Triangle Around Town

This frothy extravaganza, sponsored by The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop, is a hot ticket—literally. It sells out every year, so consider this your friendly nudge: snag your tickets early or be prepared to hear the stories secondhand over someone else’s pint. Luckily for us, Blowing Rock’s fine folks extended an invite, rolling out the hoppy red carpet for us to sip our way through some of the finest local brews Western Carolina has to offer.

By Dathan Kazsuk It was one of those days, a marathon of vineyards fueled by a mix of curiosity, Red Bulls and just enough bravado to attempt five wineries in one day. Yes, five. Not one, not two—we went full throttle. We’re also unapologetically into numbers—Jen’s a data analyst by trade, and me? Let’s say I’ve got a penchant for technicality. Together, we’re the wine-drinking equivalent of a spreadsheet in action: efficient, analytical and a little too excited about trends.

–– Apaltagua Carménère Reserva Rosé 2023 (Chile) This unique rosé version of Carménère bursts with bright strawberry, watermelon and a hint of spice. Its crisp acidity and dry finish make it an excellent aperitif or companion to light salads and seafood. –– Lapostolle Grand Selection Carménère 2021 (Chile) A step up in elegance, this wine features ripe blackberry, fig, and subtle spice with a velvety texture.

Triangle Around Town hit the road and headed to Winston-Salem for the 2024 American Wine Society’s National Conference—a three-day wine-lovers paradise packed with more knowledge, flavor and bottles than we could keep count of. With over 600 AWS members from all corners of the U.S., dozens of deep-dive classes, and a sea of wine glasses that just kept refilling, it was the ultimate learning adventure for anyone who swirls and sips.

If you’ve lived in Raleigh as long as I have, Rocky Top Hospitality and Dean Ogan are synonymous with the Triangle’s culinary culture. Ogan has built a legacy from the infamous Michael Dean’s and 1705 Prime Steakhouse to the popular Bogart’s, Red Room, Hi-Five, Twisted Fork, Tribeca Tavern, Draft Carolina Burgers and Beers, Rockwell’s American Grill, and most recently, Union Station Deli & Catering. Our beloved foodie destinations of the past live on in our memories.

THE TERROIR BENEFITS Terroir in the wine world leads to many benefits you can enjoy today. In Lake County, you can look for mineral richness, good drainage, temperature regulations and unique flavor profiles. Let's start with elevation. Being at a higher elevation allows the grapes to take in excellent UV exposure, as much as 10 percent more than wines grown at sea level.

Before the first course, which included arancini, meatballs and house salad, arrived at our table, we were introduced to three great-tasting wines, beginning with a 100 percent Pecorino from Torrie Dei Beati winery out of Pescara, Italy. If I didn't already mention this, all the wines during our tasting were from Italy, and only two of the six weren't 100 percent Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

Photo Courtesy of Carolina Heritage Vineyard & Winery When you visit a winery or vineyard, do you consider the environment or focus solely on what wines will grace your glass? Have you ever thought about the corks, bottles or the everyday farming practices used? As we approach Earth Day on April 22 and North Carolina Wine Month in May, let us take a moment to appreciate the wine and vineyard industries for their sustainable practices.

Wine 101 swiftly evolved from a place to buy wine into a cherished community. Each visit allowed us to forge new friendships with like-minded individuals who shared our passion for both wine and beer. Little did we know that our fondness for this hidden gem would eventually lead to something grander. Our sincere enthusiasm for Wine 101 caught the attention of the Triangle Business Journal, a local business publication.

With a little over 20 local and regional breweries, we had to limit our intake because, of course, we needed to get to the bourbon next—but there were many tasty beers we just knew we had to sample. While both days had a nice list of scheduled events, we can only talk about Friday night. The music began on schedule and was excellent background music, as it was quiet enough to speak to the vendors when sampling the libations. We enjoyed exploring the pavilion and checking out the local breweries.