A Grand Time At The Grand Tasting, 3rd Annual Martha’s Vineyard Wine Festival

Martha's Vineyard Wine Festival Grand Tasting Edgartown

The MV Wine Fest had so much to offer for wine enthusiasts. With 500 varieties, including spirits, there was truly something for everyone, even for the most discerning palate.

With a new address, downtown Edgartown, behind the Kelley House hotel, I think the sold out event was even more fun because you could continue the fun in town.

You had the option to eat in town, join in some of the Pink and Green festivities or even shop. Options are good.

Chilmark Coffee At MV Wine Festival Edgartown

Entering through Wave, the pool bar at the Kelley House, you were greeted by some local artists, Not Your Sugar Mamas chocolate, espresso from Chilmark Coffee, and more. As you made your way to the tent, you could hear the laughter and fun.

The MV Wine Fest Grand Tasting Tent Martha's Vineyard

Upon entering, you could visit each table in numerical order or go on your own path of discovery. I started in order but became easily distracted and went to what caught my eye.

One of the things I really enjoy about the MV Wine Fest is it offers the chance to find new wines and spirits, and creates some new Summer favs.

Ice Ice Baby

So, table after table was brimming with delectable choices. One of my first favorites was the table with the Moet & Chandon where I discovered something new.

The classic champagne maker has a new champagne, Ice Imperial. This champagne, found in an chic white and black bottle, is meant to be served over ice.

Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial Champagne Martha's Vineyard Wine Festival

Hard to imagine but it’s true. It’s a perfect option for Summer. It’s cold, refreshing, a bit sweeter than the Brut and you can’t help but smile while drinking it. This is a new one to add to the list of Summer drinks.

Rosé Colored Glasses

If only I could live everyday through Rosé colored glasses, ah the sweet joy I imagine. Since that’s not the case, it’s fun to discover new varieties of this wine style I cherish so much during the warmer weather.

A great Rose Minuty Prestige At MV Wine FestivalThis year, there were so many Rosés to choose from – it was fun! However, I think the one that I enjoyed the most and need to stock up on is the Minuty Prestige Rosé – with notes of citrus, this dry Rose was on the top of my list.

friends at the MV wine fest

Wine Loves Company

At these events you are guaranteed to run into some of your favorite Island folks, and that happened a lot this year, which made the event even more fun. I like grabbing a friend and sampling a couple of wines together, knowing we can share them together again in the future.

Annie and I enjoying wine At Martha's Vineyard Wine Festival

We found a number of new Sauvignon Blancs that friends and I enjoyed, including Wiseguy from Corvidae Vineyards. It’s nice to be able to knowledgeably deviate from your favorite wines, and this is on my list to buy for sure.

Wiseguy Sauvignon Blanc MV Wine Festival Martha's Vineyard Grand Tasting

Also, we loved the Freakshow Cabernet from Michael David, available by the glass at the fabulous l’etoile which is good to know.

Freakshow Cabernet At MV Wine Festival Martha's Vineyard

There were more whites and reds, and so many good options. It was a fun event to say the least.

wines and more wines

You Can Bully Me

For the third year, I have been impressed with Bully Boy Distillers, a small craft spirit maker in Boston, and this year they packed a little punch. Hub Punch that is.

Bully BoyReleased earlier this year, Bully Boy Hub Punch is quite the fun cocktail in a bottle. It’s tasty and unlike any other rum drink I’ve had before.

Plus there’s a little history to this fun “new” addition: Inspired by the original Hub Punch recipe popular in the late 1800’s, Bully Boy Hub Punch, our barrel aged rum infused with fruits and botanicals, revives a historic Boston tradition that was a casualty of Prohibition. 

Charlie from Bully Boy, who is so sweet and one of my favorite people to see each year, said all you do is add a little ginger ale or soda water and mint, and you’re set. A perfect cocktail for any occasion, especially the beach.

When Life Gives You Lemons?

— You make Deep Eddy lemon infused vodka. Introduced in February, this light, naturally flavored spirit has just brought lemonade and vodka, or any other vodka cocktail to a new level of flavor.

Deep Eddy Vodka Lemon Infused, Grapefruit Infused Martha's Vineyard Wine Festival

Now when I’m at the Lookout Tavern in Oak Bluffs, overlooking the water, I am going to have to make a tough choice — lemon or grapefruit. Thanks Deep Eddy, but seriously this is good vodka my friends.

Craft SpiritsIn addition to Bully Hill and Deep Eddy, there were a number of other small craft spirit distilleries at the MV Wine Fest, but I mostly stuck to wine. It’s better that way for me.

PS – the Shellback Silver Rum is really good, with strong notes of vanilla, another great find.

Beer Too

I like that there is beer at the Grand Tasting. Once again, it’s nice to find out about a new beer from a bigger brewery, like Brooklyn Brewery, and it’s new K is for Kriek. It’s a Belgium style beer with notes of cherries that has been aged in charred oak bourbon barrel. This beer is something.

brooklyn brewryHowever, it’s also nice to try a new IPA (India Pale Ale) from a craft beer maker that’s close to the Island, Entitled Brewing Company. This brewery located in Hingham, MA brought some good beers to the festival, and if I’m in Hingham anytime soon, I am stopping for a pint.

EntitledOf course, I loved seeing owner Phil McAndrews, of Offshore Ale Co., there representing the Vineyard and some of our fine craft beers!

Offshore Ale at the MV Wine Fest

Local Bites 

In addition to the hundreds of wines and spirits, there were also some tasty nibbles. Atlantic, the Newes from America Pub, and Detente provided bites  — which were helpful to have between all the sampling that was going on.

Food from Atlantic The smoked pork on pita from Atlantic was truly scrumptious! I had a number of these. Also Grey Barn was there with a number of cheese samples.

I was really happy to see the new Bluebird cheese there. It is a creamy, balanced cheese, perfect for salads, burgers, crackers or just a nibble by itself.

Cheese from the Grey Barndrync Up

Here’s something cool I learned about – drync. It’s an app you can use to by wine. Why is this interesting?

Well on Martha’s Vineyard, if you can’t find a wine you want, you can buy it through drync and have it shipped right to Vintage MV Wine & Spirits in Edgartown.

Drync No more calling and searching. It makes finding your favorites super easy. At the festival, people used the app to scan wines and order it right then and there! Gotta love technology!

Friends at the MV Wine FestI could go on and on about the MV Wine Festival — the wine, friends old and new. It’s such a fun addition to Spring on Martha’s Vineyard, and a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend.

plungerheadI look forward to what’s next year’s festival holds. There is so much more to do including the Grand Tasting.

Ack on mvThanks for reading On Point. You can learn more about the MV Wine Fest and its events on Facebook. Don’t forget to “Like” Point B on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Linked In, Pinterest and YouTube.

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