Boston Wine Expo – January 23rd to 25th 2009
The 2009 Boston Wine Expo is the largest trade and consumer wine event in the United States. Featured will be over 450 wineries, 1800 wines to sample, celebrity chefs, seminars, Grand Tasting, and meet and greet the winemakers.
It will held at the Seaport World Trade Center and Seaport Hotel between the 23rd and 25th January 2009.
The list of seminar schedules are as follows:
Seminar Schedules
Saturday, January 24, 2009
| 11:30 AM | “Wine 101″ with Gary Vaynerchuk Gary Vaynerchuk, self-trained wine expert and star of WineLibraryTV.com, presents his philosophy of wine, and leads a tasting designed to expand the palates of both experienced and novice wine drinkers. Gary breaks down the act of wine tasting, including the reasons for swirling, the all-important “sniffy-sniff”, and what to do once you’re ready to “give it a whirl” and taste. Not your typical wine expert, Gary uses informal and unorthodox language that makes wine easier to understand and enjoy. You will leave this session inspired to seek out new varietals. Feel empowered to trust your own palates, and approach wine lists and shops with a newfound confidence. Moreover, you can expect to feel a renewed passion for wine exploration—the perfect attitude to adopt before hitting the floor for the Expo’s Grand Tasting! |
$25.00 |
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| 12:00 PM | A Sparkling Brunch: Artisan Cheeses Paired with Champagne Famous cheesemonger Ihsan Gurdal of Formaggio Kitchen organizes Sunday brunch around a selection of international artisan cheeses; and believes the only way to make that sumptuous selection taste even better is to pair those cheeses with Champagne and sparklers from corresponding regions. Taste a delectable selection of cheeses with wines selected and presented by Champenois expert Jean-Louis Carbonnier of Carbonnier Communications in NYC. Tasting includes several Champagnes as well as fine sparklers from a diverse range of countries, with comments about each cheese and wine and their pairings by Ihsan and Jean-Louis. This seminar sold out quickly last year…don’t miss this fun and educational seminar with a great tasting to boot. |
$40.00 |
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| 12:30 PM | Wine Spectator Presents Rich Reds Around the World There are those times when you want a delicate wine that entices with its soft whisper. Other times, for example, when you’re between blizzards, you want a wine that’s rich and ripe from summer sun and packed with flavor. Well, it’s Boston and it’s January, so we’ll go for option number two. Join Wine Spectator Director of Education, Gloria Maroti Frazee, in this exploration of rich reds. Learn the answers to questions such as: What are the components in wine that make it big? How do I experience these components on my palate? How do I evaluate them? Taste notable wines from top regions and discover palate-pleasing examples from up-and-coming areas around the world. Vinous destinations may include the Rhone, Australia, Portugal, Washington State, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Spain, Verona, Tuscany and Argentina. |
$35.00 |
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| 1:00 PM | An Exploration of Château Palmer and Alter Ego with Bernard de Laage Bernard de Laage, director of development, conducts a tasting of four vintages of Alter Ego and four vintages of Chateau Palmer, the illustrious property of the Margaux commune in the Bordeaux region of France. He explains the history of Chateau Palmer going back over 200 years to Madame de Gasq and General Palmer. During the course of thepresentation, Bernard also explains many facets of the Bordeaux trade and wines. Each wine illustrates the unique terroir of Chateau Palmer as well as different vintages. De Laage will comment on the influence of both on each wine. Limited to 60 attendees so act quickly! |
$60.00 |
| 1:00 PM | Super Tuscan Sensations from Castello Banfi Bill Whiting, Director of Wine Education at Banfi Vintners, conducts a vertical tasting of six superlative vintages of ExcelsuS and SummuS Super Tuscan wines from the world-renowned Castello Banfi estate in Montalcino. Over the past 30 years (under its American ownership, the Mariani family), Castello Banfi has played a critical role in shaping the vision that propelled Montalcino to its present-day superstar status. It is the source of some of Italy’s most sought-after wines. Share in this unique opportunity to sample rare gems from the Mariani family’s private cellars. The seminar concludes with an informal Q&A about Tuscany’s most celebrated appellation. Wines include: 2007 Sangiovese Barrel Sample, 2007 Merlot Barrel Sample, 2007 Syrah Barrel Sample, 2007 Cabernet Barrel Sample, 2004 Cum Laude, 2004 SummuS, and 2004 ExcelsuS. |
$45.00 |
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| 1:00 PM | Rioja and Jerez: Spain’s Wine Royalty A Wine Seminar with Doug Frost MS, MW Though Spain is bursting with thousands of new wines, vineyards, grapes and labels, the ancient wine regions of Rioja and Jerez form the historical foundation for Spain’s quality wines. Let Doug Frost, author of the Far From Ordinary Spanish Wine Guide; show you the past and future of Spain’s noblest wines. |
$35.00 |
| 1:30 PM | Quarterly Review of Wines – Pinot Noir from Around the World Believe it or not, Pinot Noir existed as a grape long before the release of “Sideways.” It plays a major role in French Champagne and is the lone ingredient in the great red wines of Burgundy’s Cote d’Or. It also makes outstanding wine in Oregon and California, and is on the rise in Italy, Germany and New Zealand. Join Quarterly Review of Wines Editor Randy Sheahan for an informed tasting of Pinot Noir in all its global guises. |
$35.00 |
| 1:30 PM | South Africa’s Iconic Wine Estates This is a tasting tour of South Africa’s leading wine estates. Taste leading examples of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay; Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon plus refined Pinot Noir and South Africa’s own Pinotage. Learn about the historic main regions of Stellenbosch and Paarl then explore new areas such as Swartland, Elgin, Walker Bay and Elim. Wineries to be tasted will include Fairview, Vergelegen, Paul Cluver, Mulderbosch, Hamilton Russell, Waterford Estate and others. |
$25.00 |
| 2:00 PM | Navarra: Spain’s Terroir Through Indigenous and International Varieties What makes a wine special? The grape variety? The terroir? The wine-maker? Discover Navarra, discover indigenous and international varieties and their personality through our different climate and soils. Taste Garnacha and Tempranillo, but also Graciano or Mazuelo. Learn why “French” varieties do so well in Navarra and be astonished by the influence of the terroir on the grapes you thought you knew well! Welcome to the Kingdom of Navarra, land of diversity. The seminar is coordinated by Pilar García- Granero, (Enologist, President of Wines from Navarra) and Ana Laguna (Navarra Wine Expert). The wines to be tasted are: Señorío de Sarria Viñedo nº8 Mazuelo 2005, Laderas de Inurrieta red 2005, Ars Negro, red 2007, Chivite Colección Reserva red 2004, Preemy Navarra red 2007, Septentrión crianza red 2005, Pago de Larrainzar red 2006, Ars Nova red 2005, Alzania Selección Privada red 2004, Earth Reserva 2004, rec eco, and Sadar, – sloe berry liquor from Navarra. |
$25.00 |
| 2:00 PM | 2005 Bordeaux ‘The Greatest Vintage Ever!’- Off the Beaten Track with Jean-Christophe Calvet, President of the Aquitaine Wine Company Robert Parker called it “the greatest vintage produced in my 30-year career” and continued to say “but the real values are not found in the first-growths or many of the classified growths.” He then goes on to mention ‘Bordeaux’s Big Little Wines’ calling them “…some of the finest wine bargains of the world.” Join Jean-Christophe Calvet, President of the Aquitaine Wine Company in Bordeaux (www.aquitainewine.com) and 6th generation wine négociant, in a frank discussion about the 2005 vintage and why you would or would not buy those overpriced 1st growths (even though he sells them). Discover the up-and-coming producers in Bordeaux, who are making wines that taste (nearly) as good as those $2,000-$5,000 bottles, but are available at a fraction of the price. Finally, join him in a “wow” tasting of a wide selection of affordable 2005s from nearly every prestigious appellation of Bordeaux. Connoisseurs of Bordeaux, or novices that know nothing about Bordeaux (and would like to learn), are welcome to participate in what promises to be one of the more popular seminars of the weekend. Space will be limited, so reserve early! |
$35.00 |
| 2:30 PM | A Regional Tour of New Zealand Pinot Noir With its temperate, sunny climate and passionate winemakers, New Zealand is one of the few countries to flourish with the fickle Pinot Noir grape. Akin to the old world in their fine structure and elegance, New Zealand Pinot Noirs deliver the excitement of the New World with the pure power and intensity of their fruit expression. One of the most exciting aspects of New Zealand Pinot Noir is that there are five very distinct regions all excelling with the variety, resulting in a spectrum of flavors and styles. Join Bill Nesto MW on a regional tour of New Zealand Pinot Noir and taste some of the country’s leading examples. |
$30.00 |
| 3:30 PM | Edna Valley – “Elements of Style” - Presented by Harry Hansen, Winemaker at Edna Valley Vineyard This is a rare opportunity to examine the results of the choices winemakers are faced with every vintage. The seminar includes a tasting and examination of: Tank fermentation verses oak fermentation. The different types of oak treatment. Use or disuse of malolactic fermention. Stirring of the lees in barrel for mouth feel. In addition to tasting the various components listed above, you’ll also taste the finished wines of Edna Valley Vineyard. |
$25.00 |
| 3:30 PM | The Art of Craft Beer with the Harpoon Brewery The craft beer industry has exploded in recent years. With nearly 1,400 independent craft breweries, many would argue that the US has become the best place in the world to drink good beer. The Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986 by a couple of friends who wanted a better variety of beer to drink at their local bars. Since then, Harpoon has grown to be the largest brewery in Massachusetts and the 10th largest craft brewery in the country. Join Harpoon’s Chief of Brewing Operations, Al Marzi, for a tasting of several of Harpoon’s award-winning craft beers. Al talks about the brewing process and describes how each of the four main ingredients of beer add unique character and depth – from the brewhouse to your glass. |
$25.00 |
Sunday, January 25, 2009
| 11:30 AM | “Wine 101″ with Gary Vaynerchuk Gary Vaynerchuk, self-trained wine expert and star of WineLibraryTV.com, presents his philosophy of wine, and leads a tasting designed to expand the palates of both experienced and novice wine drinkers. Gary breaks down the act of wine tasting, including the reasons for swirling, the all-important “sniffy-sniff”, and what to do once you’re ready to “give it a whirl” and taste. Not your typical wine expert, Gary uses informal and unorthodox language that makes wine easier to understand and enjoy. You will leave this session inspired to seek out new varietals. Feel empowered to trust your own palates, and approach wine lists and shops with a newfound confidence. Moreover, you can expect to feel a renewed passion for wine exploration-the perfect attitude to adopt before hitting the floor for the Expo’s Grand Tasting! |
$25.00 |
| 12:00 PM | Wine Spectator Presents The Many Expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon is the key grape in some of the world’s greatest wines. Depending on how the wine is made in the vineyard and in the winery, it can express its power in many ways. Learn the keys to great Cabernet as you taste through a range of Cabs – including the big and bold, the eloquent and balanced as well as masterful blends. Esteemed California winemaker Doug Fletcher, VP of Wine Making at Terlato Wines International, and Wine Spectator’s Gloria Maroti Frazee guide you through a tasting of wines from Napa Valley, with side trips to Sonoma County and South Africa. You’ll consider questions such as: “What are the different styles of Cabernet?” “What difference does a growing area make?” “How does yield impact the wine?” “What does barrel-aging contribute?” “Why can Cabernets mature for so many years?” and “How does Cabernet change over time?” |
$35.00 |
| 12:00 PM | In Pursuit of Excellence – A Study in Sangiovese from Italy’s Castello Banfi Estate Join Bill Whiting, Director of Wine Education at Banfi Vintners, for a celebration of Sangiovese — Italy’s best-known grape variety. Bill reviews the recent evolution of Sangiovese, including the impact of new developments initiated by innovative producers such as Castello Banfi. These will be contrasted against the classic winemaking traditions of the past. Along the way, Bill illustrates his talk with a fascinating line-up of wines from a range of vintages. These include a remarkable, one-of-a-kind sampling of clonal components from Castello Banfi’s 2007 vintage. Wines to include 2007 clonal components: Janus 50, Janus 10, BF 30, 2007 Final Blend, 2001 Poggio alle Mura Brunello di Montalcino, and a 2005 Belnero. |
$40.00 |
| 1:00 PM | Legal Sea Foods Presents: The Delicate Pairing of Lobster and Wine Join the masterminds at Legal Sea Foods as they guide you through the art of pairing quintessential New England lobster with just the right wine. Sandy Block, VP of Beverage Operations, is joined by Chris Cowen, Area Chef of Restaurants for this lively seminar. A former Sommelier, Block is certified as a Master of Wine, and is one of only 23 Americans and 257 individuals worldwide to hold this prestigious title! Learn how to expand the range of wines enjoyable with luxurious lobster through the use of creative culinary seasonings. At the same time, discover unique and interesting wines in this category which offer high style and surprising value. |
$50.00 |
| 1:00 PM | Beaulieu Vineyard – “Deconstructing of Georges de Latour” - Presented by Education Manager, Judy Meredith Taste a vertical of the 2003, 2004 and the 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and don’t miss a special tasting of the 1995 Beaulieu Vineyard George de Latour. In addition, taste the barrel samples of the future with the first ever vintage from the brand new, state of the art winery under the direction of Joel Aiken, VP Winemaking for Beaulieu Vineyard. This winery has been designed to allow the fermenting of wine in 60 gallon tanks (crafting the tannins of Rutherford) as well as stainless steel tanks to retain the fruit; together they result in the elegance of the infamous Rutherford Appellation. |
$60.00 |
| 1:30 PM | The Elite Wines of Chile and Argentina Join Master Sommelier Laura DePasquale, VP Fine Wines at Palm Bay International, for a close-up look at the elite category of world-class wines now being produced from the vineyards of Chile and Argentina. Thanks to an unrivaled diversity of terroir and pristine growing conditions, these two South American trail blazers are starting to flex their muscles and show the rest of the world what they are capable of producing. Whether it is powerful yet elegant Argentine Malbec from some of the world’s highest elevation vineyards in the Uco Valley, intensely aromatic Sauvignon Blanc from Chile’s coastal Leyda region, or rich, complex Carmenère from the well-protected ColchaguaValley and Apalta area, these modern South American wines shake the status quo and will enchant any wine lover. |
$25.00 |
| 1:30 PM | Navarra: “Avant-Garde” of the Young Spanish Wines Is Spain really a Mediterranean country? Sunny Spain might not quite be what you expected. Learn why Navarra offers such surprising wines: “Tear wines”, the best of our indigenous “garnacha” turned into fresh, pink and joyfull rosées, white wine from cool and warm climate, young red offering indigenous and international varieties, expressing the best of our terroir diversity. Welcome to the Kingdom of Navarra, land of diversity. Welcome to Spain’s hot spot. The seminar is coordinated by Pilar García- Granero, (Enologist, President of Wines from Navarra) and Ana Laguna (Navarra Wine Expert). The wines to be tasted are: Señorío de Sarría rosé 2008, Inurrieta Orchidea, white 2008, Artajona, young red 2007, Enanzo Chardonnay 2008, Castillo de Monjardín, Chardonnay 2007, Gran Feudo rosé sur lies 2007, El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, red 2007, Ochoa red garnacha & tempranillo 2007, Piedemonte Gamma red 2007, Ochoa sweet Muscat 2007 and Baines sloe berry liquor from Navarra. |
$25.00 |
| 2:00 PM | 25 Years of Bonny Doon Vineyard or Flying Cigares, Alien Abductions and the Crystal Matrix For the last quarter century Santa Cruz’s Bonny Doon Vineyard has crafted unique, stylish wines with a wild and at times extremely wacky sensibility. Join Bonny Doon founder and president-for-life Randall Grahm as he leads an interactive tasting exploration of the flagship Rhone -style Cigare family wines. Expect numerous discursive side journeys into Biodynamic wines, the relevance of alien viticultural practices and our new crystal fermentation vessels. Taste six to eight wines. |
$35.00 |
| 2:00 PM | Quinta do Noval Port Seminar Featuring the Rare Nacional One of the oldest port houses, Quinta do Noval is unique among the very top producers in the Douro in that most of its ports are made from estate-grown fruit. Notably, all of the vintage Noval wines are from the single Quinta do Noval vineyard. Two additional facets that make Quinta do Noval an exception are its stock of 100% estate, single-vintage tawny ports (“Colheitas”) and, of course, Nacional, the legendary port made from a 6 acre parcel of ungrafted vines. When declared, only 200-300 cases of Nacional will be made, and instantly become the most sought after port in the world. Please join us in exploring these three unique facets of Quinta do Noval with Aymeric de Gironde. Taste several Colheitas that span a range of nearly 60 years, three vintage ports since the revitalization of the Noval estate in the early 1990s and an extremely rare Nacional vintage from the 1960s. Selections include: Quinta do Noval Colheitas 1937, 1964, 1995, Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 1994, 1995, 2004, and Quinta do Noval Nacional 1964. |
$60.00 |
| 2:30 PM | Mr. Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Alain Junguenet and Co. There is a good reason that Rhône fanatic Robert Parker declared Alain Junguenet ‘Monsieur Châteauneuf-du-Pape.’ Alain is a longtime devotee of the region and its wines. His company, Wines of France, Inc., represents many of this southern Rhône appellation’s top estates. Annually, Alain organizes a group of vintners from Châteauneuf-du-Pape to sample their wines on a tour of markets around the U.S. The Boston Wine Expo is their most important stop – there is always a crush at their tables. In this year’s seminar, Alain and his top producers unveil the outstanding 2007 vintage at each estate and pour barrel samples. This is a great chance to preview what will certainly be regarded as a legendary vintage and interact with the winemaker’s themselves! If you have not attended one of Alain’s seminars, make sure you don’t pass this one up! |
$40.00 |
| 3:00 PM | Argentina’s Unparalleled Malbecs Although Malbec has been incorporated in great Bordeaux reds for centuries, it’s only recently that the varietal has come into its own. Today, Argentina sets the standard for the varietal, providing wines that offer great quality as well as value. This seminar explores the diversity of Argentina’s wine regions from North to South as we taste a range of notable Malbecs. |
$25.00 |
| 3:30 PM | Dry to Sweet: German Rieslings for Every Occasion Riesling is one of the few grape varieties in the world that can range in style from bone dry to seductively rich and fruity. As Americans learn to appreciate the drier styles of Riesling from Germany, they’ll discover that there are Riesling wines to match any taste preference and meal. This seminar explores the different styles of German Riesling, including Trocken, Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, and even Eiswein from a variety of Germany’s thirteen wine producing regions. Come learn about the fastest growing white grape varietal in the US and why sommeliers nationwide are naming Riesling as their favorite |
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