Has anyone gone to this in the past? Would you recommend it?
The only way I go is when I get a free ticket. It has become a booze fest with people who view it as a way to get unlimited alcohol for a flat rate. There are some decent producers there, but overall it’s the run of the mill wineries.
Yeah, I looked at the list of wines being poured and it wasn’t that exciting.
On a related note, has anyone gone to the “Winter Wine Spectacular” in Manchester NH? I can’t even find a list of wines for that one. It’s a charity event, though, so it’s for a cause even if the tasting itself isn’t that exciting.
Can’t help (never been) but I’ll be there for the trade portion Sunday
Dan…who’d you get a job with?
I suddenly feel sorry for you. Say goodbye to your loved ones before you leave.
Let me give you an impression:
“HEY GUY! What’s the alcohol on that? You got any thing high-ah, kid? trips over person passed out under the table”
Have a blast with 11,000+ drunks and 1,000+ bored/harried trade people!
If that’s the tasting sponsored by the NHSLC then the person to answer that question would be Andy Jerpeil or Paul Flynn. Theyt used to make it an anuual event and get the “grand tasting” tickets. Andy’s told me that in the past that was the way to go with much better wines offered. They would stay over night due to the drive involved.
I asked Andy if he was going this year and he was taking a pass. Apparently the grand tasting is a seperate selection of wineries and this year they are not going to allow you into the general tasting on that ticket.
The Expo is terrible.
Left after an hour last year. The pregame with lobster mac n cheese was fun though!
The Boston Wine Expo is as described, a crowded place for people to booze it up. But, the past 2 years, the Chateauneuf du Pape section alone was well worth going for.
The Manchester Easter Seals event is very good. I’ve made it to all but the first event. It is a charity event, which is nice. The event only lasts 3 hours. The Cellar Select room does hold some excellent wines but it’s a big price upgrade over the basic ticket. $60 for the regular tasting and $120 for the Select or $150 for both. Last year and this year I decided to skip the Cellar Select room as I didn’t think it was worth the big price and there were plenty of great wines in the regular tasting. Also, time doesn’t really permit you to do both.
For whatever reason the crowd at the Manchester event seems to be a little more genteel. People dress for the occasion and a lot of winemakers make the trip so you get to have some nice conversations instead of just begging some bored kid to pour you a taste of wine. I think there are something like 1700 wines at the event. You do not know what is there until you show up but they do hand out a guide to all the tables and all the wines being poured.
One excellent benefit of the Manchester event is that all the wines being poured are for sale. You collect bar code labels for the wines you want and then place an order at the end of the event. NHSLC gives 15% off of 6 bottles and 20% off of 12 which is their best sale of the year.
As Zachary said, I wouldn’t dismiss the Boston Wine Expo if one could scrounge a free or discounted ticket. I prefer to spend my money on the Manchester Easter Seals event.
Now I know why I got a ticket… Oh well it was free so I can just not show up.
I think I’m getting free tickets so I’ll be there.
I haven’t had enough wine in my life to be completely bored by it.
Gus, not so much about the wine…it’s the crowd that sucks…I am always up for trying wines
Thanks for the input everyone. Sounds like the Expo isn’t worth it for me. I may get tickets to the Manchester event. My wife doesn’t drink wine, but food is served at the Manchester event as well, so I may be able to talk her into going. ![[thumbs-up.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/f/f84c5acc11486ee4baba6dee6cf61dbd133abb18.gif "[thumbs-up.gif]"){kind=small}
Daniel,
Since you’re new in town it’s probably worth it to show up. Sometimes a trade person is a nice respite for the other trade folks behind the table. It gives them a reason to totally ignore everyone else and have a conversation with you. That is, until the barbarians start banging on the table for another pour.
I haven’t been since I left town, but even the first year it was a sellout, madhouse type of event and it hasn’t changed much since. Probably the single best day was the Sunday in 2001 when there was a snowstorm and it was Superbowl Sunday with the Pats playing, there was almost nobody there.
If you can, leave before the last hour, it becomes a pee & puke-fest (the skinny is it is all NY natives (J-E-T-S fans!) who can’t hold their liquor), literally I have seen people in line at the rest rooms soiling themselves. Well, there are like over 1000 wines there, and someone is going to attempt to try all of them.
The CdP table was always pretty rocking though.
2 years ago, I was at Troquet at night while the Expo was on (purely coincidental) and it was a very fun time- lots of great wine passing between tables. Got to taste a few '82 Bordeaux and and a dynamite La Chapelle Hermitage from the early 80’s, which for me is something really special.
Boston Expo is fine. I’ve worked it the past few years. It’s got it’s share of drunks like all such events, but if you’re planning to go, make a plan first.
The problem people have is that they go from one table to the next tasting reds, whites, heavy, lights, and they end up drunk with nothing to show for their efforts. Pick something you want to explore and go for that. The “trade” is no better than the public and frankly, I prefer the latter because they’re less pretentious.
Anyway, I’ve got a few groupie types there and I’m happy to see them every year. Does it get better?