Commission Hosts Fine Wine Tasting Series in Portsmouth

CONCORD, NH - The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) is celebrating spring by hosting a fine wine tasting series in Portsmouth on April 21, 2016.

Wine lovers will have the opportunity to sample 150 premium varieties of chardonnay and pinot noir retailing for a minimum of $30 per bottle, while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres and raising funds for New Hampshire Jobs for America’s Graduates (NH-JAG). The “Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Wine Tasting” event is scheduled for Thursday, April 21, at the Portsmouth Harbor Events & Conference Center, Residence Inn at 100 Deer St. in Portsmouth from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are available to those 21 and older for $60 each at nhliquorwine.ticketleap.com/pinot-noir--chardonnay-wine-tasting.

NHLC launched its fine wine tasting series in May 2015 with an exclusive Italian wine tasting at Tidewater Catering’s Riverside Room in Manchester. NHLC followed that successful event with a cabernet and merlot-themed event at Manchester Country Club in Bedford in September. The events raised a combined $4,000 for the Granite United Way’s Literacy Initiative and Concord Hospital’s Payson Center for Cancer Care.

“The New Hampshire Liquor Commission is committed to exploring new and innovative strategies to engage our customers and introduce them to the latest products,” said NHLC Chairman Joseph Mollica. “Our fine wine tasting series has proven to be a successful way to help customers discover the wide selection of premium wines from all over the world that are available at our NH Liquor & Wine Outlets.”

The chardonnay and pinot noir tasting will feature 14 tables of exclusive wines, including a mix of wines currently available for purchase at New Hampshire’s 79 NH Liquor & Wine Outlets and others that are not yet available. Event attendees will have the opportunity to purchase wine via a state-of-the-art web ordering application – a first of its kind in the wine industry – which guests can access via their mobile devices. A discount of 15% will be offered for purchases of six or more bottles, allowing event attendees to stock their wine cellars at the most competitive prices, which has made New Hampshire “the best state in America for wine drinkers” according to the Washington Post.

“Whether you are an enthusiast searching for an exclusive vintage or a newcomer discovering which varietal pleases your palate, our fine wine tasting series provides something for every type of consumer,” said Lisa Gosselin, NHLC Wine Marketing Specialist.

A sampling of featured wines include:

• Cakebread Chardonnay – Cakebread Vineyards started in 1972, the 39th winery to be bonded in Napa.
• Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve – Billecart-Salmon Champagne is at the top of the Champagne pyramid in terms of quality and reputation.
• Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir – Firm and spicy, with a tight mix of wilted rose, dried berry, cedar and crushed rock, notable for its intensity and persistence.
• Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne – Tsar Alexander II of Russia asked Monsier Roederer to develop an exclusive cuvee for him - an exceptional champagne in a splendid bottle.
• Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne – A powerful white, this exhibits nut, lemon cream and mineral flavors, shaded by spice. Intense and concentrated, with a tangy finish and a long aftertaste of butterscotch and mineral.

Event proceeds will be donated to New Hampshire Jobs for America's Graduates (NH-JAG), which is a statewide program for youth who seek to overcome obstacles in attaining a high school education and are pursuing career and postsecondary educational interests. NH-JAG facilitates learning, skill development and community involvement, empowering young adults to identify their dreams and to define and follow a productive path within which to achieve these dreams.

“Partnering with NHLC on their Wine Tasting Series affords NH-JAG the opportunity to embark on a totally unique opportunity in a community where our programs exist and need additional exposure to thrive,” said NH-JAG Development Coordinator Marcia Burns. “The event offers a spirited atmosphere where we can share our mission dedicated to affect positive change in the lives of young people who face challenging barriers to success. Our services create the kinds of opportunities that result in diplomas, internships, college acceptances and successful job offers with room for advancement, and this partnership gives us a critically important avenue for us to tell our story.”

In the last three years, NHLC has worked with suppliers and brokers to raise $720,000 for nonprofit organizations making an impact in New Hampshire. Homes for our Troops, the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, Operation Care for Troops, Easter Seals New Hampshire, Toys for Tots, New Hampshire Food Bank, Granite United Way, Concord Hospital and the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire have all benefitted from NHLC’s support.

Submitted by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission.