Hi friends…we hope your holiday season is moving along nicely, with a few good meals, a glass or two of something you love, and maybe a little time to slow down.
A quick scheduling note before we dive in: we won’t be publishing a full edition of The Tasting Room on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day (both Thursdays). We’ll be back the following week and look forward to settling back in with you then.
We do have something we’re genuinely excited to share about next year’s Grand Tasting event…you’ll find that just below!
Wishing you a wonderful stretch of holiday days. And thank you, as always, for being a part of this community.
STARTERS…
Many of you reading this have joined us at the Burlington Wine & Food Grand Tasting over the past 15 years, so we wanted you to be among the first to know…
If you’re already thinking ahead to summer, or looking for a holiday gift that’s especially memorable…summer’s most delicious event returns on Saturday, June 27, at Hula Lakeside. 🍷
And for the first time, tickets are on sale NOW, before Christmas, just in time for holiday gift giving! Even better…a very limited number of tickets for the early session are available at $10 off.
If the event is already on your summer calendar, this is an easy way to lock it in now…or to give a gift that promises a great day of sipping and savoring
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And one more fun bit of news before we move on…
Thank you to all of our new subscribers who were entered to win a pair of tickets to the 2026 event. We’ve selected a winner for our giveaway and have reached out directly…and once confirmed, we’ll share the good news here soon!
Now, we’d also love to say “thank you” to our longtime subscribers by giving away one more pair of Burlington Wine & Food Festival tickets!
Here’s how to enter:
Just copy your personal Tasting Room referral link (you’ll find it at the bottom of the email) and share it with your wine and food-loving friends. You’ll receive one entry for each person who subscribes using your link
We’ll draw a winner on January 31, 2026, and announce it right here!
BITES + BOTTLES
The Burlington area is not exactly lacking when it comes to good pizza…Pizzeria Verità, American Flatbread, Folino’s, Pizza 44, Ken’s, and plenty of others earn their loyal followings. But every now and then, it’s worth shining a light on a spot that flies a little under the radar.
For us, one of those spots is La Boca, tucked into the North Avenue Shopping Center next to Hannaford’s. We end up here often for a few simple reasons. It’s close to home, comfortable, and an easy place to grab a glass of wine, a salad, and a pizza at the bar. There’s also almost always someone engaging behind the bar…welcoming, conversational, and unpretentious.
The pizza is excellent and creative. My go-to is the Smoky Chicken Bacon…garlic chipotle base, chicken, slab bacon, mozzarella, cheddar, pickled jalapeño, red onion, finished with a honey drizzle. It hits that sweet-heat balance just right.
Creativity shows up throughout the pizza menu…from the Ancestral Spirit (fig jam base, chèvre, caramelized pear and onion, prosciutto, balsamic drizzle) to the Reloaded Potato (slab bacon, sliced potato, broccoli, cheddar, chive, and sour cream drizzle). The combinations are unexpected, but they’re well balanced and well executed.
Our favorite Carmelized Pear Salad
We also never skip the Caramelized Pear Salad…mixed greens, gorgonzola, candied cashews, apple cider vinaigrette, and honey drizzle…a consistent standout.
Add a strong wine and beer list, a wood-fired oven that gives the space its cozy glow, and a few unapologetically indulgent dessert pizzas (including the “May I Please Have S’More?” with chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker crumble), and La Boca earns its place in our regular rotation.
If you’ve overlooked it…this is your nudge.
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If you’re one of those precious souls realizing that Christmas is a week away and your holiday dinner planning has quietly slipped through the cracks, you’re not alone. Have no fear…we have some solid options, whether you’re looking for something meaningful, something impressive, or something that simply removes all stress from the equation.
I’ll start with tourtière, because I can’t be the only one who grew up with this showing up at family gatherings. On my dad’s French Canadian side, it was a staple when we came to Vermont to visit my grandparents. For those unfamiliar, tourtière is a traditional French-Canadian meat pie, seasoned with warm spices and baked in a flaky crust, often served around the holidays.
My grandmother’s recipe still makes an occasional appearance thanks to my aunts, but for those who’d like to try it without making it from scratch, Misery Loves Co. is just announced on their socials that they’re offering tourtière in very limited quantities…so if you see it posted, don’t wait!
If your goal is an impressive holiday meal with minimal effort, The Mill Market holiday pre-orders are worth a look. Their special offerings include classics like Beef Wellington and Duck à l’Orange, along with a maple “Piecaken” that’s appears unapologetically rich and indulgent. This is a great option if you want something that feels celebratory without spending the day in the kitchen.
And if staying home feels like too much, consider turning Christmas Eve into a small outing with The Waybury Inn in Middlebury. It’s a lovely, old-school Vermont setting and an easy way to make the evening feel special. Their Christmas Eve menu features elegant starters and well-executed entrées, including Rack of Lamb Harissa, Herb Crusted Prime Rib, Duck Breast Almondine, Halibut Saltimbocca, handled by people who know exactly what they’re doing.
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While we’re on the subject of eating and drinking well, a few recent additions to the local food scene are worth noting…
The Chocolate Butcher has opened a new storefront in Williston. You may recognize them from this year’s Grand Tasting, where their chocolate was a standout. The shop focuses on rough-cut chocolate chunks, bagged truffles, and build-your-own snack boards that pair chocolate with salty and sweet additions like pretzels and candied nuts…flexible, giftable, and very well done.
While you already know them for beer, Switchback Brewing has recently expanded into spirits. They first introduced a malt whiskey and have since added both vodka and gin to the lineup…an interesting next chapter for a longtime Vermont brewery, and one we’re looking forward to sampling.
The Kitchen Table Market & Café has opened in South Burlington, expanding the Kitchen Table brand with a more casual, all-day format. The café serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts built around from-scratch baking, deli sandwiches, fresh soups and salads, and hearty take-and-bake meals, all made with local ingredients. Whether you stop in for an early coffee and pastry, a fresh sandwich, or a convenient dinner to bring home, you can be assured it will be a quality-focused addition to the neighborhood
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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.
This week, we caught up with Amy Ezrin, partner at The Piedmont Guy and owner of Giovese Family Wines. After years spent working in fine dining, training as an opera singer, and living in Italy, Amy now represents exclusively wines from the Piedmont region of Italy and also brings a playful, approachable take on Italian wine with Giovese Family Wines.
Read the full interview below, including what Amy loves about this particular wine region and why boxed wines are thriving…
THE LONG POUR: TIME FOR BUBBLES!
by Mike Stolese
With New Years Eve rapidly approaching, we thought it was time to tackle the world of sparkling wine.
Some look at sparkling wine as a “special occasion” beverage. Now, me? I’m a believer that bubbles are a 365-day-a year beverage. Just one man’s opinion.
There are many versions of sparkling wine. Everyone is familiar with Champagne, which only comes from the Champagne region of France and sits atop the price scale, with good reason. Champagne can be a single varietal…for example, 100% Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs), 100% Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier, or a blend of the two (Blanc de Noirs). Or, it may be the traditional blend of white and red grapes.
Champagne is labor intensive: fermented and aged in bottle, with each bottle needing to be riddled (a turning of the bottles to collect sediment in the neck of the bottle). The cork is then disgorged to remove the sediment, and a mix of sugar and wine (“dosage”) is then added to balance the wine and aid in the aging process. Champagnes offer tight bubbles, hints of yeast and toast. The white wine-driven versions offer citrus and apple flavors, while the red grape-dominant bubblies show more berry and spice.
Now, we move on to some other wonderful sparkling wines such as Cava from Spain, made in the same method as Champagne (“méthode champenoise”). Cavas are less expensive, using indigenous grapes, but don’t have the aging potential that Champagne has. With that said, it’s a very refreshing bubbly…some incredible value can be found in Cavas.
As there are many sparking wines and I have limited space, we will finish with Prosecco from Italy. Proseccos are fermented in a tank, as opposed to the bottle. This method is called “Charmat.” Charmat offers a less expensive and faster way of getting wines to market, and they are priced accordingly. On the lower end, you may pick up a hint of sweetness, but Prosecco is crisp and fresh, with bright fruit.
For your handy reference, we’ve provided a list of some of my favorites from each category…be sure to check this out as you shop for your New Year’s Eve celebration!
WHAT’S ON (NEW YEAR’S EVE EDITION!)
Alongside Burlington’s Highlight celebration and the waterfront fireworks, there are plenty of New Year’s Eve options for those who like their celebrations a little more food- and drink-centric. From early dinners and Champagne toasts to late-night dance floors, here’s what’s happening around town to ring in 2026…
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Salt & Bubbles New Year’s Eve Celebration — An all-day and dinner celebration with plenty of Champagne and bubbly flowing, magnums on deck, and a French-inspired New Year’s Eve menu from Chef Jordan starting at 3 p.m. Cozy, festive vibes encouraged…sparkles optional.
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Original Skiff New Year’s Eve Oysterball — A late-night oyster and Champagne party featuring a raw bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, specialty rum drinks, and a live DJ set from Melo Grant, plus a midnight Champagne toast. Kicks off at 10 p.m. | 🎟️ $50
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SEABA Presents A New Year’s Eve Spectacular — A late-night celebration featuring an all-star lineup of live music including Dwight + Nicole, Kat Wright, Ali McGuirk and Bob Wagner, interactive art, Champagne toast, and a balloon drop at midnight. Kicks off at 8 p.m. | 🎟️ Sliding-scale tickets ($30+) support SEABA programming.
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Waterworks New Year’s Eve in the River House — Ring in the New Year at with a late-night party featuring DJ Luis Calderin, dancing, lite bites, and a complimentary drink ticket. Doors open at 8 PM | 🎟️ $60.
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Adventure Dinner New Year’s Eve Dance Party — Dance your way into the New Year at their Clubhouse in Colchester with a festive late-night party featuring upbeat music, a bottomless snack spread, shrimp tower moments, and plenty of fun bevvies, including a midnight glass of bubbles. Kicks off at 8 p.m. | 🎟️ $49 + tax.
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New Year’s Eve at La Reprise — Celebrate with a four-course dinner, optional truffle and caviar add-ons, and exceptional Champagne by the glass or bottle. Walk in to the Champagne and raw bar from 4 to 6 p.m., or book a seated dinner to celebrate in full, decadent style.
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New Queer’s Eve @ Higher Ground — This annual LGBTQ+ New Year’s Eve celebration in the Showcase Lounge features DJs, drag and burlesque performances, high-energy dancing, and a Champagne toast at midnight. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. | 🎟️ $25 + taxes and fees.
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Lil’s New Year’s Eve at Standing Stone Wines — A festive New Year’s Eve will feature karaoke and lots of sparkling wine including a midnight toast. Knowing Lil, this could potentially kick off at any time during the day…!
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Skinny Pancake’s New Year’s Eve at the Waterfront — Celebrate at their Burlington waterfront location with as part of Highlight’s festivities. They’ll offer up food and drinks all day and night, then roll into an evening dance party at 9 p.m. with funk and soul from Soul Porpoise. | 🎟️ Highlight button required.
And finally, because the holidays should include at least one thing that’s purely for fun…the Essex Resort & Spa has gone all in on gingerbread houses.
Not only are they currently displaying the entries from their staff gingerbread house competition in the lobby (guests and visitors can vote for their favorites), but they’ve also built a life-sized gingerbread house on site. It’s made from 532 gingerbread bricks, held together with 144 pounds of icing, and took the bake shop team more than five days to build and decorate. If you need a festive field trip, a little holiday whimsy, or just proof that some people really commit to a theme, it’s worth a look.
We’ll see you in 2026! Until then…eat well, drink thoughtfully, and don’t underestimate the power of gingerbread.