Vibe Check: Bocage Takes Bordeaux
Tasting "good" wine with an expert. PLUS: a self-care goody box for a good cause, the buzz about Bars Without Boundaries and more.
Today’s the first day of fall, and for a select group of my fellow winos and I, this means happily ushering in the return of Bocage’s autumnal wine tasting series. But why so select? Vino for all! In that spirit, for the first one of the season, I brought along your favorite SLAH reporter, Natalie Moore. And I got to witness something unusual, in the wild: Our ready-to-try-anything Sporty Spice—notebook in hand—was out of her comfort zone. I didn’t know giggling was a thing she did. (Ok, that’s a lie. See: her modeling debut.)
I thought, “I am so here for this.”
Bocage’s owners, Clark Gale and Zac Denham, have put together an awesome program that somehow works for both beginner oenophiles and those of us who may have years of wine tasting/wine writing/even wine country living under our belts. It’s sort of like when you watch a movie with your littles and the kids and adults are laughing at very different parts.
Everyone will learn something. And everyone will have a great time.
The first class/tasting/decadent five-course meal out of the gate starred winemaker Pierre Lefort and his specialty, Bordeaux. After a starter glass of bubbly (a lively but smooth crémant de borgogne), we got started. (Theater kid Zac welcomed us all to his “little bubble bar,” which I will now steal use.) We ate roasted butternut squash and coq au vin; we tasted wines from all over Bordeaux; we learned the difference between the wines grown on the left bank vs the right bank and other fun facts; we watched Natalie as she sipped her way through her first tasting—and were in awe over the vegan modifications Bocage was able to make for her.
Being in Bocage truly is like lounging in the living room of that one friend you have who’s an excellent host. I never want to leave.
SO. Was the intrepid-but-today-shy Natalie, who has always professed to not like wine or know anything about it, impressed? “I learned that if you think you don't like wine, you probably just haven't had good wine,” says the budding wine geek (I’m manifesting here). “My favorites were the first red [a merlot/cab franc from the prestigious Saint-Émilion appellation] and the dessert wine, which surprised me, because I typically don't like super-sweet wines.”
Now that’s a reporter’s open mind.
If you would also like to taste your first “good” wine—or already know and love it—there are two more grand tastings (with food) pairings left this year. In my circle, Sunday brunch is a sacred meal of gossip and vino, so I’ll be at the 2pm Wines of Tuscany; there is also a 6pm seating that usually sells out first. November brings Wine of Champagne.
See you there?
—Abby
Quote of the Week
“Do you have a box for these?”
—Woman in the VIP tent at the opening night of the Saratoga Car Auction, after collecting enough sturdy Freixenet wine glasses to host her next pool party in Florida.
All for Run
You have three days left to register online for Saratoga Bridges’ 23rd Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge, which will go off on Sunday, September 30. The popular 5K & 10K (and Kid’s Fun Run!) benefits the nonprofit’s essential non-funded or underfunded programs, services and activities for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Individuals, friends, families, coworkers and corporate teams can run, and the first 1,500 registered will receive a long-sleeve moisture wicking shirt. (All participants are mailed a T-shirt.) Prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place males and females in each age group, and there will also be fun giveaways.
(Not-So-) Small Packages
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and one local entrepreneur has created a self-care goody box called “You Matter”—and is donating 5% of its profits to SAVE.org. “We partnered with Doughp, Baloo, Conscious Step, and others to donate back to mental health causes,” says Riham Larussa, member of the Saratoga Palette Community and owner of Small Packages, a curated gift site for all occasions that uses products that promote women-owned and BIPOC-owned companies. (The boxes are so popular that they’ve landed on Good Morning America and CNN.) Looking for a gift—for yourself or others? The “You Matter” box includes Doughp’s brownie cookie dough, Baloo’s lemon and ginger sparkling water, Conscious Step’s smiley face socks and more.
Raising the Bar
The fall festival circuit is buzzing about Bars Without Boundaries, a stunning new mobile bar and cafe. (Last night in the VIP tent of the Saratoga Motorcar Auction’s opening night, Joyce White was dreaming up a block party for the sole purpose of bringing it to her neighborhood.) The refurbished trailer is part mobile bar, part food truck and is run by Saratogians Richard and Jennifer Alexander (with their two kids, ages 13 and 17). “It has been a family labor of love!” says Richard of creating their dream party trailer, which was still packed with hay and manure when they purchased it. “We are versatile in what we do, ranging from alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, coffee drinks and snacks—my 13-year-old daughter is the cotton candy making queen. We also are able to tailor the décor of the trailer to the event and the seasons.” You can find Bars Without Boundaries today at the Saratoga Giant Pumpkinfest downtown, and at various festivals this fall, including West Mountain, Willow-Marsh Farm and the Warrensburg Garage Sale.
Garden Party
Needing to re-center after the hustle and bustle of summer? Join Saratoga Living, Complexions, and former RHONY star/current integrative health coach Heather Thomson for a garden party this Tuesday at the Gideon Putnam. Think prosecco, make-your-own facial mist, the unveiling of BARE Blends’ newest smoothie…all while surrounded by the healing springs of Spa State Park. Join us!
See you today!
If you’re at the Saratoga Motorcar Auction today, come see us in the VIP tent! $50 gets you all you can drink (Mionetto mimosas with OJ or apple cider, wine by Freixenet and all kinds of beer from DeCrescente), and eat—thank the food gods at West Ave. Pizza and Chicken, plus other treats. See you soon!