Ah, it's that time of year again!  The biggest wine event in New England is just around the corner and my taste buds are getting anxious.  The Boston Wine Expo will be held at the Seaport World Trade Center & Hotel from January 23 through January 25. To learn more check out their website at  Boston Wine Expo
 
With over 400 different wineries participating and over 1800 different wines poured throughout the weekend, this showing of fabulous nectars of the gods is sure to be a party in our mouths. People come from all over the world to experience what some of the best wineries in the world have to offer through tasting & education, coupled with food prepared by Boston's celebrity chefs.
 
When I think about tasting 1800 different wines, my first reaction is like one that I would have as a child on Christmas morning, seeing all of the presents under the tree, ready to jump in and play with all of them as quickly as I could.  I would realize, though, if I took my time opening each one and learned how they each work, my day of enjoyment would last much longer........ and I wouldn't have be hungover at 4:00 in the afternoon!  The same goes for this wonderful event.  If you may be thinking that the event is a drunk-fest......it is!   There are, however, so many activities to take advantage of that stimulating not only to your palate, but your heart and your mind as well.
 
Whether you are a wine aficionado or if you appreciate a good "bag in a box," there are boat loads of educational seminars to satisfy the brain of any level of wine geekness.  Here are a couple of my favorite seminars-to-be: A Wine 101 course headed up  by Gary Vaynerchuk, the star of WineLibraryTV.com, will surely be the right way to get the day started!  Gary will break down the swirl, sniff, and sip techniques through his informal and comforting approach to teaching.  By the time he's done, you will have unmatched confidence and be ready to hit the tasting floor like a pro.
 
Another great seminar will be hosted by Doug Frost, who in my opinion, exemplifies what a true sommelier should be.  Doug's down-to-earth personality and his drive to make wine fun and simple are two of the many characteristics that have allowed him to be so successful at what he does.  Doug is one of only three people in the world to have achieved the prestige of being both a Master Sommelier and a Master of Wine.  He has written three books which date back to 1996, which range from a simplistic look at the world of wine to a buying guide which evaluates some of the best wines of Spain.  When I met Doug in 2004, my aspirations to pack my brain full of wine knowledge, sky rocketed and never came down.
 
In addition to these, there are 15 to 20 other seminars being held throughout the weekend that are affordable and that can be used as the perfect opportunities to take a break from the tasting and help you pace out the day.  It doesn't stop there, you see........there are other ways that this weekend can turn into one of the best weekends of your life.  You can watch over 15 celebrity chefs in action as they display their skills on two stages.  They'll let you taste samples of their creations and give you their recipes so you can be the celebrity chef for your friends at home.
 
In addition to all of this fun-ness, the wine makers are providing an opportunity to introduce themselves to you in the "meet and greet" session, where they allow you to pick their brains about their wines and wine-making in general.  This is a first come, first serve type event, so make sure you get there before it starts!!
 
My two favorite parts of this three day long taste of heaven include the Grand Cru Wine Lounge and the Vintner Dinner.  The Grand Cru Wine Lounge is where some of the most sought after wines in the world will be available for us to taste for under $200!  In a normal setting, we wouldn't be able to buy even ONE bottle for that price!  This one will sell out fast.  They keep this tasting intimate so the quality of the experience is kept at a high level. 
 
Lastly, the best way to finish the day is to sit down at the Vintner Dinner and experience some of the best food in town, paired with carefully picked wines from the line up in the tasting room.  Warm food in my belly and a comfy bed at the Seaport hotel wraps up one of the best days of the winter in New England!!