The Palm Beach Post: Breathe deep: Wine tastings all the rage
There aren’t any vineyards here along rolling hills or valleys, but make no mistake: Palm Beach is wine country.
That’s not just because two of the world’s 269 Master Sommeliers call Palm Beach home, including one who’s the 11th woman in the world to achieve that coveted and hard-earned title.
And it’s not just because some of the world’s noted wine collectors live here. Nor is it just because the annual Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival is now in its 13th year or that the Virginia Philip Wine & Spirits Shop and Academy in Royal Poinciana Plaza held its inaugural Wine Festival in November.
Those are all noteworthy, but there’s another key reason why Palm Beach is wine country: Whether you’re an oenophile or not, the island’s restaurants and other venues offer a year-round roster wine-centric events — from multi-course wine dinners with vintners to casual sommelier-led tastings with bites and pours.
“Whether you’re serious about wine or you’re a casual wine drinker, there’s something for everyone,” said Master Sommelier Virginia Philip, The Breakers’ longtime wine director whose eponymous shop/academy hosts numerous annual events. “It doesn’t have to be expensive, either. There are winemaker dinners that may be more extravagant, but you have less formal wine dinners and tastings.”
Philip’s shop/academy, which opened in Palm Beach in 2017 after years in downtown West Palm Beach, hosts several monthly tastings and other events.
