Category: Tasting

The InterContinental Miami’s Vibrant Rioja Wine and Gastronomic Festival 9/26/11 – 10/1/11

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Monday – Saturday, September 26 – October 1
InterContinental Miami
100 Chopin Plaza
Miami, FL 33131

The InterContinental Miami comes alive with the aromas and sounds of Rioja, Spain! Coinciding with the Rioja wine region’s harvest, we invite you enjoy and experience The InterContinental Miami’s Vibrant Rioja Wine & Gastronomic Festival.

Grand Tasting & Tapas Opening Party
Monday, September 26, 6 – 9 p.m.
Ticket Cost: $25
Full Schedule and Tickets.

The InterContinental Miami together with Executive Chef Alex Feher proudly welcome:

Chef In Residence for the week:
Chef José Luque Torres
Head Chef, InterContinental Madrid

Rioja Festival Finale Special Guests:
The World Wine Guys Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen

Entertaining and Lifestyle Contributing Editors, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Andrew McNamara, Master Sommelier

Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Toast of the Town 9/23/11

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Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Toast of the Town
Friday, September 23rd, 6pm-10pm
The Historic Moore Building
404 NE 2nd Avenue

Miami wine lovers! For the first time ever Toast of the Town is coming to Miami on Friday, September 23, 2011. Taking over The Historic Moore Building in the Design District, wine enthusiasts will be enjoying 500 wines, spirits & beers as well as food from 35 top local restaurants. The VIP event kicks off at 6pm followed by the grand event from 7pm-10pm. Use the special code DFTOAST to receive 15% off at checkout. Get early preferred pricing for both the VIP and the grand event. Offer expires at midnight 9/22!

/ 21+ / Purchase tickets here

Wine Tasting at the Alliance francaise 9/19/11, 10/17/11, 11/14/11

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Saveurs D’ailleurs Wine tasting
Monday, Sept. 19th at 7pm
Monday, Oct. 17th at 7pm
Monday, Nov. 14th at 7pm

Alliance francaise de Miami
618 SW 8th St
Miami, Fl 33130

Members $134 (full series)
Non members $219 (includes 1-year membership)
Single tasting: $55 (for members)
Must be 21 and over.
Limited to 12 people.

Cheese and bread will be served.

For three evenings, attendees will learn about terroir and will taste wines selected by Sébastien Verrier.

Awaken your senses and be uplifted by the thousand and one scents presented during these discovery workshops on varied culinary themes in a warm atmosphere.

Test your palate and discover how to recognize, choose, store and serve French wines Improve your French wine vocabulary, all while tasting excellent wines. Cheeses and breads will accompany the wines.

Sebastien Verrier joined the Biltmore team in the fall of 1999 where he oversee the wine lists at La Palme d’Or and the 1200 Restaurant & Courtyard, as well as wine pairings for all the hotel’s winemaker-theme dinners. After 12 years at the Biltmore, he became a partner of W Wine Boutique in January 2011. He is now sommelier at Vita by Baoli.

At 34, Paris born Sébastien Verrier is often younger than some of the wines he serves. However, his youth has not prevented him from garnering a stellar reputation as a sommelier, one who relishes in the “always learning, always tasting, always working on the palate” associated with his profession. It is a profession he entered when he was only 15 as a sommelier’s assistant at Paris’s Michelin-starred Les Clos Longchamps. Verrier balanced his duties there with earning a bachelor degree in wine stewardship. Having begun to master wine, he became equally determined to learn English, so after two years as second sommelier at the famed Michelin one-star Le Jardin in Paris, he headed for London and a position as captain/sommelier at Mon Plaisir Restaurant.

Wanderlust, which often accompanies wine expertise because of its global nature, had set in by 1998. Verrier set his sights on New York City, where he spent a year as a captain at Les Trois Jeans before taking off for Australia and an exploration of its viniculture before landing definitely in Miami

The DRB Does DFH 120 Minute IPA 8/24/11

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The DRB Does DFH 120 Minute IPA
Wednesday 24th, 8:30pm – 5:00am
Democratic Republic of Beer
255 NE 14th Street
Miami, FL 33132
www.drbmiami.com
Facebook Evite.

Citizens!

Starting on Wednesday, August 24th we’re kicking off the end of summer by tapping one of the most sought after beers among many craft beer lovers, Dogfish Head 120 IPA!! (The worlds strongest IPA) Tapping begins around 8:30pm. We strongly recommend you try to be here promptly as this beer is in limited quantities and will go fast.

PS: Be sure to throw us your passport number or get one from us for bragging rights!!

About Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA via Dogfish.com
“Brewed to a colossal 45-degree plato, boiled for a full 2 hours while being continuously hopped with high-alpha American hops, then dry-hopped daily in the ‘fermenter’ for a month & aged for another month on whole-leaf hops.

120 Minute I.P.A. is by far the biggest I.P.A. ever brewed! Between 15-20% ABV and 120 IBU’s you can see why we call this beer THE HOLY GRAIL for ‘hopheads’!”

The F@*#ing Cafeina Wine Mixer 8/12/11

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The F@*#ing Cafeina Wine Mixer
8.12.11, 9pm
Cafeina Wynwood Lounge
297 NW 23rd Street
Miami
www.cafeinamiami.com

It’s another FABULOUS installment of the F@*#ing Cafeina Wine Mixer!

Friday night set your calendar for Complimentary Wine Tasting where you’ll explore the art of wine and be dazzled by a LIVE performance by King Bee and sounds by J Felix and special guest Pirate Stereo!

Doors open at 9pm with Complimentary wine from 9-10pm. RSVP for table specials including 1 bottle of Moet and 1 bottle of Grey Goose for $225.

Wine Depot and Bistro 555 Complimentary Wine Tasting Tuesdays 8/16-30/11

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Tuesday, August 9, 16, 23, 30, From 6 to 8 p.m.
Wine Depot

Reservation Required
RSVP email: marketing@winedepotmiami.com

Every Tuesday until the end of August, Wine Depot will hold a wine tasting that focus on a wine from a specific region. Tuesday, August 9, they will highlight South African wines! From 6 to 8 p.m. guests can enjoy complimentary wines from this area.

Wine Tasting Schedule:
August 16th –Champagne Ruinart
August 23rd – TBD
August 30th – Argentina

Free Wine Tasting and Art Exhibition by Joseph C. Grant, Jr. at The Loft in Coconut Grove 7/29/11

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Wine Tasting
Friday, July 29th – 6:30 – 8:30 pm
The Loft
3190 Commodore Plaza
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
www.theloftmiami.com

You are cordially invited to our free wine tasting this Friday

This week, our wines come from Europe and South America and include a distinctive selection from special wineries.
1- Chateau Des Rontets, Poully-Fuisse, Fuisse – France
2- Las Nencias, Malbec, Reserve, Mendoza – Argentina
3- Auka, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza – Argentina

This Friday, the Loft will also be exhibiting paintings of acclaimed Artist Joseph C. Grant Jr., who will be working on one of his new paintings at the Loft Boutique.

The Loft in Coconut Grove is a Fashion and Gift Boutique, Wine and Tobacco Shop, as well as Event Destination. Our location is 3190A Commodore Plaza, right in the heart of the Grove.

The Loft is the fashion house of YR Couture and features a wonderful line of semi-precious Jewelry designed by owner/designer Yvonne Rosemeier. Yvonne Rosemeier, the owner of THE LOFT is pleased to invite you to this very special fun wine event with art and complementary Hors d’oeuvres.

Please also visit our websites:
www.yrcouture.com and www.theloftmiami.com

Maker’s Mark Tasting at Morton’s The Steakhouse Miami Brickell 8/2/11

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Tuesday, August 2nd, 6-7:30 pm
Morton’s The Steakhouse
1200 Brickell Avenue
Miami, FL

RSVP: http://mortonsmmamakers.eventbrite.com

Join Morton’s for an evening with Maker’s Mark and take a fascinating journey from the barrel to the bottle. Come relax, enjoy and experience Maker’s 46 paired with Morton’s signature hors d’oeuvres.

Cost: $45 per guest
(100% of proceeds from silent auction will benefit Birdies for the Brave: birdiesforthebrave.com)

Photographs of Dogma Grill New Menu Tasting on 7/26/11

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Dogma Grill New Menu Tasting on Tuesday, July 26, 2011.  During this tasting we got to taste around 10 different menu items and all of them delicious.   I think my favorite was the bratwurst with of course sauerkraut and brown mustard, so yummy.  Then in close second was the chicago dog with yellow mustard, neon relish, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, sport peppers (these do have a big bite to them, but really good), and a pickle spear.  There was a tie for third between the Cheese Steak Hoagie, The Roast Beef Po’ Boy (the au juice they serve with this is so YUMMY), the Fried Oyster Po’ Boy, the Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy, Chili Dog and all of the rest that I tried.  OH, they make there own Dogma Potato Chips and they are just awesome, the seasoning they put on them is so good.  So you should go by Dogma and try some items off of their new menu, you will not be disappointed.  I want to go back and eat more :-).

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To Live and Dine in Miami 7/27/11

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Wednesday, July 27, 7 PM to 9 PM
Moore Building
4040 NE 2nd Avenue

Miami magazine’s “To Live & Dine in Miami” benefiting Common Threads.

Please note that complimentary valet parking will be available on 40th Street.

RSVP required: rsvpmiami@modernluxury.com

Miami’s Brew It Up 7/30/11

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Saturday, July 30thm 7:30-10:30PM.
Miami Museum of Science
More Info.

Miami’s Brew It Up is a beer tasting event that will benefit Casa Amor, a Non-profit Organization dedicated to sheltering, feeding and educating, orphaned children all over the world.

Our goal is to build villages that will shelter orphaned children all over the world. These places will become the homes where each child will find the love, spiritual guidance, appropriate medical attention and education that will help them obtain a brighter and better future.

Come and savor the genius craftsmanship of over 15 beers that will go perfect with the combination of local restaurant flavors. An Open Bar will also be provided by Republic National Distributing Companies.

We invite you to Brew It Up for a great cause.

Live Art and Wine Series 8/11/11

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August 11, 2011, 6 pm – 8 pm
Miami Art Space
244 NW 35th Street
Miami FL
Register Here.

Insense Miami
Cordially Invites You To Awaken Your Senses
Experience A Unique Evening Of Art, Wine & Cuisine

Complimentary Valet Parking

Watch renowned artist GAPAL transform wood into canvas and wine into paint for an exclusive showcase of his artistic skill, while sampling selections of fine wine provided by Dreyfus Ashby & Co., paired with hors d’oeuvres.

The completed works of art will be available for purchase at the end of the night. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Life is Art, a south Florida based non-profit corporation, whose mission is to promote and support the arts and the community in South Florida through events and education.

305.423.9398 | info@insensemiami.com Tickets will not be available at the door

United Way Miami Wine and Food Festival launches Bacardi’s 60 Second Cocktails, a monthly series By Betty Alvarez

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In April, the United Way Miami Wine & Food Festival experienced record-breaking ticket sales and sold out events. To meet popular demand, the festival launched a series of year-round wine and food events – all for a good cause. 60 Second Cocktails with Bacardi is the kick-off event marking the expansion, and all proceeds benefited United Way of Miami-Dade’s work in education, financial stability and health.

On June 16, guests brushed up on their bartending skills and learned how to make delicious cocktails, with help from Bacardi mixologist and Miami-native, Gabe Urrutia who is an expert in the cocktail trend of molecular mixology. He taught guests how to make a balanced cocktail from a blend of unique ingredients in just 60 seconds.

A Bacardi Bar cocktail reception followed where guests enjoyed cocktails, appetizers, music, a special gift and exclusive entry to the private Emilio Bacardi Company Museum, not open to the general public. The museum showcases historical photos and memorabilia dating back to the 1860s, a recount of the company’s evolution, how Bacardi adopted its world famous “Bat” trademark, and much more.

Photographs by Betty Alvarez copyright 2011

1st Annual Wine Tasting Pairing Party With Miami Dolphin Great Mark Clayton 6/23/11

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Thursday, June 23 · 7:00pm – 11:00pm
Cafe Martorano’s (Located Outside The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
5751 Seminole Way
Hollywood, FL

1st Annual Red Carpet Wine Tasting Pairing Party With Miami Dolphin Great Mark Clayton Benefitting The Mark Clayton Endzone Foundation & Parkland Rangers Organization For Pop Warner Football Kids. $75 a ticket or 2 tickets for $100 includes appetizers, wine tasting, beer & entertainment. This event is being held at The World Famous Cafe Martorano’s at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Celebrating Father’s Day At The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale 6/16/11

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Exclusive Gentlemen’s Night Out
Thursday, June 16, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m
Via Luna Wine Room and Terrace
The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
One North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
$75, plus tax and gratuity

Discover the complexities behind Glenlivet as a scotch ambassador showcases the differences between 15, 16, 18 and 21 year vintages and the pride and passion that goes into creating each malt. Via Luna transforms into an oceanfront “den” for a signature prelude to Father’s Day with live music, complimentary hand-rolled cigars and exquisite hors d’oeuvres paired perfectly with each sip.

For reservations please contact Via Luna at (954)302-6460.

Mayfair Hotel Launches Craft Beer Tastings 6/15/11

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Every third Wednesday of the month. First tasting on June 15th, 7-9 p.m.
Mayfair Hotel & Spa
3000 Florida Avenue
Coconut Grove

Pricing: $20
*Limited seating; reservation required: (305) 779 – 5100

Swaying away from wine tastings that used to lead social gatherings, beer tastings have now taken charge to quench locals’ thirst. Mayfair Hotel in Coconut Grove leads the trend launching Craft Beer Tastings, offering a sampling of over 40 craft beers from favorite local microbreweries plus bites from beloved local trattoria Spartico, at just $20 per person. A certified Cicerone, (AKA a sommelier of brewskies) who has been a craft beer enthusiast for 10 years, will be conducting tastings every third Wednesday of the month. Fresh Beer, an innovative company who supplies beer straight from the brewery to achieve ultimate perfection, will be rotating selections from a vast array of microbrews.

Soiree de Vin at Nikki Beach Cabarete 6/3/11

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Soiree De Vin At Nikki Beach Miami
June 3, 2011, From 6:30 Pm To 8:30 Pm
Nikki Beach Miami
One Ocean Drive
Miami Beach Florida 33139
305 538 1111

Metrowine invites you:Soiree De Vin At Nikki Beach Miami
Join us for our Monthly Wine Series featuring a taste of European Wines.
Friday June 3rd 2011 From 6:30 Pm to 8:30 Pm.
Featured Wine:
Les Jamelles Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc
Chateau Chaubinet 2009 Bordeaux
Henry Brochard Sauvignon Blanc
Henry Brochard Sancerre
Baugier De Chevestre Bordeaux St Emilion

RSVP TO:rsvp.miamibeach@nikkibeach.com for Complimentary Wine Tasting witn a delectable selection of breads and cheeses. www.nikkibeachmiami.com

The Casanova of the Castronovo Vineyards and Morton’s The Steakhouse Join Together for a Night of Wine 6/1/11

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Wednesday June 1, 6:00-8:00 pm
Morton’s The Steakhouse North Miami Beach
17399 Biscayne Blvd.
North Miami Beach, FL 33160

RSVP: NMB Morton’s: (305) 945-3131
rsvp@vinecommunicationsinc.com

Morton’s The Steakhouse in North Miami Beach and Paul Castronovo of Castronovo Vineyards are joining together for a night of wine, food and life.

Morton’s The Steakhouse brings together a passion for good food and wine and are excited to launch radio personality and vineyard owner Paul Castronovo’s wine at Morton’s. Come and enjoy Morton’s Bar Bites, great company and a DJ while sipping on some red wine. It’s a great networking opportunity and an overall good time.

Miami wine connoisseurs have yet another reason to go to Morton’s! Paul Castronovo Vineyards of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, red wine has aged for 18 months in Slavonia oak and French tonneau’s. It was refined for six months in the bottle at cellar temperature. Its ruby color with purple hues, have a full and fruity structure. Serve it with rich dishes such as steak or seafood, but more importantly, enjoy it with friends.

Wine Class with Master Sommelier Andrew McNamara Cabernet and Chardonnay 5/25/11

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Wine Class with Master Sommelier Andrew McNamara: Cabernet & Chardonnay
5/25/11, 7:00-9:00 pm
Norman’s 180
180 Aragon
Coral Gables, FL 33134
https://dinemag.smartevents.com

Join Dine Magazine for a wine class with Master Sommelier, Andrew McNamara. The topic for this class is “Chardonnay and Cabernet.” During the class, you will taste 3 Chardonnays and 3 Cabernet Sauvignons from around the world – talk about what makes the grape itself so fantastic, and how the regions have molded the grape into the style that shows in the bottle.

Andrew McNamara is one of 170 Master Sommeliers in the world, and one of only 12 that was awarded the Krug Cup (passing the Master Sommelier test on the first try and with the highest score). He also sits on the board of Directors Guild of Sommeliers.
Cost is $34 and includes food, wine and instruction.

VodkaPalooza at Midtown Miami Vintage Liquor and Wine Bar 5/28/11

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Vintage Liquor and Wine Bar II at Midtown Miami to Host First-Ever Vodka-tasting Competitions
Saturday, May 28, 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Vintage Liquor and Wine Bar II
Midtown 4
3301 N.E. 1st Ave Suite 105
Miami, FL 33137

Vintage Liquor and Wine Bar II lifts “spirits” with their first-ever vodka tasting completion, Vodka-Palooza, where guests will have a chance to sample and vote for their favorites in the categories of Imported, Domestic and Flavored. Participating brands include Ciroc, Dekuyper, Smirnoff, Ketel One and Perfect Vodka, to name a few.

The event will feature two voting types, the “popular” vote which will be based on the votes casted by the guests attending and tasting, and the “professional” vote, which will be determined by a panel of judges. Of course, this will be a Blind Tasting!

Attendees will also have the chance to win a variety of prizes which include Glasses, Hats, T-Shirts, and other Surprises. Event fee is $5.00 per person.

Photographs of the Martin Miller Gin Crawl on South Beach on 5/7/11

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Martin Miller Gin Crawl on South Beach on Saturday, May 7, 2011.  We meet at the Raleigh Hotel Bar and had four amazing gin cocktails and then we moved on to Eden Restaurant and some two gin cocktails paired with some amazing food made for us.  Our last stop was at Waxy’s South Beach which we had three different gin cocktails.  I have to say I normally don’t care for gin but some of these cocktails we had during this crawl has made me a gin fan.  The Donatello at the Raleigh was my favorite, made with fresh blueberries, raspberries, orange , lemon and Martin Miller Gin, it was amazing.

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Soiree de Vin at Nikki Beach 5/6/11

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Soiree de Vin at Nikki Beach
Friday, May 6th, 2011, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Nikki Beach Miami
One Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
www.nikkibeach.com

Join us for our Monthly Wine Series featuring a taste of European fine wines.

Featured Wines:
– Veuve Moisans Rose, a French Sparkling Wine from Loire Valley
– Crin Roja Tempranillo Rosado, Tierra de Castilla, Spain
– Chamarre Pinot Noir Grande Reserve, Burgundy
– Baron de Hoen Riesling, Alsace *Made with Responsible Farming
– Chamarre Sauvignon Blanc, South of France *Top 100 French Vin de Pays

RSVP to rsvp.miamibeach@nikkibeach.com for Complimentary Wine Tasting with a delectable selection of breads and cheeses.

Hot New Tequila Tasting at W Wine Boutique Miami Beach 4/16/11

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Hot New Tequila Tasting this Saturday from 2-5 at W Wine Boutique Miami Beach
Saturday April 16th, 2011, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
W Wine Boutique Miami Beach
1328 Alton Road
Miami Beach, Fl 33139
www.wwineboutique.com

Tanteo Naturally-Infused Artisan Tequilas

“What are your thoughts on 80-proof, choco-infused tequila with hints of jalapeno? That it’s ass water? We were right there with you-until we maned up and took a slug. Awesome! Sweet, spicy and chocolaty good. It confirms the Tijuana truism that cocoa and tequila always mix well.”
Maxim Magazine September 2010

Tanteo tequila takes pure blanco tequila from 100% Weber blue agave and then infuses it with jalapeno, chocolate or tropical fruit extracts.

o Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila $44.99
o Tanteo Chocolate Tequila $44.99
o Tanteo Tropical Tequila $44.99

Flavored tequila was previously prohibited by the CRT, but in 2006 the rules surrounding the infusion of tequilas with various flavors was relaxed allowing for the production of these drinks. The fact that the CRT have relaxed their laws shouldn’t be indication that people can do what the hell they want with tequila, and Tanteo takes a great first step and the results are a high quality product that is both delicious and still respects the tequila in the process.

Please join us this Saturday April 16th from 2-5 pm at our South Beach location, 1328 Alton Road, for a celebration of modern invention and traditional artisan methods. And of course, to drink some Tequila!

Winemaker Tasting with Champagne Veuve Clicquot’s Pierre Casenave 4/14/11

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A Winemaker Tasting with Champagne Veuve Clicquot’s Pierre Casenave
Thursday April 14th 2011, 6-8 pm
W Wine Boutique Downtown
JW Marriott Marquis Miami 2nd Floor
255 Biscayne Blvd Way
Miami, Fl. 33131
Website.

W Wine Boutique Downtown Presents:
A winemaker tasting with Veuve Clicquot winemaker Pierre Casenave. Young Pierre will guide us through a lineup of Veuve Champagne including the following wines:
Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label NV
Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose NV
Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Vintage 2002
Veuve Clicquot Brut Brut Rose 2002

Additionally, there will snacks from Fauchon Paris including their award winning chocolates.

Cost is $30 dollars. Please RSVP to Michael@wwineboutique.com