Join us!
While in-person tastings may not be an option right now, SOTA is bringing the vineyards of Italy, France, and Spain directly to your living rooms instead! This virtual tasting event allows participants and their "pods" to gather in a safe and fun fashion.
Each event includes 3 full-sized (750mL) bottles of wine, so why not take this opportunity to invite friends and family to your home for this unique wine tasting experience!
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Led by experienced sommelier Jay Nee of Juniper and Grain, this virtual wine tasting is a fun way to re-connect with SOTA members, learn something exciting, and discover new wines. It's also an ideal way to take your tastebuds on a mini-vacation without putting on real pants. Sip a Tenuta dell’Ugolino Sparkling Verdicchio from Italy or relish a Le Grand Mechant Loup Cotes-du-Rhone — you might even get some inspiration for your next post-COVID trip!
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Purchase a single event for $125 or save on all three for $300.
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Each event is limited to 50 tickets, so don't hesitate!
The Details
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Virtual Tastings will be held via Zoom. Zoom link will be mailed to participants before the event.​
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Registration deadline for "Tour of Italy" and/or the series is May 3; "Tour of France" registration deadline is June 1; "Tour of Spain" registration deadline is July 5.
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Wine will be available for pick up before each event in the rear parking lot of the Allentown Art Museum (31 N 5th St, Allentown, PA 18101). Shipping is not available.
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Please bring valid ID for pick up. If someone other than registered participant will be picking up wine, please notify Jill Stevens.
Events
May 21, 2021 | 6:30 PM
Please register by May 3
Tour of Italy
Join us on a virtual excursion to Italy, where we will explore several different regions and varietals of wine. We will enjoy some witty banter amongst supporters of the Allentown Art Museum and lovers of wine. During our exploration, we will discuss the wines, winemaking history in the region as well as what makes the suggested pairings appropriate for the wine.
SUGGESTED PAIRINGS
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Wine # 1 Tenuta dell’Ugolino Sparkling Verdicchio: light bites: oysters, grilled vegetable; More substantial bites: Seafood risotto
Wine # 2 Azienda Agricola Rigo Chardonnay: light bites: pasta salad with mushrooms & tomato crab cakes; More substantial bites: Pasta or risotto with spring vegetables Pasta with light cream sauce
Wine # 3 Torre Zambra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: light bites: roasted mushrooms, Parmesan and asiago cheese; More substantial bites: baked mac and cheese, roasted pork shoulder, beef brisket
HOUSEKEEPING
Refrigerate the white wine overnight, remove from fridge 30 minute before event
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Open all wines before the event commences
If you have enough glasses for each wine, we would suggest using them!
June 18, 2021 | 6:30PM
Please register by June 7
Tour of France
Join us on a virtual excursion to France, where we will explore several different regions and varietals of wine. We will enjoy some witty banter amongst supporters of the Allentown Art Museum and lovers of wine. During our exploration, we will discuss the wines, winemaking history in the region as well as what makes the suggested pairings appropriate for the wine.
SUGGESTED PAIRINGS
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Wine # 1 Louis Vallon Brut: light bites: Potato chips and caviar. Smoked salmon. Raw oysters; More substantial bites: Sushi and sashimi, poultry dishes with cream sauce
Wine # 2 Robert Debuisson Beaujolais-Villages: light bites: salad with beets, chicken wings; More substantial bites: Grilled beef, lamb chops other game meats
Wine # 3 Le Grand Mechant Loup Cotes-du-Rhone: light bites: cheeses such as camembert, comte, Saint-Marcellin
More substantial bites: A variety of Asian dishes, grilled or roasted game meats, beef and pork
HOUSEKEEPING
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Refrigerate the white wine overnight, remove from fridge 30 minute before event
​
Open all wines before the event commences
If you have enough glasses for each wine, we would suggest using them!
July 23, 2021 | 6:30PM
Please register by July 12
Tour of Spain
Join us on a virtual excursion to Spain, where we will explore several different regions and varietals of wine. We will enjoy some witty banter amongst supporters of the Allentown Art Museum and lovers of wine. During our exploration, we will discuss the wines, winemaking history in the region as well as what makes the suggested pairings appropriate for the wine.
SUGGESTED PAIRINGS
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Wine # 1 Canadareal Verdejo: light bites: Cheeses such as Manchego, Pecorino, Feta, Halloumi herbed potato salad, chilled asparagus; More substantial bites: Fish Tacos, Lime Chicken, Filet of Sole, Pork Loin accompanied by leeks, potato and/or artichoke
Wine # 2 Paloma de Plata Albarino: light bites: Grilled shishito peppers, grilled vegetables, soft cheese like burrata or semi-hard cheese like gouda; More substantial bites: Ceviche, seafood risotto, grilled fish tacos
Wine # 3 Miralalba Tempranillo: light bites: Roasted assorted vegetables and cured meats; More substantial bites: Barbecued/grilled meats. Pizza and other tomato sauce-based dishes
HOUSEKEEPING
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Refrigerate the white wine overnight, remove from fridge 30 minute before event
​
Open all wines before the event commences
If you have enough glasses for each wine, we would suggest using them!
Meet the Sommelier
Jay Nee brings more than twenty years of beverage hospitality experience to the table. Since moving to the Lehigh Valley from New England 15 years ago, he has worked in the beverage hospitality industry in a number of roles. He helped develop one of the most interesting wine programs in the area and launched a recurring wine education night that entertained hundred of guests. He has gone on to present over 400 wine, beer and spirits events for thousands of guests.
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As a consultant for one of the largest wine and spirits distributors in the United States, Jay provided guidance to well over 100 restaurants and bars. He helped formulate their total beverage identity and trained hundreds of servers on the nuances of beverage service. His success in this role has allowed him to travel to multiple countries and experience wine and spirits production for many highly successful brands.
As a sales manager for the largest total alcohol beverage supplier in the United States, he helped navigate the changing Pennsylvania alcohol landscape as grocery became a new outlet for the wine buying public.
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In 2019, Jay formed Juniper & Grain as a way to address the fundamental need for beverage businesses to receive guidance without being beholden to a specific distributor's portfolio. He wanted to help shape beverage programs to value beer, wine and liquor in equal measure. He seeks clients that wish to create memorable experiences for their guests through beverage hospitality.
Questions?
Contact Jill Stevens at 610.392.9794
To pay by check, please CLICK HERE.
Thank you for supporting SOTA! Your contribution is tax-deductible.
For the series, $120 of the $300 purchase price is tax-deductible; for individual events, $65 of the $125 purchase price is tax-deductible.