AVLwinegeek

Andy Hale has worked in the wine industry for over a decade, first as a server and later as a Sommelier for the 5-Star 5-Diamond rated Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island, located outside of Charleston, SC. After a brief stint as a wine rep, he now runs the education department at Metro Wines where he works to take the intimidation out of choosing the right bottle of wine. He is co-founder of the Asheville School of Wine andAsheville’s Blind Tasting League and teaches classes on wine for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute through UNC Asheville. He is a Certified Specialist of Wine and first level Sommelier. His hobbies include eating and drinking (wine, beer, liquor or otherwise), hiking, snowboarding, and cooking with his wife, Christina. He is also an amateur bee-keeper and home-brewer. He is a native North Carolinian who attended Appalachian State University, before moving to Charleston to further his wine and food education. He loved the culinary scene in Charleston, but is very glad to be back in the mountains of Western North Carolina!