Westport Rivers Winery Benefit for Westport AgCom

Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery presents a fundraiser for the Westport AgCom, A Taste of Westport, on Sat. June 20th, 2009 from 1-4pm.

Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery will host a local wine & food fundraiser under one tent on the lawn at their winery in Westport, Massachusetts. Proceeds will benefit the preservation of Farm Land in Westport, through the Westport AgCom. Local food, wine, and beer will be the focus as you sample what wonderful flavors Westport has to offer. Westport’s finest food providers, farmers, cheese makers, bakers, and more will be on hand to sample what they do best as you enjoy the sights at the vineyard and the sounds of live music. The event will also feature, Buzzards Bay Brewing, Running Brook Vineyards and Travessia Urban Winery, all of which source from the small town of Westport.

This is a rain or shine, 21+ event, under the tent and all are encouraged to dress farm casual and weather appropriate. Space is very limited and this small intimate wine & food festival will sell out! Local restaurants, caterers, and producers will be offering small samples to taste, as well as an array of locally grown and produced wines and beer. There will also be a cash raw bar available. Some vendors and participants will also have items for sale if you’re interested in bringing something back home with you.

Tickets are $45 per person. Cash Raw Bar and vendor items for sale excluded. Tickets and information are available during regular business hours at the Company Store located at the winery.

Tickets also available online in their ONLINE STORE at www.westportrivers.com

For more information, call 508-636-3423 x.2, or email: retail@westportrivers.com

The address: WESTPORT RIVERS, 417 Hixbridge Road, Westport, MA

Skinner Fine Wines Auction May 21 in Boston

Looking for fine wines? Check out Skinner's Fine Wines Auction on May 21, 2009 in Boston.

Skinner, Inc., one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, will host an auction of Fine Wines on May 21st at 5 p.m. in its Boston gallery at 63 Park Plaza. In partnership with Lower Falls Wine Company, Skinner will offer stellar consignments of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Napa and Port wines.

Featured in the sale are full cases from the 2000 vintage of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion (lot 59, est. $4,5/6,500), Chateau Latour (lot 62, est. $8/12,000) and Chateau Lynch Bages (lot 63, est. $1,2/1,800). Also offered are six-magnum cases of 1996 and 2002 Chateau Lafite Rothschild (lots 55 and 58, est. $5,5/8,000 and $3,5/5,500, respectively). Likely to engage the interest of sophisticated palates are assortment cases of Domaine de la Romanee Conti vintages 2000 and 2001 (lots 125, 126, and 127, est. $7/10,000, $7/10,000 and $10/15,000 respectively).

The sale also features wonderful mature collections with terrific breadth and depth. Napa is highlighted by Sine Qua Non and verticals of Harlan Estate, Phelps Insignia, Silver Oak, Beringer Private Reserve and Caymus, Special Selection. Notable lots include lots 159 and 160, nine-year verticals of Harlan Estate, and lot 252A, 2005 Sine Qua Non, Atlantis Fe203-1a Syrah 2005 (2 bts) and 2b Grenache (1 bt) est. $600-900.

Skinner is the only major auction house in New England to offer fine wines at auction and is able to effectively compete with New York area competitors by keeping buyer’s premium low, state sales tax is non-applicable and other logistics such as storage is simplified.

To arrange for a preview, please contact Marie Keep, director of Skinner’s Fine Wines Department, at 508 970-3296 or finewines@skinnerinc.com. Skinner is currently accepting consignments for its Fall 2009 auction of Fine Wines and can accept a single noteworthy bottle or an entire collection.

The Tastes of Concord

West Concord Liquors, The Concord Chamber of Commerce, and Solidworks Present: The Tastes of Concord

Over 100 different wines along with scotch and beer to taste and pair with food from 15 local producers and restaurants. Come hungry and thirsty!

The Tastes of Concord is like a city event right in your backyard! Usually you have to go into Boston for something this big. Bring your 21+ family, friends and dates. Dress code is casual or dress to impress.

When: Thursday, April 30, 2009 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm

Where: The Concord Cafe inside Solidworks. 300 Baker Ave in Concord. There will be balloons at the entrance!

Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door

Tickets available at: West Concord Liquors, 1216 Main Street, West Concord (978) 369-3872, the Concord Chamber of Commerce, 15 Walden Street, Suite 7, (978) 369-3120, or online at www.ConcordChamberofCommerce.org

Food: Concord Prime and Fish, Verrill Farm, The Cheese Shop, Vincenzo's, Slow Pokes BBQ, 40ParkLane, Edible Arrangements, To Die For, Comella's, Walden Grille, Club Car Cafe, Concord's Colonial Inn, Corporate Chefs

Boston Wine Dinner to Benefit L'Aquila Earthquake Victims

Umbria Ristorante will join Castello di Volpaia Winery in hosting the L'Aqualia Earthquake Benefit Dinner on Friday, May 1, 2009 at 6:30 pm.

The four-course dinner for $75.00 will aid in relief efforts for those affected by the earthquake. Chef Gianni Caruso has carefully selected an array of palate pleasing dishes to be paired with an exquisite selection of wines presented by Nicolo Mascheroni Stianti, owner of Castello di Volpaia winery.

For reservations and more information, please call 617.338.1000, or visit www.umbriaristorante.com.

Cost: $75.00 per person
Where: Umbria Ristorante
295 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110

About Umbria:
Located at 295 Franklin Street, Umbria is situated in the heart of Boston's Financial District, just steps away from the waterfront. With an ambience mirroring that of an Italian Villa, the restaurant's first two floors surrounded by rustic brick walls, Italian marble and hardwood floors offer a romantic dinner setting and an inviting atmosphere for cocktails. Inspired by the Umbrian region of Italy, Umbria offers simple yet hearty dishes including a wide selection of house-made pastas, fresh seafood, as well as brick-oven, roasted and braised beef and chicken. During the late night hours, Umbria's third, fourth and fifth floors transform into a night club. The club features a vodka bar, plush couches, DJs and some of Boston's best night life events. For more information, visit http://www.umbriaristorante.com/.

Wine Riot in Boston

Attention Boston wine lovers, check out this fun wine event!

Ken & Theresa

WINE RIOT! a large-scale wine tasting in Boston's South End

When: Friday, April 17th, 2009
2:00-5:00 PM Trade Tasting
6:00 -10:00PM VIP night with special panel on organic & biodynamic farming
Saturday, April 18, 2009, 1:00-5:00 PM and 6:00-10:00 PM

Where: Cyclorama
539 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02116
(617) 426-5000

Buy Tickets: http://www.wineriot.com/tickets

Cost: VIP $65 Saturday Riots $45.00

What/Why:

Featuring over 250 wines, the Riot! is designed for you to mix and mingle with wine experts representing virtually every wine region of the world. Wine Riot! will expand your wine knowledge through a printed wine guide, mobile technology, free mini-seminars, and forty fantastic exhibitors.

Free Crash Courses will be hosted by sponsors throughout the Riot! sessions, dishing in-depth knowledge about specific grapes, regions, and growing trends. Stop in for some complimentary guided tastings and head back to the main floor equipped with some stellar tips and know-how that will help you stand up to any wine list you meet.

Wine Riot! Schedule

Friday April 17th
VIP Riot! 6-10pm, $65 with a special panel of experts on biodynamic & sustainable wine

Saturday April 18th
Riot! One, 1-5pm, $45
Riot! Two, 6-10pm $45 each.

Included in admission to the Riot! you can access to any of the Crash Course seminars, have your photo taken in The Second Glass photo booth, score free schwag and learn tons of new wine info! Wine Riot! is only one weekend so be sure to book your tickets in advance!

For more information visit www.WineRiot.com
E-mail Morgan@thesecondglass.com for more information

WGBH Hosts the 2009 Fine Wine Auction

Don't miss the WGBH Fine Wine Auction on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the WGBH Studios in Brighton, Massachusetts, 4:30-6pm Wine preview, 6-8pm Live auction.

The cost is $40 members/$50 non-members: RSVP: 617-300-5400 wgbh.org/wineauction.

Wines from local and private cellars and wine connoisseurs across the country go up for bid at the WGBH Fine Wine Auction, a Boston tradition since 1984. Guests have the opportunity to preview a variety of wines, enjoy elegant hors d’oeuvres and bid on items available exclusively at this event. Proceeds help support WGBH’s award-winning programs and educational services.

All wines are inspected and stored in the climate-controlled Charles J. Beard wine cellar at WGBH. Marie Keep, Director of Fine Wines at Skinner, will be the auctioneer. Among the offerings will be a 2000 Chateau Petrus, a 1992 Opus One, a 1963 Croft Vintage Port, a 1996 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, one magnum, signed by Julia Child and Robert Mondavi with a picture of Robert Mondavi signing the bottle.

Ken Hoggins Interviews Wine Personalities at the Boston Wine Expo

Ken and I had a great time at the Boston Wine Expo a few weeks ago. While we were at the Expo, Ken had the opportunity to interview the following wine personalities. Each video is one to two minutes in length. Click here to watch these Academy Award-winning interviews. You definitely do not want to miss these videos!

Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV
Bill Grant of Four Vines Winery
Joseph Carr of Joseph Carr Winery
Doug Beckett of Peachy Canyon Winery
Peter Merriam of Merriam Vineyards
Anthony Truchard of Truchard Vineyards
Morgen McLaughlin of Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism