What is wine if you can not share your experience with others? Wine, and if I might add, food, can be more than just pleasurable sustenances. They are about a people, a history, even language. If one has the opportunity to immerse oneself in a culture, or learn about a people and what they are passionate about, food and wine experiences can be truly inspiring. And sharing these moments with others will only enhance everything, even if it’s with perfect strangers. Wines and foods are fabulous social elements! So get out there!
I want to bring your attention to some of these experiences that might be happening in your local area. If they’re not, then they might be good excuses for a little side trip. So here is a little wine social calendar of events to immerse yourself in.
May 24, New York
City Winery
The Reds, Whites and Blues Experience
$45
So maybe this is coming up a bit too soon, but hey, it’s the holiday weekend! Kick off the Memorial Day weekend and join City Winery, Michael Skrunik Wines and Family Tradition Cognac. You can enjoy seven sets of blues whilst sipping on seven seasonal wine and spirit selections. Pasquet Coeur de Grande Champagne. Pinot Gris from A to Z Winery, Oregon. Arroyo Grande Estate, Chardonnay from Talley Vineyards. The Pinot Project, from California. “Chateau Smith” Cabernet Sauvignon, of Charles Smith Wines. Pasquet Pineau de Charente. The band, The FTC Trio, features Bill Sims Jr., Matthew Skollar and Jr. Mack. These guys have over fifty years of experience from playing in the heart of Chicago at some of the best venues and throughout the world, with Gospel influence, R&B and of course jazz.
Michael Dorf, founder of City Winery, wanted to create an environment in Manhattan where he could combine both his passion for music and wine. His winemaking experiences in California alongside the former winemaker, David Tate of Ridge Winery with other wine making adventures were the impetus that led Michael to build the City Winery concept. It is a place for city dwellers to enjoy their own little secret pass into wine country, where they can make wine and meet others who share similar passions. Come to the restaurant and bar and hang with the many others who are just searching for great food, art, music and wine. If you can’t make this event, check out their site, http://citywinery.com for a calendar of events all summer long.
May 28- June 4 or September 17-24 Palermo, Siracusa, Modica, Sicily
Wine & Tours-Taste of Sicily and Baroque Towns
$2495
Experience the best of Italy! The fee includes 6 nights at three and four star boutique accommodations, includes all breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners. Day one will start with a tour of Palermo to the Vucciria market and later includes a hands-on cooking class with a master of the local Sicilian cuisine. Following breakfast, on day two, legendary Anna Tasca will take you to the center of the island where you will prepare dishes with ingredients from the farm from cheeses, eggs, garden vegetables and olive oil. If you don’t want to do the cooking, you can watch or just walk the vineyards until lunch is ready. Day 3, a tour of Modica’s historical sites and less tourist travels local areas. Tour Bonajuto chocolate shop and taste the chocolate of the ancient Aztecs and Spaniards… Do I need to go on? If you miss the travel date on May 28th, there’s another in September to plan for.
June 4, New York
The Wines of Northern Italy
$85
Enjoy a semi-private tasting while you tour the city above a 1920’s style motor yacht, Yacht Manhattan. This tasting will treat you with red and white wines from northern Italy while teaching you about the terrior and regional wine laws. Each wine will be paired with cheeses from Farmstead. All of this while you enjoy the river views of Manhattan. 
Here are some other dates to check out on the yacht:
June 18, The Wines of Southern and Central France
July 2, Refreshing Reds and Rosés!
July 16, Greek Wines Paired with Artisanal Cheese
August 13, Wines of New Zealand and Australia
Wrap up the summer on August 27 with Sparkling Wines of the World
June 30- July 6, Culinary and Wine Trip Through Provence
$2600
Stay at a luxury inn with a private garden in Medieval village that has been designated as what might be the most beautiful places in the Luberon region in Provence. Your six-day tour will include sightseeing and cooking events, wine tastings and market tours.
So that should get your summer wine calendar started. I will have more details on other wine events very soon. Stay tuned.
