Tanglewood Wine & Food Classic
Delicious Event August 7-10
By: Philip Kampe - Jul 10, 2014
Attention Berkshire residents. “Tanglewood Isn’t All Music”.
In fact, Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, means to most of us, music, opera, piano concertos, perhaps a rock concert, scenic beauty, James Taylor and a wine and cheese picnic overlooking Stockbridge Bowl.
But, from August 7th to 10th, Tanglewood means a lot more. Tanglewood will be the home of the ‘Tanglewood Wine & Food Classic’.
The four day event focuses specifically on wine and food. If you have not attended the Tanglewood Wine & Food Classic in the past, this is a great opportunity to learn about food and wine from some of the country’s leading authorities.
Experts will lead seminars, tastings and wine dinners within the bucolic Tanglewood setting.
The four-day schedule is designed specifically for the consumer to learn about food and wine. Experts in these fields will educate the attendees through seminars and tastings.
If there is ever a week to support Tanglewood, this is the week. All of the events take place on the grounds of Tanglewood and are void of large crowds.
Consider attending the wine and food events during the day and afterwards, why not take in a concert at the Shed or Ozawa Hall.
The signature event (as always) is the Grand Tasting at the Hawthorne Tent ($90), which takes place on Saturday, August 9th,, from high noon to three in the afternoon.
Hundreds of wines from around the world and locally sourced food, cooked by local chefs will be available to sample on the beautiful Tanglewood grounds.
Opening this great schedule of events is ‘The Best of the Berkshires Cocktail Reception' (Hawthorne Tent) ($85) from 4:15-5:30pm on Thursday, August 7th, Following the cocktail reception, from (5:45-7:45pm) (Hawthorne Tent) will be an amazing dinner ($195) featuring Joseph Carr and his Dylan’s Ghost Wines and Chefs Daire Rooney (Allium) and Brian Arlberg (Red Lion Inn). From 6-7pm ($55) on the same date, Josh Needleman, master chocolatier .and owner of Lenox’s Chocolate Springs will team up with Toni McKone, representing Sandman Port wines for a fun, educational port and chocolate tasting seminar.
On Friday, August 8th, infamous winemaker Ray Coursen, of Elyse Winery (Napa), will host a one-of-a-kind, memorable wine dinner at Seranak, possibly the most beautiful vantage point in the Berkshires, from 5:30-8pm ($195). Chef Ian Just, owner of Boston’s Society on High will prepare the first three courses of the dinner which will accompany Ray Coursen’s wines. Max McCalman will select a cheese course to accompany Ray’s fourth and final wine for the dinner. At Tanglewood from 7-8pm, Jeremy Stanton, proprietor of Fire Roasted Catering of the Berkshires, will host a ‘Great Meats and Great Grapes’ seminar ($55) with wine pairing at the Hawthorne Tent cooking stage.
And then comes Saturday, August 9th, what I believe is the “Best Wine Day of the Year in the Berkshires”. From 11-noon, at Highlawn, Pittsfield’s own Jim Nejaime of Spirited and Nina Wemyss will discuss “Wine’s History and Rich Relationship with the Arts”($55). The highlight of the weekend, the Grand Tasting follows from 12-3pm at the Hawthorne Tent ($90). The day ends with a special Rose et Petanque event from 3:30-5:30pm on Kennedy Lawn, next to the Tent Club ($55). Attendees will taste sumptuous summer wines, the way they do in Provence.
Sunday is not the day of rest.
At noon, Max McCalman will teach an artisanal cheese class and will conduct a wine seminar. The event run from 12-1pm and takes place at Seranak ($65). “The Wonders of Riedel with Miner Wines and Lindt Chocolate” seminar will take place from 1-2pm at the Hawthorne Tent ($55). Those attending will learn how glassware enhances grape varietals on the palate. Three Riedel glasses will be given to each attendee.
The festival ends with the much anticipated rare wine and luxury lifestyle package auction. The event is titled “Bliss at Blantyre: Biennial Tanglewood Auction Dinner” ($250). Chef Arnaud Cotar from Blantyre and Chef Daniel Bruce of Meritage, Boston Harbor Hotel will prepare a dinner that will be accompanied with Darioush Wines. Nina Wemyss is the auctioneer. The elegant event will take place from 6-11pm at Blantyre.
For tickets to any or all of the events, call 888-266-1200 or visit www.tanglewood.org
Philip S. Kampe is a wine, spirits, food and travel writer, based in the Berkshires. Some of you may know him as ‘Fabulous Phil’, co-inventor of Cookie Dough ice cream. To reach the author: Philip.Kampe@TheWineHub.com Twitter: @gotophil