Must be 21 years of age or older.
This event is part of Portland Wine Week, June 10-16, 2024
CHEF SERIES WINE & FOOD SAILS ARE BACK!
There are still a few spots left for you to join us for this exceptional wine and food pairing experience. Indulge in the gorgeous scenery aboard the immaculate windjammer, Frances, as you sail through pristine Casco Bay with high-quality wines and award-winning cuisine; this is an event not to be missed. Get your tickets now while they’re still available!
These are truly the most fantastic dining reservations in Portland, Maine! This summer, you have the opportunity to sail and sip five incredibly delicious wines on 12 different occasions. Sommelier Erica Archer and an incredibly talented local chef from a top Portland restaurant will guide you through the experience, serving and teaching you about five fantastic wines paired perfectly with five delicious courses.
“Shef” Mimi Weissenborn is joining us again for another highly-rated Chef Series Wine & Food Sail on Sunday, June 16, during Portland Wine Week (which also happens to be Father’s Day). You’ll sail and sip five wines that you'll love to add to your repertoire, each thoughtfully paired with dishes prepared by Mimi. Enjoy a scenic sail on the 74-foot immaculate sailboat, Frances, built by her Captain and crew on Portland's waterfront. This incredible wine and food experience takes you through Maine’s beautiful Casco Bay, offering gorgeous scenic views of quintessential lighthouses, lush green islands, and historic forts.
On this Wine & Food Sail you’ll gain knowledge about wine, understanding how regional influences impact wine styles and quality. You’ll also learn how to evaluate, select, and pair wines, describing their aromas and flavors confidently. Each bite and sip promises to be enjoyable. The menu will be available close to 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.
ABOUT YOUR CHEF
After two successful Chef Series Wine & Food Sails last year, Mimi is back for more! From Sur Lie in Portland, Gather in Yarmouth, and the now-open Catface Café in Biddeford, she is a native of Maryland and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. She studied at L’Academie de Cuisine and began her culinary career in New York City. Mimi worked at Superfine in Brooklyn, then as the Creative Director and Executive Chef at Vinateria, where she received a Michelin recommendation.
Weissenborn has participated in multiple chef collaborations, including the New York City Food & Wine Festival, Harlem Eat Up, and various James Beard Foundation dinners. Her first visit to Maine was during the COVID pandemic in 2020, when she sought refuge from tight living in NYC's lockdowns. She quickly fell in love with Maine's fresh produce, local farmers, and Portland’s particularly impressive culinary scene, deciding to stay for good.
Weissenborn has participated in multiple chef collaborations, including the New York City Food & Wine Festival, Harlem Eat Up, and various James Beard Foundation dinners. Her first visit to Maine was during the COVID pandemic in 2020, when she sought refuge from tight living in NYC's lockdowns. She quickly fell in love with Maine's fresh produce, local farmers, and Portland’s particularly impressive culinary scene, deciding to stay for good.
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). The signage from the road is not so great. Casco Bay Lines is right there as well. You'll walk down the paved road to the pier with the Whale Wall on your left and the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal on your right. Keep walking onto the Maine State Pier (past gate 5 of the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal). On the pier, to the right, you will see two sheds for two sailing companies. Please wait by the Maine Sailing Adventures/Frances shed.
What else?
Please put your Wine Sail in your calendar to arrive before the boarding time. 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.
Please review our Get Ready for Your Wine Sail page.
Please forward our Get Ready for Your Wine Sail page to everyone attending with you so that everyone is adequately prepared and on time... or early!!
We receive many of the same questions very frequently. 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.
Cancellations, rescheduling requests, no-shows, and weather policies:
Please see our policies on the Get Ready for Your Wine Sail page or our FAQ page.