The tastings are held every Thursday and Friday throughout the season, combining an excellent array of wines with a welcoming approach to wine tasting. Anyone from wine newbies to connoisseurs are invited to join in the fun! The event, hosted by the owners of Zillie's with the assistance of their wonderful staff, Angie, Will, and William, has become as island tradition for many. Island local Macky Bell served as our hostess for the evening and is a treasure. Her enthusiasm, class, and respect brought an air of sophistication to the event. (She served all the ladies in the group before allowing any of the gentleman to take their portion.) She joked that she had been with Zillie’s for 100 years, even though she is only 91 years old (I hope to be that vibrant when I reach that age).

Upon arriving and seeing the busy, lively porch, Mom and I knew we were in for an evening of indulgence.  We were ready to get busy sampling some wine! (Also the small bites that accompany each glass.)

With the sound of the gong by owner David, the event commenced. The flight (a term used to describe a selection of wines, usually between three and eight glasses, presented for the purpose of sampling and comparison) consisted of a selection of five very different wines from around the globe.  We started with a light-bodied white and progressed in intensity until we reached a heavy red to finish out the tasting. 

The first wine that was poured was a crisp, refreshing Dolce Anna Cava from Spain. This sparkling wine is to Spain what Champagne is to France.  Made in the traditional method, this cava was sweet and effervescent with notes of apple and white peach.  Although quite sweet, this wine was paired with smoked oysters, which helped to balance out the sweetness of the wine.  After sipping on this delicious glass, Mom and I were eager to see what was to come. 

Wine number two was a King Estate Pinot Gris from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.  The vineyard on which this grape grows is an all-organic vineyard, utilizing falcons as pest control instead of pesticides.  This creates a clean, pure taste in the wine.  This Pinot Gris was paired with a smoked cheddar cheese with mango chutney. The sweetness and the fruitiness from the mango really complemented the dry fruit flavors in the wine.   

While sipping on each glass, we began to mingle and socialize with the other quests.  We met couples coming from Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. One sweet couple, Cary and Heather Willgren, from Florida, got engaged and then married on the island 6 years ago and try to come back on that same day every year! What a true island love story!

On to wine number three! We traveled to Austria where we had a beautiful white blend. Pannonica is a blend of Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, and Pinot Blanc. The vineyard where this wine is produced grows many different verities of grape that blend exceptionally well. Being the heaviest white of the evening, the wine was paired with cheddar cheese with a maple, bacon, and onion jam. The complex flavors of the wine could withstand the powerful flavor combination of the maple and bacon jam. 

Wine number four brought us to the red wine portion of the event. We started with Elements, a red blend from Sonoma County California. Bottled in 2012 this red blend had strong notes of black fruit with a strong finish. Pairing the wine with sausage created a harmonious combination where the intensities of the wine and the flavors of the sausage were both enhanced.   

The final wine of the night was Horse Haven Hills Merlot from Columbia Crest Washington. This intense wine, full of red fruit flavors, was paired with velvety dark chocolate for a smooth and creamy finish to the evening. The bitterness of the chocolate paired perfectly with the full-bodied Merlot that was full of dark fruit flavors and nice tannic finish.

The weekly wine tastings at Zillie’s Island Pantry are a treat for yourself and a loved one! I got to mingle and meet kind new people along with spending the evening with my mom! What could be better than that! Once the tasting has concluded, guests were welcomed to purchase the wine they had tasted at a generous discount. You can even mix and match a case to be shipped home if you like!

Do not miss out on the island treasure that is Zillie’s! Even if it is just to grab a beer and some crackers, it is sure to exceed all expectations.

Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed sipping on our wine, eating our chocolate, and chatting it up with other guests, and we are sure to be at another wine tasting soon!

Go check out Zillie’s Island Pantry on Back Road for their weekly wine tastings or to just grad a quick snack or a refreshing pre dinner drink! Reserve online at zillies.com.

New this summer: 

Zillie’s will be hosting five Summer Pop-Up Wine Tasting Dinners on select Tuesday evenings in July and August at the Historic Berkley Manor! Dine in style in the elegant dining room of this classic hunt club with two different five-course Tasting Menus.

Staff Chef Christopher Johnson has come up with some delicious traditional and not-so-traditional offerings which will be paired with some great wine selections. Reservations for these very special evenings are limited to 32 guests at $75 per ticket (including tax and gratuity). These dinners were popular over the winter and completely sold out so make your reservations early.