As Tufts students celebrated the beginning of the semester with popular beverages such as Natural Light and Rubinoff, a more refined crowd gathered at the Seaport World Trade Center in downtown Boston this weekend for the 20th Annual Boston Wine Expo.
The expo, which is sponsored by the Boston Guild of Oenophilists, unites wine vendors and enthusiasts for a weekend of tastings and educational seminars. Due to the high ticket price, the majority of the crowd consisted of young professionals and middle−aged couples rather than enthusiastic college students.
The largest event of its kind in the entire country, the expo featured 300 wineries from all over the world and over 1,800 different wines available for sampling and for purchasing.
Upon arrival, visitors received a free engraved wine glass for samples during the event. To prevent the mixing of red and white wines in the same glass, water was available at every table to rinse out the dregs of one wine before trying a new sample.
The average financially−aware student, however, had no need to be daunted by the presence of expensive wines at the expo. Barefoot Wines, a common staple in collegiate kitchens, occupied one of the largest tables at the event. The company handed out free bags and bottle stoppers as well as samples of their more unusual varieties of wines, such as the Moscato and a few bubbly flavors.
A highlight of the expo was the availability of food to accompany the wine. Experts doled out pieces of chocolate or cubes of cheese and recommended a specific wine to complement the sample.
Additionally, many restaurants from the Boston area set up tables to distribute some menu highlights; lines wound around the corner for a sample of Zocalo Cocina Mexicana's freshly made guacamole and Morton's Steakhouse gave out decadent cakes by the dozen.
Stages lined the edges of the convention center, where a number of celebrity chefs gave live demonstrations, shared recipes and contributed an element of local flavor. Most notably, renowned chef Ming Tsai of the restaurant Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Mass., cooked in front of the largest crowd.
All in all, the Boston Wine Expo was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The sleep−inducing nature of wine aside, it was an excellent opportunity to learn about wine and also a great way to explore some of the local offerings of this rich and diverse city. Should bank accounts allow, the next Boston Wine Expo would definitely be an event worth attending.
