Appalachian Vintner

NastyNate11

North Carolina

4.76/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | $$

Definitely the biggest bottle shop in Asheville. Lots of wine and beer. They have great tapping events. A little lesser known so you can find some gems here you won't find elsewhere. They don't get all special releases but they will let you know. Best prices in town in my opinion.

05-10-2013 16:02:48 | More by NastyNate11

lcplvr

Tennessee

4.94/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Planned a trip to Asheville a couple of weeks ago for me and my hiking buddy and wanted to include a visit to Appalachian Vintner while we were there. Arrived at 11:30 a.m. and went in and was greeted by Chuck (I think that was his name) and he explained the layout of the store. We made our way to the bar and looked over the tap selections and began our afternoon sampling of many of the beers available. They serve 6 and 8 ounce half servings so you can try more of what's available which we really appreciated.

We moved from the bar to a table that had big cushioned chairs which made it very comfortable to sit and enjoy our tasting experience. Chuck made a point to check on us often (as he was stocking the shelves with wines and beers) and to offer advice on what was available in their bottle selections that we planned on getting to take home. And I thought the selection was great. Many beers available that I had not had the opportunity to buy before.
I live in Tenn. (about 60 miles from Asheville) and don't make it over there too often. But I know that when I am in the area I will definately be stopping back in at Appalachian Vintner to load up on what I can't get at home.

02-23-2013 06:27:45 | More by lcplvr

LionsMane

5/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $

Where to start here. These guys (Chuck, Jeff & Sam) are super service oriented people. It's kind of like visiting your good pals beer store...everytime. The selection is the best in Asheville hands down, with the prices blowing the doors off the closest competitor. I've scored some real west coast gold here too: Lost Abbey, Russian River etc. unfortunately due to trophy hunters looking for another notch in their belt, these beers are only available to regulars now. Totally understandable IMO you have to show support to get beers they've gone WAY out of their way for. The local brew selection is the best in town too with a large growler selection from Pisgah, Nantahala, Catawba and Green Man. Website is usually not completely up to date with new arrivals so their ratebeer site usually is better, but a phone call has worked too.

10 tap lines rotating local/import sours, barrel aged beers and a cask pump, I had the Foothills Hoppyum IPA primed with honey last time, holy mother. NEVER seen a draft beer here that was not at least some what rare. Beautiful space, clean glassware, filtered water, large bar with seating for 25+ with tables and two large comfy couches. Beer area is in the back, well lit and spacious with shopping carts in the front when you walk in. Patio outside for smokers, fresh air. Wine selection is also huge if you are into that and dogs are welcome.

Parking lot beside the store is massive, free and clean and there are also at least six other lots around the store that you can park at for free so getting in and out is a breeze.

Best in Asheville for sure. If you visit take your time and talk to the owners they are super helpful and usually have something lying around that is not easily seen. If you are looking for specifics give them a call they will usually order beers that are not in stock.

01-12-2013 19:10:27 | More by LionsMane

dirtylou

Washington

4/5  rDev -14.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Nice clean store - crappy parking situation.

Visited App Vintner for the first time immediately prior to stopping at Bruisin Ales. At least on this particular day, Bruisin had a vastly superior selection.

The selection was a little unorganized - we peaked into cases scattered throughout the back of the store in search of whales, with no such luck. The shelves were highly dedicated to pretty bleh breweries like Epic, DFH, etc. Dusty fantome bottles were practically hidden from consumers.

Most local breweries were well represented - Pisgah (Valdez & Baptista - Vortex II was available at bruisin), Highland, French Broad (only 1 beer!), and a variety of local growlers.

Service was fine - tap selection was small, but had a few nice options from Catawba and Nantahala.

I'll definitely come back to this place, but I much prefer Bruisin for selection, convenience and the overall shopping experience.

01-01-2013 18:04:40 | More by dirtylou

scud

Indiana

4.94/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Stopped in here while I was in town after seaching on BA about best places to stop for beer while in Asheville. Glad I stopped in bc this store has a lot of great stuff to offer. Huge craft beer selection at fair prices, not a wine drinker but also have a big selection. I think it's cool they even sell growlers because where I am from, stores, don't do that. Didn't get to try a beer on draft but everytime I have checked the tap list online, there is something that would make me come in, if I only lived in NC. Chuck and Geoff are very helpful/knowledgeable, so if you have any questions, just ask them. If you only have time to shop at one place, from my experience, I'd make it this store.

12-28-2012 23:20:42 | More by scud

MarcatGSB

Michigan

4.66/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

So glad to have the opportunity to patronize this facility. Stopped by as part of a east coast beer road trip, and am not disappointed at all. It's a large, warehouse style bottle shop with a boat load of wines...
Large windows on the front let in a good amount of light, with seating spread through out the facility. Nice, homey feel, with some power outlets in case you are also travelling and need to get a charge.
Ten taps, with a good selection of local brews, and some American main stay breweries like The Bruery. Highland Black Raspberry Mocha Stout. A bourbon barrel aged mocha stout with raspberries. Nice flavor, good body. Really mellow bourbon character. $6.00 for a pint...awesome.

The beer selection is really nice. Lots of stuff that I was HOPING, but not expecting to find down this way. 90% of the bottles are at room temp, kind of stacked towards the back of the store, anywhere they have room.
Jeff was working when we stopped in, and he was super friendly. You can tell he has a good feel for the industry, and it really shows. This is a nice place, and would recommend it to anyone. I think the deserve their "world class" designation. Keep up the good work!

12-10-2012 18:11:08 | More by MarcatGSB

JosephThompson

New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Quite simply, when you visit Asheville this is the store you should buy you beer. Then drive the 50 miles to Peabody's in Boone. Between the two, the resulting happiness from your purchases will worry those closest to you.

Apparently this is a new space for the store over the last few months. It is quite large. The wines were first thing you enter to and then there is a spot with couches and tables to relax. Behind this is something less than a half wall that houses a smaller bar area with four to five stools and a few drafts. All around this area is the beer selection.

Locals are represented well with French Broad, Olde Hickory, Foothills, Highland, Roth, Asheville, etc. Regionals. Domestic. Import. Very good selection of Evil Twin and Mikkeller. Belgians I thought were a nice sized selection and I picked up a couple Fantome Chocolats. Picked up an Outer Banks Brewing sour which I hadn't seen anywhere else.

Overall, the prices were better then Bruisin' Ales and considering the size of selection and the better atmosphere it's only natural that App Vintner would be the better store.

09-28-2012 17:15:33 | More by JosephThompson

pburland23

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I stopped into Appalachian Vintners last Saturday after a day at the Biltmore Estate with my wife and daughter. It was my reward for good behaving while touring the house and gardens.

Appalachian Vintners just moved into this space and it shows it. The store is big with large windows which allow lots of natural light in. The store isn't packed with shelves and it seemed a little empty to me.

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by an employee who asked me if they could be of assistance. I told him I was in the market for local beers and he pointed me in that direction. He also gave a few recommendations on his Asheville (and NC in general favorites). The advice was much appreciated and not overbearing in the least bit.

The selection was quite good particularly when it came to NC beers...Olde Hickory, French Broad, Foothills, etc. There were lots of American craft standards as well New Belgium, Smuttynose, Stone, Allagash, Victory, Troegs and so on. I ended up with some bombers from the three aforementioned North Carolinia breweries.

Overall, Appalachian Vintners is a must stop in the Asheville area. Great selection and impeccable service.

06-03-2012 22:11:23 | More by pburland23

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The big store, on Biltmore in the south side of Asheville. As an added bonus, French Broad is right around the corner.

Atmosphere: A big store, bright thanks to the large windows on Biltmore. The main entrance deposits you in the wine section, along with comfy couches and a bar smack dab in the middle of the store. The beer area occupies the back right corner with some trickle into coolers in the rear left. The bar, wooden, has seating on 3.5 of the four sides (the beer area overruns part of the bar).

Quality: Clean, bright, easy to peruse. The couches are a nice touch, as ksak retreated to one during one of our two visits.

Service: I spoke for almost 10 minutes with the beer manager (over a pint of Delta dry-hopped Table Rock pale ale from Foothills), taking his recommendations for the best local beers to take home. Very informative and helpful, offering a frank opinion on an overpriced beer that wasn't worth it.

Selection: We have a winner, best selection in AVL. The local focus is evident, as is a Belgo-Scandinavian one. Olde Hickory bourbon brown ale? Check. Saison Gee? Check. Holland Oats and Table Beer? Check. Evil Twin, Fantome (!!!), Allagash, Ommegang, Foothills, Olde Hickory, Dark Horse, all are prominent. I ended up with some Olde Hickory, Stillwater, French Broad, and Foothills. They also have 10 beers on tap (including the Table Rock) and coolers with pre-filled growlers (seems to be the SOP here for growlers).

Food: N/A.

05-29-2012 13:28:58 | More by akorsak

SPLITGRIN

Kentucky

4.7/5  rDev +0.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This was my first stop for beer in the Asheville area. The location is a bit different from the picture here but it is in a building just in front of the old one. The current location is perfect for beer and wine and has a lot of room to expand. They were very helpful and friendly, they even got my kids a tasty draft root beer. The selection was very good and the prices were reasonable. They had a nice selection of glassware as well. They have several tap lines of beers that you can drink as you shop or at the wrap around bar that is in the middle of the shop. They really support the local brewers with all kinds of bottles, cans and tap lines. Just a sample of breweries I left with: Asheville, Green Man, Highland, Catawba, Olde Hickory, Foothills, Pisgah(but no bottles), Roth, Epic, French Broad, Duck Rabbit and many others. I will be back to AV just as soon as I can.

04-08-2012 23:50:41 | More by SPLITGRIN