Date: 9 December 2023
Time: 5PM - ?
Venue: Cook’s Lobster House, Harpswell, Maine
Theme: Dry white wines from 2003 - 2013
Maximum # of tasters: 16
Maximum # of seats available: 14 (I’ll be there with Eileen)
Type of event: Charity auction and dinner, wine tasting
Long-winded explanation:
Every year Cook’s sponsors a charity auction for Harpswell Home Heating Assistance. Maine is the oldest state in the nation. Harpswell is the oldest town in Maine. Many retired people whose families have been here for centuries are pressed to both pay their taxes and stay warm. 100% of the proceeds from this auction go to home heating assistance. A minimum of 20% of food sales are donated, including lunch sales before the event begins. Many local providers donate foods and if you order those, 100% is donated. Most of the Cook’s staff donate their salaries and many donate their tips. This is Harpswell.
The evening begins with a silent auction. Local artists and craftspeople donate their work. Events are auctioned, usually including day sails, golf, lobster boat trips. Property owners sometimes donate off-season rentals (May, June, September, October). Restaurants and stores donate meals and gift certificates, and local brewers participate. Lobsters, oysters and other sea creatures are auctioned, as are many services.
I donate a small wall of wine… usually about 25 lots totaling ~240 bottles, in 6 and 12 packs, everyday drinkers, because that’s who comes to this event. Wines that retail at ~$15 - 30 go for ~$5 - 20. If this OL fills up I will raise the bar, donating more wine and putting up some Really Good Stuff, which unless you outbid each other will go for way under retail, because few of the locals drink wines like Pegau.
We wilI have our own long table and order like everybody else at the event. I normally prefer to limit OL tastings to a bottle per person, because I hate to waste wine. But on this occasion, leftovers will be passed to other guests (who will donate accordingly). I have ~12 wines to bring. If we do it in tastes of ~1 - 1.5 ounces, we could have another 6 - 12 wines. I’m willing to cut back what I bring if others want to step up. I’ll post what I have and if I need to cut back other attendees can suggest what I bring and what I leave out. If the event does not fill up, we could cut the number of wines and have more generous pours per wine.
Cook’s is not a gourmet destination, but what they do, they do very well. The lobster pound is literally next door. There are the usual alternatives, fresh and well prepared (haddock and other fish, steak, chicken, salads).
Accommodations are not hard to find here at this time of year. There’s a Best Western at 13 miles, nicer upscale digs are available in downtown Brunswick, 15 miles. Uber, Lyft and Brunswick Taxi exist. If you get no cell service, Cook’s does and also has a land line to order rides.
Questions? Post, e-mail or message me.
Sign-ups? Ditto
I will keep track of attendees and post who is coming, and when we hit the limit.
I really look forward to meeting many of you here.
Thank you!
Dan Kravitz