Friday Night Flights at Ristorante Panorama


Sure, sure, we hear you. You’re a Foobooz reader. We know you’re probably a denizen of the foodie-class circuit. Wine classes, beer classes, pasta-making classes, Introduction to Knifework classes, cook-dinner-with-the-chef classes and, finally, Come-Gawk-at-Georges-Perrier classes at Cook. You’ve done them all. But have you been to what we consider to be the best drop-in wine class in the Delaware Valley? The one that started years before the interactive kitchen trend took hold? If not, we assure you that you are truly missing out.

Friday Night Flights” takes place a few Fridays a month in Il Bar at Ristorante Panorama, which, as you know, holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for possessing the largest wine preservation and dispensing system in the world. From 6-8 P.M. sommelier William Eccleston welcomes a visiting vintner or wine rep to introduce participants to that week’s themed wine flights, carefully selected by guest and host. While seated “students” sip, listen and ask questions, they can nibble from the gorgeous spread of cheeses and hors d’oeuvres that flourish on the serving table. The food and wine flow freely and the two hours pass with the elegance and conviviality you’d expect from an establishment owned by Luca Sena. What’s more, the cost of the classes hasn’t changed in years: $25 for advance reservations and $35 at the door (seating is limited so we recommend planning ahead). Bring a potentially special someone for a first date and if all goes well, stay for dinner.

There’s no class tonight but next week is a great one. Manuel Gomes Mota, whose family founded Portugal’s Maritàvora vineyard and winery more than 150 years ago, is coming to present the “deeply flavored” reds and whites he makes in the Duoro region, famous for its Port wine. We’re not sure if he’ll make available the Maritavora White Reserve, produced from vines more than 100 years old, but all of his wines do have a history, as Duoro has been the site of winemaking since the end of the Western Roman Empire and was, in 1756, the first wine region to receive a formal demarcation.

See, you’ve already learned something just by just reading about this event.

You can pick up tickets for next week’s event (and all the other Friday Night Flights, too) by checking out the local wine events page here.

Ristorante Panorama [Official website]

Friday Night Flights