October marks the official start of Nantucket Bay scallop season, yippee! This special delicacy unique to our island is available first to anyone who obtains a recreational shellfish license from the Town of Nantucket before the commercial harvest season begins November 1st. Not only is it an adventure to put on your waders and spend some time on the water, it is also an experience to shuck all your little gems and easily use them to create a culinary masterpiece. Advanced Sommelier Jenny Benzie offers a selection of fabulous, distinctive white wines of distinction to pair with your favorite Nantucket Scallop recipes. COME ON IN, THE WATER IS FINE The Anjou region of the Loire Valley in northwestern France is better known for their red wines than the limited production of their stellar whites. Located in the heart of this region is the estate farmed by Jean-Bernard (4th generation vigneron) and Catherine Chauvin, along with their son Denis. Here they...Read More >
Like the credit card commercial that asks “What’s in your wallet?,” it is always interesting to know what is in someone else’s wine cellar. Will you find a rare, expensive Bordeaux that is being tucked away for a child’s 21st birthday? Is there plenty of pink on hand for that impromptu social gathering? What is the house white for easy-drinking, daily consumption? We recently asked the staff at Épernay Wine & Spirits to share their favorite fall selections and what wines they will be drinking over the next few weeks. Here is what they said… SUMMER SIPS CONTINUE When choosing a favorite wine for long-time Nantucket resident Josie, it was an easy choice to select Seresin Sauvignon Blanc from Malborough, New Zealand. Marlborough produces more than half of New Zealand’s total wine production. This area has been consistently acclaimed worldwide for its standard bearing Sauvignon Blanc. Josie is a native New Zealander who has now lived on Nantucket longer than...Read More >
You love to entertain, and while you have that fabulous Martha Stewart flair for cooking and table décor, you would like some advice on what wine to serve with your fabulous Nantucket spread of fall bounty. From guesstimating quantities needed of beverages for cocktail parties, to the perfect pairing with your lobster bake on the beach, Advanced Sommelier Jenny Benzie offers answers to some of the most asked questions at her wine store on Nantucket. THE CHILL ZONE You wouldn’t serve your Juice Bar ice cream warm, it just wouldn’t taste as good (and it would be a big mess!). Just like chilled soup and piping hot cookies from the oven, certain foods require to be served at recommended temperatures, as does wine. A typical question, especially in the warmer months of summer, is What temperature should I serve my Champagne? Let’s start with bubbles (a personal favorite – do you know the name of our store?!). Sparkling wine should...Read More >
It has often been said many times before that the island of Nantucket takes a big sigh as soon as the month of September begins. Time to catch up on whatever was left behind to enjoy summer days and also an opportunity to gently transition into what will soon be the holidays before we know it. Nantucket is a very friendly, neighborly island where we love to support each other as we roll into this shoulder season. Advanced Sommelier Jenny Benzie of Épernay Wine & Spirits offers a selection of Nantucket highlights to enjoy this time of year and the perfect wine pairing for such splendor. BOOKS + BUBBLES Rob Cocuzzo is no stranger to adventure or writing about it. His latest book about to be released, The Road to San Donato, is an adventurous travel memoir of an American father and son tracing their Italian heritage by bicycle. With only their bare essentials, Cocuzzo and his sixty-four year old...Read More >
