Boston's Guide For Beginner Wine Lovers...Who Want to Become Wine Pros!
By Susie
updated 2 months ago
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
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 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!
Gary’s also a social media guru and makes fabulous videos mostly talking about how to make your life better and improve your social connections.
The man gets 500-1,000 e-mails a day and answers ALL of them. He’s amazing.
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
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.
Check out their website to learn about the best wine for you occasion…or non-occasion!
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.
I love the atmosphere of Meritage, but hey, where are they keeping all the wine??
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.
The pretty little Wine Cellar is located right on Mass Ave. in Back Bay.
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!
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!
Check out the BCAE’s current wine class offerings. I need to take the one called “I only drink red” and my friends need to take “I only drink white.” Then we can reconvene.
Learn how to swirl it and sniff it in a wine tasting class.
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.
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!
Wine tasting at one of Best Cellars 2 Boston-area locations.
For all your current Boston wine news, this website will really help you stay on top of things! From the wines you need to try to the restaurants who serve them to the places wine lovers need to go, this site has it all when it comes to Boston and wine! Two of my favorite things.
Just about EVERYTHING going on in Boston when it comes to wine. This is a fabulously extensive calendar that wil fill you in on every upcoming wine event in Boston.
You should always keep your eye on when the wine tastings in Boston are…theses are the best events ever!
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.
Attend a few too many tastings and drink a couple too many glasses of delicious wine? You might be a little bit hungover today. Don’t worry. Just check out Boston’s guide for getting over that hangover. So you can crack open another bottle tonight!