WineLife365

If you have some greenbacks tucked away in a mattress and care to spend that money on a really special Food & Wine excursion, then the Nantucket Wine Festival is the trip for you!  My wife and I attended the Nantucket Wine Festival last year, and the food and wine offerings were incredible.  This is by far, the most comprehensive food and wine weekend trip that we’ve ever taken.  However, flying to and from Nantucket was a bit frightening.  When we arrived at Logan International Airport in Boston, we didn’t realize that we would be boarding a small twin-engine 10 person plane.  Travel light folks – there is only so much room for luggage!  The flight from Boston to Nantucket was fine, considering the fact that nightfall was beginning to set in and it was raining.  We prayed that we would make it to Nantucket alive and in one piece to eat and drink our hearts out.  What made this flight even tougher was the fact that my wife and I couldn’t even sit next to one another on the little plane because the total weight of the plane had to be equally distributed.  By the way – they ask your weight when checking in!  So, if we were going to crash, my final moments would be holding onto a Joe Biden look-a-like who was wearing Nantucket Reds and dockside shoes. 

Upon arriving safely on Nantucket, we made our way to The Century House.  It’s a quaint and affordable inn – affordable by Nantucket standards, that is.  We would highly recommend staying at here, but be warned:  you are expected to go down for breakfast and it ends promptly at 10! 

Nantucket itself is a really beautiful, natural looking island.  It’s like a place back in time.  It has lots of cozy inns, beautiful cedar shingled homes, and pretty beaches.  The best way to get around Nantucket is by bicycle.  Young’s Family Bicycle Shop can assist you with any bike rentals.  Another place to visit for some real memories of your stay is Murray’s Toggery Shop, Inc. (Home of Nantucket “Reds”).  Once you see the island, it’s easy to see why the Kennedys and the Bidens of the world come here for a little R & R.

So enough about the island and on to the most important part – the food and wine!  For the festival, we did the “Grand Tasting”.  Essentially we broke out our tastings over two days.  We highly recommend doing this, rather than trying to experience it all in one day.  On day one, we drank only white wines.  On day two, we drank only red wines.  Pace yourself folks or you will pass out flat on your face! In addition to all of the tastings, there are cooking demonstrations and food samples from area restaurants and specialty vendors.

Regarding some of the restaurants on the island, a great BYOB that we ate at was Black-Eyed Susan’s.  It’s very popular and cozy (i.e., small), so make sure you call early for reservations.  Also bring cash or a check because they don’t take credit cards!  We also had great meals at Company of the Cauldron and The Boarding House.  Company of the Cauldron plans special events each year on the weekend of the wine festival.  Last year they hosted a special Winery Dinner, which started with a cocktail party at a local art gallery.  Although the food and wine was very good, I think the experience of hanging out in the art gallery, mingling with the restaurant owners, wine representatives and guests made for a great evening overall.  Finally, I have to make special mention of The Boarding House.  When making my reservation, I had indicated that it was my wedding anniversary.  Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were warmly greeted and handed glasses of champagne.  In addition to this, the food itself was wonderful and many of their dishes are made with organic ingredients. 

So to sum it all up, this is a great weekend if you love good food and wine.  We would do it again in a heartbeat if given the opportunity, and a little extra money lying around.  If you have any specific questions about the Nantucket Wine Festival, visit the site to find all of the contact information.