What's new in food: Wine Walk benefits Habitat for Humanity

Now in its fourth year, Wine Walk Asheville takes place Sunday, Sept. 13, 2-5 p.m. According to a press release, the event 'will wind through 24 Asheville businesses (eight per route), inviting guests to sip, explore and connect with the local community, all while raising funds for Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.' Participants will receive a curated wine tasting at each participating business along three self-guided, eight-stop routes, exploring at their own pace. Route options cover North, South and West Asheville. 'This event has always been about bringing people together around something we all love,' saysDenise Foy, founder of Wine Walk Asheville. 'Doing it in service of the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, an organization rebuilding this city one home at a time, makes it that much more special.' Tickets are $65 plus fees. Guests receive a tasting glass, wristband, map of participating locations, tasting notes for each wine and discounts at businesses during the event. Tickets also include a tasting of one white or rosé and one red wine plus snacks at eight locations. VIP tickets cost $80 plus fees and also include a cloth shopping bag, VIP reception with two bubbly tastings, grazing board by South Slope Cheese Co., early packet pickup and a 30-minute head start. To learn more, visitavl.mx/fqs. In partnership with the Mountain Ale and Lager Tasters (MALT) homebrew club, Salt Face Mule Brewing Co. hosts its third yearly Homebrew Cellarbration on Saturday, Sept. 12, noon-4 p.m. The tasting festival and pouring competition takes place at the brewery's new private event space, located behind its main facility. Proceeds will benefit MANNA FoodBank. Tickets are $24.80 and include a souvenir tasting glass and access to digital voting for all homebrew beers and brewers. According to a press release, the event coincides with Salt Face Mule's third anniversary. To learn more, visitavl.mx/fqt. West Asheville is home to the new Ontos wine bar, which opened in mid-August at 16 Allen St., behind One World Brewing West. The business's name comes from the Greek word for 'really' or 'truly,' and its menu includes wine by the glass or bottle, beer, cocktails, nonalcoholic beverages and snacks. To learn more, visitavl.mx/fqu. Asheville Oktoberfest will take place Saturday, Oct. 3, 1-5 p.m., in the South Slope brewing district. The annual fall event from the Asheville Downtown Association (ADA) features traditional Oktoberfest games, live entertainment, food and, according to a press release, 'plenty of opportunities to raise a glass with friends.' 'Coxe Avenue and South Slope are a natural home for Asheville Oktoberfest,' saysHayden Plemmons, ADA executive director. 'This event is about celebrating Asheville's local beverage community, and we're excited to bring it right into the [brewing] district. We want Oktoberfest to be an event that not only fills the street but encourages people to spend the afternoon exploring and supporting the businesses that make South Slope such a special part of downtown.' More than 20 local breweries are participating, each pouring at least two fall flavors. There will also be selections from area distilleries and wineries. Costumes and Oktoberfest attire are strongly encouraged. Free to attend, but a ticket (aka Prost Pass) is required to sample alcoholic beverages within the festival grounds. Each Prost Pass is $25 in advance and $35 the day of the event and includes a commemorative tasting glass. To learn more, visitavl.mx/fr2. On Aug. 17, Noble Cider won the NC Wine Cup in the Best Cider category in the NC Wine Competition. According to a press release, the competition 'celebrates and honors excellence in wine, cider and mead produced throughout North Carolina.' Contest rules require that at least 75% of entries' fruit and honey ingredients must be grown in North Carolina. Noble won the Best Cider designation with its Porter's Perfection cider, a single-varietal cider from its Lewis Creek line. Porter's Perfection shared the NC Wine Cup Best Cider honor with the Pommeau cider from Mill Camp Wines & Cider in Boone. The victory makes Noble Cider the first producer to win the NC Wine Cup three consecutive years. Porter's Perfection also earned Best High Tannin Cider, and Harrison (another single-varietal cider from Noble's Lewis Creek line), received Best Modern Apple Cider – Dry. Additionally, Apricot & Black Tea cider earned Best Fruited Cider – Dry, and multiple Noble entries were awarded Double Gold, Gold and Silver medals. 'Getting recognized for a wide variety of our ciders is definitely special,' saysLief Stevens, co-founder and cidermaker at Noble Cider. 'We're especially happy to see our Lewis Creek Orchard Reserve line receive so many honors, since these ciders are all from trees planted nine years ago.' Other WNC-based cideries and wineries to receive best-in-category awards in the NC Wine Competition include Biltmore Winery (Best Sparkling Wine, Best Rosé Blend) and Flat Rock Cider Co. (Best Fruited Cider – Sweet). Additionally, Cedar Grove-based Botanist and Barrel, which has a taproom location in downtown Asheville, won Best Pet-Nat Cider and Best Melomel Mead – Dry. To learn more, visitavl.mx/fl0.