Virtual Wine Tasting
Big Macs & Burgundy: Unusual Pairings for Exceptional Wines

Thursday, May 20, 2021
6:30pm ET
LIVE Online • In English

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Burgundy’s Climats, or terroirs, are world renowned. Lesser known is that these prestigious wines are also incredibly versatile, beautifully complementing delicate and bold flavors alike. Vanessa Price, co-author of Big Macs & Burgundy, will examine the bolder side of the spectrum during this illuminating evening of surprising and indulgent pairings.

Nicole Muscari, wine advisor from Vivant, will present the evening’s selection of six wines, provided in 100 ml tubes, focusing on hidden treasures from south Burgundy. This region, where the Saône river winds through the Côte Chalonnaise and the Maconnais, a lesser-known subregion, welcomes you with unexpected high-quality wines. Home to enticing Pinot Noir and citrusy Chardonnay, southern Burgundy has its own distinct vibe. The evening will be moderated by Yannick Benjamin, co-founder of Wheeling Forward and Head Sommelier of The University Club.

Special Prize: All attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a selection of best cheeses from Lactalis. A winner will be selected via a random drawing at the end of the event.

60 minutes with Q&A

Featured Wine

  • Dominique Cornin Saint-Véran Les Serreuxdières 2018
  • Dominique Cornin Pouilly-Fuissé Les Plessys 2017
  • Domaine de la Luolle Givry Les Plants Sont Fleuris Rouge 2018
  • Domaine de la Luolle Mercurey Le Balcon 2018
  • Dominique Cornin Mâcon-Chaintré Les Serreuxdières 2017
  • Domaine de la Luolle Bourgogne Blanc Les Daluz 2018

Email Daphné Delarue at daphne@vivant.eco.

Wine kit includes one 100ml tube of each featured wine.
$59 not including delivery.
Kits ordered after May 6 will be delivered after the event.

Food Pairings

Experience Vanessa’s bold pairings by having one or all of these foods ready for the tasting:

  • Gummy bears
  • Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn
  • Big Mac
  • Hot Brown sandwich

Vanessa Price

Vanessa Price is the co-author of Big Macs & Burgundy.

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    • Born and raised in Kentucky, Vanessa first caught the wine bug working in a small winery down south. She followed her passion for wine and moved to New York City in 2007, starting as a sommelier on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. From there she moved on to wine education, PR and events for wine-focused client services, consulting for private wine collectors and wine lists in NYC restaurants, and as a distributor and importer, working with some of the most renowned restaurants and wineries in the world today. Through this years-long diverse education of the wine world, Vanessa decided to dedicate herself to being both a student and teacher of wine. Today she is the Creative Director and Founder of The Vinum Collective, Vanessa is a graduate of and instructor for The Wine&Spirit Education Trust®. Her book Big Macs & Burgundy was released with Abrams Publishing in October 2020 and is now a Washington Post Best-Seller. Price is partnering with Dan Abrams of ABC News on a winery project in the North Fork of Long Island. She is also developing a high-end restaurant concept called Maverick’s Montauk set to open in the Spring of 2022. Her mission is to help translate the complexities of wine to wine lovers the world over. Vanessa’s experience working in the wine industry is vast. She has worked for wineries, importers, distributors and buyers. She teaches (a very popular) wine class at Columbia University. She is a certified Level 4 Diploma of Wine and Spirits carrier. Most of all she has a passion for grape juice and all the people who make it, sell it, and live it. She also graduated from The American Musical & Dramatic Academy in NYC.

      Learn more at www.vinumco.com

Nicole Muscari

Nicole Muscari is a wine advisor for Vivant.

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    • Originally from Rochester, NY, Nicole Muscari has been based in New York City since 2013. Her passion for wine was ignited in 2014 while on her first trip to Napa Valley during harvest season. After listening to the stories behind the label and watching the artistry of the winemaking process, she knew she needed to be a part of it. She has since completed the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 Advanced and is a French Wine Scholar through the Wine Scholar Guild. She also writes about wine for publications such as The Vintner Project and Honest Cooking Magazine.

      Learn more at www.grapechic.com

Yannick Benjamin

Yannick Benjamin is the co-founder of Wheeling Forward and the head sommelier of The University Club.

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    • He is a proud New Yorker from Hell’s Kitchen. Born into a family of French restaurateurs, Benjamin has worked at Le Cirque, Oceana, Jean-Georges, Atlas, Felidia, and Atelier at the Ritz-Carlton. Additionally, he has worked for Le Du’s Wines, one of the top wine retail stores in Manhattan, for 10 years. In 2003, a car accident left Benjamin paralyzed from the waist down. However, his passion for wine drove him to quickly adapt, outfitting his wheelchair so that he could continue working as a sommelier. He went on to create “Wine on Wheels,” now in its eighth year bringing together hundreds of sommeliers to pour more than 180 wines from around the world to support the charity Wheeling Forward. Benjamin’s tireless work and innovative vision is bringing awareness and visibility to seldom-heard voices in the wine industry and championing inclusivity. Benjamin is currently preparing to open his first restaurant, Contento NYC, in East Harlem this spring.