Welcome to the debut issue of The Tasting Room!
After years of hosting Burlington Wine & Food—and getting to know the incredible chefs, winemakers, distillers, specialty food producers and farmers who bring our local food and drink scene to life—we’re excited to share more of that world with you. Each week, you’ll find a curated mix of the dishes worth seeking out, bottles worth opening, stories worth knowing, and events that shouldn't be missed.
And because we know how hard this industry works, you won't find any takedowns or harsh reviews here. Running a small business in this world is no small feat, and we're here to celebrate it.
We hope you enjoy this content, and if something wonderful catches your eye — or your palate — we'd love to hear about it.
Let’s dig in....
STARTERS
These weeks leading up to Thanksgiving are some of the best of the year to show a little love to your favorite restaurants. It’s that brief, quiet stretch between foliage season and the holiday rush — a window when staff is catching their breath, dining rooms are calmer, and your reservation actually feels like a gift. If you’ve been meaning to visit a spot you love, or try somewhere new, this is the time!
BITES + BOTTLES
Each week, we share a short list of recommendations we think are genuinely worth your time. Here are a few of the latest we thought were worth noting…
Specs, the area’s newest cocktail bar, launched just off the rotary in Winooski this week, and judging by the crowd on a dreary Sunday, word traveled fast. Their opening cocktail list runs 31 deep…a preview of the 100-plus they plan to offer. I’m not typically an Espresso Martini person, but something about the gray, chilly day made it the right choice. The Specs version really worked…strong espresso backbone, good balance, and a beautiful presentation. Mike loved the Mosquito, with the mezcal, Campari, lemon, and ginger syrup combo proving to be a magical mix. Specs also doubles as a café in the mornings, with coffee and pastries starting at 8 a.m., and has an adjoining market. It already feels like it’s going to be a Winooski fixture.
French Onion Soup isn’t something you’d necessarily expect to see on a pizza — but Bramble’s “O’ Cipolla” pizza ($20) makes you wonder why no one did it sooner. The caramelized onion, soubise sauce, Vermont Farmstead’s BrickHaus Tilsit cheese, and aged balsamic create a depth of flavor that’s shockingly elegant. It’s just one of the dishes coming out of their custom-built “big blue” wood-fired oven — an 8,900-pound centerpiece of the restaurant at the Essex Experience.
You don’t want to neglect the non-drinkers at your table this holiday season, and it’s fantastic that there are now so many solid options worth having on hand. Best Day Brewing is now available locally, and it’s one of the more convincing NA beers out there — beer fans say it actually tastes like beer.
And in a bit of unplanned surprise, I opened a bottle of rosé this week, thinking it was regular wine, only to realize when I looked at the label (halfway through the glass), that it was zero-proof! Turns out Domaine de Montrose Rosé Zero is a better stand-in than most people would expect.
TASTEMAKERS
Each week, we feature three quick questions with someone bringing something creative, thoughtful, or downright fascinating to the food-and-wine scene here in Vermont and beyond.
Melissa L. Smith has one of those careers that makes wine lovers lean in a little closer. A former chef turned elite sommelier and wine-collection specialist, she built Enotrias Elite Sommelier Services in California’s wine country before making the leap to Vermont. Today, she splits her time between managing, appraising and moving some of the most impressive private cellars in the Bay Area, while also building a new life, business, and community on her property in Pittsford, Vermont.
We sat down with Melissa for three quick questions that offer a peek into her world.
1. What brought you from California to Vermont, and how has the move shaped what you’re doing now?
“I still run Enotrias based primarily in the Bay Area and wine country, where I manage private wine collections, handle appraisals, and do expert witness work, so I’m back and forth a bit. But here in Vermont, we’ve launched our catering business, Sunny Day, where we sell locally made bone broth out of a food trailer and, in the warmer months, run a custom-built ice cream cart for weddings and events. On our property, we’re working to open Maison Plas, a small event venue that will host private gatherings, possibly a supper club, and a small retail space. So the move has really expanded what we’re doing…it’s letting us build something personal and community-focused.
THE LONG POUR
Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, so we wanted to offer a wine plan for this feathered holiday. Most folks just don’t know where to start when they’re thinking about wine for Thanksgiving, as there are so many flavors and styles of food involved.
May we present: The Three-Bottle Thanksgiving Playbook!
For starters, a sparkling wine has always been the best way to kick off your Thanksgiving meal. Champagne, Prosecco, Cava and Crémant are just a few of the options available to you. These high-acid sparkling wines are the perfect way to cleanse your palate before starting your meal.
The best approach to your red wine choices is to stay somewhat neutral with your offerings. Softer reds such as Grenache, Pinot Noir and Gamay are all excellent choices when it comes to your red selection, as they offer light tannins, hints of spice and soft fruit flavors — all elements that will work with the many flavors at the table.
When it comes to a white wine option, there is a wider swath of choices. A Chardonnay with a bit of oak is one perfect direction, as the creamy, buttery notes in the wine will meld beautifully with roast turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing. Going in the opposite direction, medium to high acid wines are actually one of our favorite ways to go for this holiday. Gruner Veltliner, dry Chenin Blanc and dry Riesling are all wonderful choices as opposing forces on your palate. The acid levels will cut through the butter and fat that are always part of a lovely Thanksgiving dinner and will let the fruit in the wine shine.
WHAT’S ON
Lots of “doing good” in Winooski this week!
November 20 kicks off the Beverage Warehouse’s 11th annual Hops-4-Hunger event. Pick up your “Lunch Bag” of four cans for $27, with 100% of the profits going to local food shelves (this year’s event is expected to bring the total raised to over $80K). This year’s bag includes hard-to-find brews from Hill Farmstead, Fiddlehead. Alchemist, Lawsons, BBCO and Zero Gravity, along with fun brewery swag and gift cards. The event goes until they’re gone!
Standing Stone Wines on the Winooski rotary is also getting in on the good vibes with their Thanksgiving benefit for local food shelves on Sunday, November 23, starting at 3 p.m. Expect hours of live music, comedy and raffles…and if you know Lil, you know the fun will start early and won’t let up.
Just up the road, radio stations 106.7 WIZN and 99.9 The Buzz are hosting their huge annual “Feed Your Neighbor” food drive on Saturday, November 22, from 9 to 3 p.m. at the Hannaford’s in Essex (New Yorkers can also visit the Plattsburgh location). Shoppers are asked to donate healthy, non-perishable food items, baby items and toiletries, as well as cash donations.
Craving something besides turkey this month? You won’t want to miss the Tuesday night Pasta Nights at Gold, for the best (and most delicious) value in town. For just $12, you’ll get a generous helping of one of their creative hand crafted pasta dishes, and for just $8 more, you can add a thoughtfully paired glass of wine. Located on North Winooski Ave in Burlington, they fill up quickly, so go early!
Jasper Hill Farm takes center stage at Adventure Dinner’s holiday fondue night on December 6 in Colchester. Guests will dig into bubbling vintage fondue pots filled with Jasper Hill’s award-winning cheeses, served with plenty of classic dippables and a simple dessert to close the evening. It’s a cozy, low-key way to enjoy some of Vermont’s best cheese as winter sets in.
Shelburne Vineyard is keeping the holiday kickoff energy rolling this week with an evening of live music from Vermont-born Evan Jennison on Saturday, November 22, at 6 p.m. His folk-rock/bluegrass mix is a great match for the tasting room’s warm, laid-back atmosphere — an easy way to settle in with a glass of their natural wine lineup as the days get colder. It’s free to attend, but reservations are smart if you want a spot.
Until next week…