Founded in 1991 by the Boston Guild of Oenophilists, the Boston Wine Expo has grown into one of the most well-known and respected wine events in the country. Over $1,400,000 has been donated to local charities by the Guild including Tufts Medical Center’s Summer Camp Program for Children with Disabilities – the major beneficiary. Over 27 local charities have benefited from the Expo over the event’s history.  Other organizations that have received considerable funding include the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Pan Mass Challenge and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.

Presented by Boston Guild of Oenophilists, the 24th annual Boston Wine Expo at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center is offering educational seminars during its President’s Day weekend event. This year’s lineup again will include a variety of highly regarded educational programs from top winemakers and industry experts from around the world.

With nearly 40 topics ranging from food and wine pairings, “Sipping Smarts: Wine Basics,” and vertical tasting flights of the world’s most sought-after grapes, class is now – deliciously – in session:

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14^th

• 11:00am – 12:00pm: “Languedoc: The Frontier of French Wine” – $35.00

• 11:00am – 12:00pm: “The New World of World-Class Wines: New York” – $35.00

• 11:30am – 12:30pm: “Sipping Smarts: Wine Basics with Leslie Sbrocco” – $35.00

• 12:00pm – 1:00pm: “The Secret Life of Pinot Noir” – $45.00

• 12:00pm- 1:00pm: “Opus One Winemaker Michael Silacci: Beyond the Icon – Looking Backward and Looking Forward: A Vertical Tasting of the 1988, 1996, 2001 and 2010 Vintages” – $95.00

• 12:30pm – 1:30pm: “Iconic Wines of Spain with Patrick Mata, Winemaker and Wine Importer Extraordinaire” – $40.00

• 12:30pm – 1:30pm: “Central Otago: The Burgundy of the Southern Hemisphere – $30.00

• 12:30pm – 1:30pm: “Tenuta Santa Maria alla Pieve, the Bertani Family’s Veronese Estate Winery” – $45.00

• 1:30pm – 2:30pm: “The Biodynamic Approach to Winemaking with Rudy Marchesi of Montinore” – $30.00

• 2:00pm – 3:00pm: “Sake…Is it just for Japanese Cuisine?” – $35.00

• 2:30pm – 3:30pm: “Decadent and Delicious: Sweet Wines of the World” with Professor Ed Korry, Department Chairman at Johnson & Wales University and President of the Society of Wine Educators – $35.00

• 2:30pm – 3:30pm: “Exploring the Treasures of Argiano’s Tuscan Estate” – $40.00

• 3:00pm – 4:30pm: “Complete Ten Year Vertical of St. Estephe’s Chateau Meyney” with its rising star winemaker Anne Le Naour and Jean-Christophe Calvet of Aquitaine Wine Company – $35.00

• 3:30pm – 4:30pm: “Argentina’s New Terroirs-: A Journey of Discovery” – $30.00

• 3:30pm – 4:30pm: “Wine Words: Learn the Language of Wine” – $30.00

• 4:00pm – 5:00pm: “Scotch versus Irish Whisk(e)y” – $35.00

• 4:00pm – 5:00pm: “Craft Beer Cellar Beer Smart Academy” – $30.00

• 4:00pm – 5:00pm: “The Cool Climate, World Class Wines of the Finger Lakes” – $30.00

• 4:00pm – 5:00pm: “Wine Spectator Presents… Taste Like a Pro, 201” – $35.00

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15^th:

• 11:00am – 12:00pm: “Taste some of Italy’s Best Olive Oils” with Johnny Madge – $25.00

• 11:00am – 12:00pm: “The Wines of Uruguay” – $25.00

• 11:30am – 12:30pm: “Sipping Smarts: Wine Basics” with Leslie Sbrocco – $35.00

• 11:30am – 12:30pm: “Opus One Winemaker Michael Silacci: Beyond the Icon – Looking Backward and Looking Forward: A Vertical Tasting of the 1988, 1996, 2001 and 2010 Vintages” – $95.00

• 12:00pm – 1:00pm: “Cheese and Wine Matching Seminar” with Brad and Brian Wasik of the Wellesley Cheese Shop – $40.00

• 12:00pm – 1:00pm: “New England Cider: The Lost Apple Project’s Ciders with a Supporting Cast of Artisan Cheese and Salumi” – $30.00

• 12:00pm – 1:00pm: “Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em…a Shootout Between the wines of Chile and Argentina” – $35.00

• 12:30pm – 1:30pm: “The Amazing Story of Barolo with Ciro Pirone, Director of Italian Wines, Horizon Beverage” – $45.00

• 12:30pm – 1:30pm: “Domaines Albert Bichot Verticals: Grand Cru Clos Vougeot and Meursault les Charmes” – $45.00

• 2:00pm – 3:00pm: “Frog’s Leap Presents -The Art of Winegrowing – Organic, Biodynamic and Dry Farming: A Presentation on the Implications on Wine Quality with a Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical” lead by John Williams of Frog’s Leap Winery, Napa – $45.00

• 2:00pm – 3:00pm: “The Republic of Georgia: Wines from Ancient Vines” – $25.00

• 2:00pm – 3:00pm: “Stefano Girelli Presents the Wines of Santra Tresa, Sicily” – $40.00

• 2:30pm – 3:30pm: “Sake and Sushi” with Hiromi Iuchi of Kuramoto Sake and Sushi from Cafe Sushi, Cambridge – $40.00

• 3:00pm – 4:00pm: “The Best of Chianti Classico Just Got Better! A Discussion and Tasting of the New Gran Selezione Classification” with Winemaker Leonardo Bellaccini as well as a Vertical Tasting of his Superb Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Poggio Rosso’ – $35.00

• 3:30pm – 4:30pm: “Wine and Chocolate: the Best Wine Matches for superb Valrhona Chocolates” – $35.00

• 3:30pm – 4:30pm: “Wine Spectator Presents…. Iconic Wines of the Pacific Northwest: a Taste of Oregon and Washington” – $35.00

• 3:30pm – 4:30pm: “The Modern Wines of Ancient Greece with Ted Diamantis, Founder of Diamond Wine Importers” – $30.00

• 4:00pm – 5:00pm: “Gin versus Vodka: the Title Fight” – $30.00

• 4:00pm- 5:00pm: “Cognac Seminar” with International Cognac Expert and Author, Becky Sue Epstein – $45.00

The Boston Wine Expo will take place at The Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center on February 14 and 15, from 1-5 p.m. This event is reserved for ages 21+. Tickets are on sale and available by visiting: www.wine-expos.com/buytickets. Weekend tickets and discount group tickets are also available.

The Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center is located at 200 Seaport Boulevard in Boston, MA. For directions and more information, please visit: www.seaportboston.com.

Boston Wine Expo sponsors include Infiniti, Citizens Bank, Alex and Ani, xfinity, Wines of Argentina, Hope Family Wines, National Wine Agency – Georgia Ministry of Agriculture, Cooper Smith, Maine Tourism, Humboldt Imports, Celebrity Cruises, Maple Leaf Farms, Lodi Wine Grape Commission, Taste New York, Legends from Europe, Italian Trade Commission and Massachusetts Beverage Business.

For more information, please visit:www.wine-expos.com.