Worcester Wine Festival set for Polar Park Aug. 28

Houle, B. M. (2021, August 24). Worcester Wine Festival set for Polar Park Aug. 28. Telegram.com. https://www.telegram.com/story/entertainment/2021/08/24/worcester-wine-festival-set-polar-park-aug-28/8155315002/?amp_js_v=0.1?itm_medium=recirc&itm_source=taboola&itm_campaign=internal&itm_content=SectionFrontFeed-FeedRedesign. 

Join an afternoon-long celebration of incredible wines at the 2021 Worcester Wine Festival’s Grand Tasting on Aug. 28 at Polar Park in Worcester.

Presented by Mass Food & Wine, the festival is widely recognized as one of the state’s largest premiere wine events. Wine lovers can expect to sip extraordinary wines both locally produced and from wineries throughout the United States and Europe.

The VIP Admission (and luncheon) presented by Horizon Beverages at noon is sold out. General admission, 1 to 4 p.m., is $40 per person. Food will be available from Polar Park’s concessions. Visit www.massfoodandwine.com for information about ordering tickets. Wines can be purchased during and after the tasting through Julio’s Liquors in Westboro. Using Julio’s app is recommended. 

A Signature Wine Dinner with Frank Family Vineyards is scheduled at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at Russo Italian Restaurant, 65 Water St., Worcester. Executive chef Tim Russo will pair wines from the vineyard with a five-course menu. More information about the dinner is on the Mass Food and Wine website. Tickets are $125 per person.

Ed Russo is founding and managing partner of Mass Food & Wine with founding partners Joseph Giacobbe and Luke M. Vaillancourt. The mission is “to coordinate, promote, and execute world food and wine events in Massachusetts that inspire consumers, recognize culinary leaders and support the community.”

Vaillancourt said that as a wine lover, going to a wine tasting is one of the most exciting things you can do. Saturday?s tasting will include more than 500 wines and 85 wine tables, he said.

“Polar Park is the perfect destination for the tasting,” said Vaillancourt. “It’s a beautiful new park, and we want guests to experience it, rain or shine. Social distancing isn’t a problem,” he said. The tasting will move under the cover of the concourse in the event of extreme heat or rain.

The first Worcester Wine Festival was held in 2017 and since has brought thousands of food and wine enthusiasts to the city to celebrate wine, said Vaillancourt. Concerns over COVID-19 led organizers to cancel last year?s event. Vaillancourt said it was the best option for everyone.

Strong ticket sales for Saturday’s event increased the number of VIP tickets from 150 to 175. “?”We probably could have sold more,” said Vaillancourt, “but we want everyone to be safe and have a good time. I really think people are excited about getting out.”