3:00-5:00 PM (2:45 Boarding) | Maine State Pier | Portland, Maine

Must be 21 years of age or older.

LET’S GO ON A WINE & OYSTER SAIL!

Autumn in Maine is truly magical. You’re in for an unforgettable wine experience as you sail through the pristine waters of Casco Bay, with views of picturesque lighthouses, historic forts, and waterways, with vibrant hues of fall foliage as the backdrop on the picturesque shorelines of Casco Bay’s Calendar Islands … all while enjoying beautiful sommelier-curated wines for the Fall season. With comfortable seating for everyone, you can relax and fully immerse yourself in this highly-rated wine and sailing experience.

Join Sommelier Erica Archer with Champanges in hand, fresh oysters shucked right on board, and comfortable sailing aboard the immaculate 74-foot Tall Ship Frances, expertly built by her captains and crew on Portland's waterfront. With seating for everyone, you can relax and fully enjoy this exquisite experience. It truly doesn’t get much better than this!

• Taste and learn about five delicious Champagnes that pair great with fresh Maine oysters. 

• Taste and learn about different houses and styles of Champagne that you'll love to know about.

• Discuss major Champagne wine styles, grape varieties, methods of production, producer trends, and more

• Enjoy fresh, shucked oysters from five Maine oyster farms.

• Discover what makes Champagne a good match for fresh oysters.

• Gain valuable insights into Champagne—understanding what makes each Champagne unique from other sparkling wines.

• Learn what to expect from specific terms on a Champagne wine label when selecting your next Champagne.

• Learn the basics of tasting or take your wine knowledge to the next level.

• We are serving five wines and plenty of oysters. Due to the nature of our events, we cannot accommodate food allergies, accommodations, or substitutions during these sails. You are welcome to bring your own snack if you have food allergies or hesitations of any kind.

Your Sommelier
Archer is a true oenophile, having obtained high levels of certification in her field. In 2010, she was awarded the Wine Spirit and Education Trust Level Three Advanced Certification in Wines and Spirits (with merit), became a Sommelier in the American Court of Master Sommeliers, and received her Certified Wine Professional award from the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California. Erica is the principal of Wine Wise, a wine education and events service. She is skilled at creating truly creative and memorable wine experiences that take guests beyond a typical tasting with her intimate understanding of what makes each wine unique. And she’ll do it with her trademark down-to-earth style.

Where do we meet?
We are sailing on The Frances at Maine Sailing Adventures on the Maine State Pier, 56 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101 (where Commercial Street meets Franklin Street).

Cancellations, rescheduling requests, no-shows, and weather policies:
Please see our policies on the Get Ready for Your Wine Sail or FAQ page.

What else?

1. Please put your Wine Sail on your calendar to arrive 20 minutes before departure so you do not miss the boarding call. Please heed our advice and allow plenty of time to drive into Portland and find parking. It is no fun missing the boat because of late arrivals.

2. Please review our Get Ready for Your Wine Sail page and forward it to everyone attending with you so that everyone is adequately prepared and on time—or early!! We cannot hold the boat for any late arrivals. 

3. We receive many of the same questions. We have taken the time to write thorough answers to frequently asked questions on our FAQ page. Please look there for immediate answers to many questions.