18 March 2015
As the second annual Philly Wine Week kicks off this Sunday, March 22, with Opening Corks {a fun tasting gala and Spring celebration focusing on premium sparkling, white wines and rosés at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts} we checked in with PWW Board Member Sande Friedman to highlight some of the festival’s events. We asked what her thoughts were on PWW in general, she said, “After participating in PWW 2014, it’s been neat to see the number of restaurants involved grow with such vigor. The variety of places devoting a week to wine appreciation is awesome; it’s not just established wine bars like Tria, Vintage, Panorama, Paradiso Restaurant and Wine Bar, etc, but also neighborhood places such as Sassafras, American Sardine Bar and Bardot.” Friedman gave us the scoop on some of her most anticipated events, including: the wine vs. beer cage matches at Alla Spinna featuring Brendan Hartranft, owner of Memphis Taproom, vs. Jason Malumed, owner of Chalkboard Wine and Spirits, and Jonny Medlinsky, bartender at Khyber Pass Pub and Philly Beer Week participant, vs wine consultant David McDuff, and more. Friedman also reccomends checking out The Upstairs at Vetri on Monday night for David Browler Wine’s (a N.Y.-based importer and distributer) portfolio dinner. For a full list of events go to www.phillywineweek.org – Carly Hammer