Boston Wine Expo: February 8-10

Want the opportunity to taste from a selection of almost two thousand wines? If so, then start planning now.

The 17th Annual Boston Wine Expo will be held February 8-10 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. The Expo is a huge wine event, consisting of numerous wine tasting events. Tickets are available now. Buy your tickets now before the prices rise.

The primary event is the Grand Tasting where there will be over 440 wineries, from over 13 countries, with over 1800 wines. As you enter the event, you receive a souvenir glass and then can go from table to table, sampling as many wines as you like. There is more than just wine available. You can sample foods from various vendors as well as watch professional cooking demonstrations. The Grand Tasting will be held on Feb.9 & 10 (Saturday & Sunday), from 1-5pm. Tickets, prior to February 1, cost $85 for Saturday and $75 for Sunday.

I have been to several of the Grand Tastings and they are lots of fun. You can taste so many different types of wine, from all over the world. If you have never been, it is well worth a visit. You will have the opportunity to taste many wines that you might never have had before.

You can also attend various Guided Tastings and Seminars. Some of these events include Portugal’s Emerging Dry Wines, Wine Spectator Presents: “How to Pair Wine with Food”, Artisan Sake and Sushi with Restaurant Douzo, Emerging Wines & Regions of Spain and many more. If you have specific interests, these events might be exactly what you want. There is a separate fee for each of these events. Each event also has a limited capacity so buy tickets early to guarantee a space.

If you are truly passionate about wine then you might want to splurge and attend the Grand Cru Wine Lounge. This is a small wine tasting, 60+ wines, but they are also expensive, high-quality wines. You can check out a list of many of the wines that will be available on the Expo website. A number of the wine makers will even be present to talk about their wines. Tickets to this event are very limited and it is a more intimate event, usually only a few hundred people. Tickets are not cheap, costing $175, but that price also allows you admission into the Grand Tasting.

I have attended the Grand Cru Wine Lounge a couple times and it was a superb experience with some amazing wines. It is well worth the price if you truly love wine. I will be attending it again this year so maybe I will see you there.

For some advice on attending the Boston Wine Expo, check out the Boston Wine Buzz article, "Practical Tips for Attending the Boston Wine Expo." Theresa & Ken have provided some valuable suggestions that are well worth checking out.