Newton Vineyard (and Their 96-Point Wine) at BOKX 109

This one's got FEISTY written all over it.

On the one hand, we love to hate Robert Parker and his 100-point rating system.

On the other hand, we do take notice when he scores a wine above the 95-point threshold (such as the 96 points he gave Newton Vineyard's 2005 Unfiltered Chardonnay).

Then there's the whole unfiltered-wine trend.

On the one hand, a little refining could go a long way.

On the other hand, we love the purity and the nakedness of it. (At the wine dinner on April 30 at BOKX 109, you can try Newton Vineyard's unfiltered Chard, Merlot, and Cab. Check out the full menu here.)

And then, just in case there wasn't enough contention in the mix, there's the issue of big-ticket events, "big ticket" meaning $50 and above.

On the one hand, there just isn't that much extra cash floating around our wallets these days.

On the other hand, if you're going to make a night of it, a 5-course meal plus wine pairings for each at BOKX 109 is a very good choice to spend it.

Sheesh.

Why don't you tell us what you think? One lucky winner, chosen randomly, will win two tickets for the price of one for the Newton Vineyard Wine Dinner at BOKX 109.

Send us an emailbefore this Friday at noon with your answer to these questions:

1. Do you value Robert Parker's rating system? Yes or no.
2. Do you like unfiltered wines? Yes or no.
3. Is $95 for a 5-course wine dinner worth it? Yes or no.

Pick a side. Put yourself in the mix. It just might get you a seat at one very feisty dinner party.


WHAT: Newton Vineyard Wine Dinner, hosted by Dr. Su Hua Newton
WHERE: BOKX 109 American Prime, inside Hotel Indigo, 399 Grove Street, Newton
WHEN: Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $95/person + tax and gratuity


DAILY TIDBIT:

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance."

-- Benjamin Franklin

The Best Way to Be Out to Lunch: Wine Specials at Smith & Wollensky

Lots of special occasions to note this week, and Earth Day on Thursday is just one of them.

Tomorrow, FYI, is Administrative Professionals Day.

And whether you're doing the administrating or you're on the receiving end of it, you are officially encouraged to mark the occasion.

With lunch, say.

Especially when lunch includes a special deal on some very special bottles of wine.

Smith & Wollensky, for example, is opening their doors for lunch tomorrow -- something they do not normally do -- and they're opening their wine list as well to these two featured wines:

2003 Westport Rivers Brut "RJR" at $10 by the glass or $39 by the bottle, and

J. Lohr Cypress Vineyards (Chard, Cab, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot) at $8 a glass or $39 a bottle.

Our advice?

Start with the Westport Rivers sparkler, because what's a special occasion without a flute and a toast?

Then move on to J. Lohr with your meal, whether that's the tenderloin steak sandwich or an entree salad or or or.

Then kick back. It's your day, after all.


WHAT: Administrative Professionals Day Lunch
WHEN: Wednesday, April 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Smith & Wollensky, 101 Arlington Street, Boston

MORE INFO: Click here.


DAILY TIDBIT:

Q. What does wine do to you at lunch --

A. -- and what does the absence of wine do to you?

William F. Buckley, Jr., being interviewed in the Claremont Review of Books

Earth Week (and Biodynamic Wines) All Next Week at Bambara

Earth Day turns 40 this year.

That's a big birthday.

But instead of getting all extravagant about it, Bambara Restaurantis reigning it in.

They'll be serving dishes composed of ingredients that come from very close -- to the ground, that is, and to Boston in general.

Such as Island Creekoysters from Duxbury, along with a mignonette made with wine from Westport Rivers.

And English peas from Verrill Farmin Concord.

And a main course of Berkshire pork shank.

Check out the full menu here. It's a little bit like a Massachusetts food tour, organic-style.

But notice the two bits that are right up top:

1. That this earth-friendly menu is available ALL WEEK, from Monday, April 19 to Saturday, April 24.

2. That wine pairings -- all from sustainable sources -- are a mere ten bucks extra.

Peace out.


WHAT: Earth Week Menu
WHERE: Bambara Restaurant, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge
WHEN: Monday, April 19 to Saturday, April 24
COST: $45 per person, $55 paired with sustainable wine

DAILY TIDBIT:

"I'm like old wine. They don't bring me out very often, but I'm well preserved."

-- Rose Kennedy

Slow Food Founder Carlo Petrini, Sunday in Boston

Boston hosts more than its fair share of big-deal speakers.

But for those of us who care about the sources of our food and drink, Carlo Petrini is one of the biggest deals of all.

Petrini was the one who in 1989 protested the first McDonald's to open near Rome's ancient Spanish Steps with no more than a bowl of macaroni in his hands and a fierce opposition to fast food in his heart.

That's when Slow Food and Slow Food Internationalwas born.

100,000 members in 132 countries later, Petrini and his iconic bowl of macaroni continue to inspire a resistance to fast food, fast life, and the disappearance of local food traditions.

This Sunday afternoon, he'll be inspiring 500 or so Bostonians in person.

Most of those seats are taken so here's what could be your last chance.

Petrini's talk is free and open to the public. He'll also be signing books alongside Woody Tasch, author of the similarly-spirited Slow Money.

Go. Be inspired. And never see a bowl of macaroni the same way again.


WHAT: Talk and Book Signing by Carlo Petrini
WHERE: Science Center Lecture Hall B, Harvard University, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge
WHEN: Sunday, April 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.
COST: $0 but you must RSVP here


DAILY TIDBIT:

Edible Bostonmagazine, edited by the incomparable Ilene Bezahler, is the local publication that connects "consumers with local growers, retailers, chefs, and food artisans, enabling those relationships to grow and thrive in a mutually beneficial, healthful, and economically viable way." Check it out here.

Celebrate Local Food on Earth Day, Drinks to Match

This is the best option we've seen yet for celebrating Earth Day, coming up on Thursday, April 22.

It's called Earth Dinner, it encourages folks to dine together on local food on Earth Day, it's sponsored by Chef's Collaborative, and there are more restaurants participating from Massachusetts than from any other state in the country. (Yep, that includes California. Check out the full list here.)

What especially caught our eye is that JJ Gonson, a personal chef at the helm of Cuisine En Locale, is also participating.

This is where it gets interesting.

Because when JJ participates, JJ PARTICIPATES.

In regards to Earth Dinner, that means 10+ courses of local food spread over a three-hour period.

It means the entrance fee of $60 covers it all -- the Earth Dinner plus the donation to Chef's Collaborative -- even though the actual value of the meal is more than twice that much.

Best of all, seeing that JJ is a highly sensible person, she's opened the BYO door, whatever Your Own means to you.

White wine? Bring it. Champagne? You bet. Apple juice? No problem.

Cuisine en Local is an equal-opportunity beverage supporter.

Good thing the planet, local food, and Earth Dinner are on their support list too.


WHAT: Cuisine En Locale's Earth Dinner
WHERE: We don't know yet. Seriously. Location details will be sent the day before to confirmed guests.
WHEN: Thursday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $60
RSVP: Contact JJ Gonson directly at 617.285.0167


DAILY TIDBIT:

Here's a resource to get you thinking about drinking local on Earth Day too. The Massachusetts Farm-Winery & Growers Associationhas put together a wine and cheese trail that features 21 wineries and 11 artisan cheesemakers, all in our fair state. Check it out.

RWB Contest and Special Discount on Limited-Availability Pinot Noir

Calling all Pinot Noir lovers!

And Oregon wine lovers...

And Grill 23 lovers...

And people who love special access especially at a discounted price...

And all -- or even some -- of the above!

Tomorrow night at Grill 23, Bauer Wine & Spiritsis hosting a very special wine dinner featuring limited-availability wines from renown Anne Amie Vineyardsin Oregon's Willamette Valley.

Two of the wines, the last two of the dinner, are normally available only at the winery. A few of the others will be available in limited quantity only at Bauer Wines.

How does knowing this help you?

Red White Boston is offering a special $20 discount for the dinner to the first four of our readers who drop us an emaillisting the three things you love about Oregon Pinot Noir.

And voila!

You have yourself a seat at the dinner -- check out the full menu here-- for less than everyone else paid, and with the inside track on wines almost no one else can get their hands on.

Three things to love about Pinot Noir from Oregon. Send us an emailabout it.

Contest opens NOW.

WHAT: Anne Amie Oregon Wine Dinner
WHERE: Grill 23, 161 Berkeley Street, Boston
WHEN: TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 14. Reception at 7, dinner at 7:30 p.m.
COST: Normally $95, special discount of $20 to winners of this RWB contest


DAILY TIDBIT:

Anne Amie Vineyards are all Salmon Safeand LIVEcertified, with low yields and minimal treatments. The good folks in Oregon think about these things quite a lot and trust us, it's a good thing for the fish AND for the grapes.

Running Along the Charles + Wachusett Beer Afterward

Let's say you've just finished a 5-mile run along the Charles.

(Which you can do with ease and lots of company on Monday evenings, thanks to the creative folks over at Social Boston Sports. It doesn't even have to be 5 miles. It could just as easily be 3 or even 7.)

Then you're thirsty.

And someone -- namely McGreevy's on Boylston Street -- offers you a pint of Wachusettbrew plus a few snacks.

For free.

Sound good?

Let's see. Exercise, plus socializing, plus fresh air, plus a pint of local brew afterward.

Sounds good indeed.


WHAT: Community Runs sponsored by Social Boston Sports
WHEN: Monday nights starting at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Runs leave from McGreevy's, 911 Boylston Street, Back Bay
AFTERWARD: Free pint of Wachusett and apps
MORE INFO: Click here.


DAILY TIDBIT:

Confucius once said that plain rice to eat, water to drink, and one's arm as pillow were quite enough for earthly happiness. Confucius was a wise and gentle soul... But he never tasted Champagne.
-- Ernst Hornickel