Missed - Madeira Event @ Liberty Hotel, Boston

[Moses Botbol]

June 10, 2009 Liberty Hotel, Boston

I missed this one, but a friend who likes Madeira and loves Port happen to be there that night and stumbled upon like 10-20 different Madeiras from Broadbent, Justihno, Blandy's,H&H, RWC, Barbeito... going back to the early 1950's. He said no one was drinking any of them and must've drank a whole bottle by himself. He said the owners of Barbeito were there???

He showed me some pictures. I can't believe I did not know about this. Anyone else know about this event?

[David Spriggs]

I went to the equivalent event in San Fransico. The event in San Francisco was a trade and press only event. I'll be uploading my tasting notes on this soon.
-Dave-

[Gary Banker]

This is the first I've heard of it. It seems to have flown under the radar. A Wednesday event would have been difficult for me, but I would have liked to have had the opportunity. Maybe Roy could have the next FTLOP madeira event in Boston (or New Bedford) instead of New York.

[Moses Botbol]

This is the first I've heard of it. It seems to have flown under the radar. A Wednesday event would have been difficult for me, but I would have liked to have had the opportunity. Maybe Roy could have the next FTLOP madeira event in Boston (or New Bedford) instead of New York.

Imagine that in New Beige! Perhaps during Madeira Festival. I think with the right publicity, it could be the largest fancy Madeira dinner ever held. Lots of people in SE Mass would love to attend and there's no shortage of Portuguese to drink it.
I also think we could have a major event in Boston with the right promotion. Probably just a pay per head would work best. Several places to have it around here as well.

[Roy Hersh]

I did not know of this event and will bring that fact to the appropriate people's attention.

That said, it would not be that hard to the a Madeira Road Show in Boston. I typically choose NY as I have a restaurant willing to work with me and they not only have access to all of the glassware required (256 Port glasses) at no charge, but they also waive all corkage and provide a private room with no additional "room charge." That saves participants a lot of money ($50-80 per head at least). I have also had a free hand in working with the executive chef in the menu planning, as there are also fine dinner wines to accompany the meal, AFTER the tasting. We typically head back to retaste the Madeiras at the end too, but not everyone has the stamina for that. This is usually a full 6 hour event.

Also, when I do it in NY, I don't have to add the additional cost of an expensive hotel room, as I have family there that let's me stay with them. Given that these are always not-for-profit and that I have to pay the same as everyone else, but a significant cross country trip and airfare, NY has been more convenient. I am not ruling out Boston, but there'd have to be some significant help on the ground there to make that as viable as NY. The one thing that I would not change is the format. 16 total people, 14 of which are guests and two of us co-moderating, where everyone brings one STELLAR bottle along.

I'll keep an open mind if you think some of the hurdles can be overcome and a top notch venue could be reigned in.