Beer & Wine Event Guide 2021

BEER & WINE Event Guide 2021

FEATURING: Local Breweries and Wineries Favorite Drink Picks and More!

YOUR COMMUNITY'S LARGEST SELECTION OF

Beer & Wine

1104 Hwy 105 Boone, NC 28607 (828) 264-9476 peabodyswineandbeer.com

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BEER & WINE EVENT GUIDE

August-September 2021

Upcoming Events Aug. 26: Live music by Tom Pillion — Grandfather Vineyard Aug. 27: Live music by The Neighbors — Grandfather Vineyard Aug. 27: Wicked Good Pretzels food truck and live music by Tom Pillion — Linville Falls Winery Aug. 28: Live music by The Harris Brothers — Grandfather Vineyard Aug. 28: Lobster Dogs food truck and live music by The Classic — Linville Falls Winery Aug. 28: obster Dogs Aug. 29: Live music by Shelby Rae Moore — Grandfather Vineyard Aug. 29: Lobster Dogs food truck and live music by The Sami & Dave Band — Linville Falls Winery

WINERIES Banner Elk Winery and Villa Banner Elk 60 Deer Run Lane (828) 898-9090 bannerelkwinery.com Grandfather Vineyard and Winery Banner Elk 225 Vineyard Lane (828) 963-2400 grandfathervineyard.com Linville Falls Winery Linville Fallse 9557 Linville Falls Highway (828) 765-1400 linvillefallswinery.com Thistle Meadow Winery Laurel Springs 102 Thistle Meadow (800) 233-1505 thistlemeadowwinery.com

Sept. 2: Live music by Tom Pillion — Grandfather Vineyard Sept. 3: Live music by Todd Greene — Lost Province Brewing Company Sept. 3: Live music by The Neighbors — Grandfather Vineyard

Watauga Lake Winery 6952 Big Dry Run Road Butler, Tenn.

(423) 768-0345 www.wataugalakewinery.com

Sept. 4: Live music by Smokin’ Joe Band — Highlander’s Grill and Tavern Sept. 4: Live music by the Andy Page Trio — Lost Province Brewing Company Sept. 4: Live music by The Harris Brothers — Grandfather Vineyard Sept. 5: Live music by Shelby Rae Moore — Grandfather Vineyard Sept. 17: Live music by Laura Thurston — Lost Province Brewing Company Sept. 18: Grape Stomp — Stomp grapes, listen to live music and enjoy some award-winning wine — Linville Falls Winery Sept. 18: Live music by Woodie and the String Pullers — Lost Province Brewing Company Sept. 25: High Country Oktoberfest — Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery Oct. 1: Live music by the Andy Page Trio — Lost Province Brewing Company Oct. 2: Stomp & Brew — Ashe County’s favorite craft beer, wine and cider tasting festival returns for the third time on Saturday, Oct. 2, in Downtown West Jefferson. Proceeds from the event benefit Shoes for Kids, a local charity that provides shoes for children in need.

Nov. 5: Live music by the Andy Page Trio — Lost Province Brewing Company Dec. 3: Live music by the Andy Page Trio — Lost Province Brewing Company

HIGH COUNTRY BREWERIES Appalachian Mountain Brewery 163 Boone Creek Drive Boone (828) 263-1111 www.amb.beer Beech Mountain Brewing Company 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy.

Beech Mountain (828) 387-2011 ext. 208 www.beechmountainresort.com/ mountain/brewery Blowing Rock Brewing Company 152 Sunset Drive Blowing Rock (828) 414-9600 www.blowingrockbrewing.com Booneshine Brewing Company 465 Industrial Park Drive Boone (828) 278-8006 www.booneshine.beer Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant 108 S. Jefferson Ave. West Jefferson (336) 246-5222 www.boondocksbeer.com Kettell Beerworks 567 Main St. East Banner Elk (828) 898-8677 www.kettellbeerworks.com Lost Province Brewing Company 130 N. Depot St. Boone (828) 265-3506 www.lostprovince.com Molley Chomper 165 Piney Creek Rd. Lansing (336) 488-0809 www.molleychomper.com New River Brewing 108 South 3rd Ave. West Jefferson (336) 846-2739 www.newriverbrewing.beer

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BREWERIES IN ATTENDANCE

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Tasting glasses are offered at High Country Beer Fest.

• New Belgium Brewing • Lost province Brewing Company • Blue Moon • Booneshine Brewing Co. • Blowing Rock Brewing • Appalachian Mountain Brewery • Red Oak Brewery • Foothills Brewing • Wise Man Brewing • Beech Mountain Brewing • Hi-Wire Brewing • Bird Song Brewing Co. • Terrapin Beer Co. • Good Road Ciderworks • UpCountry Brewing Company • Angry Troll Brewing • Boojum Brewing Company • Blue Blaze Brewing Co. • Twin Leaf Brewery • Kettell Beerworks • Southern Pines Brewing Company • The Mason Jar Lager Co. • The Unknown Brewing Co. • Austin Eastciders • Brown Truck Brewery • Innovation Brewing • Sidetracked Brewery • Royal Bliss Brewing Co. • New Sarum Salisbury Brewing Co. • Blake’s Hard Cider Co. • Salty Parrot Brewing Company • Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing Company • Bhramari Brewing Company • Ass Clown Brewing Company

High Country Beer Fest I

BY IAN TAYLOR

n 2018, a team of Stanford University scientists discovered the earliest-known evidence of beer production with residue on 13,000-year-old mortars in what is now Israel.

From the Mesopotamian goddess of alcohol, Ninkasi, to craft beer’s explosion in popularity in recent years, beer has been a staple of human civilization.

In the High Country, craft beer and those who make it have created a busting community of brewers, each experimenting with flavors and styles to create a unique beer culture. The love and passion for

brewing culminates every year into a daylong celebration of suds, the High Country Beer Fest, on Aug. 28..

The festival — hosting its 14th edition in 2021 — introduces visitors to a variety of brews from 35 of the area’s brewers, while also serving as a fundraiser for Appalachian State’s Fermentation Sciences department and local charities.

Between the Beer Fest and the products of local breweries flowing like the New River, the High Country has become a premiere beer destination for connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike.

“Of course, you have the Pacific

Northwest, Southern California for a while and the Rockies are great (beer areas),” said Dr. Brett Taubman, president of Ivory Tower and director of the Appalachian State University Fermentation Sciences program. “North Carolina in general — and especially Western North Carolina — was really a leader in the Southeast.”

Taubman pointed to a key combination of factors in N.C.’s demographics that culminated in the development of the beer culture.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that North Carolina tends to be one of the more progressive states in the Southeast,” Taubman

said. “(There are) cities like Asheville and Boone, where you have a fermentation sciences program which certainly doesn’t hurt. The stars kind of aligned to set up Western North Carolina as one of those hotspots of brewing in the country; where you get that creativity, you get the young people living in the area and the entrepreneurial spirit of Western North Carolina in general.”

Aiding the brew-focused, entrepreneurial spirit is the water.

According to Taubman, many varieties of beer around the world have some link to the attributes of the water available.

“IPAs were born in Burton-onTrent in England because of the high calcium sulfate in the water, which lends a real minerally bitterness to beer and so that was conducive to making hoppy, bitter beers,” Taubman said. “The high calcium carbonate in Dublin and that area was what led to them making Guinness, the dry Irish stout and the darker more acidic malts. Classic styles were born in particular areas because of their water.”

The High Country has a soft water supply, Taubman said, noting the water used by local breweries SEE BEER ON PAGE 4

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FILE PHOTO

Kinney Baughman keeps the bubbles floating through the air at the 11th annual High Country Beer Fest.

does not typically have many minerals in it. This makes it easier for them to strip the water, creating a blank canvas for the future beers.

The huge variety of brews originating from the High Country and the surrounding areas all come together at Beer Fest, where visitors can sample as many as they like, or can.

Before visitors can enter, they will have to provide a proof of getting the COVID-19 vaccine or that they have tested negative for the virus in the 72 hours leading up to the festival.

“We regret that we have to do this, but we want everyone to be safe while enjoying the event,” the organizers announced on the Beer Fest website. “We believe that one of the options should work for everyone.”

The ticket to get in is the only purchase requirement, unless patrons want merchandise. After entering, people can walk from one brewery’s set up to another, getting 2 oz. samples of whatever beer they

Elevate Your Taste in Wine

Enjoy Wine Flights, Live Music, Food Trucks, & More!

9557 Linville Falls Hwy, Linville Falls, NC Milepost 317 on the Blue Ridge Parkway linvillefallswinery.com

(828) 765-1400

FILE PHOTO

Colton Lenz of The Local instructs previous beer fest attendees on playing a game to win prizes from the Boone restaurant.

desire.

One option for sampling will be the winner of Beer Fest’s first annual homebrew competition. According to Taubman, the contest not only acted as promotion of the festival, but of the homebrewing community.

The winner was a nameless brew from Raleigh’s Zane Oliver. The illustrious international pale lager will be brewed with honors on Booneshine’s 10-bbl system.

To buy Beer Fest tickets, sign up to volunteer at the event or donate to Ivory Tower, visit www.hcbeerfest.com.

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Booneshine Brewing Company What makes Boone shine? First and foremost, it’s the people. The people of Boone are explorers, artists, and entrepreneurs. Our community thrives on adventure and celebrating life in the High Country. Whether it’s hiking a mountain for the first time, catching your first rainbow trout, taking a bike ride, carving a turn on the slopes, or just enjoying the outdoors on a beautiful sunny day, Boone truly shines. Booneshine Brewing Company is passionate about brewing delicious and approachable beer and is equally focused on connecting with what makes the community shine.

When Booneshine opened their doors in East Boone in 2019 they quickly became a favorite among locals, students, and High Country visitors. Since opening in 2019,

Booneshine added a large outdoor beer garden, food truck and tap trailer. The food truck serves grab and go options such as pretzels, fried cheese curds, smash burgers, grilled cheese, and more. Don’t miss BBQ Saturdays in the beer garden featuring pork and beef brisket smoked low and slow for

over fourteen hours.

Booneshine’s mission is to make the High Country a better place. One example of is their partnership with many local organizations, including Appalachian State Fermentation Sciences. Not only has Booneshine hired several fermentation sciences graduates, but they also partner with the Ivory Tower Brewing non-profit to raise funds for the program. Once a quarter, Booneshine collaborates with Ivory Tower on a brew and the proceeds go back to the fermentation sciences program.

Booneshine is 100% locally owned and certified independent under the Brewer’s Association Independent Craft program.

Drink fresh and local to keep making Boone shine.

Voted Best Brewery 2020 and 2021 Come try our award winning brews at our tasting room and outdoor beer garden!

465 Industrial Park Drive • Boone, NC 28607 • 828.278.8006 • booneshine.beer

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Five Best Craft Beer Road Trips Independent beer makers are blossoming in America.

They are also great themes for vacations for young people or honeymooners.

C

raftBeer.com mapped out some of the best craft breweries off the beaten path.

Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tenn.

The family owned brewery has been gaining attention for their earthy saisons and barrel-aged beers since the brewery’s opening on the 4,200-acre estate in the

Smoky Mountains. You can also stay here. This working farm also boasts luxury accommodations, including a wellness center and spa.

Titletown Brewing Company, Green Bay, Wisc.

No one should be surprised that Green Bay appeared on a must-visit beer location. This small brewpub is located in a renovated train station, originally opened in 1899 as the Chicago & North Western Depot.

In its heyday, the depot was also the main port of call for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, with all travel to away games for the team always beginning and ending at the

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depot. History says 20,000 showed up here in 1929 to great the new NFL champions. Packers fans will drink to that.

Salt Springs Brewery, Saline, Mich.

In 2015, the brewery and restaurant opened up in a former Methodist

Craft Beer

Boone, NC -NEW 2 Boone Locations-

lostprovince.com

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church, which as a brewery retained its brick exterior and stained-glass windows.

You won’t find communion wine here, but rather the brewery’s popular Big Brown Bunny Porter – a 6.9 percent ABV dark, rich and slightly sweet beer.

held the jail cells of the Michigan State Police.

Vault Brewing Company, Yardley, Penn.

How protected is the Vault Brewing Company of its beer? An original 8,000-pound vault door The Old Schoolhouse protects the beer cellar.

Brewery, Winthrop, Wash.

This is the former National In this historic mining Bank, originally built in town sits an old school1889. The vibe here is less house that has been conbrewery and more a throwverted into a brewery.

Located about a four-hour back to the speakeasys of drive from Seattle, the small the 1920s. town of Winthrop is located along the North Cascades Moon River Highway and is the perfect Brewing Company, landing place for road-trip- Savannah, Ga. ping brew hounds.

Don’t be surprised if you Haymarket Pub and run into Casper while dipBrewery, Bridgman, Michping into Moon River Brewigan This is Haymarket Pub & ing Company’s hand-crafted beers. The building has Brewery’s second location, been featured on “Ghost about 90 miles east and Hunters” and is routinely “one big Great Lake away from its original location in a stop on ghost tours that take place throughout the Chicago.” The new 30-barcity. The building’s history rel brewery was built on dates to 1821.

18-acres of land that once

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BEER & WINE EVENT GUIDE

Pandemic’s Effect on Wine It’s no secret that sales of alcoholic beverages spiked during the pandemic. (Who among us hasn’t attended a virtual happy hour in the era of COVID?)

T

he intricacies of the changes in the wine market, however, tell a story about the state of the world in general.

Trends

Total wine sales soared 27 percent between March and April 2020, according to Nielsen. Online wine sales exploded between April 2020 and August 2020, according to the Wine Intelligence’s October 2020 report “Wine Consumer Trends in the

Covid-19 Era,” and other estimates show online sales more than doubling.

While sales volume increased, the average price per bottle decreased, says Wine Intelligencer, adding that consumers turned to trusted value brands, rather than pricier offerings, and latched on to local wine brands.

“Our data earlier this year pointed to wine being one of the winners of lockdown, and this trend has solidified over the past few months,” said Wine Intelligence CEO Lulie

Restaurant and Wine Bar

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Alcohol sales continue to be a bright spot in an otherwise dim pandemic economy.

Halstead. According to the report, “An increasing proportion of wine drinkers are not planning on going out to eat for the foreseeable future, and (vacations) and hotel stays are off the agenda for most.”

For menus and hours please visit our website at vidaliaofboonenc.com

831 West King Street | 828.263.9176 | www.vidaliaofboonenc.com | Reservations Strongly Recommended

Another trend noted in both the Wine Intelligence and Nielsen reports is larger wine package sizes.

Boxed wine sales surged 44 percent in March and April 2020, according to Nielsen, while sales of bottled wine

with takeout orders also increased.

A Leveling Off

At the beginning of the pandemic, consumers wanted to treat themselves, according to Wine Intelligence,

but as incomes dwindled, the trend slowed. “Consumer responses about their broader economic behavior also indicate a general tightening of belts will occur during the coming months, with household savings prioritized ahead of any large purchases, and the motivation to spend on luxuries, which initially surged in the early weeks of lockdown, has now subsided.”

Wine Intelligence predicted that consumers will continue to avoid crowds even after the pandemic, noting “The broader issue of consumer confidence in the economy, and in their own safety, may start to weigh on the category in 2021.” Nielsen also warned of a “rebalancing” in the market after the initial COVID-19 alcohol surge.

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BEER & WINE EVENT GUIDE

BOONESHINE BREWING COMPANY BOONESHINEBREWINGCOMPANY

Brewer s Choice

August-September 2021

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BREWERY

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BREWERY

Be sure to check out these local beers!

Palate Painter Mosaic IPA

Tropicpale Ale

East Boone Pilsner

Space Pegasus IPA

GRANDFATHER VINEYARD

Drink up!

Not A Double IPA

Long Leaf IPA

Low and Lazy IPA

Long Leaf IPA

BANNER ELK WINERY

Vintner s Choice Be sure to check out these local wines!

Provenance Pinot Noir Rosé

Tanawha Big Boulder Red

Banner Elk White

Marechal Foch

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Appalachian Mountain Brewery Nestled in the High Country of North Carolina, Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) and Cidery (AMC) was founded in 2013 and was the first brewery in Boone, NC. Also born and raised in the North Carolina mountains are founders Nathan and Chris who built a foundation of highquality beer rooted in the principles of community, philanthropy and sustainability.

Almost a decade later, those principles still remain true in our day-to-day. Did you know that since January 2018, we have planted over 120,000 Long Leaf pines across the state through our Long Leaf Alliance partnership? We also sponsor beehives through Bee Downtown and use the honey at our Farm to Flame food truck and in our award-winning Boone Creek Blonde Ale. AMB strives to create a sustainable

brewing process and we have teamed up with local farms to donate spent grain for the cattle feed. This helps us to divert grain from ending up at landfills and helps local farmers make ends meet saving up to 50+ tons of feed per year!

Along with deep involvement throughout the community, our high-quality beer speaks for itself. AMB has participated in the Great American Beer Festival, the most competitive beer competition in the country, and has earned several medals including our, Boone Creek Blonde (2015 Gold Medal) and Lager (2017 Gold Medal) and Hop Rain Drop IPA (2017 Silver Medal). Come visit us at our pub location in Boone, NC and enjoy a variety of beers and ciders, our Farm to Flame food truck and a great time with friends and family.

Sep. 25 - Join us for the first High Country Oktoberfest German FoOd - Live Music - Family Friendly games OutdoOr Biergarten -SupPorting local charities HIGHCOUNTRYOKTOBERFEST.COM

COME VISIT BOONE’S BEER PIONEERS FRESH LOCAL BEeR - WOoD FIRED PIZzA - LIVE MUSIC - GOoD VIBES AMB.BEeR - 163 BoOne CreEk Dr. BoOne, NC 28607

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BEER & WINE EVENT GUIDE

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Recipe

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How to Drink Craft Beer One of craft beers’ best qualities is the variety.

So much to choose from, in fact, that it can lead to a paralysis of indecision.

W

hat to order? The best route is a flight, four or five short pours at once of a variety. This will provide a study in the various styles of flavors if you’re unsure about new craft lagers. Line up IPAs, a couple of stouts or a couple of porters and discover. The Los Angeles Times had a few other tips, too.

Finding a food pairing

the richness of fried foods. Marzen, an Oktoberfest beer, pairs will with fried chicken and chicken fried steak.

Black IPA, black ale and a dry stout or porter with a balance of malts and hops work well with richly marbled steaks on the grill.

American wheat ale, white ale, Kolsch pair will with sushi and tossed salads in vinaigrettes. Sushi’s delicate flavors call for lighter beers.

But, to each her own. The only way to find out what’s good for you is to test them.

Allow your palate to explore. Taste test a pale ale, a stout or something sour with your cheeseburger. See what works. Blonde ales and lagers are Social juices good with salty fried foods. The citrusy “Flights are great for first dates,” accents in blonde ales complement said Brian Lenzo, founder of Blue

Palms Brewhouse. “You gotta put your cellphone down and talk to each other while you’re drinking.”

Craft beer is social construct. Sit and talk about the beers as you consume them, what you like, what you don’t, what you agree about and why your friend – or date -- is wrong. Pro tip: Don’t get in a knock-down-drag-out fight with your girl on the first date.

Strategize consumption

Put some thought to the order in which you drink the flight.

“Build yourself a story in beer,” recommended the Times. Start with something light -- a lager or a blonde ale -- then progress to more full-flavored, stronger brews, a pale ale, then an IPA or a brown ale and then a stout. Finish boldly. Choose a “hefty beer with a high alcohol content and the flavor volume to match it, like an imperial stout, a double (or triple) IPA, or a barleywine.”

Make it at home: What’s cheese without beer?

Beer Cheese ¼ cup butter ¼ cup flour ½ teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 cup milk 1 cup beer of choice (Stout is good) 2 cups shredded cheese of choice (sharp cheddar and smoked gouda are excellent) 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk together until golden in color, a minute or two. Stir in garlic powder, cayenne pepper and Worcestershire sauce.

Stir in beer and milk a bit at a time whisking until smooth after each addition. Continue cooking over medium heat until thickened.

Reduce heat to low, add cheese and stir just until melted and smooth. Stir in mustard.

Serve warm with fresh bread, soft pretzels, vegetables or tortilla chips.

— Recipe from Margie Mansure, Extension Agent/ Registered Dietitian, Nutrition and Local Foods, N.C. Cooperative Extension, Watauga County Center

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Mountain Times Publications • Page 11

WATAUGA

Beech Mountain

Boone

Banner Elk

Blowing Rock

Newland

AVERY Linville

BREWERIES

WINERIES

Appalachian Mountain Brewery 163 Boone Creek Drive Boone, NC (828) 263-1111 www.amb.beer

Banner Elk Winery & Villa 60 Deer Run Banner Elk, NC (828) 898-9090 www.bannerelkwinery.com

Booneshine Brewing Company 465 Industrial Park Dr. Boone, NC (828) 278-8006 www.booneshine.beer

Grandfather Vineyard & Winery 225 Vineyard Lane Banner Elk, NC (828) 963-2400 www.grandfathervineyard.com

Lost Province Brewing Co. 130 N. Depot St. Boone, NC (828) 265-3506 www.lostprovince.com

Linville Falls Winery 9557 Linville Falls Highway (U.S. 221) Newland, NC (828) 765-1400 www.linvillefallswinery.com

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Wine Trends Trends in wine this year are reshaping ideas about classic wines and growing regions.

T

his year on the shelves of your local wine shop, you’ll see rose — from conventional to complex, flat to sparkling — as well as Portuguese wines that vary from light whites to bold reds, and a variety of flavored wine seltzers.

Rose Rose is all the rage. According to WinePair.com, the sweet pink wine saw 19 percent increase in reader interest between 2019 and 2020.

While you may associate rose with a cool sip on a hot day, it’s more than just a light summer wine. In fact, VinePair.com says the 2019 Adelaida Rose drinks like a red wine. Roses with more complex, intense flavors are better suited for colder weather and should not be chilled but served at a temperature of 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sparkling roses — also increasing in popularity —

(828) 264-8100 957 Rivers St., Boone, NC 28607

(828)-295-7500 1182 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605

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Rose varies from light whites to bold reds.

should be chilled.

In late 2020, Italy’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry approved the production of Prosecco Rose, made from Glera and Pinot Noir grapes, and it was expected to hit wine store shelves in early 2021.

Portuguese Wine Known worldwide for its port wine, Portugal is enjoying a moment in the

spotlight of wine trends.

Wine Enthusiast recommends Portuguese wines for their easy drinkability and great value.

The Douro Valley region, known for turning out port, is on the wine lover’s map this year for its unfortified dry reds, as well. Meanwhile, the northern Vinho Verde and Minho regions are known for crisp, light white wines. In addition to

ing to MintLounge.com.

Winemakers Barefoot and Del Mar introduced wine seltzers in 2020 and more producers are Wine Seltzers WineIntelligence.com expected to follow. Barepredicts that the hard foot’s flavors include rose, seltzer trend will give way Sangria and Moscato, and to the wine seltzer trend. while most flavors are With lower alcohol content canned, some are availand more sweeteners than able in bottles. Del Mar’s a typical wine spritzer, canned flavors include wine seltzer has a “lighter blackberry, grapefruit, waand crisper” taste, accord- termelon and white peach. native grape varieties, the area also grows Chardonnay and Riesling.

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Mountain Times Publications • Page 13

BEER & WINE EVENT GUIDE

Support Local Wineries Changing regulations and mitigation efforts in response to COVID-19 have led to uncertainty for local wineries and upended their business models.

W

hile they have innovated and adapted, wineries still need local customers to keep them afloat.

Local businesses tend to keep their profits local and reinvest in their communities. This means that more than ever, supporting a local business will send ripples of goodwill through your hometown. Don’t forget to show your local wine industry — and your community — some love. Here are some

ways to do your part.

• Carry out. The tasting room might be closed but most wineries are offering curbside pickup or even delivery. Swing by for a bottle to go along with your takeout dinner (from a local restaurant, of course).

Stock up. Do you have a favorite local wine? If you can afford it, buy a case now to show your support during difficult times. You might even be able to pre-order an upcoming batch.

• Organize a virtual wine

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Wineries need a local customer base to survive.

tasting. Get some friends together and order bottles from a few local wineries, then taste them together during a Zoom get-together.

Learn about wine. Some

wineries are offering online courses in wine tasting and winemaking basics. Sign up and learn something new.

• Cook with wine. Check local wineries’ websites

and e-mail newsletters for recipes that include wine, or wine pairing suggestions, and put them to use.

• Write a positive review.

It only takes a few minutes

to drop a nice review on Facebook or Google, but it goes a long way toward helping a business market itself online. Share your positive experiences.

• Engage on social media.

Like and follow your local wineries’ social media accounts, share and tag them in your posts. Encourage friends and family to support them, as well.

• Give wine gifts. Wineries have tons of great products for birthday, holiday and special occasion gifts. These can include more than just wine, such as tools and gadgets, gourmet foods, apparel, gift baskets and more.

• Shop ahead. If you have the financial resources, buy a gift card to help infuse cash into local wineries.

AWARD WINNING • TASTINGS YEAR ROUND

VILLA • WINERY • WEDDINGS • EVENTS

Open Daily 12 - 6 pm • 60 Deer Run Lane • Banner Elk, NC 28604 • (828) 898-9090 • www.BannerElkWinery.com

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Organization is the key to finding what you want in a wine shop.

How to Navigate a Wine Shop If you’re new to wine, navigating a wine shop can be intimidating. From finding the bottle you want to reading labels to finding deals, there is a lot to know about shopping for the right bottle.

H

ere’s a guide to the basics of wine shopping.

Organization

Some wine shops are arranged

from Canada to Argentina to Italy to Australia, meaning they’ll likely be spread throughout the store. In this case, ask an employee for help finding what you want, or perhaps even discovering something new.

Aside from bottle labels, look at labels on the aisle, or “shelf talkers.” They often include the types of flavors you might expect from the wine, such as fruity, oaky or tannic.

You also might see staff notes about wines. Choose a wine advertised as a “staff What’s in a Label favorite” for a semi-personal Don’t be too taken in by a fancy label with artful prose. The recommendation. by varietal. In these shops, if you label is a tool for finding the inknow you like Cabernet Sauviformation you need about wine. Dry or Sweet? gnon wine, you should find them The rest is marketing.

Wine labels don’t always proall in one place. Other wine A wine’s label should show the vide the information many wine shops are organized by region, producer, the varietal or appella- drinkers are looking for — such meaning you’ll need to do a bit as whether the wine is sweet or tion of the grape, the vintage or more searching for that cab. For year of production, the region dry. example, Cabernet Sauvignons Wine Enthusiast suggests where it is made and the alcohol can be found in every region checking the ABV. Wines with by volume (ABV).

11% ABV or above are usually dry, and those with lower ABVs are usually sweet. Super-sweet dessert wines might be sold separately in their own section.

Get a Deal

If you find a wine you really like, ask about ordering a case.

It may not be advertised on the shelf, but you’ll probably get a discount. Similarly, many wine shops offer a volume discount, so if you buy 6 or more bottles, you could save 10-15%.

Ask an employee for their recommendation on a bargain bottle. You don’t have to shop from the top shelf to find a great bottle of wine.

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Mountain Times Publications • Page 15

Water Is the Key Ingredient When we think of craft beer a number of ingredients come immediately to mind, starting with hops, barley and yeast.

Y

et, it’s the champagne of the earth that is key to making craft beer. Water is essential to life. So it so with beer. Water is more complex than we ordinarily think it is, often littered with a mix of compounds and microbes, which produce pH variances that alter reactivity and changes everything from color to taste. Here are some insights from CraftBeer.com on how water affects brewing.

Regional styles are based on water

The secret to why the Irish make more stouts than the Germans, while Germany is known more for lagers can be traced back to water.

CraftBeer.com cites an assessment of beers made in the Czech Republic with water that was low in mineral content — soft water. This water works best for producing beers such as lagers and pilsners. Ireland, on the other hand, has hard water with lots of minerals, and is

known for stouts.

“Water is a really big deal, big enough to shape the history of beer,” writes CraftBeer.com.

A matter of chemistry

In “Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers,” authors John Palmer and Colin Kaminski state that calcium is a key component of water when it comes to beer. Calcium helps with yeast flocculation and facilitating the mash process. Calcium reacts with phosphates in malted barley to lower the pH in a process known as buffering. This helps enhance the activity of crucial enzymes that extract and break up sugars as a part of the mashing process.

Bicarbonate is a com-

pound that serves the opposite purpose, explains CraftBeer.com. It raises the pH (increasing alkalinity). It’s used in the brewing process as a kind of counter-balance, preventing things from becoming too acidic.

Altering the water chemistry

So, how do brewers brew a variety of styles rather than only beers that work well with the local water source?

They tinker, according to CraftBeer.com. Brewers use chemistry to change the composition of the water, with additives such as gypsum, baking soda and table salt. That is why full-scale breweries and homebrewers alike can use them.

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Craft beer is a matter of chemistry.

Page 16 • Mountain Times Publications

BEER & WINE EVENT GUIDE

August-September 2021

Grandfather Vineyard and Winery

When Steve and Sally Tatum, the Vineyard owners, purchased the property in 2000, Steve toyed with the idea of planting Christmas Treesa popular endeavor in the area- but, a love of wine led him to plant grape vines. The Tatum’s have achieved a reality of owning a Vineyard & Winery that started when they first planted their grapes in 2003 and opened the doors of the winery in 2011. Since then their adventure has grown into the first producing winery in Watauga County that is producing world class wines.

Grandfather Vineyard’s vines were first planted in 2003 and have been growing strong across five acres ever since. Although yields of their true mountain fruit are typically smaller, their vineyard is the home of 10 to 12 different varietals of wine grapes, including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, St. Croix, Lando

Noir, Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, and more.

Still, their climate and size make it impossible to grow everything. So, even though their wine production is done on site, they outsource grapes from around the county and state, as well as from Lodi, California, to allow for the highest quality wines. On the other hand, the grapes grown there maintain an unparalleled flavor and hold their own in blends with more

well-known California grapes. All thanks to the nurturing and hard-working efforts of the Vineyard staff, the fruits of their labors are unlike any other.

During the summer months their tasting room is open 7 days a week Monday-Saturday from 12-6pm and Sundays from 1-5pm (closed Tuesdays during winter), offering both dry and sweet wines. Every Sunday from May through October they feature live music from 1-4pm from local artists. Oftentimes, Sundays bring the biggest crowd, patrons bring a picnic, buy some wine and mingle with the owner Steve and his lovable lab Zoebelle. Their philosophy is to treat everyone like family, to make customers feel welcomed and they will keep coming back.

Visit our website, www.grandfathervineyard. com, for more information and for our food truck schedule.

Visit Our Tasting Room Monday-Saturday 12-6, Sunday 1-5 225 Vineyard Lane, Banner Elk, NC • 828.963.2400 visit our new website for more info www.grandfathervineyard.com