Couch + cork

07/20/2024

‼️ If you use Wine.com more than once a year to order wine, you should absolutely join their Stewardship program. Obviously we order a **little** more wine than the average bear but the savings are incredible. ‼️

Over $4k in savings PER YEAR for a $69/year fee.

07/12/2024

🎟️Enjoy a beautiful night of wine and snacks, on us!

📢 We're giving away ONE ticket to the next Wine & Cheese on the Veranda at Park-McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion. The event is on 8/14 from 5:30-7:30 📆

🏡 Experience the beauty of the Mansion in gorgeous North Bennington. 🌷 Check out the grounds before and then find your way to the veranda where Park McCullough staff will be pouring 3 Spanish wines (white, rosé, red) that we've selected, and serving custom-designed tapas and pintxos that pair perfectly.

🎶 Enjoy music selected by Matt Harrington, chat with friends new and old, learn a little bit about wine and food and see why these are some of the most popular events of the summer.

RULES:

This contest is open to anyone 21+ and no purchase is necessary. Purchasing a tasting or anything from the couch + cork store will not improve your chances of winning.

This contest is in no way affiliated with Facebook or its parent company, Meta. Winners must show proof of age according to the laws of Vermont.

TO ENTER
Follow this page and Park-McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion, comment your favorite summer song on this original post (not on any shares, etc.), and tag the friend you'd bring in your comment. If your friend reacts to your comment (like/love/etc) you'll receive an extra entry. If they reply to your comment you'll receive ANOTHER extra entry (total of 3 entries). Participants cannot earn more than 3 entries.

couch + cork will track all entries in a spreadsheet which shall be available for viewing to all entrants. Winner will be selected, at random, in a live broadcast on Facebook on Thursday 8/1 at 4 p.m.

07/12/2024

Thanks to Cork Dork for sharing a glimpse of Park-McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion's most-recent wine & cheese nights. We've been selecting the wine and developing the snacks menu for this and couldn't be enjoying it more.

The 8/14 event will feature wines from Spain along with expertly-paired tapas and pintxos. What are tapas and pintxos?

Tapas are tiny versions of full dishes, for example a small serving of patatas bravas or single croquette. Pintxos are snacks, usually held together with a toothpick. We think you're going to LOVE what we've already started to conceptualize to perfectly pair with the delicious wines of Spain you'll be able to sip.

Tickets >> https://www.parkmccullough.org/upcoming-events/2024/6/12/season-series-wine-amp-cheese-on-the-veranda-g3ldc-bwknh

07/11/2024

Me: blah blah blah… Sauvignon Blanc, blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah Sauvignon Blanc blah. Blah.

Jodi: (quietly) It’s Pinot Grigio.

Remember: even experts make mistakes.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Park-McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion’s monthly wine and cheese night and let me expound on my love for California Sauvignon Blanc when Kelly was, in fact, pouring California Pinot Grigio. The good news is they’re both crisp, white, high acid wines. And they go great with ginger/orange/carrot couscous salad in Boston lettuce wraps.

06/17/2024

Love when our content makes it to our subjects.

SNOW predicted in parts of South Africa!🥶
Stay indoors, stay warm and order online - The Wolftrap Wine is a click away
📷 Couch + cork

06/14/2024

Had a lovely time at Park-McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion Wednesday night. They are doing a monthly wine and cheese night and Couch + cork was asked to curate the wines and snacks.

For the first event I looked to see what we could get from Vermont Wine Merchants Co. that would be interesting and perfect for the weather. Jason came through, pointing out a series of Languedoc wines that were on sale.

These wines come from a warm climate, giving them rich, ripe flavors.

I paired them with a dish Carolina Thatch recently made for couch + cork: strawberry/basil/red onion bruschetta on crostini with a little goat cheese and a drizzle of honey. Also paired: simple charcuterie and caprese skewers and a cheese board.

It was the perfect night for sipping on the veranda and they're doing it again next month! Get your ticket and see what Couch + cork comes up with next month! https://www.parkmccullough.org/upcoming-events/2024/6/12/season-series-wine-amp-cheese-on-the-veranda-g3ldc

05/07/2024

Always a good time!

BENNINGTON — The Southern Vermont Homebrew Festival celebrated its 14th edition on Saturday, May 4, at Depot Street in Bennington. The festival, celebrating a Star Wars-themed May The Fourth Be

04/19/2024

New blog up!

Check out our review of three wines from The Vice Wine: Miami Vices Rosé, Pickle Ball Orange of Viognier, and The Five Peaks Cab Sauv.

04/16/2024

The joy of being internationally-certified wine experts.

01/26/2024

Looking forward to seeing our Chamber of Southwestern Vermont peeps this afternoon for our Annual Meeting to support this important event as a small business sponsor.

🌟 Today's the day! 🎉 As we gather for the Annual Membership Meeting, let's take a moment to celebrate the heartbeat of our community – our Small Business Sponsors!

They are the true backbone of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber, fueling growth, innovation, and the spirit of collaboration. 🤝🌐

A heartfelt thank you to all our small business partners for their invaluable support! 🙌 Let's make today a memorable celebration of community, connection, and shared success! 🚀🥂

Still need a ticket? Purchase them here: https://www.swvtchamber.com/2024-annual-meeting



The Gamer's Grotto Carpenter & Costin The Village Chocolate Shoppe Charlie's Coffee House Couch + cork Mahar McCarthy Real Estate

01/13/2024

Love these ideas for wrapping up presents (even the non-wine ones!).

01/12/2024

It’s been a busy week (which is NOT a complaint!).

How busy? So busy that we’ve all given in to the temptation to work in our beds, abandon our usual workspaces to cats and daydream about the weekend.

How’s your Friday?

01/09/2024

Wine & Dine in Albany? With accommodations?! And a $500 Visa Gift Card?! And breakfast?! Yes, please.

And feel free to enter the contest using my link! (I get extra entries if you do.)

Check it out now!

01/05/2024

Not a subscriber to Edible Vermont or in Vermont? My piece is also online!

“Got a fancy glass decanter? Very nice. Don’t have one? Neither do I! Decanting wine, or pouring it into an intermediary vessel between the bottle and glass, is a hot-button issue among wine lovers.” –Nancy Koziol Wine. It’s a mystery, eh? In my circle, we call it “the science of excepti...

01/05/2024

We're in the latest issue of Edible Vermont - be sure to check it out!

We are toasting the launch of our annual Liquid Assets Issue of Edible Vermont! Dive deep into Vermont’s beverage culture as we showcase the artistry and passion behind every pour.

This winter, try your hand at making cheese, baking sourdough breads, or creating a perfect seasonal winter dish—we’ve rounded up some experiences for you at and are sharing their recipe for Farm Berry Ricotta Scones.

In “Edible Reads,” Sylvie Bigar describes cassoulet as a “slow-cooked carnivorous o**y of pork, lamb, duck, beans, and herbs together in an earthenware tureen” in her book Cassoulet Confessions: Food, France, Family and the Stew that Saved My Soul. We also share a cassoulet recipe by Chef Matthew McClure of the Woodstock Inn & Resort. .inn

We introduce you to two extraordinary women, Fiona Lucia Genadio-Allen and Nancy Koziol, who through intellect, passion, humor, and just plain hard work excel in a man-dominated field.

For sweets, we share the recipe for a delicious seasonal French dessert featuring pears and chocolate by Chef Robert Barral of Café Provence.

You’ll meet the local butchers in Stowe, Woodstock, and Waitsfield. Josh Turka, of 5th Quarter, also wows us with a hearty Lamb Ragu recipe.

Learn about Grateful Hearts, an organization of all ages that meets multiple times a week, to make delicious, healthy, ready-to-eat, and frozen meals that are distributed to families in need in Southern Vermont.

We’ve also got an interesting partnership we reveal in our “Last Bite.”
Each page tells a story, each sip connects us to the heart of our community, each recipe delights!

Spectacular cover photo by

12/31/2023

Thai food + wine... yes, please.

Who knows the go-to pairing for Thai?

Thanks to Downtown Bennington Alliance for the love 😍😍😍

12/27/2023

Cool shots of our alley. Look up and you can probably see us busily tasting and prepping for corporate tastings.

12/22/2023

Did you know we can help you figure out the value of your wine collection AND what to drink, hold and dump down the drain? We can! Get in touch today and take control of your cellar with a consultation by couch + cork.

12/07/2023

Hey! 👋 It's us! We know, we know, we've been really quiet for a while. Here's a loooooooong post to make up for that 📝

couch + cork is a business run by humans. Real, sentient creatures who sometimes get a little lost. While we existed pre-pandemic, it was really the pandemic (and all of YOU) that made couch + cork a viable business. 👩‍💼😷

🏢🚗As people returned to in-person life, though, we had to pivot, AGAIN, and something we learned was that the cost of in-person events was not sustainable. We needed expensive licenses. The cost of maintaining just a liquor license would be one thing but we also needed catering and health licenses. We had to carry more insurance. But we couldn't charge anything close to right-priced and cover these in-person expenses plus payroll.

🤷🏻‍♀️We made the very difficult decision to stop advertising in-person tastings. If people ask, we do them but we will not be renewing our liquor license and after March 31 in-person events will be education-only with clients supplying their own wine. We will not be catering in-person tastings. We're going back to basics with the focus on virtual tastings (corporate but also for non-corporate groups). 🍷💻

The good news is: Our virtual tastings are perfect even when there's not a pandemic! They make great birthday and holiday gifts for people who aren't local to us or for groups who are spread out but want to do something fun together. We'll be updating the website to reflect these changes as they come about.

🚨🚨🚨WE NEED YOUR INPUT!🚨🚨🚨 If you'd be interested in online events like classes where you could sign up for as many people as you'd like, for example a class on Merlot or another varietal, please let us know in the comments. It's something we've always considered but have never explored and would love to know what you think! For these people would have an option to bring their own wine or have us send them the wines we're learning about.

12/07/2023

I'm thrilled to announce that I just finished drooling over the layout of my first piece for Edible Vermont. Keep your eye out for it in next month's issue!

09/15/2023

For those of you looking for an incredible wine experience, check out the upcoming Leo Hillinger USA dinner at The Hermitage Inn which will pair Leo's wines with six incredible, paired courses by Executive Chef MacGregor Mann and Executive Pastry Chef Maya Hayes. The Hermitage Inn is a beautiful, 112-acre property in West Dover where Nancy recently accepted the position of Wine Director. Come say hi and try incredible Austrian wine, and the wizardry of the entire Kitchen staff!

08/09/2023

🍷🗓️ Calling all wine lovers! Prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey back to 1891! Step into the grandeur of the Park-McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion and experience a taste and talk that will transport you to the famous dinner President Harrison enjoyed when here to dedicate the monument. 🎩✨

Sip the pre-dinner cocktail that was on the menu before sitting down to a sampler of food and paired wines. 🍇🧀 Immerse yourself in the flavors inspired by the historic menu, curated just for you. 🍽️

But here's the catch - tickets are disappearing faster than bubbles in a glass of Champagne! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to sip, savor, and discover the secrets of the past. 🚀🍷

Whether you're a wine novice or an aficionado, this event is tailor-made to charm and educate everyone, making it a perfectly accessible and enjoyable experience for all. 🌟💫

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your tickets now and join us in creating some truly unforgettable wine-tasting memories. It's time to uncork the past and toast to an extraordinary journey together! 🎟️🥂

Join us for a tasting of Zinfandel and paired bites plus lots of information on what it may have been like to be entertained at Park McCulough in 1891 when President Harrison visited while in town to dedicate the Bennington Battle Monument.

07/21/2023

This week on the blog is all about the right temperature for serving red wines. And its not "room temperature." Learn more on the blog or, if you're local, join Nancy at Provisions Williamstown tomorrow to sip, shop, socialize and ask your wine questions.

We're all for doing things how you want, but serving your reds at room temperature is making them less yummy. Learn more and taste with Nancy on Friday 7/21 at Provisions Williamstown to learn more!

07/14/2023

Come taste some wines in a fab setting! Stop by Provisions Williamstown between 4-6 today and taste samples of 3 delicious, high-acid white wines. Sip, shop, socialize and get ready to weekend. Bring your wine questions. Grab a loaf of focaccia and some local cheese. Is there any better way to end the work week? The answer you're looking for is NO!

Learn why cool-climate wines are the best choice in summer with a focus on three high-acid white wines. This blog focuses on Vinho Verde, Sauvignon Blanc, and Picpoul de Pinet including our favorite food pairings for these delicious, quenchy wines!

07/12/2023

Hey, friends! We've got an event coming up at Park-McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion and tickets are NOW AVAILABLE!

Come learn about what it may have been like to be entertained at the mansion in 1891. You'll taste different styles of Zinfandel with three paired amuse-bouche-style bites while learning about fashion, entertainment, music and so much more that was popular in 1891. Why this year? Because it was when President Harrison was a guest at the mansion while in town to dedicate the Bennington Battle Monument.

Enjoy couch + cork's unique brand of edutainment: lots of interaction, laughs and deliciousness!

Event is 8/30 (we are considering adding a second date due to the popularity of our events at Park-McCullough) from 6-8ish, 21+ (id required) and $65 for members; $75 for not-yet members.

Join us for a tasting of Zinfandel and paired bites plus lots of information on what it may have been like to be entertained at Park McCulough in 1891 when President Harrison visited while in town to dedicate the Bennington Battle Monument.

07/10/2023

Want to taste some delicious cool-climate wines for hot summer nights? Nancy will be pouring samples of 3 cool-climate wines from 4-6 pm this Friday night, 7/14, at Provisions Williamstown. Come taste Picpoul, some Loire Valley Chenin and Portugal's Vinho Verde. Nancy is happy to answer questions, share her fav pairings and show you why you want to grab some cool-climate wines during these hot, sticky times!

07/06/2023

😬 Who doesn't love to commiserate?

👩🏻‍🏫 This month, Mariam's sharing the absolute worst wine and food pairings.

🤷🏻‍♀️ Why? Because she doesn't want you to make these mistakes!

🐟 From what to avoid with oily fish to why green and red are terrible together, Mariam's dishing on her least favorite food and wine couplings.

📺 This post pairs perfectly with your fav trashy reality show.

🗣️ Be sure to share your least-favorite pairing below!

Who doesn't love to commiserate? This month, Mariam's sharing the absolute wine and food pairings. Why? Because she doesn't want you to make these mistakes. From what to avoid with oily fish to why green and red are terrible together, Mariam's dishing on her least favorite food and wine couplings. T

05/23/2023

It's that time again: time to celebrate dads and grads! And what better way than with a tasting?

DADS: they've got enough socks and golf tees, instead, get together some of his favorite people and let's grill and taste. Send us his fav things to grill or let us send some recipes and then we'll pair, taste and learn our way through some BBQ-friendly wines.

GRADS: Your college grad is quickly moving into adulthood. A tasting is a great way for them to start thinking about building their own collection. Want something even more special, have one of our private chefs come in and prepare a meal our wine experts will perfectly pair. There's nothing like this!

Mention this post and get 10% off. Call (802) 440-0437, or email [email protected] to book.

05/22/2023

Thinking of your times tasting with us, have we ever either changed someone's your mind about wine or instilled confidence in you? We're being written about and figured it's best to go to the source! Feel free to comment, DM, or email [email protected] THANK YOU!

05/10/2023

We had fun providing the pairings for two weekends' of this fine dining experience. Be sure to check out their ongoing offerings, including Mothers' Day brunch. Cactus Blossom Cantina at South Shire; 124 Elm St in Bennington from 5-8:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays.