Last month, the Nashville Wine Auction held its annual Music City Harvest Party with special guest Joseph Dhafana. Joseph’s rise to wine community fame skyrocketed when he defied the odds and formed a team of sommeliers from Zimbabwe to compete in the World Blind Wine Tasting Championships. …
Guests gathered at the Nashville Wine Auction offices to bask in late afternoon rays, good wine, and even better company to promote the second annual Music City Harvest Party. A celebration of wine and those who make it, this one-night-only event is a harvest celebration where winemakers eng…
When it comes to experiential dining, it is hard to top an evening with Top Chef alum Jamie Lynch of Church & Union and not one but two Hell’s Kitchen: Battle of the Ages alums — winner Alex Belew and runner-up Dafne Mejia — put their heads and talents together for a great evening.
It’s a wonder if — back in 1893 — then-18-year-old Julian P. Van Winkle, Sr. ever dreamed of what a legacy he would create while selling for W.L. Weller & Sons. Later, Julian became known as “Pappy” by his family and friends and would eventually create one of the finest bourbons of all time.
In This Issue
As we celebrate 30 years of Nfocus, we have asked our friends in the community — many of whom have been with us since the beginning — to tell their story in their own words. Throughout the year, readers will hear from those who have graced our pages and supported our stories.
The white clapboard house, a vintage 1920s bungalow with a perennial herb- and flower-terraced walkway, beckons you to the front door; step inside and you are welcomed into a world of beautiful foods and beverages. Purveying natural wines, freshly baked sourdough loaves, tinned fish, cured m…
The Nashville Wine Auction and its annual l’Eté du Vin have a long legacy in Nashville. What began as an elegant alfresco event in 1980 — to raise money for the American Cancer Society — has evolved into the multifaceted, multi-event powerhouse brand that it is today. The organization has bl…
After a year of renovation, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery has reopened its space at Marathon Village. Design elements include: artistic use of glass, steele and light in the industrial setting. Raindrop chandeliers bookend the restaurant which offers a refined twist on gourmet distillery-i…
Ahead of l'Eté du Vin 2023, Nfocus sat down with noted oenophile and Nashville Wine Auction Board Member Steve Taylor for some beginner-friendly tips and timely reminders for seasoned wine aficionados.
Entering the Joseph Hotel in downtown Nashville is already a delightful sensory experience. Art — much of it collected and curated by owner Joel Pizzuti and his family — abounds throughout the entire property. Browsing the collection is a transformative experience. As the hustle and bustle o…
It’s a last hurrah for peaches at Rare Bird. Things are looking up and peachy at Rare Bird as they close out their popup with The Peach Truck. Through the end of August guests can visit Rare Bird — the rooftop bar at Noelle — for one of the last sips and bites (of peaches) of the summer. Thr…
Pastaria draws inspiration from the pasta factories and lively osterias experienced by chef and owner Gerard Craft’s travels across the boot-shaped country of Italy. With a mantra of “La Verità,” Pastaria represents the James Beard Award-winning chef’s dedication to “the truth” of Italian cu…
Rivière, the newly opened French Riviera-inspired restaurant and bar on the rooftop of Four Seasons Hotel Nashville, will be celebrating France National Day (Bastille Day), on July 14 with a Champagne and oysters special.
Marsh House, The Gulch’s go-to dining destination for elevated Southern fare, seafood and stellar wines, continues its wildly popular Wine Wednesdays. Throughout July, Marsh House — recipient of Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Award of Excellence 2023 — will highlight one of the most recognized …
Walking into downtown Nashville’s newly opened Sinatra Bar & Lounge, it’s easy to imagine Ol’ Blue Eyes himself seated at the bar, a Jack Daniel's on the rocks in hand.
Have you ever been tasked with selecting a bottle of wine for the table or choosing the pairing collection for a gathering? With so many options on the market today, it can be a daunting decision. We caught up with Cathy Mantuano — co-author of Wine Bar Food and current food and beverage pa…
What began 11 years ago as a new event for Nashville Wine Auction has blossomed into a much-anticipated, must-attend event. Pairings lives up to its moniker by pairing renowned chefs — both local and national — with top winemakers from around the world. The weekend-long series of events bega…
Nashville’s craft cocktail scene has evolved beyond cold beers in honky tonks to expertly-crafted libations in beautiful bars all across town. While sipping a cocktail in a swanky setting is perfect for a celebration or a special occasion, we chatted with the experts behind some of Nashville…
Lisa Donovan and Julie Belcher are Nashville food professionals who wanted to share the joy of cooking with people but didn’t want to work in professional kitchens with long, off-kilter hours and low pay. Together they created Rêverie, a company that takes small groups on all-inclusive culin…
In the middle of the 20th century, Madison Avenue executives would sip cocktails while dining on duck à l'orange, prime rib, or fillet of sole, ending their meal with a baked Alaska or a cherries jubilee. Many of the dishes were prepared or finished at the table by a chef or server to showca…
Cathy and Tony Mantuano have spent a lot of time in Italy — so much so that Tony is known as an Italy expert and James Beard Award-winning chef. When they helmed Chicago’s four-star Spiaggia, they led trips to the country, and their son got married there last year. So, when Jeff Michaud, che…
If you are looking for more choices, more serendipities and more opportunities to support nonprofit causes while scheduling your dream culinary vacation, the first step is booking a trip locally to one of Nashville Wine Auction's events, such as Pairings or July’s l’Eté du Vin. At each event…
Imagine a traveling companion who effortlessly finds the best bakery — or who knows the local winemaker, so you can get a private tour of the nearby vineyard. This travel companion is also adept in the kitchen and makes edible masterpieces each night — meals you enjoy while watching the sun …
From tasty cocktails to sparkling mocktails, parties are made perfect by offering guests a fun drink to sip throughout the event. In 2019, two Nashville women — Jess Blakely and Willow Sprague — joined together to launch a mobile business aimed at making in-home drink crafting all the more f…
Love is in the air throughout Nashville, and many businesses around town are making celebrating your loved ones extra special this Valentine’s Day. From staycations to spirit tastings and themed menus, grab your partner or your pals and enjoy an amorous night on the town.
For Harrison Deakin, beverage manager for Harriet’s Rooftop at 1Hotel Nashville, creating craft cocktails is an art form — albeit one requiring some left-brained math skills.
Bars across Nashville are making spirits extra merry and bright this year by transforming into immersive holiday experiences. Step into your favorite seasonal movie with “Elf-” and “Christmas Vacation”-inspired pop-ups, or transport back in time with bars reminiscing on Christmases of yester…
Many of our readers are familiar with the usual suspects of French, Italian, California and Washington wine, but true oenophiles would be remiss to snub some of the country’s lesser-known but burgeoning wine regions, such as Missouri and Georgia.
Anyone who has attended any of the Nashville Wine Auction events knows that the high-energy, wine-filled events are not for the faint of heart. For those signed up for all of the events, a prep week of cardio and carbs is advised. Each year, the Nashville Wine Auction brings in winemakers fr…
To celebrate the vintner’s 50th anniversary, John Jordan of Jordan Winery collaborated with country music artist Jon Pardi of Pardi Batch Spirits to host the Big Bottle Pardi. The wine and dinner event was held at L.A. Jackson and featured exclusive, limited-edition library and new-release w…
How time flies! It’s already been one incredible year since acclaimed chef Sean Brock opened The Continental, his dining concept with a nouvelle approach to classic American cuisine, in the Grand Hyatt Nashville. To celebrate this momentous event, he is offering two exceptional dining opport…
With Nashville’s robust dining scene comes an array of truly unique food and beverage experiences that are sure to reawaken your sense of culinary adventure. Whether you’re looking for a great drink, a small treat or a full dining experience, we’ve collected some of the most intriguing and e…
Nashville Wine Auction’s Pairings was back in person this year and, along with it, all the gusto of previous incarnations. The three-day event is rightfully billed as “Nashville’s ultimate wine and food weekend,” and for the 10th anniversary of this celebration, the organizers certainly prov…
While getting a degree in biological anthropology from Harvard and a law degree from Vanderbilt isn’t the typical path for a brewer, it was the journey for Bailey Spaulding, founder of Jackalope Brewing Company. The inspiration to start brewing her own beer struck during a conversation with …
Every month seems to bring a new marvel to Nashville’s dining scene, each met with a more jubilant reception than the last. And it’s not just restaurants that are getting people excited; it’s breweries, distilleries, bars, bakeries, farms and more. The local hospitality industry has exploded…
The Continental, Sean Brock’s fine dining establishment at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, has already earned a reputation as one of the best new restaurants in the South, and now, with the introduction of The Vesper Club, they’re giving you yet another reason to visit. Launched on New Year’s Eve…
The first time Loren Chumley attended the Nashville Wine Auction’s l’Eté du Vin, she didn’t know anything about the organization. Now, she is its new president and CEO. After that first event, Loren was hooked and quickly got involved co-chairing its signature fundraisers, Pairings and l’Eté…
Christmastime is here, and Nashville's hotels and restaurants are getting into the holiday spirit with fun and festive themed bars. From décor inspired by your favorite holiday films to immersive experiences designed to delight all your senses, there's something for everyone at these eight d…
This fruity cocktail from Aubrey Mansene, beverage manager of The Twelve Thirty Club, will pair perfectly with your favorite holiday dinner. Cheers!
This chocolatey and citrusy cocktail from the mixology team at Bastion will certainly make your spirits brighter. Cheers!
This tropical cocktail from Hayley Teague, beverage director of Hathorne, is for anyone dreaming of the holidays in warmer weather. Cheers!
When it comes to exquisite culinary events in town, there is simply no match for the l’Eté du Vin Patrons Dinner. The Nashville Wine Auction pulls out all the stops for the intimate black-tie affair, in which a world-class meal and exemplary wines take center stage, and this year’s event was…
This festive cocktail from J. LaViolette, bar manager of E3 Chophouse, is perfect for a romantic holiday night in. Cheers!
The Nashville Wine Auction’s 42nd annual l’Eté du Vin came to a close with the always-lively gourmet dinner and auction. Attendees arrived at the JW Marriott Nashville with backpacks and roller bags loaded with fine wines in accordance with the event’s long-standing bring-your-own-wine pract…
As vaccinated friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more this holiday season, it’s time to dust off our barware and make up for last year’s missed parties. We asked five mixologists from some of our favorite local establishments to share a cocktail recipe to match the festive sea…
This spiced cocktail from Elise Loehr, beverage director of 360 Bistro, will keep you warm from the inside out. Cheers!
Thanks to everyone who visited the Nfocus Portrait Studio at the l'Eté du Vin Patrons Party. Photos can be purchased by clicking below. For our full coverage of Nashville Wine Auction's l'Eté du Vin celebration, pick up a copy of the December issue, on stands Dec. 2.
Ben Caldwell silver ice scoop (AshBlue); Estate French art deco cocktail shaker, Gorham Sterling Stoplight jigger, Match pewter bottle coaster with wood inset, Match wine coaster, Salisbury pewter coin jigger (Corzine & Co.); Sheridan Champagne bucket (Draper Jewelry Co.); Blue Pheasant …
It’s been 88 years since Prohibition ended in the United States, and what better way to celebrate the bootleggers of Williamson County than with booze? The Battle of Franklin Trust held the 10th annual Bootlegger’s Bash on a cool autumn evening at the historic Carnton house right by Eastern …
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