Blue Ridge Wine Festival Returns To Blowing Rock April 12-15

The annual Blue Ridge Wine Festival returns to Blowing Rock April 12 through 15 as springtime bursts forth in this picturesque village. In only its second year, the festival is becoming well known for bringing together wines from regional wineries and pairing them with outstanding food and special events in this charming mountain town.
The Thursday through Sunday celebration of North Carolina wines ~ which have received national accolades ~ includes a VIP private reserve reception, a cooking class and free seminars, gallery stroll, winemaker’s dinners, wine and cooking competitions, wine tastings, auctions, live music and dancing and a commemorative performance at the new Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center.
Here are daily highlights of the Blue Ridge Wine Festival. All events are open to the public although some require tickets or fees. For details and updates, visit blueridgewinefestival.com.
Thursday, April 12
Commercial Winery Competition 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Meadowbrook Inn: Expert judges will award Best of Show, Best of Class, Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals to entries in several wine categories. One of the judges is Jane Garvey, who wrote a weekly wine column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution for 13 years. She has also been a contributor to The Wine Report, the Long Island Wine Gazette, Southern Home Magazine and many other publications. Garvey has been a judge at the San Diego International Wine Competition, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, the Atlanta Wine Summit and several other competitions.
VIP Charity Reserve Gala, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., Chetola Resort: This VIP reception for ticket holders and sponsors provides an opportunity to meet the festival chefs, judges, winemakers, artists and local dignitaries. Wines sampled will be reserve vintages not available for purchase at any other time during the festival. Local restaurants will serve hors d’oeuvres specially prepared to complement the reserve vintages.
Friday, April 13
Classes and Seminars repeated throughout the day from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Cooking with Wine, featuring celebrity chef Suzie Blanchard; Pairing Wine with Cheese & Fruit; Pairing Wine with Chocolate; Evaluating the Scents & Flavors of Wine; Viticulture.
Gallery Stroll 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Light refreshments will be served at each participating Blowing Rock gallery.
Winemaker’s Dinners 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.: Five- to seven-course meals paired with wines from participating wineries. Restaurants include Ciao Bello at Meadowbrook Inn, Crippen’s Restaurant, the Laurel Room at the Green Park Inn, The Gamekeeper, Gideon Ridge Inn, Hound Ears Club, the Manor House Restaurant at Chetola Resort, Jackson Dining at the Broyhill Inn, Pssghetti’s, Evergreen at Crestwood, Blowing Rock Grille, and Rowlands at Westglow Spa.
Wineries represented at the dinners include Biltmore Estate Winery, Banner Elk Winery, Childress Vineyards, Hanover Park Vineyard, Chatam Hill Vineyards, Lake James Cellars, Rag Apple Lassie, Raffaldini Vineyards, Raylen Vineyards, Thistle Meadow, Round Peak and West Bend Vineyards.
Dinners range from $65 to $125 per person; menus can be viewed at blueridgewinefestival.com and reservations should be made with participating restaurants through the web site.
Saturday, April 14
The “Fire on the Rock” Chef’s Challenge 10:00 a.m., noon and 2:00 p.m. The challenge features an “Iron Chef” style competition between area chefs going head-to-head. Celebrity Chef Suzie Blanchard will judge the creations.
Silent Auction 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Silent auction items will be on display at participating local merchants and at the Blowing Rock Community Club.
“Grand Cru Wine Tasting” noon to 5:00 p.m., Chetola Resort: The wine tasting features over 100 fine wines from more than 20 regional wineries; wine will be available for purchase by the bottle and case. Bob Timberlake, internationally known artist and designer will appear at the tasting beginning at 1:00 p.m., signing books and other memorabilia. His 1930-31 Model A Six-Wheel Roadster will be on display at the tasting, where live entertainment will be featured throughout.
Sunday, April 15
Champagne Brunch at participating restaurants
Commemorative Performance, Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center
The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Blue Ridge Wine Festival with events and activities taking place in various locations throughout the village of Blowing Rock. For more information on events, activities and accommodation packages, visit blueridgewinefestival.com or contact the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at 295-7965 or stop by the Visitor Center on Valley Boulevard.