Wine Tasting @ Topside Inn
Join us for our exclusive Wine Tasting Fundraiser at the elegant Topside Inn in Boothbay Harbor! Settle in for an informative and fun 2 hours of wine tasting and friend making with an exquisite selection of French wines. Additionally, you will enjoy a delicious array of local and French cheese and French bread, organic fruit— and some of Alain’s famous macaron to close this unique experience! You’ll be soaking in the chic ambiance of the Topside Inn, enjoying their panoramic ocean views and the beautiful backdrop of Boothbay Harbor while learning about these fantastic wines.
Jim Elston, friend of Veggies to Table, resident of Walpole, and owner of Chemin des Vins, a wholesale wine import company that offers a select portfolio of artisanal French wine, will be your guide. Your tour through Burgundy and Champagne will include wines from the Côtes Beaujolais, Mâconnais and Chalonnaise as well as the exalted villages of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits. For an apéritif and palate opener, we will taste two carefully chosen champagnes before moving into our white and red wine tastings.
As a special treat, Erica’s dad, Joel Berman, will be on site and assisting Jim. Joel is a true wine expert and owner of Berman’s Wines in Lexington for over 50 years (and founded by Erica’s great grandfather in 1909).
Space is limited to 20 people making for an intimate experience where you will leave with new friends, increased knowledge of wine and wine tasting, and the marvelous feeling of having helped feed those in need! Tickets start at $125 per person for a couple and $150 for a single person.
Times are challenging and your participation in this wine tasting fundraiser will truly make a difference. To read more about funding cuts that will affect food access in Maine, and how Veggies to Table and our grow-to-donate model will be needed more than ever, click here. All funds raised from this class will go towards feeding hungry community members.
The list of wines – Champagne and Burgundy Tasting
Apéritif
NV Champagne Jean Pernet Reserve Chardonnay Grand Cru Brut
Les Blancs
2022 Paul and Mallory Talmard, Macon-Chardonnay
2020 Feuillat-Juillot, Montagny 1er Cru Les Coeres
2022 Denis Fouquerrand, Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune Blanc Clos
Bortier
2022 Latour-Giraud, Meursault Cuvee Charles Maxime
2020 Michel Caillot, Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles
Apéritif
NV Champagne Monmarthe, Blanc de Noirs Les Grimpants Brut
Les Rouges
2018 Gry-Sablon, Julienas La Petit Cabane
2022 Denis Fouquerrand, Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge
Derriere Montbard
2020 Clos Saint Louis, Marsannay Sampagny
2020 Latour-Giraud, Pommard 1er Cru Refene
2020 Olivier Guyot, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Sorbets
More about Jim
Jim Elston, President and founder of Chemin des Vins, has a PhD in History (American Foreign Policy) and was a Professor at Boston College and Boston University for 8 years. Converting his hobby into his primary source of employment, he followed his passion for wine into the trade in 1984. He quickly found that his academic skills (public speaking, running seminars, and writing) were highly transferable to sales. He worked for many years at Classic Wine Imports, the premier fine wine importing and distributing company in New England at that time, becoming top salesman in the state. From 1996 – 2002 he was Wine Buyer and Director of Sales for Classic. He managed and trained a large staff, along with training the staffs of many hotels and fine restaurants.
In 2002, Jim left Classic to establish Chemin des Vins, an independent source of fine French wine, and never looked back. These days Jim can be found working from an office in his home in South Bristol Maine, and regularly travels to speak and train as needed.
Head on over to our friends at Riverside Butcher in Damariscotta for a 10% discount off the wines from the class. Note: This discount only applies to tasting attendees!
Location
Topside Inn