Much of the wine world goes crazy today with the release of Beaujolais Nouveau even if some people say it is vintastic craptastic.

Tria is offering a “juicy” Dupueble Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 for $5 at both their locations.

Fork is offering a Beaujolais Nouveau tasting from 6 to 7pm for $15.

Thursday, November 12th sees a choice of festivals. The Union League is hosting the Philadelphia Whiskey Festival while Phiz Fest celebrates Champagne and sparkling wine at the Bellevue.

Which festival would you choose?

Philadelphia Whiskey Festival

Taste spirits from around the world including, premium Scotch, single malts, Bourbon, whiskey, Cognac, Canadian and Irish Whiskeys, tequila, gin, rum and vodka.

6:30pm to 9:30pm
Tickets are $85 in advance, $95 at the door

Phiz Fest

Taste Champagne and sparkling wines from around the world paired with cuisine from area restaurants.

6pm to 8:30pm
Tickets are $69.50 each, $59.50 when you purchase two or more.

Rouge is offering a six-course tasting menu Tuesday through Saturday for $55 per person, $85 with wine pairings.

Among the highlights are seared scallops, King Salmon and braised beef brisket.

Click the menu below for full details and wine pairings.

Rouge [Official Site]

On Monday nights every bottle of wine at Bar Ferdinand is half-price. Get there early, happy hour is 4:30 to 6:30 and features half-priced sangria, select drafts and Claricot.

Bar Ferdinand [Official Site]

Adam Erace visits the new Meritage and says the Asian inspired menu and booze-friendly bites are ready to step out of Pub & Kitchen’s shadow.

Meritage’s wine program has become more approachable and affordable, with 14 by the glass (all $8), fun flights and 50 bottles under $50.

So bring on the alcohol sponges, fair bartender! Fat, tempura-fried jalapenos, like addictive poppers filled with hoisin-kissed house-ground pork and cellophane noodles in a ginger-soy glaze. Tight, pan-fried Hudson Valley foie gras dumplings tossed in butter browned with Burgundy truffles, cilantro and scallion. Silky Lancaster chicken liver pâté crowned with black plums macerated in brandy and five spice. All $6 or less, all tasty.

Meritage [Philadelphia Weekly]
Meritage [Official Site]

Le Bec-Fin’s got game. Tuesday, October 6th the French restaurant is hosting a game and wine dinner for $150 per person.

There will be courses of rabbit, pheasant, venison and freshly hunted cheese.

Complete menu and wine pairings after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Keith Wallace, owner of the Philadelphia Wine School and Jason and Delphine Evenchick of Time and Vintage have joined up to create the Center City Wine School. The Wine School will be hosted at Time and will teach some of the same classes the Philadelphia Wine School is known for.

Philadelphia Wine School [Official Site]
Time [Official Site]

Phiz Fest, the Champagne and sparkling wine tasting is back for a second year. It will be Thursday, November 12th from 6pm to 8:30pm at the  Grand Ballroom of the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue.

Sample a wide variety of Champagnes and sparkling wines. Local restaurants and food purveyors will offer a selection of appetizers, cheeses and foods.

Tickets are $65 per person, $120 for two and $220 for a group of four.  Tickets will be $75 at the door. Proceeds benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Phiz Fest [Official Site]

Philadelphia is a city of bars, dive bars, neighborhood bars, gastropubs, wine bars, beer bars, hotel bars and a host of others that defy categorization. The Foobooz Top 50 Bars touches on all of them. See if your favorites made our list.

Top 50 Bars [f8b8z]
Top 50 Bars Mapped [f8b8z]

Zavino (previously known as ‘Za Vino) has a web site and some other news. Pizza will be somewhere between Neapolitan and Sicilian. The opening is set for October. Michael Klein has some more on the menu. [The Insider]

Stephen Starr’s pizza place at 2nd and Lombard has a name. it’ll be Stella Pizza. Stella is Italian for star. [The Insider]