A vibrant restaurant, brewery, wine, spirits, and boundless downtown scene have placed Asheville in the national spotlight time and again. Underground supper clubs, James Beard-nominated chefs, nationally recognized distilleries, and boasting more breweries per capita than any U.S. city, Asheville is the culinary destination. And there’s no better opportunity to sample it all in one place than during the 6th annual Asheville Wine & Food Festival, held August 21-23 at the US Cellular Center in downtown Asheville.
Multiple days of events highlight the area’s top chefs, artisan food producers, craft brewers, distilleries, as well as regional and international wines. Look for our Festival App produced by UGO Tour for both iPhone and Android in July.
Featuring three signature events:
GRAND TASTING.
The main event brings the best of Asheville’s epicurean scene under one roof. Festival goers will get a taste of why Southern Living named Asheville one of the “8 Tastiest Towns in the South” through chef culinary inspirations, tastings of wines, locally crafted beers and spirits, cuisine from top local restaurants, winemaker competitions, and samples from artisan food producers. The Asheville Culinary Competition finale challenges 4 of top regional chefs in an Iron Chef-style “food fight” as they compete for the title of the “2014 Asheville Wine & Food Festival Top Chef”. Grand Tasting on Saturday, August 23 at the U.S. Cellular Center, 87 Haywood Street. $70 VIP admission 1-5 and $55 general admission, 2-5 p.m.
SWEET.
This decadent evening lays out a smorgasbord of desserts and confections made by local chocolatiers, bakers, and pâtissiers, as well a sparkling and dessert wines, beer, and specialty cocktails. August 22, 7:30-9:30 p.m., at the Grove Arcade, 1 Page Avenue. Tickets: $45.
ELIXIR.
To highlight Asheville’s burgeoning craft cocktail scene, this high-spirited bartenders’ brawl pits the city’s best mixologists against each other in a competition using regionally produced spirits. The cocktail party will also offer plenty of samples from local and national distilleries, bites, and live entertainment. August 21, $45. Location announced soon!
Purchase tickets Today and learn more at ashevillewineandfood.com @wncwinefood (Facebook) AshevilleWineandFood
Experience what The New York Post calls one of the “8 Tasty Festivals” in the country that’s all about the food, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution named one of the “10 Southern Festivals You Need to Taste.”