Boston's Guide For Beginner Wine Lovers...Who Want to Become Wine Pros!

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I am a huge lover of wine. HUGE. But I'm slightly embarrassed by how little I know about. I know I love it...annnd that's pretty much it. Lucky for me (and you too!), Boston offers many opportunities for learning more about wine. And most of the opportunities involve drinking it. So really, you can't go wrong. Wine and education? Bring it on.

Find a Guru

Find a wine expert you can look up to and learn from him or her. You may have to do some research, but I have a few personal favorites of my own.

Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV

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Gary Vaynerchuk is one of my favorite wine experts because, though he’s an expert, he knows how to talk to people who are still in the beginning stages of learning wine. He makes it totally fun, but it’s still obvious that he is extremely intelligent when it comes to wine! GaryVee is awesome.

Gary Vaynerchuk Wine Library TV in Boston!

Gary was recently in Boston and did a live Wine Library TV show. I was lucky enough to be there and watch his fabulous tasting. Now you can watch it too. But unfortunately, you can’t try all the wines like I did. Unless you go out and buy them yourself of course!

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Gary recently published his book, “101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder to Your World.” SUCH a good book. If you’re not a wine expert, but want to learn lots more, you need to check it out.

Jon and Ted of 2 Guys Uncorked

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I know, I know, they’re cute and they know all about wine. Jon and Ted are 2 guys in their mid-20s who want to get more young people excited about wine. And they do an awesome job at their site 2 Guys Uncorked. The best thing is that the guys only review wines you can find at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Yesss. Plus, did I mention they’re cute? And total sweethearts too.

Go Out For Dinner and Wine...Or Just Wine

Boston has plenty of great restaurants that offer a wide variety of wines. They also have a few amazing wine bars where you can just sit and drink wine (and maybe have some cheese too!). The best thing about these restaurants and wine bars is that they have knowledgeable staffs to help you decide what to order and to educate you on the wine you’re drinking.

Meritage

70 Rowes Wharf Boston, MA 02110

Located in the Boston Harbor Hotel, Meritage was “built on the tradition of the Boston Wine Festival” and has a 12,000+ bottle wine list that is always growing. 12,000 wines!!!

The food? Is also amazing.

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I love the atmosphere of Meritage, but hey, where are they keeping all the wine??

Wine Cellar the

30 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115

I mean, even the name of it is cool. Why wouldn’t you want to eat in a restaurant called the Wine Cellar? Not to mention, the Wine Cellar is Boston’s only wine and fondue restaurant. I’ve heard many, many people who are totally skeptical about fondue, absolutely rave about this place.

Pairing wine with melted cheese? Yes, please. Oh, and don’t forget the chocolate for dessert.

I mean, even the name of it is cool. Why wouldn’t you want to eat in a restaurant called the Wine Cellar? Not to mention, the Wine Cellar is Boston’s only wine and fondue restaurant. I’ve heard many, many people who are totally skeptical about fondue, absolutely rave about this place.

Pairing wine with melted cheese? Yes, please. Oh, and don’t forget the chocolate for dessert.

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The pretty little Wine Cellar is located right on Mass Ave. in Back Bay.

Dalias Bistro & Wine Bar

1657 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02445

A wine bar located right in Washington Square in Brookline! It’s a wine bar, but also a bistro with a delicious menu.

A wine bar located right in Washington Square in Brookline! It’s a wine bar, but also a bistro with a delicious menu.

Vinalia

101 Arch St, Boston, MA 02110

150 wines by the bottle and 40 by the glass and their dinner menu totally just made me drool.

And allegedely it’s pretty reasonably-priced. There’s a nightly 4-course wine-pairing menu for just $55. I’m there!

150 wines by the bottle and 40 by the glass and their dinner menu totally just made me drool.

And allegedely it’s pretty reasonably-priced. There’s a nightly 4-course wine-pairing menu for just $55. I’m there!

See Menu

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I love this cozy, chic atmosphere at the Vinalia bar.

 

Take a Class

If you’re like me, you love wine but you don’t really know a whole lot about it. You’re in desperate need of some wine classes. Boston has a lot to offer, so take advantage of them and next time you go out to dinner, you’ll sound like you know what you’re talking about. Because you will!

Jonathon Alsop's Boston Wine School

1354 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02134

Boston Center For Adult Education

5 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02116

One of the best places to take classes, Boston Center For Adult Education is constantly offering classes to educate you about wine. They are currently teaching a class entirely about roses, another on Pacific Coast pinos, one on good cheap wines, and plenty more!

One of the best places to take classes, Boston Center For Adult Education is constantly offering classes to educate you about wine. They are currently teaching a class entirely about roses, another on Pacific Coast pinos, one on good cheap wines, and plenty more!

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Learn how to swirl it and sniff it in a wine tasting class.

Boston University

Boston, MA 02108

Boston University’s Elizabeth Bishop Wine Resource Center also offers some fabulous classes to expand your wine palate and make you a little bit smarter when it comes to picking out the perfect bottle.

Boston University’s Elizabeth Bishop Wine Resource Center also offers some fabulous classes to expand your wine palate and make you a little bit smarter when it comes to picking out the perfect bottle.

Go Buy It

What better way to learn about wine than to drink it? In fact, it’s really the only way to learn about wine. So go out and buy some. Boston has tons of great offerings when it comes to wine. Here are some of my favorite stores to stock up on the good stuff.

Shaw's Supermarkets

65 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02199

Yes, a grocery store in Boston sells liquor!! The Shaw’s at Copley is a beautiful store and has an extensive wine selection.

Yes, a grocery store in Boston sells liquor!! The Shaw’s at Copley is a beautiful store and has an extensive wine selection.

Best Cellars

745 Boylston Street 5, Boston, MA 02116

Best Cellars is one of the prettiest little wine shops in the area. AND they offer wine tastings weekly where they also have cheeses, pates, and live music. So much fun!

Best Cellars is one of the prettiest little wine shops in the area. AND they offer wine tastings weekly where they also have cheeses, pates, and live music. So much fun!

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Wine tasting at one of Best Cellars 2 Boston-area locations.

Wine Emporium

474 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

Huge, amazing wine shop located in Boston’s South End.

Huge, amazing wine shop located in Boston’s South End.

Bauer Wines Limited

330 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115

Shopping for clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, and wine on Newbury Street. The best place in the world.

Shopping for clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, and wine on Newbury Street. The best place in the world.

Stay Updated on the Latest in Wine in Boston

Follow This Map to Become a Wine Expert in Boston!

You might not want to hit all these spots in one day…Something tells me things could get a little messy if you do that.

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Discussions

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by mswen  07/10/2008  Reply

Awesome job, Susie! I can’t believe that I went to BU and had no idea about the little wine program there. I guess I was too busy with other forms of alcohol.

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by madeleinevictoria  07/09/2008  Reply

Did you ever see the movie Sideways? It was cute. Thats pretty much all I have to comment, because i’m not of legal age hahaha. Great guide!

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by alexandraf  07/09/2008  Reply

Dude, seriously… That gigty troll needs a glass of “shut the hell up!”

About The Author

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susie Rss 

Boston
I love cupcakes, the color pink, writing, technology, blogging, trying to learn Japanese, and walking from one end of Boston to the other. I make it my goal to try one new thing in Boston every week, but sometimes I find things I love so much, I just can't tear myself away from them. Boston...

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