PHILLY WINE WEEK’S KICK-OFF EVENT, “OPENING CORKS,” Will Take Place at XIX at The Bellevue.
PHILLY WINE WEEK’S KICK-OFF EVENT, “OPENING CORKS,” Will Take Place at XIX at The Bellevue
On Sunday, March 31 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., Opening Corks will “pop” once again to kick off the 6th Annual Philly Wine Week, the week-long, city-wide celebration of wine. At this signature kick-off event, over 100 sought-after, interesting bottles will be poured and foods from the city’s best chefs may be enjoyed as guests mingle in Opening Corks’ loftiest venue to date: XIX at The Bellevue.Tickets are now on sale and revelers are advised to purchase early as the event has sold out in years past. Eager guests may purchase early at a special price of $50, through January 31 using code “earlybird19.” Beyond that, General Admission tickets are $65 and a limited amount of VIP tickets will be available at $125. VIP guests will be invited to enter at 5 p.m. for an extra hour to enjoy the tasting, as well as an exclusive sparkling wine bar, raw bar, deluxe passed hors d’oeuvres from Walnut Street Café and XIX, and delectable bites prepared by guest chefs in a semi-private lounge. Trade tickets for those in the industry are also available.
“For six years, it’s been exciting to see wine culture grow in Philadelphia, from the evolution of wine lists and visits from revered producers, to the sprawl of small, focused wine boutiques highlighting smaller producers,” says PWW board member and wine buyer at Di Bruno Bros. Sande Friedman. “But no matter what people like to drink, we’re excited to be savoring alongside them and spreading the word that wine doesn’t have to be complicated, fussy or saved for a special occasion.”
At this year’s Opening Corks, guests will mingle in the remarkably restored and refreshed XIX and event spaces at The Bellevue, the historic and iconic hotel in the heart of Center City. Along with hundreds of world-class wines that will be poured, Philadelphia’s talented food scene will represent with delicious pairings. Guests may relish savory bites from: The Good King Tavern, Barbuzzo, Barcelona, Hungry Pigeon, American Sardine Bar, XIX and more.
During PWW, fans may look forward to many favorite events from years past, such as Tria’s “80s and 90s Night,” offering old school beats and rare vintage wines; Vintage’s “Wine Quizzo,” a night of wine trivia with wine-related prized and gift cards; “Diving Into La Dive,” a multi-course pairing of the most interesting wine’s from France’s raucous natural wine fête at The Good King Tavern; Jet Wine Bar’s “Rainbow Wine Night,” featuring wines representing all colors of the rainbow; and American Sardine Bar’s “Backyard Wine BBQ,” the unofficial closing ceremonies of Philly Wine Week. New additions for 2019 will be announced within the coming weeks, and a full list of events will be added to Philly Wine Week’s website as they are confirmed from new and returning participants including: Royal Boucherie, a.bar, Martha, Panorama, Tria, Southwark, Vintage Wine Bar, and Bud & Marilyn’s.
Since 2014, Philly Wine Week’s mission has been to unite the area’s most passionate wine experts, its best wine bars, restaurants, boutiques, and its talented winemakers. By aligning this vibrant and tight-knit community, the group hopes to spread knowledge, grow interest and encourage more people to embrace the convivial spirit of imbibing with wine pros, novices and fans alike. This year’s charity partner was selected for its tireless dedication to creating a welcoming haven for those in need. Broad Street Ministry practices radical hospitality and embraces the individual needs of the city’s most vulnerable brothers and sisters through its Hospitality Collaborative. To support that mission, Philly Wine Week will donate a portion of the Opening Corks ticket sales to secure daily meals and more for the Broad Street Ministry community.
