The holidays are here—signaling the end of one horrible year, the final months of the brutal reign of Trump and the promise of a vaccine in 2021—so there is much to celebrate! While partying with 50 of your closest friends and followers is not in the cards this year, you can certainly get together virtually with your nearest and dearest for a special night of wine drinking, cocktail making, pasta rolling, and more. What follows is a list of my favorite virtual hosts, all of whom are available to help you gather with gratitude this holiday season.
Make Pasta and Drink Wine and Pop the Bubbles with Popina
Chris and James—the wonderful Maialino expats who own Popina in Brooklyn—may have shuttered their outdoor space for the season, but they’re still open for pasta and sauces, pantry items and terrific wine. And just in time for the holidays, they are bringing the @popinanyc experience to you by way of virtual classes and tastings, each unique and custom-designed to your group's exact needs💥💥Perhaps that's a....
- Family pasta-making class starring Cacio e Pepe
- Champagne and caviar celebration for your favorite clients
- Company-wide happy hour spent DIY'ing holiday cocktails
- Wine-and-cheese-and-more-wine tasting with the annual holiday dinner squad
Whatever the occasion, they're here for it and ready to make it memorable. Just send the below info to james@popinanyc.com and they'll send a proposal your way with ideas to match:
- Requested date and time
- How many people
- General Budget
- Any other details you think might be helpful (occasion, personal v corporate, etc)
Several other notable restaurants also do tastings, chef classes and cocktail classes including Charlie Bird (events@dhgnyc.com) and Olmstead (Zwann Grays, zwann@olmstednyc.com).
Camille Wilson “The Cocktail Snob”
Camille is known for her terrific blog The Cocktail Snob where she helps folks discover the best cocktails in New York City and shares simple recipes for those who want to create happy hour at home. She also works with brands like Aberlour, HH Bespoke Spirits, and Vodka Mariette and hosts amazing virtual mixology workshops. Check her out here.
Julie Reiner, Leyenda and Clover Club
If you drink craft cocktails in New York City, then you certainly know the incredible Julie Reiner, author of The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks For Every Occasion, and co-owner of Clover Club & Leyenda, and co-founder of the newly launched Social Hour canned cocktails. She is a legend and she does virtual cocktail classes so ping her!
Inspired Curated Cocktails
Founder and mixologist Nicole Kanev has a wealth of experience creating cocktails as a mixologist and can help you and yours create cocktails to pair with meals, a mood, or a party theme. Learn more here.
Ariel Brodsky Consulting
Ariel is a master mixologist who has worked at some of the most highly-regarded restaurants in NYC for over 15 years. She’s now bringing her talents to your home, offering virtual cocktail, wine, beer tasting classes as well as consulting on how to build your best wine (or beer) cellar at home. Learn more here.
Curated People
Curated People comes to you from three veteran event planners who have assembled an all-star roster of experts in everything from wine, to cheese, comedy, magic, music, cigars, and caviar. There’s something for everyone on their list of virtual events (and they’re awesome women!). Learn more here.
Becoming Foodies
Chef and bartender Dina Smith offers virtual cooking and cocktail classes for anyone looking for foundational skills to make simply delish food and cocktails daily. She is incredibly fun and outgoing and really works hard to get the entire group into the process with fun questions and party games. Really an effervescent personality to watch—she’s the perfect party host. Learn more here.
Avital Tours
Avital Tours is a great group that offers many variations on a Zoom Cocktail Hour with a vetted crew of craft Bartenders, or a combination of a half hour cocktail session and a chef experience. Learn more here.
Buon Vino Winery's Virtual Classes
This recommendation comes from my college friend Lisa Rose who lives out in California. "Buon Vino beautiful wine store located in Walnut Creek, California that’s owned and operated by a brother and sister dynamic duo, Dan and Katie Batlin," she told me. "They source and pour terrific wines in a European tasting manner of “try before you buy.” Pre-covid, you would go to their shop, taste wines, and they would bottle and cork up your preferences to take home and further enjoy. Due to pandemic, they’ve created great wine tasting experiences to be enjoyed in the comforts of your own home, and tastings that can be lead virtually if desired."
Their wines are beautiful and the virtual wine tastings are a terrific team-building option, a great corporate gift, or just a fun and educational tasting experience at home.
Buon Vino hosts small to large groups. Check out all you'll receive:
Half-bottle each of a white and red wine
Custom wine label design/printing (send us your team or company's logo)
Our special commemorative SIP shirt for you and your team to wear during our special tasting
One hour tasting with you and the participants over Zoom
Custom tasting worksheet to guide a fun conversation
Shipping of each package directly to event participants
Learn more about Buon Vino here.
This list will be updated so be sure to check back! If you'd like to suggest an addition please email me here.
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