Philly Wine Week Starts March 23

In an effort to showcase Philadelphia’s expanding skin in the urban wine game, Philly Wine Week will splash across the city between March 23-30. Tasting events will span multiple venues including Barbuzzo, Brauhaus Schmitz, High St. on Market, Jamonera, Jet Wine Bar, Ristorante Panorama and Tiffin Bistro.

Kate Moroney of Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro, a co-founder of Philly Wine Week, said the goal of the event is to simply celebrate wine. “From wine bars and sommeliers to PA vineyards and wine educators throughout our region, we want to celebrate all things wine for eight days each spring. The idea for Wine Week is to have events for everyone; whether someone has a refined palate already, or is looking for an opportunity to learn more, there will be events for them.”

The week kicks off with Bubbles & Barrels, an opening gala focused on sparklers, local wines and guest experts at Ristorante Panorama on Sunday the 23rd (win tickets from us here). Winemaker Kevin Robinson – of Montgomery County’s Karamoor – is looking forward to premiering his 2012 Cab Franc during the evening. “This was my first vintage here and I’m very excited about the wines from 2012, considering how wet the harvest was,” he said. “Maybe there is more forward fruit in the 2012 compared to 2010, but also as important to me is to get the most out of the mouthfeel and soften the tannins for maximum weight on the mid-palate… I’m thrilled the wines turned out extremely well.”

A wide spread of varieties, regions and styles will be showcased, with featured tastings daily from lunch until midnight. Some events that caught our eyes include:

• Finger Lakes standout Ravines Cellars Wine Dinner at High Street on Market on March 23.
• Lebanese Lunch, Mon – Thu at Tria Washington Square, spotlighting Lebanon’s legendary Chateau Musar Bordeaux blend.
• Local Lunch at Jet Wine Bar, daily March 24-28, featuring locavore and traditional Philly cuisine paired with some of the top PA-produced wines.
• A Tasting Tour of Rheinland: A Riesling tasting at the German Society of PA with fellow Riesling lover Marnie Old on March 26.
• Marcie Blaine Chocolate: House-made chocolates served with Sherry (one of the few wines that works with chocolate!) at Barbuzzo on March 28.
• A pairing dinner for the always tough to match Indian food, at Tiffin on March 29.

Terence Lewis, beverage director of Barbuzzo, Jamonera, Little Nonna’s and Lolita, added Jamonera’s Monday night Sherry Pairing Dinner to the must-try list. “It’s a great way for wine drinkers to see how sweet, dry, off-dry and savory Sherries can all work interchangeably with food.”

Lewis also suggested other varieties to seek: “The Galician stuff, Ribera del Duero, Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra – these are the most exciting modern wines to come to America,” he said. “Spain has so much to offer other than Rioja and Priorat. The Godello grape has a chance of being the ‘next thing’ on the international market.”

Jet Wine Bar owner (and Penn archaeologist) Jill Weber could barely contain her excitement about the March 29 Georgia to Greece: Drinking through the origins of wine event. “It epitomizes everything I love – ancient history, archaeology, wine, unusual grapes and lesser-known places,” she said. “The wines are amazing, especially the Armenian Zorah Karasi, which is rich, full, elegant, wonderful. And I get to share great travel and archaeology photos!”

Will Philadelphians turn out in numbers to support the effort? That remains to be seen, but Jamonera’s Lewis, for one, can’t understand why they wouldn’t. “If people will buy tickets and wait in line for a Russian River triple IPA, then why not try a rustic wine from Spain’s remote regions? Without the wait!”

For a full schedule and more, visit PhillyWineWeek.org.