Wine tourism is gaining popularity, but even wine enthusiasts may not always have the time or chance to visit winemakers in France. Nevertheless, New Yorkers now have an alternative: They can sample and learn about regional French wines closer to home.
In midtown Manhattan, Alan Ducasse’s modern French bistro and wine bar, Benoit, is launching an exclusive series of wine tastings. These tastings are slated to occur monthly throughout the remainder of the year.
Restaurant Manager Julien Moreno, formerly the sommelier at Benoit, and his team will guide the establishment’s introduction of a new wine series.
This series aims to educate guests about some of France’s most celebrated wine regions, namely Bordeaux, Rhone, Bourgogne, and Champagne.
Each intimate 1.5-hour tasting session, starting at 6:30 PM, will showcase two white and two red wines, carefully paired with complementary bites. Through these tastings, attendees will gain insights into the regional wine profiles and get expert advice on pairing wines with food.
- The September 27th program will focus on Bordeaux wines with beef Bordelaise and goat cheese bites.
- October 25th will feature Rhone wines with charcuterie and quenelles bites (one of the chef’s standout dishes at the restaurant).
- November 22nd will introduce Bourgogne wines with escargots and beef Bourguignon.
- The end-of-year tasting on December 27th will feature Champagne (of course) with cheese and chocolate bites.
The sessions are held in one of the restaurant’s tastefully furnished private dining rooms on the second level.
(L-R) Demi Moore, Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander, Diane Lane and Chloe Sevigny pose onstage for the Red Carpet event for FX’s ‘FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans’
The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Those who watched the recent TV drama Feud: Capote vs.The Swans may recognize that Benoit fills the same hallowed space (at 60 West 55th Street) once occupied by Jean-Jacques’ La Cote Basque, often called a temple of French cuisine. Celebrity chef Alain Ducasse has continued the tradition of French excellence for the last 15 years.
The Benoit private dining room features vibrant images from La Cote Basque by artist Bernard Lamotte and walls of French oak molded by master artisans.
Tickets for the tastings are $95 per person and can be purchased online at OpenTable. They make a perfect gift for a friend or relative yearning to travel or return to France, or for Francophiles who appreciate French foods, wine, and culture.
Those who want to continue their “wine education” can enjoy sips at the redesigned Benoit Wine Bar downstairs, which offers an extensive list of wines, cocktails, and other libations.