Grand Tasting

Grand Tasting in the heart of Nantucket — Over 200 wineries converge upon Nantucket during the weekend of May 19 and 20, 2012, for the focal point of the Nantucket Wine Festival—the Grand Tastings. The newly-renovated Nantucket Yacht Club promises the best Grand Tasting ever. Never in the history of the wine festival have we had such an exceptional collection of wineries, chefs, and food purveyors. The Grand Tastings help to support Nantucket Combined Charities, Inc.

There will be three sessions of the Grand Tasting:

• from 12:00pm to 2:00pm on Saturday, May 19
• from 3:00pm to 5:00 pm on Saturday, May 19
• from noon to 3:00pm on Sunday, May 20

Pricing:

• One Saturday session:  $85 ($110 as of April 1, 2012)
• Sunday session:  $125 ($150 as of April 1, 2012)
• Both Saturday sessions:  $160 ($190 as of April 1, 2012)
• One Saturday session and the Sunday session: $190 ($215 as of April 1, 2012)
• All three sessions: $250 ($300 as of April 1, 2012)
• The Grand Cru ticket package includes all three Grand Tasting sessions.

Our philosophy emphasizes the important marriage of food and wine. The presence of chefs from many tremendous restaurants presenting samples of their dishes, in tandem with our elite winemakers, means that a visit to the Grand Tasting is the equivalent of a world-class lunch!

We do not guarantee availability at any time--tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. You must be 21 or older to enter the Grand Tasting.

A Culinary Oasis!

Inside the Grand Tasting tent, consumers will taste great wines while sampling an even greater selection of Nantucket's finest food offerings, which will include the Company of the Cauldron's warm vine-smoked salmon, artisan breads from Pain D'Avignon (the official bread of the Nantucket Wine Festival), chowder from E.J. Harvey's Nantucket Chowder Company, a sampling of gourmet smoked items from Summer 'N Smoke, whose local products are featured at high-end retailers and caterers, tasty petits fours from Petticoat Row Bakery, signature items from The Boarding House, and fresh shellfish from Island Creek Oysters. You'll also find delicious products from off-island producers:  aged balsamic vinegar blends and olive oils from JD Gourmet, extra lean Italian sausages from Fortuna's Sausage Co., New England and New York local cheeses from Atlanta Foods International, tasty tidbits from igourmet.com, Brigadeiro Barn Handmade Brazilian Truffles, hand-crafted cheeses and butters from Vermont Butter & Cheese Co., and the world-famous pure waters of Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino.

Pagéo will display the glittering sophistication of their fine jewelry.  Erin Byers Murray will sign copies of her book Shucked: Life on a New England Oyster Farm, and Chef authors such as Willie Cooper of Sonoma and Andy Husbands of Tremont 647 will hold book-signings at during the Grand Tasting, and the Dane Gallery will display their beautifully-crafted wine glasses and decanters.  Artists Michele Kennedy, Frederick Collord, and others will show their work, and Bien Écrit will sell their elegant and distinctive stationery.  Meet artisans, winemakers, artists chefs, raconteurs, food mavens, and Islanders of every stripe in the gustatory haven that is Nantucket.

There will be cooking demonstrations on the Clarke cooking stage during the Grand Tasting on Saturday at 1:00pm and 3:30pm, and on Sunday at 12:15 pm and 2:15pm.  The chefs doing demos are:  Kevin Williamson of Ranch 616, and others TBA.