Mahon About Town Nantucket Blog

The 2008 Nantucket Wine Festival web site has just gone live, and tickets are now on sale. Remember that the best events sell out very quickly, so if you don’t want to miss something, buy now. This is a world class event, with something for everyone.

The Festival Opening Reception is on Wednesday, May 14th, a chance to greet winemakers and sip Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label. Music by Nantucket guitar virtuoso Jim Sulzer.

Plum TV’s will debut it’s latest film, Coming of Age, a tour of some of Spain’s best wineries and restaurants - with Denis Toner, Mark Donato, and featuring Jorge Ordonez of Fine Estates from Spain who hosted a benefit dinner at Cinco last year for the Nantucket Arts Council. Wines from some of the featured wineries will be served at the event. Ticket information here.

New this year will be the Luncheon Symposia, a series of three one-hour wine symposium/luncheons featuring winemakers discussing their wines. Guests will then enjoy a four-course luncheon featuring the wines of the guest winemakers. All three symposia will take place on Friday, May 16th, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. At Straight Wharf Restaurant, The Stars of Stag’s Leap, featuring the cuisine of Chef Gabriel Frasca. At the Nantucket Golf Club, Burgundy Master Class, featuring the cuisine of Chef Steven Polowy of the Nantucket Golf Club. And at Cinco, the Soaring Wines of Spain, featuring the cuisine of Jean-Luc Matecat. For the winemakers who will be at each event, click here.

The Grand Tastings will showcase more than 150 wineries at the Nantucket Yacht Club, a Nantucket landmark built in 1870. There will be four two-hour sessions Saturday, May 17th, and Sunday, May 18th, with the same wines and foods available at each session (cooking demonstrations will vary). Sessions are from noon to 2 pm, and 3 - 5 pm.

Sample great food from some of Nantucket’s great restaurants and the culinary offerings of special guest celebrity chefs, and enjoy delicious wines presented and served by their winemakers, at the Nantucket Wine Festival Gala at the White Elephant Hotel on Thursday, May 15th at 6:00 pm. Features at least 30 stations, each with a winemaker or winery representative and a restaurant chef (from on or off-island) whose cuisine is chosen to match the wines. Also a Silent Auction benefiting the Nantucket Historical Association. Tickets are $175. List of wineries and restaurants here.

The Celebrity Chef and Wine Auction Dinner of rare wines, large-bottle formats, and lifestyle packages, is on Saturday, May 17th, at 7:00 pm at the White Elephant. It features David Daniels of Topper’s at The Wauwinet, and the critically-acclaimed wines of Maison Alex Gambal, presented by Alex Gambal, who is an old friend of the wine festival and one of Burgundy’s most respected winemakers. For Oenophile and Vigneron ticket holders, beginning at 6:00 p.m. there will be a VIP cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres and a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne. People with Connoisseur tickets are invited to join this party at 7:00 p.m. Diners will be seated at 7:30. The Auction benefits the Nantucket Historical Association. Tickets are $250 per person. Details.

Other features (click for details):
Wine and Food Seminars
Great Wine in Grand Houses: Exquisite wines will be tasted with the guidance of experts in rarely seen surroundings at these special tastings that are limited to a maximum of 20 people. Tastings require two hours of time.