Weekender: Nantucket Wine Festival
May 14-18, 2008
Wed., 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri, 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sat., 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
(Check website for specific event times)
508-228-1128
$50 – $550 (Check website for details regarding specific event and package prices)
The White Elephant
50 Easton St., Nantucket, MA 02554
[sidebar]Dig your finest pastels out of the closet, pack your weekend duffel, and head to Woods Hole: It may not be summer yet, but it’s officially Cape Season again. Wine connoisseurs and culinary masterminds will converge on Nantucket this weekend for the Nantucket Wine Festival, a celebration of top notch vino and island cuisine. Cleanse your palate and join hundreds of other New England socialites for a taste of the finest vintage wines, and stellar harbor views.
This signature event begins with a kick-off party at the White Elephant, the scenic harbor-side hotel that acts as the festival’s home base. But, the main event is the Grand Tasting, offering the most expansive selection of rare wines and champagnes. More than 150 wineries will take over the Nantucket Yacht Club, including the wineries from Stag’s Leap in the Napa region of California, who very rarely leave Wine Country. Festival insiders suggest hitting it up on Sunday when crowds will be easier to navigate. Or, take a small break from the Saturday rush, and attend a sophisticated champagne and caviar tasting hosted by one of Nantucket’s culinary gems, American Seasons.
The wine and food seminars are another great way to cultivate your taste. Several demonstrations are still available, including Thursday’s “Cooking Demonstration with Anthony Susi,” chef and owner of Sage restaurant, and “Entertaining with Sparking Cocktails,” presented on Friday by the folks at Eastern Standard.
The festival will take place rain or shine, so if the weather takes a turn for the worst, event coordinators invite patrons to keep warm and dry under many heated tents, or perhaps enjoy a Friday night film premiere, featuring Plum TV’s documentary Coming of Age. The Cape is waiting, and so is the festival.