ASHEVILLE — What was meant to be a celebratory opening for Gourmand, a new winery and restaurant, has turned into a time of mourning for its owners, Peyton Barrell and Katie Grabach. Their establishment, set to debut on November 7 in the River Arts District, has been severely impacted by Tropical Storm Helene, which wreaked havoc on the area.
The couple was anticipating the arrival of essential equipment for their French rotisserie and wine yard when disaster struck. Their plans included serving custom-blended wines from neighboring Pleb Urban Winery, but those bottles have become bittersweet reminders of the storm’s destruction. Pleb, which suffered catastrophic damage, is now left with only a debris-strewn foundation.
“It’s terrible,” Barrell remarked. “It takes so much work and time to make good wine, especially in a region still developing its wine industry. I’m at a loss for words for what’s happened to them.”
Gourmand itself was not spared; the restaurant was dislodged from its base and crashed into the wall of a nearby brewery during the historic flood on September 27, when the French Broad River surged to over 24 feet.
“We didn’t think it would be this bad. We only put up one layer of sandbags,” said Lauren Turpin, co-founder of Pleb. “It wasn’t enough.”
The 35 magnum bottles of Pleb wine, which were to mark Gourmand’s opening, will now likely be reserved for a fundraising event for relief efforts. Pleb’s remaining structures include only a few production room floor drains and parts of the tasting room bar, following the storm’s devastating impact.
The winery had previously distributed its products across markets in New York, Texas, California, and Massachusetts, and had stockpiled wine from its last grape harvest to last for at least two years. Now, much of that inventory has been swept away.
“Whatever’s out there is all that’s left,” Turpin said.
On October 24, Chris Denesha, Pleb’s winemaker, surveyed the ruins of what was once a thriving business. He expressed disbelief at the extent of the destruction, noting that he had harvested the last batch of grapes just a day before the rainfall began.
“I didn’t see it coming,” Denesha admitted. “We thought maybe a foot of water at worst.”
Turpin highlighted the estimated losses, which include a retail value of $2.2 million in products and significant additional costs for equipment and structural damage. She stated that while Pleb’s brand endures, the company faces the daunting task of starting anew rather than rebuilding.
“With wine, the hardest thing to lose is time, and that’s what we lost,” Turpin said.
The impact of the storm extends beyond Pleb. Gourmand, which had briefly operated in S&W Market before closing, is now faced with uncertainty. Barrell noted that their renovated building was lifted off its foundation, adding to the extensive damage.
“Had this happened a week later, we would have had an additional $120,000 worth of equipment in there,” he said, reflecting on the fortunate timing of the storm.
Barrell and Grabach are left grappling with a $250,000 investment, including a storage unit with nearly $40,000 in equipment that was lost. They are unsure if the city will allow them to rebuild and are now focusing on the future of Gourmand.
“We would like to see the River Arts District reconstructed,” Barrell stated.
Despite the devastation, both Gourmand and Pleb’s owners are committed to supporting the local community as it begins to recover. Denesha and Turpin, both locals, emphasized the importance of community resilience to prevent larger corporations from taking over the area during this vulnerable time.
Reflecting on their past experiences in New Orleans, where they witnessed the long-term impacts of disasters, Barrell noted, “The real challenge comes in the months after, when local businesses are struggling to reopen.”
As Asheville faces the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, the future for Gourmand and Pleb remains uncertain, but their commitment to the community is unwavering.
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