Wine and flowers
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will have a presence at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s annual flower show from Saturday through March 11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
This year’s event, the “Wonders of Water,” will celebrate the beauty and life-sustaining interplay of horticulture and water, and showcase America’s leading floral and garden designers in what promises to be a truly exceptional show.
• On opening weekend, legendary singer-songwriter and front man of The Miracles, Smokey Robinson, will welcome fans and autograph pre-purchased bottles of Smokey Robinson Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, and from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Both wines are made with California grapes and are released by Pittsburgh’s Engine House 25 Wines.
• Throughout the flower show, Broker’s Gin co-founder and managing director Martin Dawson will serve as honorary barman at the Broker’s Gin table. Guests will have an opportunity to talk with Dawson and ask questions about his classic English gin, a 200-year-old recipe made from English wheat and flavored with 10 aromatic botanicals.
• From 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Irish Whiskey fans can learn about and taste The Quiet Man Irish with its co-founder, Michael Morris.
• Limestone Branch Distillery’s Steve Beam, of the legendary Beam lineage, will talk about his whiskeys, offer a tasting, and sign pre-purchased bottles from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
• “King of Moonshine” Tim Smith will offer samples of his Climax Moonshine and sign pre-purchased bottles for flower show attendees on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Smith is a third-generation moonshiner whose Climax Moonshine debuted in 2013. He proudly makes his family’s secret recipe in his hometown of Climax, Virginia.
• Also on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. nationally recognized chef, restaurateur, and Bravo TV “Top Chef” finalist Fabio Viviani will perform live cooking demonstrations, sample and discuss his Fabio Viviani Wine Collection, and sign pre-purchased bottles.
• Look for wine tastings throughout the day.