Seated Tasting
Friday, January23
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Wines by the Glass/Bottle until close
Pirates, plunder, and astonishing bottles — unearthed by Dave
When Gasparilla rolls into Tampa, everything becomes just a little more swashbuckling — and this year’s wine lineup is no exception.
For this tasting, Dave has been quietly raiding cellars, pillaging distributor back rooms, and plundering importer portfolios to uncover rare deals and remarkable finds — the kind of bottles you bring onboard a pirate float or pour proudly at your own crew’s celebration.
These are wines with stories, character, and depth — treasures hiding in plain sight.
A bright opening salvo
Elk Cove Estate Pinot Blanc 2024 — Willamette Valley
Fresh, lively, and oh-so drinkable. Crisp pear, white peach, citrus zest — perfect for warm weather decks and parade routes.
Pommery Apanage Blanc de Blancs — Champagne, Reims
Elegant bubbles crafted entirely from Chardonnay. Fine mousse, citrus cream, chalky minerality — refined enough for nobles, yet fun enough for rogues.
Red treasures from distant shores
Clos Saint Joseph Rouge 2020 — Côtes de Provence (France)
Silky, savory, and irresistibly Mediterranean. Herbs, plum, spice, and sun-warmed stones — a pirate’s version of a French country feast.
Freeman Akiko’s Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019 — Sonoma Coast
Graceful and layered. Red cherry, tea leaf, subtle earth — a masterfully blended Pinot with finesse beneath its quiet power.
Bodegas Alión 2021 — Ribera del Duero (Spain)
Produced by Vega Sicilia’s legendary team. Dense, polished, and modern — black fruit, cedar, spice, and long-sailing structure.
Hickinbotham “Trueman” Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 — McLaren Vale (Australia)
Dark, plush, and commanding. Blackberry compote, graphite, cocoa — bold enough for a captain, smooth enough to savor.
