It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas. It’s Philly Wine Week! From March 22 to 29, the City of Brotherly Love will openly indulge in its love of all things vino-related. In its fifth year, the program has expanded upon previously successful events and added many new events. With hundreds of events coming up, we’ve chosen what we’re looking forward to most:
Thursday, March 22
Opening Corks
600 North Broad Street
Get your first taste of PWW at this official kick-off event. Guests can enjoy hundreds wines to sample including unique and rare wines and chat with the winemakers and importers. Pair your tastings with foods from top restaurants including Lacroix, Tinto, Royal Boucherie, and more. Due to the overwhelming response to this event, it’s been moved to a much bigger space this year so more people can celebrate. Don’t wait to buy tickets at the door – this event sells out!
PWW Kick Off Dinner
Cibo Ristorante Italiano
The week kicks off here with a brand new three-course prix fixe menu and a special wine list. Live music will be performed by the talented pianist Dena Underwood, along with the vocal talent of the Cibo staff. Come early and enjoy two hours of happy hour specials that include $5 glasses of wine.
Friday, March 23
Rosé All Day
Hungry Pigeon
Head to Philly mag’s #1 Best Restaurant in the city and enjoy special pours of rose starting at 7 a.m.! This event is perfect for industry folks, shift workers, and everyone in between who wants to celebrate.
Wine Pong Tournament
Maison 208
We all know the rules… Sign up for this grown-up rendition of pong either individually or with a teammate. There will be five tables: Bubbles, White, Orange, Rose, & Red. A $35 entry includes an open bar of select wines and featured complimentary dishes. Each table has a chance to win a wine gift basket and Maison 208 gift card!
Pennsylvania Wines Association Dinner
High Street on Market
Celebrate all things local at this special four-course dinner for $45 with additional wine pairings, all Pennsylvania made. Wine makers from Galen Glen, Nimble Hill, and Maple Springs will guide guests through their wines.
Olde Kensington Pop-Up Wine Bar
Kensington Quarters
Head upstairs to the intimate pop-up wine bar that’s open for two nights starting at 9 p.m. until close. General Manager, Tim Kweeder, will feature a collection of minimally-manipulated, small-production wines from around the globe.
Saturday, March 24
Can you tell the difference?
ITV
Get schooled at an educational happy hour that explores the difference between organic, biodynamic and sustainable wine practices. Each category will have a flight of three wines as you blind taste test them.
Wine and Foods from places you LOVE: Duckhorn/Calera
The Love
In their first year hosting PWW, The Love presents a five-course seasonal and local tasting menu with the team at Duckhorn. Expect the food to consist of local fare including mushrooms, ramps, Chesapeake oysters and Pennsylvania beef. Reservations required.
Sunday, March 25
Rosé Sunday Brunch
Barbuzzo
Sunday is all about brunch at PWW. At this Philly favorite restaurant, you can get a three-course family style brunch for $35. Pair it with optional rose wines, sparkling wines and wine-based cocktails.
Bubbles and Brunch
Jet Wine Bar
New brunch items include a deviled-egg breakfast sandwich, moroccan baked eggs, and brisket hash on polenta cakes. Of course they’ll all be served classic bubbly sepcials: flights of different sparkling wines for $12 or $5 mimosas.
Annual Wine Week BBQ
American Sardine Bar
In its fourth year, the ASB BBQ will feature a selection of local PA wines like Maple Springs, Galen Glen, and more. Enjoy an afternoon around fire pits (weather permitting) in a chill atmosphere along with Chef Doreen Demarco’s excellent BBQ.
Monday, March 26
Madeira Monday
Tria Cafe Rittenhouse & Washington West
Did you know… Madeira was reportedly used by the founding fathers to toast the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Celebrate that history at Tria with four Madeira varietals alongside a dry white made from those same grapes. They’ll be cranking the Hamilton soundtrack and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mixtape all day.
Buck-a-Shuck + Bubbles: Coast-to-Coast
The Good King Tavern
While this is always a weekday special at GKT, they are taking a local spin on the event. Taste domestic bubbles from the East Coast & the West Coast that drink like French champagne. Pair them with oysters from both sides of the country too.
Lambrusco Fest 3.0
Kensington Quarters
Toast this fun-drinking wine, sold by the glass, at KQ’s big event of the week. Try Lambrusco pours from multiple artisanal winemakers. Guest chefs from Philly’s favorite restaurants will be whipping up $5 plates of food. Plus, don’t miss the official after party at Martha at 11 p.m.
Tuesday, March 27
Wine & Cheese with Doe Run Farms & the Wine Merchant
Osteria
What is more classic than a wine and cheese pairing? Doe Run Farms is one of Pennsylvania’s most acclaimed cheese producers, and their cheeses will be paired with the expansive portfolio of the Wine Merchant. Learn about what makes a great pairing whether you’re stopping in for a quick flight or staying for dinner.
Les Femmes du Vin
Royal Boucherie
This newcomer restaurant hosts its PWW event with a special tasting with Philly’s favorite female sommeliers. Join Lili Shariati from Vine Street Imports, Mia Fanelli from Maison 208, Vanessa Wong and Sarah Peterson of Fishtown Social, Liz Flamini from Osteria, and Alexis Fitzgerald from Panorama. They’ll share their favorite wines along with our snacks and charcuterie from the restaurant. 10% of tickets benefit the sommeliers’ cause(s) of choice.
Tour of the Italian Riviera
Little Nonnas
Go on a journey through the Italian Riviera in a cozy setting that feels like Nonna’s house. From Lucchetti to Cinque Terre to Piedmont, enjoy fresh and authentic style Italian food and wine. $55 gets you a family-style three-course dinner with wine included.
Wednesday, March 28
Wine Tasting Passport
Bistro Romano
Travel to 35 different places around the globe without leaving Society Hill. Andrew Sanderbeck and Jay Vaughan guide you through a curated journey while you enjoy bistro bites, artisanal cheeses, and live music. Receive a Bistro wine glass to taste and take home with you at the end of the night.
Slovenian Wine Showcase
Southwark
Discover something new from one of Slovenia’s emerging wine scene. Known for its mineral-driven whites and aromatic reds, select from the Orange Pinot Grigio by Mansus, juicy Rose by Stoka, Ribolla from Slovenian master Marjan Simcic, and a few surprises.
“Put a bird on it!” Wine + Wings Wednesday
Tria Taproom
Tria and Portland’s Brianne Day are thinking outside the box when it comes to food and wine pairings. Come try wines with wings. Day will highlight enticing, natural Oregon wines while Tria serves up their famed wings.
Thursday, March 29
Blurring the Lines: Cocktail and Beer Event
Martha
Explore how grapes and wine lend themselves to beer and cocktails in this special showcase with well-crafted examples. Plus, taste some fun wine inspired/infused cocktails.
Diving into “La Dive” Party
Walnut Street Café & The Good King Tavern
La Dive Bouteille is known as of one of the most magical “salon des vins.” Three local wine pros collaborated with wine director Chloé Grigri to share their Loire Valley experience. Dinner will take you through some of their favorites. Then, head to The Good King Tavern for more wines from the same producers. Plus, they’ll be slinging oysters and crepes like they do in Saumur.
Daily Events
Multiple locations
These specials take place every day during the week. Many of them are wine-centric happy hours with rotating features. It’s a great way to try something new every day! Our favorites are the Wine IQ Tasting Challenge at Pinot Boutique, Regional Wine Flights & Cheese Pairings at Vintage Wine Bar, Pennsylvania Winery Underdog Series at High Street on Market, and Regional Focus Happy Hour at Panorama.
For a full list of 2018 events, visit PWW’s website. For more information, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for tons of wine knowledge and updates. Join the conversation with the hashtag #PWW2018.
What events are you most excited for during Philly Wine Week? Let us know in the comments!
All photos courtesy of Philly Wine Week.
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