Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food & drink events.
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1) This week, Jyoti & Aaron Mehta are celebrating the First Anniversary of the opening of their Wine Press Fenway. This is the second location of their Wine Press shop, the first being in Brookline. To celebrate, the Wine Press Fenway is having a special sale this week, offering 15% off all of the wine in their shop (though only at the Fenway location).

In addition, there will be a few tastings this week too:
--Thursday, September 5, from 5:30pm-7:30pm: European Wines with Jackson
--Friday, September 6, from 5:30pm-7:30pm: There will be two tastings, the first with Citadelle Gin & Tonic. The other tasting is St. George Spirits with President & Master Distiller Lance Winters, who will also sign bottles.

2) Next month, from October 25th-27th, you might want to check out the 4th Annual White Mountains Crush Festival, held by the Seven Birches Winery at the RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain. The Festival celebrates the end of the harvest season and the start of the winemaking season. You can stomp grapes, sample wine, learn from their winemakers, eat, and more.

The scheduled events include:
Friday, October 25:
1pm – 10pm: Winery Open to Public
7pm – 9pm: Atrium Wine Bar Cocktail Welcome Mixer

Saturday, October 26:
12pm – 10pm: Winery Open to Public
9am: Educational Workshop #1 – “Varietal Wines vs. Blends”
10am, 11am, & 12pm: Meet the Winemakers Tour & Barrel Tasting
11am: Educational Workshop #2 – “Old world wine, new world fruit”
12pm – 4pm: Grape Stomping “I Love Lucy” style.
12pm – 3pm: Stompers Picnic, Lunch Provided
1pm – 4pm: Winemakers’ Wine Tasting in the Winery
6pm: Wine Dinner

Sunday, October 27:
11am – 9pm: Winery Open to Public
10am: Educational Workshop #3 - “Dispelling the oldest wine myths”

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: https://sevenbirches.com/white-mountains-crush-festival/

3) On Wednesday, September 25th, starting at 6:00pm, Abe & Louie's Executive Chef Danny Levesque will use his culinary creativity to design a dining experience featuring savory dishes paired with wines from Château Caronne Sainte Gemme - a specially curated selection by Benjamin Appleby, Wine and Beverage Manager.

The menu is as follows:
Reception
Parmesan Cheese Crisps with Herbed Goat Cheese
Crispy Oysters with Avocado Mousse and Pepper Jelly
Sautéed Shrimp Skewers with Garlic, Tarragon and Lemon
Nueske Bacon Bites
Paired with: 2016 Château de Birot, Bordeaux Blanc de Birot
First Course
Local Rabbit Stew with Baby White Turnips, Kale and Juniper
Paired with: 2005 Château Caronne Sainte Gemme, Haut-Médoc
Second Course
Foraged Mushroom Risotto with Crisp Pancetta
Paired with: 2009 Château Caronne Sainte Gemme, Haut-Médoc
Entrée
Smoked Prime Rib with Watercress-Arugula Salad and Horseradish Cream
Paired with: 2010 & 2014 Château Caronne Sainte Gemme, Haut-Médoc
Dessert
Warm Local Apple Crisp with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Paired with: 2009 Château La Rame, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

Seats to the special wine dinner are limited, cost $125 per guest (excluding tax and gratuity) and can be reserved by calling the restaurant at (617) 536-6300.