Tag: Altea’s

The Second Annual Worcester Wine Festival

Worcester Wine Festival 2017

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As a supporter and sponsor of the Worcester Wine Festival we were happy to hear the second annual “week of wine” is scheduled from September 4th  through the 9th; with the Grand Tasting taking place on Saturday, September 8th at Union Station in Worcester.

Organizers of the Worcester Wine Festival had one thing on their mind when they conceived of last year’s inaugural event: sophistication. Given all of the positive growth in the hospitality industry over the last few years, organizers and sponsors felt Worcester deserved this. They hoped it would be a two-day symposium intended for wineries, distributors, and vineyards to reach area restaurants, stores, and consumers. When nearly 1,500 participants turned out for the inaugural festival, the festival’s founders knew they had tapped into something that was missing and needed in the region.

This year, the Worcester Wine Festival will grow three times in size, stretching to six days of intimate paired dinners, nuanced brunches, and of course – the Grand Tasting at Union Station. The festivities will run from September 4th-9th in and around Worcester.

The Festival’s wine dinners and brunches will be held at area restaurants known for their wine programs and include Willy’s Steakhouse, Bocado Wine Bar, Sonoma at the Beechwood, deadhorse hill, Altea’s, and Lock 50. Chefs will prepare exclusive pairing menus for the occasion and have an intimate dinner within their restaurant for a small number of attendees. Tickets are on sale now.

The Grand Tasting is set to return to Union Station on Saturday, September 8th and remains the most hotly anticipated event of the busy week. A variety of excellent food vendors will also be on hand providing samples and sustenance for guests. A limited number of VIP tickets are still available on the Worcester Wine Festival’s website. The VIP Lounge includes tastings of exclusive wines, complimentary small bites, premium hydration, and comfortable seating.

 

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The Inaugural Worcester Wine Festival Has a Secret Weapon: Restaurant Partners

Cru Night with Orma Toscana Rosso 2012 at Lock 50 in Worcester, MA

What makes a great festival? Three things: dialed-in vendors, amusing sponsors, and killer venues. Lucky for us, the Worcester Wine Festival has promised the trifecta.

By now, everyone has caught wind of the Grand Tasting set for Union Station on Sunday, October 8th, where over 400 desirable wines and a VIP lounge stocked with Voss Water will make for nothing short of premium hydration. Consider our tickets purchased and our calendars marked. But, everyone knows that the secret weapon for a worthy festival is a slew of extravagant parties to compliment the main event. Bring on the wine wizardry at its finest! Call them intimate, exclusive, or down right ritzy – we’ve got the scoop on the best parties for festival weekend.

Altea's pairing Croque Madame with an effervescent Cava pairing
Altea’s brunch pairing of a Croque Madame served with an effervescent Cava.

Six Worcester restaurants have already put their distributors to work in an attempt to attain elusive bottles for chefs to masterfully pair during the Worcester Wine Festival. On October 6th, The People’s Kitchen is set on Scarpetta and they’ve pledged to present a different locally baked bread with each saucy course. On October 7th, Lock 50 is taking it “From the Beginning” by highlighting some of winemaking’s original grapes, alongside five courses hailing from corresponding regions. Also on October 7th, just up the block at Bocado, guests will enjoy a Pig Roast with a coveted selection of Spanish wines. Mike Covino of Niche Hospitality Group explains, “Being part of this festival is important for the region and we are confident that our Bocado pig roast is going to elevate an imaginative dining experience for guests on the weekend of Worcester’s inaugural Wine Festival.”

If the private wine dinners, which run anywhere from $95-$150, aren’t in your budget, but you’d still like to be a festival insider – there are additional options. Lock 50’s Mimosa Brunch starts at 9 a.m. on October 7th and features an array of fresh fruit purees to start your morning for just $25 for four individual 187ml bottles of Prosecco and the ability to order from the menu to create your own pairing. Across town, Altea’s will kick off their own brunch, Bubbles & Brunch, on October 7th beginning at 11 a.m. Attendees will enjoy five paired courses with a French twist including spiced sugar beignets and crepes to remember. Owner, Oriola Koci shares, “We’ve been experimenting with bubbles in preparation for this exciting custom menu. The Worcester Wine Fesitval marks a whole new chapter for the potential of Altea’s bar program and we know the value, selection, and flavors will be memorable.”

Nothing gets us excited like an underground bartender battle. It just so happens that The Pint’s Godzilla Challenge falls on October 6th, the eve of the festival. Prime yourself for wine with a battle royale that pits Japan against New York, as Nikka Spirits take on Long Island Spirits in a test of elegance and technique.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for each of the private events on the festival’s website. Worcester’s top influencers will be there. Will you?

This article originally appeared on Worcester Wine Festival and is re-published with their permission.