The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, will be offering their Intermediate Level 2 certificate class in Portland this October. The class is being taught by Adam Chase and Elizabeth George from Grape Experience. The program is aimed at anyone “who works in wine, wants a career in the wine industry or has a serious interest in the subject”. See the WSET website for a more detailed explanation of what the course covers.
The class ($700 per person including wines and course materials) is taking place over 2 days October 23-24 with the final exam scheduled for October 30. The organizers are holding an informational session this Thursday (11 – 1 at Havana South) for anyone interested in learning more about WSET and the class itself.
Category: Wine
Portland WSET Wine & Spirit Certificate Course
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, will be offering their Intermediate Level 2 certificate class in Portland this October. The class is being taught by Adam Chase and Elizabeth George from Grape Experience. The program is aimed at anyone “who works in wine, wants a career in the wine industry or has a serious interest in the subject”. See the WSET website for a more detailed explanation of what the course covers.
The class ($700 per person including wines and course materials) is taking place over 2 days October 23-24 with the final exam scheduled for October 30. The organizers are holding an informational session this Thursday (11 – 1 at Havana South) for anyone interested in learning more about WSET and the class itself.
Ice Cream, Hip Chicks and Red Wine
Today’s Press Herald reports on a new gelato shop that’s due in September, interviews MDI Ice Cream about their new business in Portland and reports on the “Obama Bump” they’ve received since the First Family ate there.
Even President Obama couldn’t resist a coconut cone from Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in Bar Harbor during his visit to Maine last weekend. The sight of the leader of the free world enjoying his afternoon treat sent sales of coconut ice cream soaring at MDI’s Bar Harbor and Portland stores, according to owner Linda Parker. More wholesale orders came rolling in as well.
An interview with macrobiotic author and former Maine resident Jessica Porter,
A former Mainer, Porter lived in Portland when she wrote “The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics.” The fun book — which mixes humorous advice and explanations with recipes — was published in 2004 and reigns as Amazon’s top seller in the macrobiotic category.
Porter returns to Portland next week to conduct a macrobiotic cooking class a week from today, followed by a lecture the following Friday, “Is the Macrobiotic Diet Vegan?” Both will take place at the Five Seasons Cooking School on Munjoy Hill.
and Joe Appel recommends a trio of red wines that are right for Summer.
Maine Wineries
The big new Summer issue of Portland magazine includes a feature story on Maine wineries.
Some of Maine’s vintners make the so-called “fruit wines” with fruits other than grapes–mainly blueberries, apples, cranberries, raspberries, and pears. Some make wine from grapes or grape juice brought in from out of state. And quite a few, especially the newcomers, are growing their own grapes, something many people believed could not be done in Maine. Several are experimenting with growing and fermenting techniques and with new, especially hardy types of grapes designed to survive the state’s cold climate. Many of these varieties are hybrids created by university scientists and did not exist as recently as five years ago.
Many of the state’s 20 wineries are open to the public. Visit www.mainewinetrail.com for a map and links to winemaker’s websites.
Havana South & New Wine Column
Yesterday’s Food & Wine section in the Press Herald included an update on the soon to open Havana South,
The head chef is Joe Boudreau, formerly of Mims in Portland and the Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth. The food, Boland said, will be American cuisine with a Latin twist. Think filet mignon with an adobo rub, or a hanger steak with a chimmichurri sauce.
Latin fare will be represented by a Peruvian seafood paella, made with dende oil to give it a rustic flavor. Also on the menu will be a Brazilian stew known as moqueca.
and the launch of a new wine column written by Joe Appel who puts his wine knowledge to use on the page and at his day job at Rosemont.
My intention for this column is to make it desperately relevant to you – whether “you” is a can’t-relate-to-humans-because-wine-is-more-interesting geek, a mildly interested food-lover unfamiliar with the world of wine, or somewhere in between.
I try hard to keep an open mind and treat every aspect of the wine world as an opportunity to learn something new. Still, here’s what really excites me: reasonably priced, locally available, food-friendly wines that honestly reflect the character of the land that bred them, the true nature of the grapes that died for them, and the spirits of the farmers and winemakers who labored over them.
Havana South & New Wine Column
Yesterday’s Food & Wine section in the Press Herald included an update on the soon to open Havana South,
The head chef is Joe Boudreau, formerly of Mims in Portland and the Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth. The food, Boland said, will be American cuisine with a Latin twist. Think filet mignon with an adobo rub, or a hanger steak with a chimmichurri sauce.
Latin fare will be represented by a Peruvian seafood paella, made with dende oil to give it a rustic flavor. Also on the menu will be a Brazilian stew known as moqueca.
and the launch of a new wine column written by Joe Appel who puts his wine knowledge to use on the page and at his day job at Rosemont.
My intention for this column is to make it desperately relevant to you – whether “you” is a can’t-relate-to-humans-because-wine-is-more-interesting geek, a mildly interested food-lover unfamiliar with the world of wine, or somewhere in between.
I try hard to keep an open mind and treat every aspect of the wine world as an opportunity to learn something new. Still, here’s what really excites me: reasonably priced, locally available, food-friendly wines that honestly reflect the character of the land that bred them, the true nature of the grapes that died for them, and the spirits of the farmers and winemakers who labored over them.
Italy–>Maine Wine Connection
The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes an interview with Paul Turina, a Yarmouth man who imports wines produced by his family in Italy. According to the article, Turina wines are on the menu at Paciarino, Hugo’s, and Walter’s and can be purchased at Rosemont and RSVP.
At first, he brought just enough wine to the States to satisfy family and friends. Now he travels to Italy once or twice a year to visit his family and do business with them, trying to find ways to get the word out about their wines on this side of the Atlantic.
Johnny’s Bistro in Falmouth is featuring Turina wine at a dinner on May 17.
Italy–>Maine Wine Connection
The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes an interview with Paul Turina, a Yarmouth man who imports wines produced by his family in Italy. According to the article, Turina wines are on the menu at Paciarino, Hugo’s, and Walter’s and can be purchased at Rosemont and RSVP.
At first, he brought just enough wine to the States to satisfy family and friends. Now he travels to Italy once or twice a year to visit his family and do business with them, trying to find ways to get the word out about their wines on this side of the Atlantic.
Johnny’s Bistro in Falmouth is featuring Turina wine at a dinner on May 17.
Revised Wine Legistlation Signed into Law
Governor Baldacci has signed a revision to the 2009 law that regulates wine tastings.
The law had required that wine stores run tastings “in a manner that precludes the possibility of observation by children”. The revised law strikes that provision; shops now just have to “post prominently at the entrance to the store a sign that announces the date and time of the event”.
The revised law also enables shops to conduct up to 3 tastings per month and no more than 24 per year.
For additional reporting see: Chow Maine.
Wine Tastings Hearing in Augusta
Both MPBN and the Press Herald have reported on yesterday’s hearings about Maine’s wine tasting legislation at the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee in Augusta.
“At our Bangor location, we have had customers after the fact apologizing for missing a tasting because they saw the windows covered in paper and thought we were either closed to remodel or out of business,” [retailer Scott Worcester] testified. “During a tasting in Southwest Harbor, I had to explain to a gentleman that he could not come into my store while carrying his infant, even to buy cheese and crackers, because I was conducting a tasting.”
For a wider perspective on how legislation is impacting the state’s wine making and retailing industry be sure to read the article published earlier this month in Down East.