Weinhaus People
Hunt Mallett
Hunt's love of wine is like an apple not falling far from the tree (or should it be a grape from the vine?) His father, Dave Mallett founded the Weinhaus in 1977 and his uncle Peter Mallett owned a beer distributorship, so Hunt's introduction to wine and beer came around the dinner table before he was even allowed to drink!
Hunt purchased the Weinhaus on Dave's retirement in 2004. Now he and his brother-in-law, Gene Hollar, carry on the tradition of bringing value and world class wine and beer, along with thoughtful attention to customer service, to the many customers located not only in Western NC, but throughout the country.
Hunt Mallett is a native of Western North Carolina. Growing up in Asheville and Henderson County, he has seen the area change to become the thriving, vibrant community it is today. He earned a B.S. in Business at UNC-Chapel Hill. While in college he shared his love of mountain music and dance and helped found the Apple Chill Cloggers. Not long after that he joined the Green Grass Cloggers and literally toured the world bringing the culture of music and dance to countless people and places.
After seven years of touring, and then managing the dance company, Hunt returned to a family business. For eighteen years, he ran Asheville Ice & Storage and the Ice Service Stores, an ice manufacturing and distribution firm, and a chain of convenience stores based in Asheville.
Today he continues to blend his passions for Asheville, fine food & drink, traditional music & dance, international travel, and a genuine love of people from behind the counter at the Weinhaus. What better place to introduce both visitors and friends to his native city and to share his ever-growing knowledge of the world of wine and beer.
Dave Mallett
Dave was stationed in Austria after WWII and fell in love with the wine culture there. After a career as a stockbroker, he wanted to have some fun in life so he opened the Weinhaus in 1977. Since then there have been many changes, both in the Weinhaus and in downtown Asheville. Dave sold the Weinhaus in 2004 to his son, Hunt.
Derek Rubio
Derek enjoys the music, culture, and the landscape of the Southern Appalachian mountains
For him, wine and its study are both a vocation and an avocation. His other interests include
guitars, classic country music, literature, and travel.
John Mallett
John is the third generation of the Mallett family at the Weinhaus and has been here off and on (mostly part time) since he was 16. Born and raised in Asheville, John has embraced the city's beer culture and endevoured to become our beer specialist. In 2008 he and six friends filmed the documentary Beer Y'all, exploring North Carolina's growing micro-brewing industry. Today John is typically found in the Weinhaus during our extended night and weekend hours, and is also our webmaster.
Pat Gill
Pat grew up a California girl, never appreciating all of the good wines around her, and ended up in Asheville via Nashville. Somewhere along the way, a love of music and a developing interest in wine led her to the Mallett family and new friendships as well as an opportunity to learn more about wine by immersing herself in the subject, not literally, just figuratively. She is delighted to be a part of the group and spends time away playing that “old time” music, repairing violins and generally just having a good time with life. E-mail Pat at oldtimegirl@gmail.com