A Tour of Spanish Wines
2023-11-10 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
A country rich in viticultural history, grape vines have been grown on the Spanish Iberian Peninsula since at least 3000 B.C. It was not until 1000 B.C. that winemaking began in earnest – a skill brought by Phoenician traders from the eastern Mediterranean. Today, the country is home to more vines than any other country and has a national wine output only exceeded by France and Italy.
Historically, winemaking culture throughout Spain was very rustic. Oxidized styles are common as well as the heavy use of American oak for lengthy periods of barrel ageing. However, in the past few decades, Spain’s wine industry has engaged in a great deal of modernization and an embrace of New World techniques. The result has been a significant improvement in quality and reliability.
Topography plays a fundamental role in defining Spain’s many wine styles. From cool, green Galicia and the snow-capped Pyrenees in the north, via the parched central plateau, to sandy, sunny Andalucia in the south, the Spanish landscape is very diverse. The cool vineyards of the far north and northwest create light, crisp, white wines, exemplified by Rías Baixas and particularly Txakoli. Those in warmer, drier regions further inland tend towards mid-bodied, fruit-driven reds such as Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Bierzo. Those close to the Mediterranean can produce heavier, more powerful reds except in higher altitudes, where reduced heat and humidity allow the production of lighter reds and, of course, white sparkling Cava.
Our tour guide for this event is Federico-Martin Pisani. Federico, a Belgium native, studied international trade as an undergrad. He also holds a Masters Degree in International Business from UCLM, Albacete, Spain. With this background and an interest in wine, he’s enjoyed two decades in the industry as Export Manager, Horticoalba, Albacete; Export Director at Morgante SL – Bodegas Cristo de la Vega, Albacete/Socuéllamos/La Mancha; and now the Export Director at Neleman Organic Vineyards, Valencia.
Our event Friday, November 10th at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg features ten wines, five from Federico’s organic portfolio and five from Keystone Importer’s portfolio in order to examine wines from Spain’s major regions and best-known grapes.
Spanish wines demand Tapas—yes? So, accompanying our wines is Manchego, Prosciutto Grapes, Spiced Almond Chorizo, Olives, Heirloom Tomato Puff Pastry and Beef Empañadas with Chile Sauce. This sounds like a great menu!
Please inform us of any food allergies well in advance in the notes section of your reservations or email the treasurer with concerns.
Reservation deadline is Tuesday, November 7th .
Member —$80
Patron —$75
Nonmember —$100
You may MAKE RESERVATIONS via the SHOPPE PAGE of this website.
Please note any food allergies EARLY in the notes section of your reservations or email the treasurers with concerns.

Deadline to Register for Sparkling Wines
2023-11-28 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States

Sparkling Wines
2023-12-01 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
The holidays are fast approaching as is the PWS Sparkling Wine event featuring wines from the United States and Europe that are unique and flavorful. Come join us for this festive event on December 1st and taste some new sparklers you’ll want to add to your repertoire.
We’ll start with one of the most unique wines we’re tasting, Aquilini Già Bella Brut Rose Red Mountain 2020, from Washington State’s prestigious Red Mountain AVA. Even hardcore oenophiles have tasted few, if any, Cabernet-based sparkling wines. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sparkling wine is so different that it’s worthy of standing on its own at the beginning of the evening. One might expect a Cabernet sparkling to be heavy but it’s not – it’s bright and lively and will start our evening off well.
The next two wines, both from Europe, will be paired with the first plate of hors d’oeuvres, the Spanish Cava and the Italian Prosecco. Our Cava is from “one of Spain’s finest Cava producers” (Wine Advocate). This flagship wine of Juvé & Camps is cellar-aged, organic and seeks to be Spain’s answer to champagne at a fraction of the cost.
The prosecco will not be your ordinary, “add to orange juice for a mimosa”, Prosecco. As wine expert Kermit Lynch has said, “For most wine drinkers, “Prosecco” is a stand-in for a cold, crisp, sparkling white wine that should be pretty cheap. There’s nothing wrong with that desire, but there is such a large range of wines bearing the Prosecco DOC and DOCG that they are worthy of as much understanding and differentiation as any other style of wine.” The prosecco poured at this event will be worthy of exploring; it will be neither ordinary nor cheap!
The Livio Sassetti Pertimali Prosecco Superiore Brut is a blend of 90% Glera, 10% Bianchetta from the Valdobbiadene DOCG. The wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG represent Italy’s highest-quality designation in the Prosecco category. For over a century, the Sassetti family has been cultivating some of the best vineyards in the area, thanks to the very favorable terroir.
For our middle wine pairing, we are in the southwest of the United States with a New Mexico produced Blanc de Noirs and a California champagne style brut from Anderson Valley. Both are a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes and produced using the traditional method, méthode champenoise, but the Blanc de Noirs is predominantly Pinot Noir (75%) and the Anderson Valley sparkling wine is predominantly Chardonnay (60%). It will be quite interesting to compare similar but different wines in this pairing.
The last pairing of wines are two wines from the same region of the Languedoc-Roussillon in southwest France – Limoux. However, the wines are very different. One is a Crémant Rosé – similar in style to a Champagne rosé and based on Chardonnay blended with Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir – and the other a Blanquette de Limoux – an ancient style wine that was one of the first styles of sparkling wines ever produced. The Blanquette de Limoux is 90% Mauzac, a white aromatic grape that ripens late permitting a slow initial fermentation with plenty of residual sugar to facilitate the natural second fermentation in the bottle the following spring. Its name is derived from the French “blanc” meaning white because a fine white down grows on the bottom of the leaves so when the wind blows the vines look white. Unless you’ve had a wine from Limoux, it’s unlikely you’ve tried a Mauzac-based wine so this should be a treat!
The wines:
Aquilini Già Bella Brut Rosé Red Mountain 2020
Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva 2017 Cava
Livio Sassetti Pertimali Prosecco Superiore Brut
Gruet Blanc de Noirs
Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley
Gerard Bertrand An 825 Crémant de Limoux Brut Rosé 2020
Domaine Martinolles Le Berceau Blanquette de Limoux

Wines will be served with small plates prepared by the Hilton Culinary Team:
Halibut Fritter w/Red Pepper Marmalade
Sweet Potato Latke and Grilled Shrimp Salad
Wild Mushroom Puff Pastry Tart w/ Caramelized Shallot & Truffle Aioli
Please inform us of allergies well in advance in reservation notes or email to the Treasurer

Don’t forget there is a door prize of wine flutes from Lehman Glass of Rheims, France for one lucky taster!
Deadline for reservations is November 28th and our holiday sparkling events often sell out so don’t wait, sign up today!
Member – $80
Patron – $75
Nonmember – $100
You may MAKE RESERVATIONS via the SHOPPE PAGE of this website. Please note any food allergies EARLY in the notes section of your reservations or email the treasurer with concerns.

EVENT CANCELED - Binah Fine Wines of the Mid-Atlantic
2024-01-28 14:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)

Deadline to Register for Exploring the Rich History of Zinfandel
2024-02-13 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States

Exploring the Rich History of Zinfandel - SOLD OUT
2024-02-16 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
This event is SOLD OUT. Please plan early to join us in coming months!

It is a long way from the sunny Dalmatian coast of Croatia to the wine country of California – 6,162 miles (with a slight detour to Italy) to be precise – but that is how far we are going to trace the travels of the wine grape properly known as Crljenak Kaštelanski but which we call Zinfandel.
At one time Zinfandel was thought of as a native American grape. But plant geneticists have determined that it is of far older origins, as we will explore at the Hilton on February 16th. We now know that the grape we know as Zinfandel started out as Crljenak Kaštelanski (Yes, I learned to pronounce that, and we will have a brief lesson in Serbo-Croatian during the tasting.) on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia.
Our tasting begins with our “welcome” wine Old Black Peter, which is unavailable on the shelves of Pennsylvania’s “Fine Wines and Good Spirits” stores but a favorite of the Wall Street Journal Wine Club, about which I have written (and recommended) in a prior PWS blog post. Grown of fifty-year-old-plus vines, it comes in at 13.9% alcohol whereas many Zins come in at as much as 15%. It boasts multiple 90+ point ratings and gold medals, so we will be off to a good start.
Our first tasting wine, in keeping with the convention that one tastes white wines before red wines, will be a Rosé: Rosé of Primitivo Estate, 2022, deLorimier Winery, Alexander Valley, Sonoma. The so-called “white” Zinfandel outsells red Zinfandel six to one in the United States. Actually a blush or pink wine, white Zinfandel is usually sweet or at least semi-sweet. Why take a red grape and try to make it white? It all goes back to the 1970s. Americans demanded semi-sweet white wines and vintners with acres of old vine Zinfandel had a problem. They certainly didn’t want to plow over 100-year-old vines and plant white wine grapes. The solution was to make a rosé or so-called white Zinfandel. We managed to find a rare dry example.
Turning to the reds, we start in Croatia with a Crljenak Kaštelanski. Very little Crljenak Kaštelanski is exported to the United States – and as far as we can tell none is made available to Pennsylvanians through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Despite the scarcity, the Pennsylvania Wine Society has managed to obtain a few bottles of a very special Dubrovački Prodrumi Crljenak bottled in 2016. This eight-year-old 90-point red (Wine Spectator) is ready to go and will be the starting point for our exploration of the Crljenak Kaštelanski and its migrations. We will explore how technique and terroir create a different red from the Zinfandels we are used to. Having just tasted Old Saint Peter, we can compare the effects of terroir and winemaking style from both ends of the grape’s journey.
Crljenak Kaštelanski did not migrate directly to America from Croatia but made a stop in Italy, specifically the Puglia and Apulia regions of Southern Italy, aka “the boot” of Italy. There the peripatetic varietal changed its name to Primitivo. The name Primitivo does not mean “primitive,” as one might guess based on its similarity to the English word, but rather prime or “first to ripen” from the Latin “primativus”. (I know, Serbo-Croatian and Latin lessons are a bit much for a wine tasting but bear with me.)
We will taste a 2021 Poggio Anima Lilith Primitivo and, again, will call upon all of you to determine how terroir and technique impact taste. Again, we can compare the effects of terroir and winemaking style.
Finally, we come to California. More than 100 years ago Italian immigrants moved to California and brought their grape vines with them. (One alternative version of the story has the vines starting out on the East Coast and then making their way to California during the California Gold Rush of 1848-1855.) For some reason, during the Atlantic and continental crossing, the name changed to Zinfandel (there are still a few California examples that go by the name Primitivo as we saw above). Appropriately, we will start with a wine that boasts that it is created from 100-year-old vines: Cline Family Cellars “Ancient Vines” 2021 Contra Costa. Since 2018 the vineyards and winery became Certified California Sustainable and Sonoma County Sustainable.
Having established Zinfandel’s origins and tasted the product of some 100-year-old vines, we will compare three modern bottlings:
7 Deadly Zins, Old Vine Zinfandel, 2020, Lodi, California (hint: one of my favorites). Crafted by a family with roots in Lodi since the 1850s, and grown using sustainable practices, this wine is blended with a small amount of Petite Syrah and coming in at a healthy 15% alcohol, which comes through on the finish.
Since we are tasting a Zin from Lodi we should mention here that Lodi calls itself “the Zinfandel capital of the world.” Briefly, why does Lodi make this boast? Located between San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the end of the Sacramento River, Lodi features a classic Mediterranean climate and many of the very old Zinfandel vines we have discussed were planted there. Some date to 1888! These old vines produce small fruit in limited numbers, resulting in rich, bold, and complex wines.
Next up: The Federalist, Lodi, 2019. The name and the label are intended as an homage to George Washington, and the wine is crafted from grapes grown on the edge of Dry Creek, just a mile from the famed Russian River. I just have to show you the vineyard’s promo:
In the spirit of George Washington and our Founding Fathers, this wine offers bold and original expressions of this truly American grape. This wine connects the founding fathers love of wine, some of whom had vineyards of their own, with this historic appellation known for its old vine Zinfandel. The result is a revolutionary wine.
Clearly, whoever wrote that PR piece had been sampling The Federalist! We will see if George would approve.
When tasting our final wine, Joel Gott, 2018, St. Helena, Napa, see if you agree with one taster who described the flavor profile is “all in your face”. I’m not sure what that means, but I guess we will find out. The wine is aged in both new American and used French oak barrels.
As a final note, we plan to make this tasting a bit more interactive, asking you to tell us what you think in a more systematic fashion. Don’t worry, there are no wrong answers! “I like it,” is a perfectly acceptable response! In what will be a review for some, we will suggest a tasting methodology in which we look at color, legs, aroma, taste, and finish. Tasting scoring sheets will be provided to provide a framework for analysis and to help you remember which wines you like the best.
Hilton’s Master Chef has put together a hearty cheese plate to accompany our wine tasting. Please inform us of any food allergies well in advance in the notes section of your reservations or email the Treasurer with concerns.
Reservation deadline is Tuesday, February 13th! You may MAKE RESERVATIONS via the SHOPPE PAGE of this website.
Member —$85
Patron —$80
Nonmember —$105

Deadline to Register for Cadenza - A Winemaker's Dream
2024-03-08 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)

Cadenza - A Winemaker's Dream
2024-03-15 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Cadenza Vineyards, Brogue PA, 3475 Sechrist Road, Brogue, PA, 17309, United States
Cadenza Vineyard wines speak from forty years of growing grapes at one special place. Just take that in for a moment. History… commitment… passion…quality.
Our special Cadenza adventure is Friday, March 15th at 7 p.m. Deadline for reservations is March 8th so don’t delay! We are more than halfway to sold out at this writing.
Join Cadenza owner, Carl Helrich for a special library and barrel tasting event exploring how his wines have developed through time augmented by the Cadenza success story as told in Carl’s entertaining and engaging style. Repeat participants say they never tire of hearing the Cadenza story or tasting the. wines as they develop.
This sort of tasting is only offered privately at the winery. The eight wines included in our PWS event follow, sprinkled with Carl’s comments.
2017 Cadenza Chardonnay
Our second “Reserve Chardonnay” released under our Cadenza Vineyards brand. These Chardonnays are grown here at Allegro in our estate vineyard originally planted in 1973. The vineyard is comprised of roughly 9 different clones of Chardonnay, every one of which seems to ripen at a different time with different characteristics. The French call this a “field blend” of sorts, and I believe it is the key to the signature Allegro Chardonnay profile.
Our Chardonnays are where I feel that I have finally dialed in the right winemaking style and process to allow for the best and most appropriate voice from this vineyard. The fruit is barrel-fermented at cooler temperatures, then aged on its lees with weekly stirring—batonnage—for the first six months of its life.
2014 Allegro Reserve Chardonnay (Chardonnay 100%)
This is the most balanced release of our Reserve Chardonnay as 2014 displayed enough warming days for peak ripeness while retaining an amazing freshness. It is one of the most Burgundian wines we have created, and is a great example of a wine just starting to peak in its drinkability. It still shows youth along with a knitting together of its respective parts. This wine really opens up at warmer temperatures, being more directed to red wine drinkers.
2021 Cadenza Bridge (43% Merlot/42% Cabernet Franc/15% Petit Verdot)
The 2021 Bridge is one of the most balanced and refined wines that we have bottled in the past few years. Usually my style is more forceful and abrasive, but the 2021 Bridge shows a refinement and balance that I am usually not capable of. It’s almost European in its sensibility, while at the same time being approachable at this very young age. The Merlot brings darker fruit and body to the wine, while the Franc brightens the flavors and adds depth to the aromatics. They play nicely together while the Petit Verdot in the background holds it all together with its structure. This one of our most hedonistic Bridge offerings ever, reminiscent of the 2017, 2007 and 2006. Very Right Bank Bordeaux (for you traditionalists out there), but as with all of our wines–in the immortal words of John Crouch—”It’ll pay you back if you hold on to it!”
2017 Cadenza Bridge (Merlot 36%/Cabernet Franc 34%/Cabernet Sauvignon 22%/Petit Verdot 7%)
The 2017 was aged 19 months in new French oak barrels and then pulled from barrels in the summer of 2019. The wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined in early September with 2” corks. The final total was only 134 cases of 750mL bottles and 6 cases of 1.5L magnum bottles.
Nice deep colors and a rich aroma of fruit and oak make this a wine to savor. The structure of the wine is firm yet supple, making it perfect for pairing with beef dishes. This wine still needs some time to come around fully (even though it’s drinking nicely right now). Maximum enjoyment probably come sometime from now to 2026.
2013 Allegro Cadenza (Cabernet Sauvignon 73% / Merlot 22% / Petit Verdot 5%)
The miraculous 2013 vintage will be one that I remember for a long, long time. It yielded four reserve-caliber wines for us, including this one. With this wine, we returned to the Cadenzas of old with lots of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. The tannins are not as searing as John’s were in the young wines, but the structure is very present and its age-ability should be significant.
2005 Allegro Cadenza (Merlot 59% / Cabernet Sauvignon 27% / Cabernet Franc 14%)
A Merlot in Bordeaux terms. Using comparatively primitive production methods and minimal handling, this wine is still a sleeper just starting to wake up. The primary fruit is fading, but the cocoa tannins are too enticing to make waiting possible. The inherent spiciness and perfume just suck me in. It’s finally starting to hit its stride and land where I wanted it to. The last bottle I enjoyed was just short of mind-blowing in its inherent complexities.
2023 will be the vintage that sets the new benchmark for wine in Pennsylvania. With an early budbreak and the driest May on record (less than a 1/4″ of rain) followed by a balanced season, the vines from our Cadenza Vineyard finally showed their potential. The whites exhibit wonderful purity of fruit while the reds show off deep rich colors that speak to their underlying power. These are wines for the ages. Taste two Barrel samples—2023 Chardonnay and 2023 Merlot (straight from the barrel if we can figure out how to do it logistically).
To focus more fully on the wines in this library tasting, simple cheese and cracker nibbles will accompany the wines. It is strongly suggested that you eat a normal size dinner prior to the event.
Also plan your Friday travel time to easily gather by 6:50 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7:00 p.m. at Cadenza Vineyards, 475 Sechrist Road, Brogue, Pennsylvania 17309. Phone: 717-501-1413.
This event is limited to 20 attendees. Reservations close Friday, March 8th or, more likely, when sold out. You may MAKE RESERVATIONS via the SHOPPE PAGE of this website.
Member —$80
Patron —$75
Nonmember —$100

Deadline to Register for Credo European Portfolio
2024-04-09 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
You may MAKE RESERVATIONS via the SHOPPE PAGE of this website.

Credo European Portfolio - Germany, Austria, and Hungary
2024-04-12 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Blues Brothers? Nope. One physicist, one engineer. Do they have something to do with wine? Yep. Pictured are Matthew Goss and Daniel Satola from Credo Importers hanging out in the scenic vineyards of Hungary. Not a bad second career gig! All you need do is chat with them to see that they clearly bring great passion to the business.
Please join PWS on Friday, April 12th, to learn about the wine venture and savor specialty wines from Credo’s Central Europe portfolio. Enjoy wines representative of terroir and crafted by artisan winemakers paired with regional style foods.
Credo brings something unique to the table that veteran PWS members and wine afficionados value above all else—flawless, organic, authentic wines on the palate.
The regions represented—Germany, Austria and Hungary—bring centuries old viticulture and winemaking traditions that astute wine tasters recognize to be some of the best in the world.
If you understand the romance of these wines, you’ve already reserved your seats. But if you’re not one of those; and, unfamiliar wine names scare you away, WAIT—read on. These are very approachable, likeable wines, from familiar grapes such as Riesling. Friendly, right? We know you’ll find the other grapes equally approachable and the wines delightful.
Daniel Satola, founder and co-owner, founded Credo Imports with the vision of creating a family-owned company
to import and market small production fine wines from family-owned European producers. Here’s the business philosophy: “We fight back against the power of the mass-produced and distributed to create space for winemakers who may not otherwise be able to voice their passions, conscience, and values. These winemakers’ voices reflect the authenticity of their wines and the integrity of their land—speaking not for the wines, but through them. Our goal is to create demand for our products. In doing so, we also create demand for our producers’ ideals and sustain a process where quality can rule at the expense of volume.“
Here is the wine list from sparkling through red and dry to a sweet dessert wine finish. There may also be a surprise or two!

Play Rose Feind Hungary 2022
Wild Rose Pet Nat Riesling Kamptal 2022
Eck Riesling Pfalz Trocken 2021
Meyer Grauerburgunder Loss Pfalz Trocken 2020
Lajver Incognito Kekfrankos Hungary 2022
Hirt-Gebhardt Mia Lou Roter Riesling Rheingau 2022
Gebert Scheurebe Rheinhessen 2022
Manderschied Gewürztraminer Pfalz 2020
Vylyan Macska Portugieser Hungary 2022
Aichinger Roter Traminer Kamptal 2021

Many will recognize these wine regions, but perhaps not the producers because local stores show mostly mass produced wines. This is a learning experience in “You get what you pay for.” as my mother often pointed out. This event is worth every penny.
Hilton Chef Justin Godfrey chose three small plates to pair with the wines, promising a great palate experience. Those small plates are:
Smoked Trout Brandade with Rye Toast and Chive Oil
Spinach Spätzle in Rosemary Brown Butter
Pretzel-crusted Pork and Potato Croquette w/Pickled Red Cabbage
And we’ve added Apple Strudel for dessert!
Please advise of food sensitivities by emailing the Treasurer with concerns at the time you make your reservations. Reservation deadline is Tuesday, April 9th.
Appropriately the Credo credo is “To share unique wines from all over the world with wine-loving people.” We’ll have the wine waiting—you bring the wine-loving people!
Reservation deadline is Tuesday, April 9th . You may MAKE RESERVATIONS via the SHOPPE PAGE of this website.
Member —$110
Patron —$105
Nonmember —$130

DEADLINE to Register for Fabulous French Whites
2024-05-14 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)

SOLD OUT Fabulous French Whites
2024-05-17 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
This event is SOLD OUT! We are taking a wait list. If you want to be added to the wait list, please contact the Treasurer via email.
Vive la France, where the lavender grows next to the vineyard! What a beautiful spring backdrop to introduce our May 17th event. Fair warning—die hard red drinkers may convert after this experience! We are excited to welcome back Kevin Ostrowski to explore some of the iconic French white anticipating summer wine tables, picnics and deck parties where you can serve them for guests to enjoy.
Fair warning—die hard red drinkers may convert after this experience!
We are excited to welcome back Kevin Ostrowski to explore some of the iconic French whites; anticipating summer wine tables, picnics and deck parties where you can serve them for guests to enjoy. Kevin is a well-known and respected certified wine judge, sommelier, and wine educator. His exploration of French whites promises a great event!
With Kevin’s guidance, we sought out representative whites from major French growing regions. Here’s the list of regions represented. You’ll see we’re starting with Champagne—so arrive early for the greeting wine!

Champagne where since the 1600s cellar masters focused on cutting-edge wine production and the popularization of sparkling wines.
Burgundy, where Cistercian monks first planted grapevines in walled plots called clos. Burgundy is considered the benchmark of quality.
Loire Valley where a cooler-climate growing area, is an exceptional place to find lean, racy white wines.
Bordeaux where ancient Romans first planted vineyards to launch what’s now the most popular wine region in the world. And it’s not all about the reds.
Rhone Valley where evidence of quality wines dates back to the first century and terraced vineyards originally dug by the Romans still exist.
Languedoc where the conformism of Parisian bureaucracy goes hand in hand with the creative spirit of pure liberalism. Almost anything goes!
Savoie where proximity to endless mountain ranges and crisp bodies of water give way to acidic wines, perfect for food pairing.
Alsace where Germanic influence and strong emphasis on white wines distinguish France’s most unique viticultural region.

We could spend months to years reviewing French wine regions and tasting their great wines. Wine is an integral part of French culture, and wine making processes important to them. Thus, the number of wines available is staggering—and we have but one evening. However, we are confident that our selections offer a great representation of the iconic wines for which each region is known.
The wines will be paired with small food plates designed by Hilton Chef, Justin Godfrey. Food accompaniments include the following:

Halibut Gravlax with dill, baby bell pepper, caper, and pickled shallot
Wild mushroom tart with fennel, Point Reyes blue cheese, and granola
Cheddar Gougères with Prosciutto, peach, and basil

Move something else on your calendar to make room in May for this one! Our event is Friday, May 17th at 7 p.m. Hilton Harrisburg.
Please inform early of any food sensitivities by email to the Treasurer.
Reservation deadline is Tuesday, May 14th. You may MAKE RESERVATIONS via the SHOPPE PAGE of this website.
Member —$95
Patron —$90
Nonmember —$115

DEADLINE to REGISTER for Oregon... and Neighbors
2024-06-11 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States

Oregon... and Neighbors
2024-06-14 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
On Friday evening, June 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg, we will be experiencing a special event featuring nine carefully selected wines from Oregon, Northern California and Washington.
We will be pouring four white wines and five red wines representing some of the best wine appellations in the country. Our whites are from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, the Russian River Valley in Northern California and the Columbia Valley in Washington.
Our reds will include a comparison of Pinot Noirs from different appellations in the Willamette Valley. We will also compare Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa Valley, California and Walla Walla Valley in Washington.
Our fifth red will be a full-body blend from Northern California that includes six different varietals, some of which, are rare. In addition, we will accompany these magnificent wines with five select premium cheeses that make excellent pairings!
Wine List – WHITES
Lange Estate – Classique Pinot Gris 2022 Willamette Valley AVA, Oregon. 100% Pinot Gris. Wine Enthusiast 91 Points.
This classic Pinot Gris style results in a light, crisp, approachable wine true to varietal character with beautifully balanced acidity. This wine shows citrus, honeydew melon, and orange blossom on the nose while the palate displays notes of fresh, green apple, ripe pears, Meyer lemon and lime zest. – Winemaker’s Notes.
Cheese Pairing: Young Gouda.

Stags Leap – Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – Napa Valley AVA, California. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. James Suckling 92 Points.
The 2022 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc is bright, crisp, and refreshing with aromatic notes of white peach, lemon verbena, lime peel, and white elderflower. More subtle notes of brioche toast and biscuit crumb support the lively fruit (a nod to the subtle oak influence) alongside a delicate mineral flintiness. The palate is rich, creamy,
and round with notes of Meyer lemon, green apple, lime pith, cassis bud, and lychee. There is a zippy, racy acidity throughout, creating a mouthwatering texture and lively backbone that carries all the way through to the long, lip-smackingly crisp finish. – Winemaker’s Notes.
Cheese Pairing: Goat Cheese.

Dutton Ranch – The Calling 2021 – Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma, California. 100% Chardonnay. James Suckling 91 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 90 Points.
Intensely aromatic with notes of lemon curd, honeysuckle and white rose petals. Crisp acidity is balanced with subtle French oak on the palate. Flavors of ripe melon, lemon and baked brioche combine for a long, elegant finish. – Winemaker”s Notes.
Cheese Pairing: Havarti.

Portlandia – Pinot Gris 2021 – Columbia Valley AVA, Washington (70%), Willamette Valley AVA, Oregon (30%). 96% Pinot Gris, 3% Riesling, 1% Viognier. Wine Enthusiast 91 Points. Vivino Top 25 Oregon Pinot Gris of 2021.
Well balanced citrus aromas and flavors, crisp and versatile. Aromas of pear, lemon and hints of lite candied ginger on the nose. Mostly lemon tempered by notes of lime zest and melon on the palate. A delightful Pinot Gris. – Johan Lubbe.
Cheese Pairing: Goat Cheese.

Wine List – REDS

Ken Wright Cellars – Appellation Series 2021 – Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Oregon. 100% Pinot Noir. Wine Enthusiast 95 Points, Wine Spectator 93.
This is a Goldilocks special, because the fruit, alcohol, acidity and tannins are just right. Rainier cherry and lavender aromas are joined by smaller notes of leather and a new cedar chest drawer. The wine’s cassis, orange pith and smoky Lapsang souchong tea flavors float on a soft, smooth texture. — Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast.
Cheese Pairing: Goat Cheese.

Domaine Drouhin Oregon – Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2018 – Dundee Hills AVA, Oregon. 100% Pinot Noir. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 94+ Points, Wine Enthusiast 94 Points.
Our 2018 Dundee Hills is complex and structured, a beautiful combination of flavor, intensity, and backbone. Subtle notes of rose petal, raspberry and dark cherries lead into layered flavors of sour cherries, cranberry, black tea, and plum. There is an extraordinary balance between the fine tannins and energizing lift of vibrant red fruit and acidity. This is a wine that will be exciting to follow as it passes the 5, 10, and 15-year marks. – Winemaker’s Notes.
Cheese Pairing: Gruyere.

Girard Winery – Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – Napa Valley AVA, California. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot. Wine Enthusiast 93 Points.
Well-built and deep in flavor, this full-bodied wine is a great value for a Napa Cab. It shows a calm strength and emerging complexity. The wine blankets deep, dark violet and blackcurrant flavors in fine-grained tannins. — Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast.
Cheese Pairing: Piave.

Seven Hills Winery – Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – Walla Walla Valley AVA, Washington. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine Enthusiast 92 Points, James Suckling 92 Points.
This dark crimson gem is a fantastic value. Aromas of black cherries, violets, dark chocolate and bone broth are worth the bottle price all by themselves. Raspberry, vanillin and cedar flavors are backed by grippy tannins and brisk acidity. — Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast.
Cheese Pairing: Piave.

Three Wine Company – Field Blend 2018 – Contra Costa County, California.
39% Carignan, 26% Matero, 17% Zinfandel, 11% Petit Sirah, 5% Alicante Bouschet, 2% Black Malvoisie.
The “field blend” contingent of this wine adds structure, color, cherry, and black fruit flavors. There is a deep concentration of ripe black cherries and spice with a minerality (earthy berry) sneaking through. The mouth-feel is rich and balanced with a lingering peppery finish. – Winemaker’s Notes.
This is a special PWS wine event that features wines from America’s Pacific Northwest; arguably the greatest wine region in the country. You will not want to miss this exceptional tasting. Join us for an evening enjoying some great wines with excellent premium cheese pairing selections.

Please inform us early of any food sensitivities via email to the Treasurer.
Reservation deadline is Tuesday, June 11th.
Member —$95
Patron —$90
Nonmember —$115

DEADLINE to Register for Portugal on the Greens
2024-07-07 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Greystone Brew House, 303 Golf Club Ave, Dillsburg, PA, 17019, United States

Board of Directors Meeting
2024-07-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-08-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-09-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-10-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-11-11 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Wherever YOU Connect with Zoom
Board meetings are virtual via Zoom. Active, dues paid current Members may attend as guests. Please contact an Officer if you are interested in attending a meeting.

Portugal on the Greens - Outdoor Informal Event
2024-07-14 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Greystone Brew House, 303 Golf Club Ave, Dillsburg, PA, 17019, United States
Join us at noon on Sunday, July 14th for a
Portuguese-inspired lunch, paired with highly regarded and flavorful Portuguese wines on the Fairway Terrace at Greystone Brew House, located at the Range End Golf Course in Dillsburg, PA. The wines, food, and location make this a truly unique social event.
We’ve selected three different white wines, three unique red wines and a late-bottled vintage Port to showcase the broad range of Portuguese wines and to please any oenophile. This often-overlooked wine region is worth exploring and PWS has arranged this event to do just that.
The three white wines we’ll be tasting demonstrate the diversity that Portugal’s wines have to offer.
No Portuguese wine tasting is complete without a Vinho Verde. Ours is Regueiro Trajadura Alvarinho 2021, a blend of Alvarinho and Trajadura grapes from the Vinho Verde region of northern Portugal. This wine is fresh and fruity with a nice minerality. Expect sensations of apple, pear and citrus in this wine.
From the Tejo region in central Portugal, Lagoalva Branco Tejo 2022 combines aromatic Fernão Pires grapes with Arinto and Sauvignon Blanc for a perfect summer wine offering with palate-pleasing tropical fruit and citrus notes.
Herdade Do Esporao Reserva 2021 (Wine Enthusiast 92 points) is an almost equal blend of Antao Vaz, Arinto, and Roupeiro grapes from Alentejo in south-central Portugal. This organic wine displays bright notes of citrus and mint with hints of white pepper and nutmeg.
Moving on to the reds, we’ll enjoy three distinct and excellent red wines from different Portugal regions.
Quinta do Crasto Douro Superior 2016 (Wine Spectator 92, Wine Advocate 91) is a dry, light-bodied red from the World Heritage designated Douro Valley. Crafted from a blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Sousão and aged for 12 months in 35% new French oak, the wine presents both an earthiness and vibrant acidity.
From DOC Do Tejo, Pinhal Da Torre Resoluto 2015 is comprised of Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Franca and Trincadiera. This well-regarded wine was produced using traditional methods with slight maceration and no filtration aging for 18 months in French oak barrels. Ripe red fruits with notes of cocoa and spices are rounded out with a good acidity and dry tannins.
Alentejo’s red wine entry is Vinha da Coutada Velha Red Alentejano 2020 (Wine Enthusiast 92). This Wine Enthusiast “Best Buy” wine exhibits black and red fruits with hints of chocolate and mocha and refined tannins.
Finishing off the event and perfectly paired with the chef-prepared chocolate dessert, will be Warre’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2010. This Port is also rated 92 points by Wine Enthusiast and we’re sure you’ll agree with the reviewer’s assessment—this Port is refined, mature and ready to enjoy!
We’ll enjoy the wines and great food on the terrace overlooking the golf course for a perfect summer afternoon. (Don’t worry – there is covering should a summer shower decide to visit us that day!)
Chef Jason created a menu designed to pair with Portuguese wines that includes the following:

Portuguese Salt Cod Fritter accompanied by Peri-Peri Sauce

Heirloom Tomatoes with Cucumber, Grilled Red Onion, Roasted Peppers with Valdeón Blue Cheese Dressing

Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Red wine-braised Chorizo, Yellow Potatoes, Garlic and Kale

Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate Salami (think cookie)

Please inform us early of any food sensitivities by sending email to the Treasurer.
You do not want to miss this event, so sign up today. Reservation deadline is Sunday, July 7th. Make reservations via the Shoppe Page on this website.
Member —$105
Patron —$100
Nonmember —$125

DEADLINE to Register for Everything’s Coming Up Rosés
2024-08-06 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
You may make reservations by going to the SHOPPE PAGE of this website.

Everything’s Coming Up Rosés
2024-08-09 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
If you think rosés are all ordinary, non-complex wines, then this event is for you. If you are already a rosé lover, you will find new styles of rosé to add to your repertoire. Rosés vary tremendously from varietal to varietal and region to region. And to showcase the variety and complexity of dry rosés, we’ve designed a casual rosé event suitable for all wine lovers.
Join us in the United States Boardroom of the Hilton Harrisburg on Friday evening, August 9, at 7 p.m., for a rosé tasting accompanied by chef-created small plates and topped off with a mini-cheesecake from SweeTreats. The Hilton Boardroom on the third floor includes balconies permitting attendees to enjoy the wines and food inside or outside, if the skies cooperate!
Our goal for this event was to find dry rosés that you may not have tried that are excellent expressions of the diversity of rosé wines. To accomplish this, we’ve selected highly rated and award-winning wines from the Finger Lakes, Pennsylvania, South Africa, Oregon, Italy, Spain and Austria. At the event, you’ll enjoy:

Schlumberger Rosé Brut Klassik, a sparkling rosé from Austria made from Pinot Noir, St. Laurent and Zweigeit produced in accordance with the “méthode traditionnelle.”
Weis Dry Rosé 2022, an award-winning Finger Lakes rosé produced by the 2022 New York Winery of the Year that is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Blaufränkisch.
Brooks Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, a highly rated 100% Pinot Noir rosé from the Willamette Valley produced by the well-respected Brooks Wines.
Castillo de Eneriz Rosado, another highly rated rosé made from Garnacha (Grenache) in the Navarra region of Spain.
Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2023, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon rosé from the Coastal Region of South Africa produced by a winery committed to ecologically sustainable winemaking.
The Perfect Rosé 2022, Mazza Wines, the Pennsylvania entry, a Decanter award-wining wine made from 100% Chambourcin.
Bodegus Nodus Bobal Rosado Utiel-Requena, another Spanish entry, this one an organic wine made from the Bobal varietal.
Mastroberardino Lacrimarosa Irpina Rosato 2023, Italy’s contribution to the event made from the Aglianco grape and produced in the Campania region in southern Italy.

We’re pairing these wines with a brie focused starter plate followed by small plates of smoked trout and barbecue pork ribs. We’ll finish it off with the SweeTreats mini cheesecake. Each food offering will complement the wines that we are tasting. You will not be disappointed! Please inform us of any food sensitivities via email to the Treasurer.
Because the Boardroom is a smaller venue, attendance is strictly limited so sign up today! Registration deadline is Tuesday, August 6 or until we sell out!
Member —$100
Patron —$95
Nonmember —$120

DEADLINE to Register for The Riedel Glassware Experience
2024-09-17 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States

The Riedel Glassware Experience
2024-09-20 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Now RIEDEL can also be your everyday wine glass!
Most of us hesitate to pull out the RIEDEL glass or decanter on a weeknight… time, care, energy level, and many other barriers. And still , if you open a good bottle of wine, don’t you pine to smell and taste all that it has to offer?
Problem solved! Enter the RIEDEL Performance line of glassware.
With three generations of experience in creating functional, grape varietal specific glassware, RIEDEL Performance is the result of 10th and 11th generations Georg and Maximilian Riedel’s drive to continually improve on what has come before.
This technologically advanced collection is the first RIEDEL series to feature bowls with a light optic impact. Detailed research by the Riedel family, aimed at improving the organoleptic wine experience, revealed that increasing the inner surface area of the glass had a positive impact on the perception of the bouquet and flavor of the wine.
This unique optical effect not only adds a pleasing visual aspect to the bowl, but also expands the surface area, allowing the wine to open up and fully show every aroma and subtle nuance.
Consisting of lightweight, durable and dishwasher-safe shapes, RIEDEL Performance glasses are executed by machine in sparkling crystal glass.
With fine stems and large stable bases, the range also includes new bowl shapes for Cabernet, Chardonnay and Riesling that, when combined with the optic effect, deliver ultimate wine enjoyment.
RIEDEL Performance is a must-have glass collection for all wine lovers.
Join us Friday, September 20th at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg when we welcome RIEDEL Company’s Susan Durbrow who will guide us through glass comparisons between RIEDEL and the Hilton glassware (or bring your own favorite wine glass to compare). Great learning!
If the science doesn’t convince you that a glass really makes that much difference—join us to find out. And if you already know, I know you’ll be there!
If you have other RIEDEL glasses—but didn’t get the education to use them to best advantage AND care for them appropriately—you need to be there too.
There will be nice wines—but no food—to ensure undistracted, serious glassware testing! Thus—please eat dinner prior to the event. We will be tasting white and red wines.
This event has always been popular AND extremely informative! We rarely offer this event due to the coordination work, and expense involved. This event and the glassware is well worth the investment. If you do nothing else to advance your personal wine knowledge and enjoyment this fall, attend this event.
Reservations include a set of four different varietal RIEDEL Performance glasses that are yours to keep after the event.
And should you want more glassware, a unique decanter, or other bar ware—usually the case following these tastings—you may order anything from the RIEDEL catalog through PWS and take advantage of our PWS Authorized Distributor offers to save!
If your wine could choose a glass, it would be RIEDEL.
Reservation deadline is September 17th and the event is widely advertised so don’t wait—just do it.
Member —$195
Patron —$190
Nonmember —$245

DEADLINE to Register for Pinot Noir Around the World
2024-10-08 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States

SOLD OUT! Pinot Noir Around the World
2024-10-11 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
This event is SOLD OUT! Contact the Treasurer if you wish to be placed on a waitlist.
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This will be an all-Pinot Noir event. We will be pouring NINE different pinots!
You will have a unique opportunity to compare pinots from California, Oregon, Chile, New Zealand, Germany and France. They will all be different but they will all be Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir is one of the most challenging red grape varietals for a grower. It requires a low yield and the utmost care during vinification to produce wines of convincing quality.
Pinot Noir is beloved for several reasons:

It is complex. It features red fruit notes like cherry, raspberry and strawberry along with earthy, floral and spicy aromas and flavors.
It is versatile with food. Its balanced acidity and light to medium body makes Pinot Noir a great match for a wide range of dishes, from poultry and pork to earthy vegetables and even some seafood.
It is elegant, having a silky texture with fine tannins. This makes it easy to drink and enjoyable by itself without food.
It has a keen sense of place. Pinot Noir is known to be one of the most expressive wines representing the distinct characteristics of the regions where it is grown. Prime examples include: Burgundy, Russian River Valley, Willamette Valley, Central Otago and Baden. Pinots will fascinate tasters with their unique differences.

The Wine List
Greeting Wine: Amity Vineyards – White Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley AVA 66%, Eola-Amity Hills AVA 34% – 2022 – Oregon – Wine Enthusiast 90 points.
“Light in body but high in acid, this white Pinot Noir opens with a savory fennel sausage aroma that is quite compelling. Additional aromas include red raspberries and ripe cantaloupe. A tart, crisp texture backs flavors of white peach and lemonade. This is a fun sipper that will pair nicely with everything from crab cakes to brats straight from the grill.” Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast.
Vinedos Emiliana – Natura – Organic Pinot Noir – Colchagua Valley – 2022 – Chile – James Suckling 90 points.
“Light ruby-red in color, with aromas of fresh strawberries accompanied by subtle notes of spices. The palate is elegant, delicate, and fresh with ripe tannins and a long finish.” Winemaker Notes.
Christopher – Lumiere – Eola-Amity Hills AVA – 2014 – Oregon – Vinous Media 92 points, Wine Enthusiast 92 points.
“This juicy wine feels substantial, with a concentrated palate of blueberry and blackberry fruit. It’s got grip and detail, with threads of coffee and smoke. It finishes with a hint of metallic earth. All is in balance, and the highlights are gently applied.” Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast.
Hyland Estate – Old Vines Single Vineyard Pinot Noir – McMinnville AVA – 2019 – Oregon – Wine Spectator 91 points.
“Floral cherry and orange peel aromas open to structured and savory black tea, forest floor and dusky spice flavors that finish with medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2029.” Tim Fish, Senior Editor, Wine Spectator.
Deutsch Nance – The Calling – Pinot Noir – Russian River Valley AVA – 2021 – North Coast – California – Wine Spectator 90 points.
“Creamy textured, with a core of cherry and blackberry fruit, plus light licorice, potpourri and vanilla hints in the background. Sleek finish. Drink now through 2026.” James Molesworth, Senior Editor, Wine Spectator.
Laetitia Estate – San Luis Obispo Coast AVA – 2021 – Central Coast – California – Wine Enthusiast 91 points.
“Rich cherry-juice aromas are concentrated on the nose of this bottling, with accents of sandalwood and loamy earth providing depth. The palate is loaded with dark, plummy flavors that are cut by oregano, bay leaf and singed herb.” Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast.
Louis Jadot – Premier Cru – Beaune AOC – Burgundy – 2012 – France – Vinous Media 92 points, Burghound 92 points.
“Jadot’s 2012 Beaune 1er Cru Celebration is aromatically quite expressive, with lovely bright, floral notes that play off a core of red berry and stone fruits. The gracious, almost feminine, bouquet is alluring and suggests a wine that is quite open, but the palate sensation is different due to tiny yields and high skin to juice ratios. Drink: 2024-2049.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, March 2018.
Loveblock – Central Otago – 2020 – New Zealand – Wine Spectator 93 points.
“Fresh and lively, revealing a pretty floral note of violet, with cherry, plum and robust tobacco flavors. Offers a hint of dark chocolate on the firm, muscular finish. Harmonious and powerful. Drink now through 2030.” MaryAnn Worobiec, Senior Editor, Wine Spectator
Affentaler Winzer – Valley of the Monkey Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir) – Baden – 2020 – Germany
“This wine is a dark red color with ripe aromas of cherries and forest fruits. It has a powerful yet harmonious body with fruity fullness and a delicate sweetness on the finish.” Winery Notes.
Reservation deadline is October 8th! Do not wait; purchase your seats now! Seating is limited, and there are a lot of Pinot aficionados out there. Do not get shut out of a tasting you may never see again. Mark your calendars for Pinot Noir Around the World at the Hilton Harrisburg, Friday, October 11th at 7 p.m.
You may purchase reservations by going to the Shoppe Page of this website.
Member —$85
Patron —$80
Nonmember —$105

DEADLINE to Register for Marvelous Malbec
2024-11-05 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States

Marvelous Malbec - SOLD OUT
2024-11-08 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. You may contact the Treasurer to join a wait list.
Join us at 7 p.m. Friday, November 8th at the Hilton Harrisburg to experience the stunning diversity of wines made from the Malbec grape. As we researched and tasted a wide variety of Malbecs, we discovered the immense variety of wines that can come from this one grape. There are true white wine Malbecs, refreshing rosés, and red wines that range from smooth and fruity to bold and tannic. It’s also an exceptional blending grape and we will be tasting each of these types including a blend at this month’s Marvelous Malbec event. The wines will be paired with small plates prepared by Hilton chefs to complement the different wine styles.
The evening will start with a pre-pour of 90-point Trivento White Malbec Reserve 2023. Trivento is the first winery to create this style of wine. The winemaker describes the wine as “very relaxed and it doesn’t need food to enjoy.” One reviewer described it as “almost saki-like” with nectarines, green plums and fermented rice on the nose.
Paired with the first small plate—a Lobster ‘roll’, brioche toast, remoulade, and celery leaf—will be two different Malbec rosés from Argentina.
The first, Crios Rosé of Malbec, is produced by the winery of the gran dama of Argentinian wines, Susana Balbo. It’s a very aromatic wine with strawberries, young cherries and a hint of spice on the palate.
Next comes the Portillo Rosé produced by Salentein Wines. In the glass, you’ll find ripe red berries with a hint of peach on the palate with a nicely balanced lemony acidity and a long juicy finish.
After sampling the lighter styles of Malbec, we’ll move on to the reds.
Our reds will be paired with the remaining two small plates:

Eggplant meatball with heirloom tomato ragu and basil
Flavorful arancini with short rib and parmesan basil pesto

The first red wine is Domaine Bousquet Premium Organic Malbec 2022. This organic and vegan friendly wine is rated 90 points by both Wine Spectator and Vinous. It’s been described by the experts at Fine Wine Cellars as “bright black fruits jump from the glass. A nice creamy texture permeates the wine but it’s fresh and bright fruited… a great value!”
From Argentina, we’ll go back to the birthplace of Malbec, Cahors France. Clos La Coutale Cahors 2020 is a perfect example of the wine this French region produces. This posh wine has an earthy quality and presents cocoa, black cherries, dark berries, cola and herbs with ripe tannins in the glass. This wine has a bit of Merlot (a grape actually related to Malbec) added as is permitted and not unusual in Cahors to provide balance.
Returning to the New World, the Chilean Malbec, Montes Alpha 2019, elicited an unexpected “wow” from the tasters given it was not from a “traditional” Malbec region. This highly-rated wine (92 James Suckling, 91 Wine Enthusiast) has a deep ruby red color with a violet hue. On the nose, you’ll detect aromas of violets, wildflowers and ripe cherries. The tannins are nicely-rounded and the finish is long and lingering.
The final Malbec-centric wine is José Zuccardi Malbec 2020, a 94-point wine that is simply stunning. It has a layered and intense nose and rich flavors of blackberry, plum, chocolate and cassis and a terroir-driven minerality. This wine can hold its own alongside
Malbecs typically available only at substantially higher price points.
We’ll finish with a Cabernet Malbec blend for comparison. Sur de los Andes Reserva Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is rated 91 points by Wilfred Wong and 90 by James Suckling. It is a 50-50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon grown and produced in the foothills of the Andes as the name suggests. You’ll experience aromas of herbs, peppercorns, plums, and dark berries with a touch of sandalwood. This full-bodied wine has softened tannins and some bitter spice notes on the finish.
If you think that all Malbecs are the same or you’re already a Malbec lover and just want to learn more about this versatile grape then this event is definitely for you. Buy your tickets today before it’s too late for this one-of-a-kind Malbec event! Registration deadline is Tuesday, November 5th.
Please inform us early of any food sensitivities by sending email to the Treasurer.
You may purchase seats by going to the Shoppe Page of this website.
Member $90
Patron $85
Nonmember $110

DEADLINE to Register for Tiny Bubbles... Champagne Brunch
2024-11-25 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Greystone Public House, 2120 Colonial Rd, Harrisburg, PA, 17112, United States
