The Biltmore Championship Asheville promises to showcase Western North Carolina to the world of golf. The PGA Tour event — Asheville’s first in 84 years — will bring thousands of players and attendees to The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Arden, along with more than $10 million in direct spending for local business.
For those attending the tournament, the region’s food and beverage scene will share the spotlight with the mountain scenery. Local purveyors will be catering the event itself, while many more throughout Buncombe County are crafting special products, dishes, and deals in honor of the championship.
Serving the main course
Spectators at The Cliffs will find multiple Asheville-area businesses offering refreshment throughout the competition.
On the beverage side, the Biltmore
Estate is hosting a wine garden between the course’s 15th and 16th holes. Biltmore spokesperson Marissa Jamison says offerings will include a North Carolina chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, dry rosé and cabernet sauvignon. The wine garden will also be the only place to get the “Par-Tee Spritz,” a cocktail combining Biltmore rosé and blanc de blancs sparkling wine with Aperol, grapefruit juice, and club soda.
Wicked Weed Brewing is sponsoring the beer side of things with a hospitality tent at the ninth hole. Spokesperson Jen Spears said that the Asheville-based brewery will showcase a wide variety of styles, including new brands like the Freak-ish Pale Ale and Lime Drop Sea Salt & Lime Lager.
“Pernicious is the No. 1 bestselling IPA in the Carolinas, so we will ensure there is plenty available for our existing local fans and visitors alike,” Spears added.
Local food options include Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ — recently named one of USA TODAY’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year — and The OutPost Food Truck. Emilios Papanastasiou told the Citizen Times that the truck will showcase the best of his family’s restaurant group, which comprises East Village Grille, Filo/Post 70, and Post 25 Kitchen & Lounge.
Papanastasiou said the truck will serve up local favorites, like spicy-sweet Tiger Wings and Tiger Mac & Cheese, along with “golf themed” items like a pimento cheese BLT. A breakfast sandwich and banana pudding cups will also be on offer.
“Our tireless prep team and kitchen management at Post 25 have been painstakingly working to ensure our food product is prepped and ready for our dedicated food truck staff to execute flawlessly this weekend,” Papanastasiou said. “Based on our history with other large-scale events (of which this is certainly the largest to date), we are preparing for a high-volume and exciting weekend ahead of us, and feel well-equipped and enthusiastic for the challenge.”
Marking the occasion
Several food and beverage businesses are also releasing unique products to commemorate the Biltmore Championship. Jamison points to the “The Caddie” by the Biltmore winery: a versatile blend of petite sirah, syrah, and zinfandel, emblazoned with an image of golf clubs that belonged to John Francis Amherst Cecil. The wine won’t be served at the tournament but will be available at WNC retailers and online.
Jamison said the Biltmore gifted bottles to the caddies as the tournament began. “It was especially gratifying to hear their reaction: several noted that while they’ve received golf-related wines and gifts before, they’re typically focused on the player or the equipment — not the caddie,” she told the Citizen Times.
The Hop Ice Cream is featuring a “Hole In One” flavor throughout all of September, both at the Biltmore Championship and at all of its Asheville locations. Co-owner Greg Garrison said the chocolate ice cream, mixed with a caramel swirl mini marshmallows “like little golf balls,” has previously been exclusive to the Lakeview Putt & Play mini-golf course on Hendersonville Road.
And Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn, which was named the official popcorn of the tournament, is releasing a special edition bag of its signature pimento cheese and salted caramel mix. Poppy marketing manager Natasha Lee said the bag’s art was designed by students at Asheville High School, one of whom will be present at the Biltmore Championship.
Beyond the links
Those who aren’t attending the Biltmore Championship will have plenty of opportunities to get in the spirit regardless, thanks to Explore Asheville’s “Play Through the Mountains” campaign. Over 140 local businesses have listed special offers tied to the tournament, and customers who visit businesses in at least three different Asheville-area neighborhoods can win a prize.
“While the prize is a surprise, this commemorative item will be the perfect companion for exploring beyond the course and walking away with new experiences and keepsakes from the Asheville area,” said Explore Asheville spokesperson Ashley Greenstein.
Food and beverage options include special prix-fixe menus at Corner Kitchen, Strada Italiano, and RendezVous. Other restaurants are offering discounts, like Curate Easy Tiger, Finest Deli, Jettie Rae’s, and Table.
And Farm Burger is bringing back a burger with previous PGA experience. The restaurant’s “Back 9” Burger was featured at this year’s PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta. It includes Hickory Nut Gap beef, North Country Smoke House bacon, cheddar, bacon jam, red onions, and a white BBQ sauce — along with a Farm Burger-branded golf tee.
Farm Burger co-founder George Frangos told the Citizen Times he wanted to make a burger “with our local grassfed beef, sustainability, and with a little Southern feel.” He said the Back 9 will be available all week at the restaurant’s downtown and South Asheville locations.
Daniel Walton is the City Government Watchdog Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at dwalton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville food, beer and local makers shine during PGA Tour stop
