Last Updated on May 10, 2023
Add it to your calendar and set it to repeat: May 25 is National Wine Day in the United States!
There are many great reasons to celebrate your day with a bottle of wine, from the life-changing to the mundane. But there’s no better day to pop the cork than the day celebrating wine itself. With a growing number of wineries in the region, there are also many great ways to celebrate, from attending a wine tasting event to touring a local vineyard. But the simplest way is still the best—enjoy a bottle with a group of friends.
Here are five great places for you and your friends to celebrate National Wine Day in Asheville, NC.
5 Walnut
Since 2010, the owners of the 5 Walnut wine bar in Downtown Asheville have passionately shared their love of fine wines, great music, and local fare and products. Cozy up to the maple-topped bar crafted in Spruce Pine by woodworker Peter White, barstools by local chairmaker Brian Boggs, or cocktail tables made of salvaged wood by craftsman Thomas Taggard. Enjoy live music every night, likely from a local band. And gaze upon local murals in their space, as well as adjacent Carolina Lane. Save room for cheese! 5 Walnut Cheese Bar offers a variety of cheeses, charcuterie, and other local fare to enjoy there or at home.
5 W Walnut Street, Asheville | (828) 253-2593 | 5walnut.com
Bottle Riot
Bottle Riot is the River Arts District’s friendly neighborhood bar. But it’s also so much more. They offer an impressive and carefully curated selection of amazing wines, European beers, spirits, and fortified wines. Whisk(e)y lovers will also enjoy their collection of bourbons, whisky/whiskey, and rye. Sit and sip while enjoying a small plate with friends. As a private bar serving spirits, NC law requires all guests to be members of Bottle Riot. Membership is easy and well worth it! Check their events calendar for live music, brunch pop-ups, and more.
37 Paynes Way #009, Asheville | (828) 505-8606 | bottleriot.com
Leo’s House of Thirst
West Asheville has a vibe. And one of the best spots to enjoy it is at Leo’s House of Thirst. After two years of building renovation, this spot was opened by Drew Wallace, founder of The Admiral and The Bull and Beggar. The kitchen is run by Chef Austin Inselmann, who has created an approachable yet elegant menu with wide intentions. Selected wines are “made with integrity by farmers and producers who seek to transport you while providing a story and experience.” Come for the delicious selection of hand-selected wines; stay for the intimate garden to drink in.
1055 Haywood Road, Asheville | (828) 505-8017 | leosavl.com
Marked Tree
Marked Tree Vineyard is located at an elevation of 2,300 feet between Mt. Pisgah and Tryon Peak in Flat Rock, NC. But you don’t have to go far to experience their wines created from a careful selection of varietals that thrive in our mountain climate. Simply wander inside the Aloft hotel in Downtown Asheville to find your path. Named in honor of the bent trees Native tribespeople cultivated as guideposts, Marked Tree endeavors to help you find the next marker of your life with a great bottle of wine. Slow down and enjoy your path.
14 Aston Street, Asheville | (828) 424-7131 | markedtreevineyard.com
plēb
Self-identifying as an “urban winery,” plēb is a production winery in the River Arts District that employs an Old World approach to craft small batch wines. The winery focuses on locally sourced grapes, including many varietals not often associated with North Carolina wine. Their spacious main tasting room is a reflection of the way wine should be consumed: with friends and community in a laid-back environment. A second tasting room, the aventine, showcases plēb wines and features other producers who also focus on their local terroir.
289 Lyman Street, Asheville | (828) 774-5062
the aventine Wine Bar | 25 Page Avenue, Suite 102, Asheville
Tour vineyards and wineries in WNC
In addition to great wine bars and tasting rooms in town, Western North Carolina is home to a number of vineyards and wineries. Most notable is perhaps Biltmore Estate‘s label. But many smaller wineries are beginning to age nicely in the region. Among them are:
- Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville and Chimney Rock.
- Little Switzerland Winery in Burnsville.
- Marked Tree Vineyard in Flat Rock.
- Overmountain Vineyards and Winery in Tryon.
- Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards in Hendersonville.
Toast to living in Asheville, NC
With a population of 90,000+, Asheville is the largest city in both Buncombe County and Western North Carolina. Asheville serves as the area’s economic and cultural nerve center in many ways. It’s a hub for education, healthcare, local arts and crafts, entertainment, night life, and innovative food and drink. Throughout the city, Asheville’s neighborhoods are interconnected, not just by our mountains and rivers, but also by our local community centers—those intentionally created and those that have grown organically.
Does that sound like the perfect lifestyle for you? Find your dream home in Asheville now!
