This was my third time on the Frances. It's one of my favorite wine sails of all time. Every time I come back to my #1 vacation spot of Portland, this is where I book first. The host was different and I was a bit irritated by the amount of her narrative/talking but otherwise we had fun. The little box of snacks was okay. On precious sails, I recall getting a glass tray where you can hook your wine glass and they'll give you cheese on there to enjoy. I preferred back in the days and am hoping this was just a slight glitch bc I'm still coming back! One of my best memories there. read more

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We did the wine tour and it was the highlight of our tip! Love that it is a joint effort from 2 women ran businesses! On the tour, we had 5 pours that were all excellent. Host was knowledgeable and so fun! Highly recommend! read more

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We flew in from Houston just for this event!! My girls and I enjoyed ourselves. The host was very knowledgeable about wine and had a sense of humor. Although I am a red wine drinker, the tour consisted of white wine. I thought I would be disappointed, but was impressed by all the flavors of the white wine. The Chablis was my favorite. The oysters were from different regions and had beautiful flavors. I honestly thought it would be a free for all of oysters, but everyone got the same amount(12-14). I can eat 2-3 dozen by myself so it was best the way they divided it up..lol read more

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My husband and I had an amazing time on the Sicilian wine sail! We enjoyed all of the wines and the charcuterie. Wines were well curated and well portioned. Plenty of seating/not overcrowded for the group size. The cruise provided beautiful views along Casco Bay. This cruise does focus more on wine education and tasting rather than sightseeing or geography which was fine for us as wine enthusiasts but could be disappointing for other tourists unaware of expectations. Our cruise in particular did go by quicker due to good winds which led us to hover/circle near the harbor. Would have been nice to see more sights. read more

Wine Wise - Frances Schooner - Wine Tours Near Me

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I can't say enough about the Wine Wise sails. I just recently did the Wine and Oyster sail and words can't describe how amazing it was. It is quite expensive but worth every penny! We got 5 different wine pairings with 2 oysters to every wine. You also got an amazing sail boat experience. Erika knows so much about her wines and can answer any questions you have. The person who brought the oysters was super knowledgeable as well! They shucked them right on the boat and they were so fresh! The whole experience was so worth it and if I had unlimited funds I would do every sail! read more

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Several of my friends and I enjoyed a wine sail out of Portland. The theme of this particular sail was Italian Reds! We had a wonderful experience. We enjoyed the wine, the ship and crew and our charcuterie boxes. Erica Archer who owns this company and who is a sommelier explained a bit about each wine that we tasted. And was open to questions. It is a small group setting and each sail is different. You could be drinking bubbles, Spanish wines, enjoying oysters or other food. There is something for everyone. We were able to purchase some of the wines that we tasted which was nice! We can't wait for these to start up again next summer! The website will give the dates and type of wine and event! Great way to spend an afternoon or evening! read more

With everything going on right now I was so happy to find wine wise doing wine sails. We had never done a wine sail but we do like wine. We met on the pier and had to social distance and wear masks while boarding. After our seats were situated we could remove the masks unless we had to use the restroom. It was kinda nice being spaced out all over the boat. They also provided hand sanitizer if you wanted it. Erica and the crew were amazing. We felt relaxed and highly enjoyed our time. We got to try five wines from the Mediterranean and enjoy delicious cheeses, salami, berries, crackers and nuts. I had never heard of any of the wines we tried but now I have a few new favorites as well as some good tips on pairing and what to look for. The weather was nice and it was all around a perfect excursion. This was a great thing to do on a date if you're in the Portland area. read more

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Top notch wine tour firm in Maine. Wine club, win sails, wine walking tours, and wine dinners. Knowledgeable, professional, and well worth it! Highly recommended. read more

So grateful for Winewise during this time of social distancing. Erica's virtual wine dinners are as entertaining as they are delicious. A way to dine with others while staying home. Fantastic food with good wines is always a winning proposition. Sharing a safely distant meal with others makes it even more special now. read more

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What a great experience this was! We had wine, sailed during the sunset in Portland, We celebrated women winemakers. Also, our captain and her crew were all women! Incredible experience, great way to see Portland and enjoy the gorgeous sunset. This would be great to celebrate a birthday, bachelorette party, or just something fun to do for date night or any occasion! read more

Fantastic experience with sommelier Erica Archer! Highly recommend- perfect balance of informative, beautiful scenery and tasty wines! Will be back! read more

I preface this with two thoughts: 1. I'm not one of those people who ever drops $60 to $110 for a food or beverage event (that's not to say that I haven't attended them in one form or another). And it always boggles my mind when those things sell out... that many people have disposable income enough to afford these things (with nothing really to show for it after except a happy - and probably pudgier - belly)? 2. When I was in the sixth grade I wrote a report on the wines of Ernest and Julio Gallo. While not the classiest of vinos, I think that was the point I began having a serious appreciation for the longstanding history and centuries of effort that have gone into crafting this drink. All of that being said: half-way through my Wine Wise Event experience I was already on my phone looking to purchase another "Sunset Wine Sail aboard Frances" because: 1a. It was one of the best food or beverage events I have ever attended. So much so, that twenty minutes in I was already looking on the Wine Wise website to figure out which event I wanted to attend next! 2a. Erica of Wine Wise made me much.more.educated about the act of drinking, thinking about, explaining, and enjoying wine in just two hours than any book report every would. I can't speak for Erica's "Wine Walk's", but I can tell you right now that you're missing something extraordinary by not treating yourself to one of her Sunset Wine Sail's. For two hours you'll cruise around Casco Bay tasting five wines and all the delicious cheese, crackers, nuts, and fruit you can eat. The ever-classy and knowledgable Erica walks you through each of the wines explaining if they're young or old (and how to tell on your own), how to smell the wine to bring out the most aroma, and what you're looking for when you're tasting the wine (does it feel like it's leaving gauze on your tongue? That's the tannins! How spicy is the back-end of the wine - is it like white, black, or jalapeño pepper? How concentrated is the wine - does it feel thin like water or thick like syrup?), too. The crew of the Frances is fun, and do an excellent job making you feel both safe and like their home is yours. And the view? Ocean, the Portland skyline, the islands, the green, the sunsetting... it's basically heaven. Finally, and totally unrelated, how can you not just love life when you're drinking wine on a windjammer during a perfect summer day when the following three things happen: a) Another boat passes by and yells, "Prepare to be boarded!" before zooming off. b) A party barge passes by thumping their pop music too loudly, but all the people aboard the ship stop to look at, take photos of, and wave at our boat. c) The captain - to her crew, under her breath - says at one point, "Where the hell are we?" Which causes the crew to laugh and stealthily pull out maps (something that no one picked up on except my party since we were standing near the wheel). It made us love the young captain, Megan, that much more. read more

I truly enjoyed the Wine & Food Walk​ ​in Portland's West End. I have been to several wine tastings and food tours and I am always amazed to learn something new. Erica was very knowledgeable and explained things well for both new and seasoned folks. I especially like learning about the color testing. She related the wine tasting to apples and I thought that was a very creative way to explain things. What I also liked about this tour is that we got to experience lesser known wine regions. The food pairings with the wines were perfect. Although I didn't like the pate, it really bought out the red wine. I also got a change to taste food from some of the hottest places in Portland. The only thing I would recommend would be to add 2 more wines (we could have two at a couple of stops for example). I was really hungry for more wine and food after the tour. We when to the following places and had the following wines: Bolster, Snow & Co: 2013 Rosso Cocevola, Nero di Troia, Castel del Monte DOC, Italy (Nero di Troia) Hot Suppa: 2014 Camel Valley, Pinot Noir Rosé Brut, Cornwall, England (100% Pinot Noir) Local 188: Charles Hours-Clos Uroulat, Cuvée Marie, Jurançon Sec AOC, France (mostly Gros Manseng + Courbu) Chaval: 2014 Bogegas Albamar, 'O Esteiro' Tinto, Rias Baixas, Spain (Caino, Espadeiro, Mencia) read more

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I had had a weary day. Just one of those soul-trampling, heart-hollowing days. I had been toiling since 5am at a yard sale, hauling out the remnants of my grandfather's home for strangers to pick over and peruse. I was dirty, I was sweaty, I was exhausted. I was two and a half hours away from Portland, baking in the sun, getting grumpier by the minute. Every time I sat down with an ache in my bones, that lactic acid scream deep in my muscles, I thought about how I would soon be on the water, drinking wine and eating cheese with my friends. It was the only thing that kept me from descending into madness on the trip back to the city. I rolled down my windows and tried to imagine myself in the glorious sunshine bobbing and rolling out at sea with a crisp wine in my hand. I had been looking forward to the Wine Wise Sail for weeks. I had the pleasure of going on one of the sailing adventures years before with my father, just a two hour jaunt into Casco Bay on an old schooner, and it was such a fond and happy memory. The gentle rocking of the boat, the crew scrambling around the rigging yelling inscrutable things at one another over the roar of the wind. I knew that I was in for a treat to be on board the Frances. What I didn't know was that the experience could be so much more incredible by being paired with a wine tasting-turned-course on Pinot Noir. We arrived at the pier early with a number of other adventurers, thirsty for wine and more than a little hungry. Adele, one of Frances' crew, greeted us and gave us the rundown of what we could expect, when we would board. She looked concerned, sounded almost motherly, when she asked if we had brought any layers. I assured her, puffing up my chest and setting my jaw, that I was a tough cookie and could handle a little bit of ocean breeze. Erica greeted us as soon as we boarded, handing out wine glasses and these ingenious plates with a spot cut out of the corner to hold the glass. Before we had even cleared the dock, she began explaining how the tasting would work, encouraging us all to load up on cheese, fruit, and nuts. This was more than just a wine tasting on a boat. So much more! Erica not only gave us delicious wines but she talked us through how to judge them in a gentle and informative, non-judgmental way. This is a woman that loves wine and loves to share her passion with others. Wine tastings can be intimidating, particularly for someone who is a novice, but Erica made it accessible. And she gave us delicious wines to taste and try, encouraging us to find our own voice to describe what we were drinking. I had so many light bulb moments, learned so many things about what I was drinking and what I did and didn't like about wines that I was able, just the next day, to go to the store and buy a wine with incredible confidence. This is a thing worth doing, whether you are a resident or a visitor. I cannot recommend it enough! read more

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Outstanding time aboard Frances with Sommelier Erica. The setting in iconic Portland, ME paired with wonderful wine and the glorious sailboat Frances. We loved the experience. Great sailboat. Great wine. Incredible explanation and charisma from host Erica. We are resident Mainers, but adding an annual trip with Erica to our yearly TDL. read more

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I think wine can be intimidating. Because my wife likes wine, once took a course in wine from a local purveyor years ago, and prompts me to venture out to wine tastings periodically, I at least know more than the average joe (at least the average joes that I know) about wine. That being that I will try various types of wines, both red and white, and I know how to order wine in a restaurant if I need to. That said, I could use a bit more tools in my wine appreciation toolkit. Erica Archer will help you with those tools. We were in Ogunquit for my wife's birthday and Erica happened to have a wine walk scheduled for Sunday afternoon. My wife had signed us up, but I was a bit skeptical. Four restaurants and we'd be walking? At least there would be food and wine, right? For starters, I think anyone that at least has had a glass of wine once in their lives would benefit from one of Erica's events. She's knowledgeable, but doesn't hit you over the head with all kinds of jargon, or try to impress you with just how much she knows. Her class and presentation was interesting, the wines chosen were all a bit different than I've had before, and each restaurant stop (Bintliff's, La Pizzeria, Five-O, and Roost) offered food pairings perfect for the wine. What I witnessed that impressed me the most is that while there were all levels of wine knowledge present for our wine walk in Ogunquit, Erica makes sure that everyone is engaged and isn't being ignored or is being left behind. That's a skill that far too few presenters possess. We're definitely talking about doing one of the wine sails in Casco Bay at some point. read more

We spent a truly lovely fall afternoon following Erica around to four lovely Portland restaurants. The wine was uniformly good, the food was tasty, and Erica was friendly, helpful, and deeply informative. I not only had a delicious afternoon, I learned enough to walk away feeling like I know what I'm talking about the next time I taste a new wine. I would wholeheartedly recommend one of these wine tours. read more

I had the pleasure of taking my first wine sail yesterday, as I had been to several wine walks earlier this year, and my friends have been talking about how fun the sails are. What a spectacular experience! Erica chose 5 wines(pinot noirs) and paired them with a generous charcuterie platter, and we learned everything there is to know bout pinot noir. And the backdrop was beautiful casco bay! The crew of the Frances sailboat were very well trained, and having sailed most of my life, I know this allowed everyone to be comfortable and enjoy the wine and food while sailing casco bay as the sun set over the white mountains. I would definitely recommend Wine Wise for a wine sail or wine walk event, and I have already signed up for my next sail! read more

I took my son and his girlfriend for her birthday yesterday, and we had a wonderful time! Erica partnered with Chef Ilma Lopez of Chaval Restaurant and put on a five course brunch menu, each course served with a different wine. The first course was an Austrian white wine with Yogurt Panna Cotta; the second was an Italian Wine with Maine Lobster Profiteroles; the third was a Semillon from Chile with Ricotta, citrus and greens; the fourth was a Cabernet from South America with Pastel de nata and finally a French Chardonnay/pinot noir champagne with Trocaderos with vanilla, pear, almond and chocolate. The cruising grounds on Casco Bay were beautiful with views of lighthouses, islands and the Portland city skyline. The service was excellent and we felt totally COVID-safe with appropriate social distancing. Erica teaches her guests how to speak articulately about the wines, and Chef Ilma explained each of the amazing dishes. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Portland, Maine! read more

We'd booked a wine & sail trip to celebrate our anniversary. We had to miss the event due to a last minute family emergency. I called #winewise just now (the next morning) to see if we had any options. Owner Erica Archer was INSTANTLY angry that we hadn't called her before we tended to the emergency. When I informed her it took precedence over all else the night before, and I was just calling to inquire, she cut me off and ranted about how inconvenienced SHE felt. I never once insisted, nor demanded, anything. I called to ask if we had any options and she was immediately acrimonious. The only way she could be been more rude, would've been to use profanity. We'd planned on booking again regardless of a refund or a credit, but she couldn't exhale long enough to find that out. I will NEVER promote this business. ...and I'll be sure to tell everyone. read more

As a resident of greater Portland I am embarrassed that I have been on one of the Wine Wise sailing tours even though I have heard many rave reviews. On Tuesday we had a corporate event and Erica and the crew of the Frances were fantastic. Erica's knowledge and style of how she helps us understand the wine was terrific and the views of Casco Bay were breath taking. I loved it so much that I booked 10 tickets today for my family and hope to make this an annual event. Thank you Erica! read more

What's not to like? Great wines, great cheeses, sailing around the bay with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair, and learning more than a thing or two about vino! read more

We went on the Saturday night Pinot noir wine sail and had such a good time! Erica was so personable and really knew her wine! It was a bit chilly, even in June, so make sure to take a sweater. There was a cheese and cracker spread that was extremely generous (and pretty!) so you definitely won't run out of food. I also loved that our boat captain was one of the few, if not only, female body captain in Portland. You could tell she really knew the boat and the crew was very nice as well. I really recommend the sail as a fun way to see Portland and have a good time! read more

Our first time in Portland, ME and so many expectations about the local food scene. Difficult restaurants to get in, even with reservations months ahead - with COVID, nearly impossible. Many places operating under reduced seating, etc. Well, not for Wine Wise and its amazing wine/food guru, Erica! Our day of degustation started at Central Provisions with amazing appetizers properly hydrated with expert-picked champagne. Moving on foot around the amazing city, we hit Lio. More delicacies and pairings of wines that were incredible - their sommelier came in just for us because he knows Erica. The gran-finale, Chaval - an entire area just for us (we were a group of just 3!) and the main courses begin, with of course, proper and exquisite paired wines. It all ends with a selection of desserts and a visit from Chaval's Chef/Sous Chef because, well, you are with Erica! If you are a fan of food and drink of superb quality, give yourself the gift of being in the company of Erica from Wine Wise - its everything and so much more! read more

This was a wonderful end to our weekend in Portland. Erika was a knowledgeable and pleasant host. You can really get a sense of her expertise through the passionate way she described each region and wine. We were able to sample local hotspots in addition to taste emerging European wines. This is a must!! read more

I attended a wine wise event in August aboard the schooner Frances and had a great time! What a fantastic way to spend a summer evening in Maine. The boat crew was super friendly and our hostess and wine guru Erica Archer was knowledgeable, fun and engaging. She introduced and explained 5 delicious pinot noirs and we sipped happily while munching on cheese and enjoying the gorgeous views of Casco Bay. I would highly recommend this company to tourists and locals alike! read more

Sailing on Casco Bay, sampling Italian wines and learning about them -- what could be better? I recently took friends from the NYC area for a mother/daughter experience, and our wine sail with Erica was the highlight of the weekend! Erica is extremely knowledgeable, but handles even the most basic questions with grace and poise. And she makes learning about wine so much fun! Her cruises are an experience not to be missed. read more

My husband and I did the wine and oyster event on a sail boat. The weather was amazing and we really enjoyed the views of Portland and Cape Elizabeth. The wine class was not over crowded and the wine and oysters were very enjoyable. I wished we lived closer so we can attend more of these events. Looking forward to going again the next time we are in town. read more

I had such a great sail out of Casco Bay on the Frances. Even in the light rain (the crew soon put the awning up) it was incredibly relaxing, and a great time. There is a ton of great cheese, fruit, crackers and nuts. Erica is so fun, and very knowledgeable - this was such a fun experience that I would recommend to anyone who likes wine! read more

This past Saturday, we attended Portland's Wooden Boat Show, which I have been to several times in the past, and since I was bringing my significant other, I wanted to find something we could enjoy together afterwards as well. After searching for "Things to Do", in the Portland area, I stumbled upon www.winewiseevents.com. After reading the description of the "Wine Walks", it looked like something that might be fun, and educational. Let me just say that our expectations were blown away. Erica is very knowledge about her craft, and whether you are a sophisticated wine drinker, or more of a novice like myself, Erica has a way of making you feel very comfortable at all levels, and she has a good sense of humor as well. We live about 1.5 hours away in NH, and we have already expressed interest in one of her Sunset Sails during the summer. I would recommend buying tickets as far in advance as you can, her events fill up fairly quickly. Perhaps we will see you topside this summer. Saluti!!!! read more

We recently did our first sunset wine cruise with Erica and we absolutely loved it! Erica was very knowledgable about the wines and the crew on the Frances was fun to talk to as well. We didn't know much about wine, but didn't feel uncomfortable and learned a lot. If you're looking to have a fun, relaxing evening with great water views and delicious wine, I would highly recommend booking a cruise. We would definitely come back for another sail. read more