Henderson County, NC
Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend returns to Hendersonville this spring. The four-day event, April 15-18, celebrates the start of a new growing season, as apple blossoms emerge in the orchards and budbreak occurs in the vineyards.
Participating wineries, cideries and tasting rooms offer nearly 60 happenings throughout the weekend, including dinners, tastings, tours and live music. Most of the events are outdoors to allow for social distancing.
“We have three new wineries that haven’t been a part of this event before, so it’s a great way to introduce people to those new spots,” says Amy Boswell, events coordinator for Henderson County Tourism, which sponsors the event.
Hendersonville is North Carolina’s newest wine country with the debut of the federally recognized Crest of the Blue Ridge American Viticultural Area in summer 2019. Six wineries now operate in the county, and all are participants in the weekend. Hendersonville’s abundant apple orchards provide plenty of fresh fruit for local hard cideries. Bold Rock, the largest craft cidery in the country, produces a varied lineup of ciders that it bottles and sells throughout the Southeast. While Appalachian Ridge Artisan Hard Cider sticks to dry European-style cider made from apple trees imported from France.
In addition to celebratory events, the weekend encourages people to learn more about these locally made craft beverages. Guided tastings take place throughout the weekend. Appalachian Ridge, Burntshirt Vineyards and Marked Tree Vineyard offer cidermaker- and winemaker-led tours where visitors see exactly what goes into growing the fruit and turning it into cider and wine.
Other creative offerings include a Sip & Shop at Stone Ashe Vineyards featuring local artisans, a Celtic Celebration complete with bagpipes at Point Lookout Vineyards, and yoga and rosé at Marked Tree Vineyard.
All participating venues follow enhanced safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Some events may limit capacity in accordance with state guidelines, so calling ahead is recommended.
For a full schedule of Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend events and lodging options, go to www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.org/Cider-Wine-Dine-Weekend.
