Must be 21 years of age or older.
Join Sommelier Erica Archer and Chef de Cuisine Kirby Sholl, of acclaimed Portland, Maine restaurant Chaval, for a gorgeous scenic wine and food sail as you explore five incredibly delicious wines from South Africa ... each paired with delicious food from this extremely talented Chef.
You're in for an incredible wine education and food experience as you sail through Maine’s beautiful Casco Bay with scenic views of Maine lighthouses, islands, and waterways ... all while indulging in incredible wine, food, and sailing experience. You'll walk away with knowing a lot about wine, how regional influences impact wine styles and quality, gain confidence knowing how to evaluate, select, and pair wines, and describe what you smell and taste. And no doubt you will taste and learn a lot about the incredible food that Chef Sholl has prepared for you.
The menu will be available on the date of the event as the Chef takes inspiration from only the freshest local ingredients. Due to the nature of this event, we regret that we cannot accommodate food substitutions.
This is part of a series of Wine & Food Sails with Chaval. Each will touch on a different region of the world or style of wine and cuisine using the produce of local Maine farmers. harvesters, and purveyors. We do recommend getting your tickets soon if you’d like to join us.
Your Chef
Chef Kirby Sholl grew up in Princeton, New Jersey and first moved to Maine to attend Colby College. During the summers, he worked at Islesford Dock Restaurant, where he would eventually serve as the Head Chef for 10 years. It was here that his love for Maine's local produce and fresh seasonal ingredients first began. His culinary career has taken him to California, where worked at Globe and Zuppa, and New York City, where he worked at Public. Working seasonally in Islesford allowed Kirby to travel throughout the rest of the year. In 2010, he traveled to South Africa for the first time, where they spent three months backpack and exploring all the food, wine, and culture the country had to offer. The first winter they spent in South Africa, they visited many wineries and he really began learning about the vineyards and the history of wine. He had the opportunity to taste through dozens of the country’s best vineyards and recalls sometimes backpacking with at least 20 bottles of wine in his pack!
After three consecutive winters in South Africa, Kirby moved to Portland, Maine, where he began working at Miyake. During this time, he got to know Chefs Damian Sansonetti and Ilma Lopez as a regular at Piccolo and these frequent visits led him to work at Piccolo part-time. In 2017, Kirby helped open Chaval with Damian and Ilma and has been there ever since.
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, and 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 sense of humor and down-to-earth style.
Where do we meet?
We depart from the Maine State Pier, located at 56 Commercial Street (where Commercial Street meets Franklin Street). You’ll receive a more detailed email a few days before your event. Please refer to our FAQ page for answers to questions that you may be wondering about.
CANCELLATIONS/RESCHEDULES/NO SHOWS
Because of our size, cancellations affect us significantly. If we are able to re-sell your tickets we can refund your ticket price minus the $20.00 credit card transactions we have to pay OR reschedule you to a different date that has availability (there is no credit card transaction fee in this case). You are always welcome to send a friend or family member in your place or sell your own tickets. Just make sure we have the ticket holder's email address so we can send them the event notifications, so they are aware of where to find us and any day-of weather-related notifications. There are no refunds or reschedules for no-shows or if we are not able to resell your tickets. Makes sense, right?