Philly Wine Week, the anticipated festival of all things grapes pops off March 31. Don’t get too tipsy before you can make it to these events.
Opening Corks
A ticket to this gem is essential in getting the full-bodied experience of Wine Week. Swirl and sip hundreds of wines as you munch on cuisine that will make your palate proud of you. Take this opportunity to mingle with fellow wine-os and marvel over the fact that fermented grape juice is what brought you all together. | March 31. 9 pm. $65. XIX at The Bellevue Hotel, 200 S. Broad Street. localwineevents.com
Sex and Wine: Powerful, Sultry, and Smooth
We all know wine is sexy but is it male? Female? Androgynous? We can’t even begin to wonder what exact topics will be discussed, but we’re certain that this will be a steamy discussion wine lovers won’t want to miss. | April 1, 6:30 pm. $50. Jet Wine Bar, 1525 South St. ticketleap.com
Wine Party 3.0: Pig Roast x Vinyl
Get blasted at this party where J the Audiophile will spin vinyl as a hog spins over flames. You can bring your own wine or get a taste of the unlimited wines offered at the bar. This one will be going late, so if you’re bringing a bottle (or two), try to make them last the night. | April 1, 6 pm. Free. Kensington Quarters, 1310 Frankford Ave. kensingtonquarters.com
Wine Quizzo
You may say you know your wine, but are you ballsy enough to prove it? Chat it up with other wine buffs and take the opportunity to either show them up or lose miserably. There’s no better way to separate the aficionados from the amateurs. | April 2, 6pm. Free. Vintage Wine Bar, 129 S. 13th St. phillywineweek.org
Mystery Wine Challenge
We’re not classy enough to be able to tell the difference between more than one glass of wine, but maybe you are. Pay for a glass and get one guess at what kind it is. Get it right and you win the whole bottle of wine. Expert or not, everyone should gamble their chance at this nightly event hosted throughout most of the week. | April 1-7, 5pm. $10. The Rittenhouse, 210 W. Rittenhouse Square phillywineweek.org
Baja al Natural
There’s no border wall that could keep us from enjoying Mexican food and drink. Tecate, tacos and all-natural Bichi Wines from Baja California Sur. Could there be a more authentic experience? Get a taste of something fresh and different – with no passport or visa required. | April 3, 5pm. Free. South Philadelphia Tap Room, 1509 Mifflin St. phillywineweek.org
Magnums Show You Care
These aren’t the magnums that you’re probably thinking of. Each night of Wine Week, a special magnum bottle will be popped and served to a select number of guests. Apparently, drinking wine from a big bottle is better because it has aged more gracefully and is fresher. Bring your friends together to share a ginormous amount of wine, because we don’t think the bar would let you do it all by yourself. | April 1-7, Times vary. Prices vary. Barclay Prime, 237 S. 18th St. phillywineweek.org
The Amphora: A Return to Ancient Wine Making
An amphora is a terra cotta pot that was the most accessible vessel used to make wine thousands of years ago. Wine perfectionists have brought it back in the pursuit of organic winemaking with little human effort involved; laziness, but make it vintage. All jokes aside, this will be an educational event that’ll convey the rich history that has laid the path for all the wines that we know today. | April 4, 5pm. Prices vary. A.kitchen, 135 S. 18th St. phillywineweek.org
Les Femmes du Vin
We think it’s important to honor the women behind the wine we enjoy so much. Grab some snacks and carry your glass as you walk around and acknowledge the accomplishments of several winemaking women. A percentage of ticket sales will go to Project SAFE, a Philly non-profit that works to protect sex workers’ rights. | April 4. 7 pm. $40. Royal Boucherie, 52 S. 2nd St. phillywineweek.org
Bubbly Brunch
After a long week of drinking every day, we think you deserve to toast to the weekend. All we know is that there’s a discount on sparkling bottles – isn’t that enough to convince you to be there? Go balls out at this brunch during the last weekend of Wine Week. | April 5. 10 am. Prices vary. Terrain Cafe, 138 W. Lancaster Ave. phillywineweek.org
Tour of Italy: Campania
Carbs + wine = heaven. Raise your net worth by stuffing yourself with some of the most luxurious food and wine that the Italian region of Campania has to offer. Hop on board of this tour of Italy that takes you to a different destination every day throughout Wine Week. | April 6. 5 pm. Prices vary. Amis Trattoria, 412 S. 13th St. amistrattoria.com
5th Annual Wine Week BBQ
Wrap up Wine Week at this staple event where you can day drink away your worries about going back to work. It doesn’t matter what other events you attended – you can’t say you’ve done Wine Week unless you end on a high note. | April 7, 3 pm. Free. American Sardine Bar, 1800 Federal St. phillywineweek.org
TWITTER: @ALEXBNAGY
