Asheville – Downtown Asheville is set to enjoy a special dining treat as Flat Rock’s Marked Tree Vineyard has arranged a gourmet dinner at their Asheville location at 14 Aston Street, west of the Aloft Hotel. Chef Graham Overal, known for his classic French cuisine, is pairing some delicious dishes with the summer wines produced at this extraordinary vineyard—whites, roses, and bubblies, perhaps a Chardonel or a Sweet Ellie Mae Rosé. As Chef Graham said, “I am letting the wines do the talking; they are that good. They can lead the way.” 2023 was Marked Tree Vineyard’s fifth vintage. At the end of the blind judging for the NC Fine Wines Competition, each of the ten wines entered in the contest won a medal.
Chef Graham Overal gained much of his training by working in many capacities in award-winning restaurants in Europe and gaining experience from top-notch chefs and restaurateurs. He came to the United States approximately 11 years ago. His Greenfield Manor Bed and Breakfast in Leicester received many awards but sadly had to close during the pandemic. He finds that Private Chef Dining (business name CGO for Chef Graham Overal-call:828 424-0575 to reach him) continues to be sought after as so many people still shun public spaces.
Chef Graham has carefully planned this lavish, intimate four-course dinner, whereby the food will only be enhanced by the fine wine chosen. Chef Graham plans to have two tables facing the bar, where he and the Vineyard Proprietors can elaborate on the dishes being served at this private dinner and engage with the guests. Reservations must be made ahead of time for a seat. Over the years, Chef Graham has found that the small organic farmstead of Village Farms in Woodfin can supply him with an abundance of fresh items that suit his culinary needs—the lamb, the herbs, the eggs, and the vegetables. In addition, he appreciates the weekly Saturday Tailgate Farmers Market off Merrimon Avenue at the UNCA parking lot with its abundance of amazing, fresh, and unusual produce. The menu for this upcoming dinner, with a cost of only $155 per person (which includes gratuity), is:
Amuse
Beet-cured salmon gravlax Topped with Whipped Crème Fraiche, Sliced chive, and Dill.
1st: Select Wild Mushrooms on sourdough toast. From the Asheville Farmers, a Selection of the Finest Wild Mushrooms, fried in the Chef’s own Black Truffle Oil, finished with Reduced Butter Cream Sauce and Chive Blossoms
2nd: Terrine of Gloucester Old Spot Pork Rainbow Carrots and Village Farms Wild Asparagus, Wrapped with Cedar Smoked Bacon Served with Blackberry and Fig Chutney
3rd: Dégustation of Lobster Tian and Bisque A Tian of Lobster, Avocado, Red Pepper, Tomato, and Romaine A shot of Spiced Lobster Bisque. Finished with Lobster Aioli.
4th: The Marked Tree Bespoke Dessert…TBA
Marked Tree Asheville dinner with Chef Graham will be on Wednesday August 23rd, one of a few such dinners planned by Marked Tree Vineyard this year at their Asheville location. Another will be held on September 22nd in Flat Rock at the Vineyard, with another lavish meal to follow in the winter. Reservations can be made by calling 828-424-7131, going to the website, or emailing niel@markedtreevineyard.com. The Asheville Tasting Room is open Monday through Thursday 2–9 pm, Friday–Saturday 1–9 pm, and Sunday 1–7 pm.
Marked Tree Vineyard Gives Donation to Arts Council
The owners of Marked Tree Vineyard met the board of directors for the Arts Council of Henderson County on July 18th to present them with a donation check of $10,000 from their annual fundraiser, La Vie En Rose. Just last week, a meeting was held at the Southern Streams Coffeehouse in Laurel Park for the Arts Council to receive this check. Since 2021, Marked Tree Vineyard’s annual “La Vie En Rose Arts, Music, and Wine Festival” has raised more than $25,000 to promote art programs for kids! This, of course, is over and above the money they give annually to support the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and their youth programs.
2023 was the third year for the La Vie En Rosé festival in Flat Rock. This is an annual Art, Music, and Wine festival held to celebrate Marked Tree Vineyard’s latest bottles of light, refreshing summer wine. It commenced on National Rosé Day. The idyllic setting overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains allows visitors to hear melodic music as they view a beautiful sunset, looking out to the stars and the moon. Once again, the proceeds from the Festival allowed the Vineyard to make a significant donation to children’s art programs in Henderson County.