Category Archives: Upcoming events

Beaujolais Nouveau Day is November 19, 2020

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Say what you will about tradition and how disappointed we are this Thanksgiving. Yes, once again, the 2020 theme of having to “pivot” rears its ugly head, reminding us of the “new now” – a deadly threat in gathering of extended family and friends. Let’s count our blessings, though, and focus on the wonderful tradition that remains — the release of Beaujolais Nouveau!

Under French law, the wine is set to be released at 12:01 a.m. on November 19, weeks after harvest. Every third week of November, like clockwork, we can count on this bottled gamay. Grown in the most southern wine growing region in Burgundy, France, there’s an outlier region called Beaujolais, where the wine is quite different in regard to production and climate. In fact, Beaujolais is referred to as its own appellation that produces these light, dry grapes that are a cross between a pinot noir and the ancient white gouais grape.

In a non-Covid-19 ravaged world, Beaujolais Nouveau Day is typically marked in France on the third Thursday in November with fireworks, music and festivals to celebrate the first wine of the season.

When you pick up your bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau, be sure to look for label artist Maeve Croghan’s “Russet Vines” on the Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2020 bottles (featured image). Keep in mind that it’s meant to be consumed immediately — within a month, preferably, and it will not have a high tannin structure or acidity, but will be fruity in both aroma and taste. Its tart cranberry overtones make it a perfect pairing for Thanksgiving dinner – even if you’re a table of one.

The producer most familiar to those who open a bottle or two of Beaujolais Nouveau each November is Les Vins Georges Dubœuf. But did you know Les Vins Georges Dubœf produces more structured wines? Try a few bottles of Villages and Moulin-A-Vent and you’ll be sure to up your game with Thanksgiving dinner. Beaujolais-Villages is not the same thing as Nouveau, but it is made from the remaining production to produce a darker, richer and more full-bodied wine – and can be stored longer than Nouveau.

Take a listen to what Romain Teyteau, North America export director at Les Vins Georges Dubœf, has to say about Beaujolais wines:

Excerpt from my interview with Romain Teyteau, export director, North America, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf.

I look forward to tasting the soon-to-be-released Beaujolais Nouveau, but in the meantime, I’m sipping a 2018 Domaine des Rosiers Moulin-A-Vent produced by Georges Duboeuf and rated 93 James Suckling points, and a 2018 Domaine De La Vigne Romaine Moulin-A-Vent — both pour a garnet gamay of exquisite silk on the palate. Enjoy these deeper, full-bodied wines with beef stew, duck confit, Portobello mushroom dishes, spicy dishes and fine, matured cheeses.

As you celebrate with a bottle of Georges Duboeuf, toast to Georges, who passed away in January 2020 at the age of 86. And be sure to check out THIS LINK for upcoming virtual Beaujolais Nouveau events.

If you’d like to learn more about Georges Duboeuf wines, click HERE.

Travel: Montana to meet Merry Edwards

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Merry Edwards Winery Toasts 20th Anniversary with a Celebration of Wine, Outdoor Adventure and Gourmet Cuisine.

Remember Missoula, Montana, the setting for that ’80s cult hit, “Twin Peaks” that I’ve since heard is making an updated series? Well, I’ll be heading to Missoula in about a month, and so will you if you decide to fly to Montana’s premier luxury ranch resort, The Resort at Paws Up.

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All 37,000 acres of The Resort at Paws Up is located in Blackfoot Valley in western Montana, and is internationally acclaimed for year-round adventures and stellar culinary events, and for a weekend in March is where you can enjoy the perfect blend of wine, gourmet food, thrilling adventures …and more wine.

The Resort’s first-annual Wine Weekend, this year’s Eat, Drink and Meet Merry event (March 16–18), will allow guests the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the country’s leading vintners. This year’s headlining talent will be Merry Edwards herself.

Much like Paws Up’s successful established weekend events, such as Montana Master Grillers (May) and Montana Master Chefs (September), the weekend retreat will feature top-notch talent, outstanding gourmet menus by award-winning Executive Chef Ben Jones, specialized wine pairings, live entertainment and plenty of adrenaline-pumping adventure. After attending, guests will no doubt be able to impress even the most knowledgeable of their wine-loving friends with sommelier-like expertise.

As part of Paws Up’s inaugural Wine Weekend event, Resort guests are invited to wet their whistle during interactive seminars, educational tastings and wilderness excursions with Merry Edwards and her winemaking partner, Ken Coopersmith. The highlight of the weekend will be phenomenal dinners with expert pairings from Merry Edwards Winery, known for its exquisite Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs.

One of California’s first woman winemakers, Merry Edwards became a household name in the industry soon after she started making award-winning wines in the early 1970s. In 2013, Edwards was inducted into the Culinary Institute of America’s Vintners Hall of Fame, and she also won the coveted James Beard Award for Best Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional in the United States. Edwards was just the fourth woman to be so honored. The Eat, Drink and Meet Merry event corresponds with the 20th anniversary of the founding of Merry Edwards Winery in 1997.

Kick-starting Paws Up’s spring culinary events lineup, Eat, Drink and Meet Merry will be followed by WildFlavor (April 20–23, 2017), a four-day weekend event featuring exquisite menus and cream-of-the-crop culinary talents, including four Top Chef stars. Season 10 winner Chef Kristen Kish and Season 10 runner-up and current contestant Chef Brooke Williamson will be among the featured chefs.

For reservations or more information, call 877-588-6783. The Resort at Paws Up is also on Facebook and Twitter (@Paws_Up) and Instagram (@TheResortatPawsUp).

For more information on The Resort at Paws Up, visit www.pawsup.com or call 800-473-0601. For more information on Merry Edwards, visit www.merryedwards.com, or to schedule an in-depth tasting, contact 888-388-9050.

Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival runs September 25 to 27

Upcoming events

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From September 25 through 27, three of Newport’s most beautiful historic mansions will be filled with visitors and vendors celebrating the 10th Annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, presented by The Preservation Society of Newport County and FOOD & WINE. Hundreds of wines from around the world will be poured, and a variety of cuisine from regional restaurants and caterers will be served, making the festival one of the East Coast’s most sophisticated and anticipated events.

Tickets are still available at discounted advance prices for most of the weekend’s events.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.NewportMansionsWineAndFood.org or by calling (401) 847-1000.

Martha Stewart will return to the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival for her second year, headlining a brand new signature event with Jacques Pépin titled A Conversation with Martha Stewart and Jacques Pépin. Guests can enjoy a lively and engaging conversation with the lifestyle expert and the French chef while sipping Champagne Taittinger in the Marble House Gold Ballroom before heading out to the Grand Tasting. Stewart and Pépin will discuss what’s hot and what’s not in lifestyle and food trends, providing the audience with a rare opportunity to engage with them in a spectacular setting.

Chef Pépin will also join daughter Claudine Pépin for a cooking demonstration on the KitchenAid Culinary Demonstration Stage during Sunday’s Grand Tasting.

Regional favorites also participating in the weekend cooking demonstrations include New Yorkers Ben Pollinger, Executive Chef of Oceana restaurant in New York City; JJ Johnson, Chef de Cuisine of The Cecil in Harlem; and Allison and Matt Robicelli of wholesale bakery Robicelli’s in Brooklyn. Chocolate lovers will delight in a demonstration by Amy Guittard, author of the Guittard Chocolate Cookbook, and “Mr. Chocolate” himself, Jacques Torres. Additionally, local  chefs Matthew Petersen, Executive Chef of Newport Harbor Corp; Jamestown Fish Owner and Executive Chef Matthew MacCartney; and Frank Terranova, Johnson & Wales instructor and host of the NBC10 daily television segment “Cooking with Class” will be sharing their talent and tips on stage.

The Grand Tastings will also feature book signings by the guest chefs and other authors throughout the weekend.

The weekend kicks off with the Wine & Rosecliff gala on Friday night, featuring an outstanding selection of fine wines and food amid seaside Gilded Age splendor.

On Saturday night, the return of Newport After Dark will give guests an opportunity to extend the party late into the night while enjoying food and cocktails from some of the Festival sponsors at Forty 1˚ North on the Newport waterfront.

On Friday, visitors can attend seminars at the Hotel Viking to learn about wines from different regions of the world. Guests are encouraged to ask some of the industry’s most respected experts from vineyards such as Marchesi Antinori, Champagne Taittinger, and Bouchaine Vineyards about the tasting, pairing and buying of wine.

The Presenting Sponsor of the 2015 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival is FOOD & WINE Magazine.  Additional  sponsors  include Alex and Ani, National Trust Insurance Services, KitchenAid, United Airlines, Alaska Seafood, Lynx Grills, Atria Senior Living, Guittard Chocolate Company, Dock & Harbor  Maine, Harney & Sons Master Tea Blenders, Maple Leaf Farms, Urbani Truffles, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Southeastern New England, Ruffino, Marchesi Antinori, WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey, Nobilo, Bouchaine Vineyards, Coravin, Champagne Taittinger, Sequoia Grove, Brinley Gold Shipwreck Rum, Hotel Viking Newport, Residence Inn Marriott, The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina, Newport Hospitality, Inc., Arrow Prestige Limousine & Coach, and Meridian Printing. Production management services are provided by Plate + Decanter and Amadeo.

All proceeds from the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival benefit The Preservation Society of Newport County, a non-profit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes, and decorative arts.  Its 11 historic properties—seven of them National Historic Landmarks—span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.

Educate your palate during 2015 Boston Wine Expo, Feb. 14 & 15

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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 14th

  • 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 15th:

  • 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.

Hard pressed to resist Beaujolais Nouveau

Upcoming events, Wine Reviews, , , ,

As if it were Halloween, I spent last night “trick or treating” in a sense. Instead of candy, however, I received sips of newly-released Beaujolais wines. My trail began on rue Cler, and from there I took the Metro into the 3rd arrondisement of La Marais, and back again to rue Cler in the 7th, where wine shops welcomed passersby to come in and taste the 2014 grapes harvested in France. Fortunately, 2014 has proved to be a great vintage, especially when you factor in the warm September in the vineyards.

In the most southern wine growing region in Burgundy, France, there’s an outlier region called Beaujolais, where the wine is quite different in regard to production and climate. In fact, Beaujolais is referred to as its own appellation that produces light, dry gamay grapes, which are a cross between a pinot noir and the ancient white gouais grape.

What most people know Beaujolais for is its one-third production of Beaujolais Nouveau, revealed recently in Paris, France, and in the U.S. by next week. About 35 million bottles of this Beaujolais Nouveau are shipped worldwide and within two months of harvest, thanks to carbonic maceration – the Nouveau style of production. The catch to buying a bottle is:

1) It should be consumed immediately — within a month, preferably

2) It will not have a high tannin structure or acidity, but will be fruity in both aroma and taste – tart cranberry overtones makes it a perfect pairing for Thanksgiving coffee-table talk.

Also, you should know that Beaujolais-Villages is not the same thing as Nouveau, but it is made from the remaining production to produce a darker, richer and more full-bodied wine – and can be stored longer than Nouveau.

Beaujolais Nouveau pairs well with Thanksgiving dinner – turkey and cranberry sauce, or even salmon, trout, pork chops or charcuterie. Just remember, it’s a new wine, so it’s pretty fruity and straightforward grape.

Get a few bottles while you can, and enjoy! Click here for an interesting take on Japan’s welcoming of the new harvest, and here to get a bit of Beaujolais Nouveau’s history in marketing and the person most responsible for putting Beajolais Nouveau Day on the calendar.

Champagne Day: Friday, Oct. 24

Upcoming events

The fifth annual #ChampagneDay is a yearly social media event made possible by all Champagne drinkers around the world. It is the time of year to raise a flute to the quintessential wine of celebration, good cheer and toasts everywhere: Champagne. And remember, there are great sparkling wines from around the world, but Champagne only comes from Champagne, France.

The 2014 #ChampagneDay is set for Friday, October 24. All you need to participate is a glass of Champagne on October 24, 2014. Share your photos, tasting notes, experiences and videos on any social media site, and be sure to add the #ChampagneDay hash tag so your friends from around the globe can share in the fun.

This year, for the first time, show your #ChampagneDay support via Facebook and Twitter with Thunderclap! And visit www.champagneis.com to send an eCard to friends and family.

Join in on global #ChampagneDay tasting with friends from around the globe!

Date and time:

Friday, October 24, 2014. This is a 24-hour event so that everybody everywhere can participate.

Vive Le Champagne!

Other Hosts

Binny’s Beverage Depot

1720 N. Marcey St.
Chicago, IL 60614

Celebrate National Champagne Day with your favorite Champagne, Champagne Henriot. Meet Cellarmaster and Director of Vines and Wines, Laurent Fresnet who was born and raised in Reims, the heart of the Champagne region in France. As the descendant of several generations of wine growers in the Montagne de Reims area, he knew from an early age he was destined to work in Champagne. Taste through the outstanding range of wines from Champagne Henriot with Laurent in this Open House event.

Reservations Required
RSVP requested – Call 312-664-4394 today.

Sofitel Brisbane

249 Turbot Street
Brisbane QLD 4000

As part of Sofitel Wine Days we invite you to celebrate Global Champagne Day at Privé249 on Friday 24th October for a night of delights by Chef de Cuisine Josh Okorn and Craig Haworth of House of G.H. Mumm.

Five courses of delicate and imaginative dishes will be paired with exquisite Champagnes for a night of true opulence and pleasure.

Please click here to view the full menu.

For more information or to book please call (07) 3835 3535

The Winery

285A Crown St.
Surry Hills NSW 2010

The Winery in Surry Hills is scheduled to open on Champagne Day, October 24!

67 Wine & Spirits

179 Columbus Ave
New York, NY 10023

67 Wine will be “pouring on #Champagne Day with Geofroy of AvanteGuard from 4-7pm.”

Marcel’s

2401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20037

Marcel’s will be featuring a special Champagne menu and flights. Additional details forthcoming.

Muselet Restaurant & Wine Bar

Jacobsen Salt Co. 602 SE Salmon St
Portland, Oregon

Hors d’oeuvres and six courses, each paired with Champagne.
Four producers of Récemment Dégorgé (prestige) ‘grower’ Champagnes from France will be in attendance and seated among guests:
Rodolphe Péters, Champagne Pierre Peters
Arnaud Margaine, Champagne A. Margaine
Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, Champagne Rene Geoffroy
Laetitia Billiot, Champagne H. Billiot Fils.

$150 per person, including wine pairings, excluding gratuity. Limited seating.

The Wine Sellar

9550 Waples Street, Suite 115
San Diego, California 92121

True Champagne comes from Champagne France and is made in the traditional method. We will be celebrating this fantastic day the right way! With some genuine Champagne!

Eddie V’s

4400 W Boy Scout Blvd
Tampa, FL 33607

Champagne & Jazz featuring Jazz vocalist Theo Valentin:
Celebrating Champagne Day 2014 one day early on October 23 in Tampa Bay.
Raffle proceeds and donations to benefit Moffitt Cancer Center for Breast Cancer Research and to support Breast Cancer Awareness Fight For A Cure.

Spark the Hague

Zeestraat 35
2518 AA The Hague, Netherlands

Hosted on the 24th of October by G-Bubbles and Hilton Sparkteam, this evening is all about class, exclusivity and champagne!

Time 18:00 – 19:30
Exclusive champagne tasting and dinner (limited access).
– six very rare luxury champagnes,
– elaborately explained and discussed by champagne experts Martijn Verbruggen and Gregor Neggers,
– set in an exclusive boardroom at Hilton The Hague,
– lobster from the Big Green Egg.
– €149,
– more info: info@g-bubbles.nl & https://www.facebook.com/events/750797184966673/?ref=22

Have questions about 5th Annual #ChampagneDay 2014? Contact ChrisO Vintuba.com

A grape unites the Finger Lakes and France

Upcoming events, Wine Destinations

Riesling is king in the Finger Lakes.  This noble grape is the Finger Lakes most widely planted Vinifera variety with nearly 850 acres in production and almost every winery produces at least one Riesling brand. The microclimate conditions and the slate soils that are so special to the Finger Lakes are exactly what make Riesling thrive here.  The wineries of Finger Lakes Wine Country continue to be internationally recognized for their award-winning Rieslings in such publications as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, Wine & Spirits, and Decanter.  Many of the region’s Rieslings have won many prestigious medals at wine competitions like Riesling du Monde, or Rieslings of the World, in the Alsace region of France.

The Finger Lakes Wine Alliance is thrilled to announce the official debut of the 2013 Finger Lakes Rieslings through its fourth annual Vintage Riesling Launch promotion, Sept. 2–30, 2014.  The month long celebration will include Riesling tasting events at restaurants, wine bars, wine shops, wineries, and specialty events throughout New York State.  Finger Lakes Wine Alliance will also host a virtual tastings including the popular Riesling Hour, a social media driven Finger Lakes Riesling tasting.

The 2013 Vintage Riesling Launch is the fourth annual celebration of the Finger Lakes release of a new Riesling vintage.  Following the successes of the Riesling Launch the past few years, we are delighted to celebrate the launch of the 2013 Rieslings.  Riesling tasting events will be held at restaurants, wine bars, wine shops, wineries, and specialty events throughout New York State throughout September.  Highlights of the celebration include two events in New York City, Harvest in the Square and Wine Riot.

The 2013 Finger Lakes Riesling Launch will be a sponsor of the 19th Annual Harvest in the Square for the fourth year in a row. The event, presented by Union Square Partnership, will take place at Union Square Park in New York City on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.  Seventeen Finger Lakes Riesling producers will be paired with “chefs from the hottest and most popular restaurants in the Union Square District,” according to the Harvest in the Square website, to enhance the Riesling tasting experience for attendees through pairings with farm fresh culinary creations.   For more information, http://harvest.unionsquarenyc.org/.

Finger Lakes Rieslings will also be featured at the New York City Wine Riot. The Riesling Launch will have a wine booth at the Riot featuring 17 Finger Lakes Riesling producers for two days,September 19–20, 2014, at the 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan. The Wine Riot is an exciting event where consumers can taste and learn about wines from all over the world in a fun, comfortable atmosphere. For more information, https://secondglass.com/event-categories/wineriot/NYC-2014-fall/.

Another highlight of the 2013 Vintage Riesling Launch is Riesling Hour, the world’s largest Finger Lakes Riesling virtual tasting, on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. EDT.  Wine enthusiasts nationwide are invited to grab their favorite bottle of Finger Lakes Riesling, pour a glass, and join the conversation by sharing their photos and thoughts about the Riesling in their glass via Twitter using #FLXRiesling or the Finger Lakes Wine Facebook Fan Page.  In addition, there will be a media-exclusive virtual tasting focused on 2013 Finger Lakes Riesling; #WineChat onWednesday September 10, 2014 from 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. EDT.

More information about all events for the 2013 Vintage Riesling Launch can be found at www.RieslingLaunch.com. 

Oscar-inspired cocktails at Vanderbilt Grace, Newport, Rhode Island

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With the Oscars right around the corner on March 2, Vanderbilt Grace is offering exciting cocktails in honor of the nominated movies. For $14, guests can enjoy cocktails such as Newport Hustle, Captain Morgan Phillips and Dallas Fashion Club. The following cocktails are offered now through March 9, 7 p.m., in the fine dining restaurant, Muse by Jonathan Cartwright:
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Zero Gravity (pictured above): 2oz Absolute, 1oz Peach Liquor and 2oz OJ, shaken and strained into a martini glass with grenadine on the bottom and Blue Curacao on the top.

Newport Hustle: 1 Mint Sprig, 1 Lemon Slice, 1 Orange Slice, 1 Cucumber Wheel, Half a Strawberry and 1/2oz Lemon Juice Muddled.  Add Ice, 2oz Pimms and 1/2oz Grand Marnier, Shake and Pour over ice.  Stir in 3 oz Ginger Beer.

Dallas Fashion Club: Muddled Jalapenos & Orange, Chipotle BBQ Bitters and 2oz Whiskey in a rocks glass and garnished with jalapenos and cilantro.

Captain Morgan Phillips: 1.5oz Captain Morgan, 2oz Pineapple Juice, 1/2oz Grand Marnier served on ice in a Collins glass and garnished with lemon and lime wedge

Her OS: 1oz Absolute, 1oz Chambord, Topped with Soda Water in a Collins Glass and Garnished with Raspberries.

Bigger, better, bolder than ever: Boston Wine Expo 2014

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Twenty three years ago, the Boston Wine Expo began at the Boston Harbor Hotel with the intent to educate the next generation of wine consumers. One of the country’s biggest and most respected celebrations of wine, food and culture, The Boston Wine Expo, will take place at The Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center on Feb. 15 &16, from 1-5 p.m., where almost every major wine producing area is going to be represented.

One overlooked aspect of The Boston Wine Expo is the charity component. The Boston guild has distributed, in total, $1.2 million. The largest single component goes to New England (Tufts) Medical Summer Camp for Children and three community health centers. Each year, the guild sends 225 children to summer camp, thanks to The Boston Wine Expo.

General Admission tickets prices are as follows: Saturday: $95 per person; Sunday: $85 per person; Weekend Pass: $145 per person. General admission tickets include entry, a Boston Wine Expo souvenir glass to taste wine samples from over 300 wine producers, complimentary food samples from scores of providers and access to live cooking demonstrations.

VIP Experience ticket prices are as follows: Saturday: $145 per person; Sunday: $135 per person; Weekend Pass: $145 per person. VIP Experience tickets include immediate entry through the VIP entrance, a welcome champagne toast, complimentary private coat check, access to the VIP lounge, an upgraded Boston Wine Expo souvenir glass to taste wine samples from over 300 wine producers, complimentary food samples from scores of providers and access to live cooking demonstrations.

For those looking to take the elevator home after a long day of sipping, there are exclusively priced accommodations available at the Seaport Hotel (Friday & Saturday: $225 per night; Sunday: $185 per night).

Growing up Gallo

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As heiress to the Gallo Empire, Gina Gallo hopped on a plane last year for the Boston Wine Expo 2013 to promote all sips Gallo. The night prior to the BWE, I was fortunate to enjoy a private dinner with Gina at Forum, located on Boylston St. in Boston. What I discovered about Gina is that she’s an open book: down-to-earth, approachable and interesting beyond her fabulous wine stories. And she isn’t tainted by fame and fortune; in fact, she says growing up on a vineyard was much like growing up as a farm girl, and that’s her personality in a nutshell: farm girl meets fine palate.

Here are 7 things you may not know about Gina Gallo, and 3 bottles of Gallo signature wines to sip:

#1 – She has 7 siblings and her brother takes care of the bottling segment of the company.

#2 – She doesn’t have a television set in her Napa, California home, and doesn’t care — with the exception of President Obama’s inauguration. She wanted to watch this coverage, and did so on her laptop computer.

#3 – She enjoys live theater whenever she can steal away from the business and her twin toddlers, and whenever a show is within reach. As she explains the thrill of theater, she spends several minutes amusing herself in trying to recall the name of the show that sent her in stitches – about an Irish Jew – or was it an Irish Italian? She can’t remember, but remembers loving the performance.

#4 – She believes the Portuguese language to be the most beautiful. And although she is married to Frenchman, Jean-Charles Boisset, she doesn’t speak fluent French. With twin daughters who will surely be raised in both languages, she knows learning more French is mandatory.

#5 – She has to work out by noontime, or she won’t. Participating in sports is what keeps her in shape, and she loves waterskiing, swimming and surfing.

#6 – She’s open to several culinary specialties, but she won’t eat gizzards (sorry, Anthony Bourdain!).

#7 – She has never been in a hot air balloon, but once jumped out of a plane on a dare to skydive.

#8 – Gallo Signature Series 2011 Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($30) has a bouquet of Burgundy, yet is a California wine crafted by the legendary Gallo family. Flavors of crisp apple, lemon meringue and ginger tease the palate as grapes from Laguna Ranch, Del Rio Vineyard and the Russian River Valley orchestrate this exceptional white wine.

#9 – Gallo Signature Series 2011 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($35) is so tasty on its own. You may be selfish and hoard this bottle to enjoy over the course of a few evenings. I know I did. And I don’t regret a sip. This pinot noir comes from grapes grown on Olson Ranch Vineyard of Santa Lucia Highlands.

#10 – Gallo Signature Series 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) was first served with a filet mignon topped with crabmeat and blue cheese. Hey, for a very special cabernet, you must enjoy a special meal, right? This wine’s flavor profile is of a chocolate milkshake with black cherry and currants, a hint of vanilla. A drop of petit verdot shakes up the taste a bit.

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At the Boston Wine Expo 2014:  Gallo Signature Series

Booth/Table: 640

The Gallo Signature Series honors the journey the Gallo family started in 1933, and it celebrates how far the family has come. With some of California’s best grapes at her fingertips, third-generation winemaker, Gina Gallo, has created three distinct wines that could only be crafted from the Gallo family’s unique combination of vineyards. For Gina, the Gallo Signature Series expresses her family’s passion for great vineyards and great wine, and it reflects the best the Gallo Winery has to offer. The Gallo Signature Series marks a return to hands-on, artisanal winemaking for Gina, and it brings to life the enduring legacy of Ernest and Julio Gallo.