The 'Berkshires are ALIVE with Wine Events in August' by Philip S. Kampe and Maria Reveley

August has arrived.
This is the month that favors a ‘Berkshire Wine Lovers Dream’.

The highlight of August, of course, is the return of the Tanglewood Wine & Food Classic.
Events run from Thursday, August 15^th to Sunday, August 18^th.
The BSO’s, Debbi Otto, takes over the reigns at Tanglewood and will run this four-day event.
The recipient of the festival’s profits helps fund Seranak, once the home of Serge Koussevitzky. It is now home for composing students and visiting artists during their stay at Tanglewood. Seranak, high above Bald Head mountain, offers magnificent views and is often used for social and artistic events, including the August 15^th Pio Cesare ‘Wine Dinner’ ($195) focusing on the wines from the Piedmont region of Italy.

My favorite event of the festival is the ‘Grand Tasting’, ($105) which will take place from 1-4pm at the Hawthorne tent, near Ozawa Hall. The event is always a show stopper, with hundreds of wines to sample, cooking demonstrations and signature dishes from dozens of New England’s finest restaurants

Popular, local wine expert and owner of Spirited (Lenox), Jim Nejaime, hosts a ‘Blind Wine Tasting’ ($55) on Friday night from 7-8pm in the Hawthorne tent. I plan to attend and hope to guess the varietals correctly.

Chocolate Guru, Josh Needleman, founder of Chocolate Springs (Lenox), will lead a chocolate and Port seminar ($55)  from 12-1pm on Sunday, August 18^th. The event will take place in the Hawthorne tent.

Local wine owner of the Nejaime wine stores (Stockbridge & Lenox), Joe Nejaime, will be presenting a selection of red Bordeaux wines under the tasting tent at the festival.

Nejaime’s is proud to host numerous complimentary wine events during August at both wine shops.

Stockbridge: All Saturday tastings:

August 10^th  Ruby Wine Imports hosted by Mary Daire.

August 17^th  Didier Boutet Wine Selections represented by Kathryn Vollmer.

August 24^th  Vineyard Road poured by Catherine Vollmer.

Lenox: All Saturday tastings

August 17^th Winebow Selections hosted by Tom Morrison.

August 24^th  Ruby Wine Imports represented by Mary Daire.
August 31^st  Christian Dalbavie

Fifteen minutes from Lenox is the village of Dalton, home of an exceptional wine shop, Kelly’s Package Store and wine aficionado, Kollin Kozlowski.  Kollin always pushes the button with unusual and fun tasting events.

The month of August tastings include:

August 10^th  Wines of Italy

August 17^th  Wines of Northwest America (Oregon, Washington, etc.)
August 24^th  Kelly’s Annual Beerfest with over 45 brewery reps.

Spirited (Lenox) always has wonderful tastings. August is no exception.
All tasting on Saturday are normally indoors and run from 1-4pm.
August 10^th  offers a tent tasting featuring five wines, artisanal ales and signature cocktails.

Remember, August is ‘Wine Month in the Berkshires’.
Take advantage of the numerous wine opportunities in our own backyard.