Local Wine Events

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden in conjunction with Thirst Wine Merchants of Brooklyn, NY presents this tasting of 25 sustainably produced wines to be showcased by their importer Kermit Lynch.

October 28, 2009 | 6 – 8 p.m.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) will present An Evening of Wine on October 28, 2009, in cooperation with internationally renowned importer Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant and Thirst Wine Merchants, a retail shop in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. From 6 to 8 p.m., guests will have the opportunity to taste 25+ sustainably produced wines handpicked by Lynch, who will be present to discuss the wines and sign autographs.

Kermit Lynch is a pioneer who for four decades has championed estate-bottled wines made by family-run estates in France and Italy. In almost all cases the grapes for Lynch’s wines are grown organically, biodynamically or otherwise sustainably. Lynch has had a profound impact upon the way Americans drink wine—and the way the French make it—and this will be highlighted in this wine tasting of over 25 selected bottles that guests will enjoy at the event. Wine regions from throughout France & Italy will be represented (Burgundy, Rhone, Bordeaux, Loire, Provence, Languedoc, Corsica, Piedmont, Tuscany and more!).

Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been a leader in conservation for nearly one hundred years, and continues to educate communities near and far on sustainable horticulture, local agriculture and green living. Proceeds from the event will benefit GreenBridge, the community environmental horticulture program at BBG, which promotes the greening of the urban environment through education, conservation and creative partnerships—including initiatives to encourage and educate Brooklynites to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

Event information                

INSPIRING THIRST:  AN EVENING OF WINE WITH KERMIT LYNCH

Wednesday, October 28 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

1000 Washington Avenue | Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

$40; tickets available

Tickets are first-come, first-served; no ticket purchases at the door. Link to purchase tickets:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/84929

Copies of Mr. Lynch’s books, Adventures Along the Wine Route and Inspiring Thirst, will be available for purchase and signing at the event as will copies of his recent music CD ‘Man’s Temptation’.

About Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant          www.kermitlynch.com

Kermit Lynch is an American wine importer, author, and winemaker, and wine retailer based out of Berkeley, CA. He has been importing wine for the last four decades and pioneered the consistent use of refrigerated shipping containers for imported wine (which sadly is still not industry standard). Lynch has had a profound impact upon the way Americans drink wine and the way the French make it. He has long championed small producers of France who make unfined, unfiltered wines in traditional ways. Lynch is also a passionate and eloquent writer about wine whose books ‘Adventures Along the Wine Route’ and ‘Inspiring Thirst’ have inspired a cult-like following. These books, travelogues of sorts, illustrate Kermit’s undeniable flair in curating an incredible selection of imported wines, and provide insights as to how the wines might be enjoyed with foods both ‘along the wine route’ and in one’s home. Kermit Lynch was recently awarded the top honor bestowed on civilians in France: Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur. He joins Robert M. Parker, Julian Child, and Robert Mondavi as recipients of this rare award.

The well-known wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. had this to say about Kermit Lynch:

“Kermit Lynch is the godfather of the movement he pioneered two decades ago toward more naturally made, unfiltered wines that are faithful representations of their vintage & terroir. Also the father of the reefer (refrigerated container), Lynch was among the first in the trade to recognize that large quantities of wine were being destroyed by deplorable shipping conditions and negligent handling. He has also had a profound influence on many of the country's finest small importers. His efforts have undoubtedly increased the quality of the wine we drink."

About Thirst Wine Merchants                     www.thirstmerchants.com

Inspired by Alice Waters and Kermit Lynch, Thirst Wine Merchants, located at 187 Dekalb Avenue in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, just steps from Fort Greene Park, features food-friendly, thirst-inspiring wines that reflect what Italians call l'ambiente del vino and the French call terroir. The wines at Thirst are hand-selected by the owners, Emilia Valencia and Michael Yarmark. Thirst specializes in Slow Wine, meaning delicious wines made by independent winemakers from grapes grown in low-yielding vineyards that are farmed sustainably, organically or biodynamically. Please visit thirstmerchants.com for more information.

About BBG     www.bbg.org

Founded in 1910, Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is an independent nonprofit institution committed to education, research, and the display of horticulture. BBG serves communities in New York City and internationally through its world-class gardens, extensive research collections, and numerous educational and community programs. Situated on 52 acres in the heart of Brooklyn, the Garden is home to over 12,000 kinds of plants and hosts more than 725,000 visitors annually. Brooklyn Botanic Garden was rated Brooklyn’s number one tourist attraction in Zagat’s 2008 Best of Brooklyn.

Directions & Transportation to the Brooklyn Botanic  Gardens:

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Palm House

1000 Washington Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11225

-Guests may enter through the Parking Lot Gate or 1000 Washington Avenue.

-Complimentary parking will be available at the parking lot, which is located at 900 Washington Avenue.

-The entrance at 1000 Washington Avenue is the best for taxi/car service drop-offs.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Continue straight ahead 6 traffic lights.

Turn left onto Atlantic Avenue.

Turn right onto Flatbush Avenue.

Continue to Grand Army Plaza.

Follow directions below.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM MANHATTAN BRIDGE

Continue straight onto Flatbush Avenue to Grand Army Plaza.

Follow directions below.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM GRAND ARMY PLAZA

Go two-thirds of the way around traffic circle to Eastern Parkway.

Proceed to Washington Avenue.

Turn right onto Washington Avenue.

First entrance on right is BBG Parking Lot.

BY SUBWAY

Number 2 or 3 train to Eastern Parkway stop.

When you exit the subway, the Brooklyn Museum is on the right side of Eastern Parkway.

Continue straight on Eastern Parkway until you reach Washington Avenue.

Take a right on Washington Avenue and continue down the street to the entrance.

For additional directions and maps, please visit http://www.bbg.org/vis2/directions.html.