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Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival: Ongoing Tastings and Seminars in Blowing Rock

Here’s your guide to learning and tasting at this year’s Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival going on now in Blowing Rock. Check below the story for a list of scheduled tastings and seminars and find out how to reserve your spot.

By JESSICA ISAACS

The 10th annual Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival is officially underway in Blowing Rock, and will offer a series of tasting events and seminars for tourists and for high country residents through Sunday.

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival
Photo by Lonnie Webster

Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Events Director Billie Rogers said the agency expects anywhere from 1,500-2,000 guests under the main tent for the grand tasting event, which will feature products from North Carolina breweries, wineries, distilleries and restaurants, many of which are local to the high country.

At the more personal reserve tasting, Rogers said the chamber expects to accommodate close to 100 people each during two more private sessions.

“The reserve tasting is our highest ticket item. The ticket is $125 per person, but it’s very well worth it,” Rogers said. “You don’t walk from space to space, but you have your own designated seat and we bring the wines and food to you. You are the center of the event.

“The wines are described by the winemakers or representatives of the wineries, so they know exactly what they’re talking about. You’re actually learning something about this wine, and it’s also a higher end wine that you’re tasting.”

Some local establishments will feature tasting specials, too, and satellite tasting tents will be scattered throughout downtown Blowing Rock for additional samplings.

In addition to the tasting events, Rogers said ongoing seminars will keep connoisseurs and newcomers up-to-date on wine, beer, local products and food pairings. The long list of seminars being offered over the weekend will give participants a closer look at different types of wine, local breweries and fun and interesting ways to cook your favorite foods, including a special lesson from the grill masters at Appalachian Energy.

“People are fascinated by the fact that you can do more than cook hamburgers and steaks and hotdogs on a grill. Most people don’t realize you can use the materials in your own home to make a pineapple upside down cake on the grill,” Rogers said. “You can make bread from scratch on the grill. It’s an oven, really, so anything you can cook in the oven you can throw on a grill.”

Most seminars require reservations and R.S.V.P. is preferred at all others.

Photo by Lonnie Webster
Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

TASTING EVENTS

THURSDAY:

  • Beer tasting at Foggy Rock Eatery, 3-5 p.m. featuring Blind Squirrel Brewery, no reservations needed.

FRIDAY:

  • Wine and Craft Beer Flights at Chetola, 5-10 p.m. in Headwaters Pub or Timberlake’s Restaurant. $10 flights featuring local beers and wines.

SATURDAY:

  • Reserve Wine Tasting, noon in the tent on the lawn at the Inn at Ragged Gardens, $125 in advance or $150 at the door (if not sold out). Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • Grand Tasting, 1-5 p.m. in the Maple Street Parking Lot (behind First Citizens Bank), $40 in advance or $50 at the door.
  • Satellite Tent Tastings, 1-5 p.m. in tents located beside Christopher’s Wine and Cheese on Sunset Drive, in the courtyard of the Martin House on Main Street and at the Blowing Rock Ale House property. Admission included with tickets to Grand or Reserve Tasting events, $10 otherwise.
  • Reserve Wine Tasting, 3 p.m. in the tent on the lawn at the Inn at Ragged Gardens, $125 in advance or $150 at the door (if not sold out). Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • Wine and Craft Beer Flights at Chetola, 5-10 p.m. in Headwaters Pub or Timberlake’s Restaurant. $10 flights featuring local beers and wines.

 

SEMINARS

THURSDAY:

  • “Break out the Bubbly,” 11 a.m. at Christopher’s Wine and Cheese, $25 per person. Call Christopher’s at 828-414-9111 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Wine and Cheese,” 2 p.m. at Meadowbrook Inn, $28 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Defiant Whisky and Bacon,” 3 p.m. at Rustique, $30. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Hidden Treasures: Best Value Wines,” 4 p.m. at Meadowbrook Inn, $25 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Dessert Cocktails” at Rustique, 9 p.m. following the “TASTE!” Restaurant Showcase. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.

FRIDAY:

  • “The Emerging Pacific Northwest,” 11 a.m. at Christopher’s Wine and Cheese, $28 per person. Call Christopher’s at 828-414-9111 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Riedel Challenge,” noon at The Inn at Ragged Gardens, $55 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Wine and Chocolate,” 1 p.m. at Meadowbrook Inn, $28 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “You Say Syrah, I Say Shiraz,” 2 p.m. at Meadowbrook Inn, $28 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Great Minds Drink Alike,” 3 p.m. at Blowing Rock Brewery (behind the Ale House), $20 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Old World vs. New World Wines,” 3 p.m. at Meadowbrook Inn, $28 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Grilling Class with the Grill Masters,” 3 p.m. until 5:30ish at Blowing Rock Chamber, $50 per person. Limited seating, call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “A ‘Crafty’ Conversation with Kaela — Beer and Bites,” 3:30 p.m. at Foggy Rock Eatery, $20 per person. Call Foggy Rock at 828-29-7262 through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to reserve a spot with a credit card.
  • “Explore Burgundy: The Basics,” 4 p.m. at Meadowbrook Inn $28 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “For the Love of Lambrusco: An Italian Wine Love Story” with Katie Dorazio, 4 p.m. at Meadowbrook Inn, $28 per person. Call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.
  • “Build Your Own Bordeaux,” 6:30 p.m. at Christopher’s Wine and Cheese, $30 per person. Call Christopher’s at 828-414-9111 for reservations and tickets. Limited seating.

SATURDAY:

  • “Coffee Cupping by Bald Guy Brew,” 8 a.m. with pancake and French toast breakfast at Foggy Rock Eatery, $15 per person. Call Bald Guy Brew at 828-406-1153 for reservations and tickets.

SUNDAY:

  • “Grilling with the Grill Masters,” 2 p.m. until 4:30ish at the Blowing Rock chamber, $50 per person. Limited seating, call Blowing Rock Chamber at 828-295-7851 for reservations and tickets.