Find out the new addition to Hendersonville's Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend

Dean Hensley, Hendersonville Times-News

Hendersonville's popular Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend is back for its seventh season on April 19-21, and this year, there is something new added to the mix: Helicopter tours.

According to a news release, the tours, which are conducted by Scenic Helicopter Tours, will take off from Souther Williams vineyard at 655 Hoopers Creek Road in Fletcher and will give an aerial view of all seven vineyards in Hendersonville's Crest of the Blue Ridge wine region.

People enjoy wine at the Appalachian Ridge Winery, one of the participants in this year's Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend in Hendersonville.
People enjoy wine at the Appalachian Ridge Winery, one of the participants in this year's Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend in Hendersonville.
Souther Williams is one of the participants in this year's Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend, hosted by Visit Hendersonville._
Souther Williams is one of the participants in this year's Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend, hosted by Visit Hendersonville._

Souther Williams co-owner Angela Adams told the Times-News on April 11 the vineyard has been offering these tours since the fall of last year.

"We built a relationship this past fall with Scenic Helicopter Tours with Lori Burch — her family owns it. We offer helicopter tours year round from the vineyard. You can pick different types of tours you want to do with Lori, but I had asked Lori if she could put together a special tour of just the seven vineyards that you would see by air," Adams said. "She was able to do that and got the price down 35-45%. So, for $149 per person, it's pretty inexpensive to do a helicopter ride and see all these beautiful vineyards."

A couple poses after taking one of Souther Williams Vineyard's helicopter tours.
A couple poses after taking one of Souther Williams Vineyard's helicopter tours.

The tours will be in 30-minute intervals throughout the weekend, Adams said.

In addition to the helicopter tours, the weekend involves tastings, wine releases, food events, live music and other activities at 11 tasting rooms in the Blue Ridge Mountains, according to the news release.“It’s a great way to celebrate spring, tantalize your taste buds, and explore our vineyards and orchards, all in one weekend,” said Michelle Owens, executive director of Visit Hendersonville, in the release. “Sip hard cider straight from the orchard at Appalachian Ridge Artisan Cider, and experience the newest vintages at the wineries. And don’t forget the array of food pairings and food trucks.”

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One of the big culinary events is the Spring Vintner’s Dinner at Marked Tree Vineyard, where guests can have a four-course meal at sunset paired with wines from the vineyard. At Sawyer Springs Vineyard, wine flights are paired with personal charcuterie cups, and Stone Ashe Vineyards has a wine and chocolate event. A food truck and s’mores will be available at Appalachian Ridge.

Walking tours will be offered at Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards and Marked Tree Vineyard, and at Bold Rock Hard Cider in Mills River, in addition to all its varieties of ciders, it will be holding a yoga class open to all levels.

“The nice thing about Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend is the variety — not only events, but also food options and drink options,” said Ken Parker of Souther Williams Vineyard in the release. “Many of the wineries serve local beers and local ciders in addition to their wines.”

At Souther Williams, it will also be offering gourmet popcorn pairings with its wines.

The event is a celebration of the Crest of the Blue Ridge Wine Region, which recently received federal designation as an American Viticultural Area, making the Henderson County win region listed as top producers of wine with more well-known U.S. wine regions, the release said.

“Cider, Wine & Dine gives us an opportunity to educate people about our emerging wine country, including the classic varietals we grow as well as some unique varietals,” Parker said.

Below is a list of all the participating businesses:

For a schedule of events, call (828) 693-9708 or go to https://www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.org/cider-wine-dine-weekend.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Hendersonville's Cider, Wine & Dine offering something new this year

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