the charismatic, funny, humble person that I have heard he was! Its always fascinating to meet the person behind your favorite wines!

Check out our interview with Bruwer on Unfiltered here http://www.metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/bruwer-raats-interview-by-skype

This past weekend Metro Wines held a wildly successful tasting in conjunction with Grovewood Gallery at the Grove Park Inn. As the weather warmed and the flowers bloomed, we really enjoyed showcasing a few of our favorite wines from the shop.

A perennial customer favorite, Yali Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere blend from Chile, was loved by all who were looking for an earthy, fuller bodied red wine while browsing through the art gallery. For those who were looking for something a little lighter in body, the Nunes Barata white wine from Portugal was a huge hit. It’s light, crisp, and ever so slightly citrusy.

Now for the Grand Finale - Mirabilia Rosé from Ippolito! It by far the most popular wine we poured and it makes total sense. Nothing accentuates a beautiful spring afternoon like a beautiful glass of rosé. The Mirabilia is light, crisp, and as floral as a blooming botanical garden!

Don't feel bad if you haven't heard of Minervois. It is a tiny place in the Languedoc Region of Southern France which until this decade hasn't really gotten a lot of attention at all. In fact, the entirety of the Languedoc region was mostly known for producing cheap, Tuesday-night plonk and wine rations for the French Army.

That's right, the French Army gets wine rations.

Anyway, things are changing quickly for Languedoc wine. It is starting to get it's own identity. It is getting a sense of its terroir and is figuring out which grape varietals grow best in it. It has gone from producing cheap wines from borrowed varietals from Burgundy and Bordeaux, to excellent wines made from Carignane and Mourvedre.

The only problem is, now we have a new region to study. New villages and obscure grapes to learn.

Of the new villages in Languedoc, one of the best is Minervois. They are known for their reds, made from Carignane blended with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. They are more rustic and powerful than those of Bordeaux and pair very well with venison, smoked meats, and rich foods.

To learn more about Minervois, come meet Francoise Le Calves. She will be here in person pouring her wines and discussing her winemaking philosophy on Wednesday, April 13th from 5:00 to 6:30. More info on Francoise here http://www.metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/chateau-coupe-roses-minervois-tasting-with-winemaker

One of the best things about my job has been the opportunity to meet the people behind the wines I love. To be able to ask them questions about how they make their wine, what makes it unique compared to the millions of other wine brands out there, to ask why they make their wine in a certain way and to learn the secrets and stories behind their wines.

Every wine has a story, and it is always interesting to meet the storyteller! This coming week you will have a few opportunities to meet the "storytellers" behind some of our favorite wines from the Southern Hemisphere.

Tuesday March 29th we will be hosting a double feature! Representatives from the Allen Scott Family Wines from New Zealand will be here, along with the Australian winery Vinaceous Wines. They will be pouring their wines and discussing their unique winemaking styles and philosophy. They will both be joining us from 5:30 to 7:00pm, stop by and meet your winemakers!

Learn more about Allan Scott Family Winemakers at www.allanscott.com, and read up on Vianceous's wines at https://www.vinaceous.com.au/

On Saturday, April 2nd we will be speaking with one of our favorite winemakers in the world, Bruwer Raats! He will be hosting a wine tasting live via Skype from his winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Come hear a short crash course in South African wine by Andy Hale of the Asheville School of Wine and stay to learn about Raats wines from the man himself! We will taste several of Bruwer's wines while he tells us about how he made them. Bring your questions about South African winemaking and ask them to one of South Africa's most famous winemakers. It really is a rare opportunity! The tasting starts at High-Noon on Saturday! Come out and start your weekend off right!

I still can't believe it! Monday afternoon we had THE Andre Mack, you know, the Sommelier, Author and Winemaker pouring his wines at here at Metro Wines!

If you haven't heard of Andre or tasted his wines, check them out. In my opinion, they are some of the most innovative wines coming out of Oregon currently. He poured his Rosé called "Love Drunk", his Pinot Noir called "O.P.P.", and his red blend called "Horseshoes and Handgrenades". The crowd loved the wines and loved listening to Andre tell his story!
Andre stayed long enough to sign some bottles and then he was off to a wine dinner at the Junction.
Check out his website here http://moutonnoirwines.com/, and while you are there, get some of his T-Shirts. They are some of the funniest wine-geeky shirts I've seen!
We still have signed bottles available of the three wines he poured. Get some before they are gone!

Next week will be a good time to come by Metro Wines if you like free wine tastings! The Asheville School of Wine will be offering three wine education classes with tastings hosted by wineries PradoRey and Rodney Strong as well as the famous importer Votto Vines.

Monday brings PradoRey from Spain, a winery established in 1503. They've been making wine longer than I have even been drinking it! If you enjoy the Tempranillos from Rioja, then try them from lesser known, but equally esteemed Ribera del Duero, and stay around for their Verdejos from Rueda!

Read more about it here: http://www.metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/pradorey-wine-tasting

Wednesday brings Rodney Strong in from California. I was familiar with their cheaper, grocery store line of wines, but was really impressed by their higher end ones! I tasted the "Rockaway" Cabernet next the Joseph Phelps Insignia and liked the Rockaway better!

Learn more about it here: http://www.metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/rodney-strong-wine-tasting-1

Thursday brings legendary importer Votto Vines, specializing in all things Italian! They were recently named Wine Enthusiast's Importer of the year for 2015. Come see what all the fuss is about!

Read more here: http://www.metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/votto-wines-tasting

All tastings are from 4:30-7:00 at Metro Wines and are "on the house". Parking is convenient and free. Come taste and learn!

If only all the wine that I drank helped out a cause, the world would be a much better place indeed! Fortunately for us, there is a way to help out our Public Schools with the wine that we drink. From 3:00-5:00pm on Valentines Day "Reds for Ed" will be having a wine tasting at Metro Wines to raise money for our School System. So, for $25 + tax, you can drink great wine and support our community at the same time!

Try these fantastic wines!

Paitin Barbera 2013

                One of our favorites in the shop! Made by a winery which predates the Renaissance, it is likely that Caravaggio enjoyed this wine himself. Barbera is the “everyday” wine of Italy’s Piedmont, but is capable of great complexity and beauty. Medium bodied, crisp and earthy, with flavors of cranberry, sour cherry and dusty strawberries, this wine is an excellent Pinot Noir alternative.

Chateau Monestier LaTour Bergerac Rouge

                A classic Bordeaux blend from the only American, woman winemaker in Bordeaux, Michelle D’Aprix! Merlot based, with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, this wine is sure to please your palette whether you prefer Bordeaux or California! Flavors of blackberry, smoke, plum, leather and red cherry.

Maria Mora Reserva

                Portugal has been making fine wine for hundreds of years, but has only started exporting their dry table wines within the past few decades. Because they are less known, they are probably the best values coming out of Europe today! This is a blend of Portugal’s national grape, Touriga Nacional, blended with Syrah and Alicante Bouchet. Big and bold, with black pepper and spice. This wine sells for $36 in New York, but we are able to get it for far less because it is imported into Asheville!

Alto Sios

                A fantastic wine from a very small producer in Coster Del Segre, Spain. This is a blend of Syrah, Tempranillo and Garnatcha. Bold and powerful, with exotic spices and rich, jammy fruit. If you like Napa Cabernets, you will love this little gem from Spain!

Pairing chocolate and wine is harder than you might think! Check out my latest article in Sophie Magazine for a quick guide to wine and chocolate pairing.

Go Big or Go Sweet: Pairing Chocolate and Wine

Having a hard time picking out the right bottle of bubbly for New Years eve? Check out my new article in Sophie Magazine!

http://sophiemagazine.com/uncategorized/choosing-the-right-holiday-fizz-from-cava-to-prosecco/