Haute Spots Boston: Boston Wine Festival

Winter in Boston can seem exceptionally long after the holidays with spring months away. One of the best ways to cure the snowy winter doldrums is to get out on the town and you can do just that beginning this weekend when the Boston Wine Festival gets underway.

Founder Daniel Bruce is hosting a celebratory grand opening of the 28^th Annual Boston Wine Festival. The country’s longest-running wine and food festival gets underway Friday night and continues through March 31, 2017 featuring winemaker-hosted dinners, seminars, thematic receptions, and brunches at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Highlights of this year’s event include the return of Meritage Madness (January 25) and Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance (February 11), along with intimate dinners featuring wineries like Opus One (March 1) and Trimbach (March 2).

Photo Credit: Boston Harbor Hotel

New this year to the festival include ROCO Winery (February 9) featuring the newest venture from Argyle Winery’s Rollin Sole, and Blackbird Vineyards (February 23) hosted by Dylan York, the festival’s youngest winemaker. This year is going to be even more special as the festival will also host winemakers from South Africa during a week of events dedicated to the region inspired by Chef Bruce’s recent travels. Be sure to check out the calendar of events that begins on March 22 with a special reception featuring South African cuisine and, of course, an incredible selection of wines.  South African winemakers Ken Forrester and Martin Meinert will join Chef Bruce on March 23 for their inaugural dinner at the festival.

Whether you are looking to sample some new wines paired with new flavors, learn more about your favorite vintage or have the opportunity to meet a winemaker, this year’s lineup promises to be a fun one. Some of this year’s dinners include Cakebread Cellars (February 16), Benovia Winery (March 17), and Marques De Vargas (March 30). Each multi-course dinner is paired up with Chef Bruce’s cuisine designed to perfectly complement the wine.

To purchase tickets to the Boston Wine Festival, visit www.bostonwinefestival.net.