Kim Simone, CSW, FWS, Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) By The Society Of Wine Educators,
French Wine Scholar And Instructor (FWS) by the French Wine Society
Owner of Vinitas WineWorks
Is THRILLED to be part of the educational team at Franklin Liquors! Kim has been in the wine business since 2002 and holds a Master’s degree in Gastronomy from Boston University, where she is now a teaching assistant. Her passion is helping novice wine drinkers understand why they like the wines they do, clarifying the complexities of wine, and making the topic approachable and fun.
Mark Lenzi CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS, co-owner of Franklin Liquors
Trained by the International Sommelier Guild
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Spirits (CSS) By The Society Of Wine Educators
First in MA to be a California Wine Appellation Specialist (CWAS) by the SF Wine School
French Wine Scholar And Instructor (FWS) by the French Wine Society
First in USA to hold a Quini Certified Educator (QCE) title
Italian Wine Specialist (IWS) by the North American Sommelier Association.
Franklin Liquors is a family-owned business vintage 1978.
Matchbook Wines began in the rolling pastures of Dunnigan Hills in 2004. Dunnigan Hills, one of California’s newest AVA’s is located in northern California, east of Napa Valley. It was first planted to grapes in the late 70’s when John and Lane Giguiere returned home from college to save their family’s wheat and sheep farm. Realizing that the wheat market could no longer sustain their farm financially, and that sheep are really not that smart, the couple planted Dunnigan Hill’s original vines. These vines would be the foundation of RH Phillips Winery and the famed Toasted Head Chardonnay. Years after selling the RH Phillips label, John and Lane returned to Dunnigan Hills to begin a new venture: Matchbook Wines.
Matchbook Winery is a small, family owned winery focusing on the production of high-quality, yet affordable wines that rival the world’s best.
Daniel O’Connor began working with John and Lane in 2016, and after years of working for much larger, more corporate wine companies, he has found a home. Dan’s passion for wine began early in the restaurant business as he worked to earn his graduate and undergraduate degrees. He lives in Boston’s North End and represents John and Lane’s interest here on the East Coast.
During our tasting and seminar, We will focus on “Old World Wines in the New World,” discussing the history of the grape varietals that we will taste and their roots in France and their success in California.
Santa Carolina is Carolina Wine Brands’ flagship brand. With a history spanning over 140 years, Viña Santa Carolina was established in 1875 by Luis Pereira, who named it after his wife, Carolina Iñiguez. Located in Santiago, the winery’s facilities and underground cellar are a National Monument and are open to the public at large. With sales in excess of 25 million bottles, Santa Carolina’s wines are available in over 90 countries. In 2015, Santa Carolina celebrated its 140th anniversary and was chosen the New World Winery of the Year by the prestigious American magazine Wine Enthusiast.
Amazing value in wine! We will explore reds and wihites.
About Mark
New England Regional President For Carolina Wine Brands USA
Today, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines includes more than 1,300 acres of cool-climate estate vineyards in the Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands regions of Monterey County, with an emphasis on Chardonnay, Riesling, Valdiguié and Pinot Noir, over 2,300 acres in Paso Robles dedicated to Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah and other red varieties, and 33 acres in Napa Valley, highlighting Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc. From this rich and diverse palette of sustainably farmed estate fruit, J. Lohr crafts wines showcasing bold, concentrated flavors and a vibrant sense of place. The winery offers four tiers of award-winning wines – J. Lohr Estates, J. Lohr Vineyard Series, J. Lohr Cuvée Series and J. Lohr Gesture
We will explore the J.Lohr Vineyard series wines. Showcases the finest fruits from vineyards in Paso Robles, Monterey County, and Napa Valley. Very limited in production!
An educational adventure while tasting wines and explore labels.
Do you know the truths and lies on the labels?
We will get back to our original club roots at this event. Talking and tasting while giving you tips and tricks.
You will leave a better wine buyer and a little scared!
Whats in that bottle can all learned with a few tips.
The Abruzzo region today is on the cutting edge of grape growing and winemaking in all of Italy. We will talk about the special set of climates and soils that makes Abruzzo unique. We will talk about the grape varieties that have evolved in Abruzzo for over a thousand years. And we will talk about Gianni Masciarelli, the curious skeptic, biological savant, and energy management genius who took Abruzzo from a sleepy wine backwater to the cutting edge.
About Dave:
Dave Abbott began his wine career in 1985 with the Big Y Wine superstore in Northampton, Massachusetts just in time to taste all of the 1982 Classed Growth Bordeaux, and most of the to 1983 Burgundy Premier and Grand Crus. This is when he became vitally interested in the geography, geology, topography, climate, agriculture, history, culture, wine traditions and culinary traditions of the European wine lands. Dave has been liberally overeducated at Dartmouth (BA English 1972), University of Michigan (MA English Language and Literature 1977), and University of Massachusetts (PhD/ABD 19th and 20th Century Novel leaving in 1985). A teacher at heart, Dave has long been fascinated by all the factors that make every wine unique. A salesman by trade, Dave has worked for Consumer Programming Services selling encyclopedias door-to-door in the West Virginia coal fields, as Sales Associate and Italian and German Brands Manager for Big Y Wines, as the founder of Wine Diamonds wine brokerage, for MRR Traders as Western Mass Wholesaler’s Rep, and since 1998 for Masciarelli Wine Company as Western Mass Rep, and later as a Regional Sales Manager. In 2007 Dave became Regional Sales Manager for the imports division of Masciarelli Wine Company serving North Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland and Delaware later adding Ohio, Illinois, Colorado, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. In 2012 Dave also became Masciarelli’s Wine Educator, and Sales Trainer for both the Massachusetts and Florida divisions.. Since 2015 Dave has handled Regional Sales Manager duties for Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Marylnd, DC, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois. Since 2012 he has been National Brand Manager for Valori, Castello di Cacchiano, La Caplana, and the Masciarelli Estate in Abruzo. Summer 2015 marked Dave’s 25th trip to Italy.
Today my business involves making connections with 9 distributors, traveling to 13 states, doing ride-alongs with 85 sales people a year teaching them about the things that make our wines so very special, calling on 1000 retailers and restaurants projecting the voice, character, style and passion of the Masciarelli Wine company and the wine families we represent. Always fascinated by the intricacies of Italian wine, Dave aspires to be the World’s Best Italian Wine Salesman.
The history of Masi is the history of a family and its vineyards in the Venetian regions. The name itself derives from “Vaio dei Masi”, the small valley in Valpolicella acquired by the Boscaini family, who are still its owners now, at the end of the XVIII century.
Today, Sandro Boscaini, company President and Managing Director, runs Masi with the help of his daughter Alessandra, in charge of sales and administration; his son Raffaele, Marketing Manager and
Co-ordinator of the Masi Technical Group and his brother Bruno, Production and Plant Manager. His brother Mario has his own business, but is still part of Masi and an adviser to the management.
Tony Apostolakos comes from a family with a winemaking background, as they originally owned vineyards in Central Greece dating back to the early 1900s before emigration to Montreal in Canada. Tony himself took a degree in Economics at the University of Alberta before entering the wine trade, where he now has over 20 years of experience.
Tony first represented Masi in Canada in 1999 before he switched his attention to the United States market in 2005. He has now been appointed Director of Marketing and Sales in USA for Masi and makes regular trips to company headquarters in Valpolicella, to spend time with the Boscaini family and the Masi Technical Group and ensure he is fully up-to-date with the company’s winemaking techniques and global strategy.
When not travelling inside USA for Masi, Tony resides in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
In the wine world there is no better stories than this regions history, wines and agriculture.
Did you know there is more Merlot and Cabernet grown here than anywhere else in the world?
Vincent will be speaking about the different aspects of Bordeaux regions tasting wines from the various areas.
About Vincent
Vincent Mareel, French born, living in Lille and south of France. He began his US career in Washington, DC with twelve years in the food and wine scene in DC catering to residence and patrons on Capitol Hill. He continued in DC representing both French and prestigious American wines in the DC Metropolitan area, working with elite country clubs and restaurants. Today he has worked for Luneau USA representing the Group Castel as leader in French wines, for 15 years, as well as wineries all over Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal).
At this tasting we will explore wines that will be great to pair on Valentines Day.
Mix of types and styles to get you in the ready for the big day.
Lets taste and explore.
About Shanley
Shanley is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts. She holds degrees in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales and Bachelors in Hospitality Management from Endicott College. She is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and has over a decade of experience working with the wine programs of such restaurants as Legal Sea Foods, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse and Gibbet Hill Grill. In her spare time she enjoys snowboarding, sailing and hockey.
Italy is a country with thousands years history of viticulture that through the various colonization’s and cultures has translated into hundreds of different cultivars (exactly 497 according to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture), multiple ways of interpreting the local history and traditions that brings us today the most exciting and ever changing wine scene. I picked 10 out of the so many varietals, from some of most recognized such as Nebbiolo from the north to the least familiar and exotic like Zibibbo from the south.
About Ciro
Ciro Pirone, Director of Italian Wines for Horizon Beverage Company, is a graduate of the Istituto Alberghiero (Hotel and Restaurant Management school) of Salerno, Italy and a Certified Italian Wine Specialist by the NASA (North American Sommelier Association affiliated with the Italian Sommelier Association). Traveling and working in Italy, England and the US, Ciro developed an incredible passion for wine, food and culture. After all, growing up in Italy, wine was always a very important part of his family’s lifestyle and traditions. In 1999, Ciro moved to the US permanently. He landed in Boston, where he continued his wine studies at Boston University, the International Sommelier Guild, the London –based Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (WSET), as well as he completed and passed with Honors the Italian Wine Specialist Certification by the North American Sommelier Association (part of the worldwide recognized Italian Sommelier Association).
In 2007, Ciro accepted the position of Italian Wine Specialist for Horizon Beverage. After successful growth at HBC, Ciro accepted on a new challenge as the US Brand Manager for the Arnaldo Caprai Winery of Montefalco (Umbria), the top producer of worldwide recognized Sagrantino di Montefalco. In June 2011, Ciro returned to Horizon Beverage with a new position of Director of Italian Wines in support of their expanding presence in the New England marketplace. Ciro is happy to share his passion for Italian wine and culture in an effort to give the American wine consumer a better understanding and appreciation for Italian wine!
The Wines:
Wine #1
2013 Chiarlo Nebbiolo Il Principe
750ml $19.99
Wine #2
2014 Caldaro-Schiava
750ml $19.99
Wine #3
2011 Sartori Regolo-Corvina
750ml $23.99
Wine #4
N/V Villa Sandi-Prosecco
750ml $15.99
Wine #5
N/V Bellagio Rosso Dolce-Lambrusco
750ml $11.99
Wine #6
2014 Cecchi Chianti Classico-Sangiovese
750ml $16.99
Wine #7
2014 Casal Farento Verdicchio dei Jesi
750ml $14.99
Wine #8
2014 Poggio Anima Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
750ml $17.99
Wine #9
2014 Fratelli Urciuolo -Aglianico
750ml $14.99
Wine #10
2013 Donnafugata Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria-Zibibbo
There’s something about the Rhone River flowing 600 miles through the Southeast part of France that is so romantic. The wines are juicy and food friendly. The sun is shining. AND – the people seem to be incredibly happy. No wonder the Popes came here for 60 years during the 14th century!! Take a Rhone River journey with Jo-Ann Ross as we taste some exquisite wine examples from this region.
About Jo-Ann
Jo-Ann Ross is a lifelong wine enthusiast with considerable formal wine education. As a leading US based expert, Jo-Ann is frequently invited by the French Government to come and learn about their wines and related cultures. As an enthusiastic traveller to worldwide wine growing regions, she always brings this firsthand appreciation of the wines to her multi-sensory presentations. Jo-Ann’s classes are more educational and engaging than a typical wine tasting or lecture. Her passion for wine and teaching is evident in her professional, enthusiastic style that ensures that everyone leaves her wine events with valuable information and fond memories of the experience. An active member of the National Speakers Association, Jo-Ann has over 30 years of professional speaking training and has delighted corporate and private audiences in numerous venues
The Romantic Rhone Wine Adventure
Saturday, Nov 12, 2016, 4:00 PM
Franklin Liquors 363 East Central Street Franklin, MA
35 Wine Explorers Went
There’s something about the Rhone River flowing 600 miles through the Southeast part of France that is so romantic. The wines are juicy and food friendly. The sun is shining. AND – the people seem to be incredibly happy. No wonder the Popes came here for 60 years during the 14th century!! Take a Rhone River journey with Jo-Ann Ross as we taste some…
The Boston Winery was created by wine pioneer and vintner Raffaele Bruno in 2006. Mr. Bruno grew up in Abruzzi, Italy crafting fine wines with his forefathers. Rafaelle samples every vintage of wine, which is produced by his oldest grandson. All Boston Winery wines are produced Bio-dynamically, using grape sourced from
Franklin Liquors 363 East Central Street Franklin, MA
28 Wine Explorers Went
Boston winery Host Vito Bruno The Boston Winery was created by wine pioneer and vintner Raffaele Bruno in 2006. Mr. Bruno grew up in Abruzzi, Italy crafting fine wines with his forefathers. Rafaelle samples every vintage of wine, which is produced by his oldest grandson. All Boston Winery wines are produced Biodynamically, using grape sourced from…
As one of the Willamette Valley’s oldest wineries Torii Mor started with the vision to pursue elegant, Old World style wines in 1993. Jacques Tardy, 5th generation winemaker from Nuits St Georges, has been producing our wines with elegance and balance for nearly 15 years. The name Torii Mor derives from the Torii gate in the property’s Japanese garden and the ancient Scandinavian word for earth. Together the name is a nod to Pinot’s expression of terroir and connection to the earth. Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir.
Hanzell is one of California’s iconic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers. Established in 1948 with the vision “to produce wines equal to the finest in the world” our Estate sits atop the Mayacamas Mountains in Sonoma Valley’s Moon Mountain AVA. 46 acres of vineyard are planted on a 148 acre estate. Hand tended vineyards, hand harvested and hand sorted grapes, making the way for exceptional wines. In 2012 we introduced our “Sebella” Chardonnay from younger vines and made in a more modern style.
The Ciders:
It is from the 2nd and 3rd generations of apple farmers that Snowdrift Cider was born. This 2 ingredient beverage is hand crafted from a variety of tree-ripened apples and fermented with Champagne yeast. Modeled after the dry, English ciders, our Cornice is partially aged in used whisky barrels and our Red is crafted from red-fleshed apples. Both are dry on the palate and offer clean, crisp apple flavors. From the heart of Washington State apple country and available in only 7 states!
About Our Guest Host:
Judy Lebel, CSW, Founder
Judy began her wine career in San Diego, presenting boutique wines to restaurants and hotels, where she brought not only great wines to their tables, but her unique experience working with and learning directly from founders of California wineries.
A move to Ohio spurred her love affair with European wines and she launched several new wine labels. After that, a series of promotions working for Robert Mondavi brought her to Boston via the Northwest. In 2005, the Raymond family brought Judy in to manage their Northeast portfolio.
In 2010, with over twenty years of industry experience behind her, Judy realized the BEST way to fulfill her passion for enjoying fine wine and great food with interesting people (while still paying the rent!) was to embark on her greatest adventure yet. Best Year Ever Wine Agency was born.
At Best Year Ever, Judy helps wine companies and distributors define and achieve their sales goals while respecting their brand and company image. She is a proud recipient of the title “Certified Specialist of Wine” from the Society of Wine Educators, an education organization whose mission is to advance wine education through professional development and certification.
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 246 Exploring All Things Wine With You! Are You Ready For Some Football.....And Wine? In episode Kim and Mark talk football food and wine pairings. Football food is often hearty and flavorful, making it a challenge to pair with wine. However, there are a few key principles to […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 245 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode Kim and Mark talk about Wine Stories and Wine In Glass. First we discuss "Wine stories". They can refer to a wide range of narratives associated with wine, including historical anecdotes, tales about famous winemakers, and the cultural […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 244 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode Kim and Mark discuss wine scores. Here are some topics we cover when discussing wine scores: Definition of Wine Scores: Explain what wine scores are and how they are assigned by wine critics and professionals. Scoring Systems: Explore […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 243 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode Kim and Mark interview Jeff Gillis the founder and CEO of the Wine Likes app. Winelikes connects wine enthusiasts. From the complete novice to the sommelier; users can learn about wine, develop their preferences and palate, find new […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 242 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode Kim and Mark interview Sheila Donohue Founder and CEO of Vero Wines. Did you know that less than 1% of wines make it to US retailers' shelves? Vero, which means real in Italian, is all about opening up […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 241 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode Kim and Mark interview Tom Wark. Tom Wark is a prominent figure in the wine industry, known for his work as a wine writer, publicist, and wine marketing expert. He has a deep understanding of the Three Tier […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 240 Exploring All Things Wine With You! In this episode Kim and Mark interview Ann Reynolds. Ann is an expert in wine compliance and runs the Wine Compliance Alliance. She is also a wine label expert and author of The Inside Story Of A Wine Label. We discuss […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 239 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode Kim and Mark talk with Natalie MacLean about her new book "Wine Witch on Fire" Natalie’s passion for wine and writing was evident throughout the interview, as she shared her experiences and perspective on her powerful new book. […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 238 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore diluting wine with soda. People all over the world mix wine with soda but why? We review and discuss our research. The famous Franklin Wine cooler is discussed. And of coarse […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 237 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore Cheez-It’s and wine pairing. In 2020 Cheez-It’s and House wine partnered to create the perfect snack food pairings. We cover food paring basics and then taste test with our wine selections. […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 236 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine, we welcome back Vince Anter, the host of "V is for Vino," a popular YouTube series about wine. The focus of the interview is about his seven episodes in season four. Mark […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 235 Exploring All Things Wine With You! Kim Visits Champagne France Listeners of the show know Kim loves bubbly! In this episode the “bubbly queen” talks about her trip to Champagne France. We discuss: Purpose of visit Travel points Food and wine pairings New findings History Branding and […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 234 Exploring all things wine with you! In this episode Kim and Mark discuss Hyperdecanting and Vintage. Hyperdecanting We explain this process of aeration. Like many subjects in the wine world we talk about the good and bad of this. Kim and Mark experiment with blending wine and […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 233 The Wonderful World of Wine with Jerry Eisterhold of Terravox Winery In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine, we interview Jerry Eisterhold, the owner of Terravox Winery. We discuss Jerry's background, his winemaking philosophy, and his unique approach to making wine. Jerry's Background Jerry shares […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 232 The World of Wine with Gerard Spatafora of Bluewine.com In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine, we sit down with Gerard Spatafora, the founder of Bluewine.com, a website dedicated to educating wine lovers and connoisseurs about the world of wine. Gerard shares We learn the […]
750ml $9.99
750ml $10.99
