A Warm Pour: Introducing Tastings at HMD Bar & Grill
Imagine sinking into a leather banquette beneath Edison bulbs, a curated flight in hand, while a passionate guide leads you through nuanced flavor journeys. At HMD Bar & Grill, our tasting events unite the comfort of familiar surroundings with the thrill of discovery. You can explore our upcoming events at hmdbarandgrill.com. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the world of fermentations and distillations or you’ve built a modest cellar of your own, our hospitality and expertise will help you refine your palate—and broaden your circle of fellow enthusiasts.
The Tasting Experience: Relaxed, Informative, Delicious
Each tasting night opens with a welcome spiel from our beverage director, Samara Tate, who distills technical jargon into clear, memorable talking points: acidity, tannin, mouthfeel, balance. Then comes the flight sequence—three to seven pours, arranged to showcase contrast, progression or a single region’s spectrum. Alongside the sips, you’ll receive:
• Flavor wheels and tasting logs to record your impressions
• Bite-sized palate cleansers—think microgreens sorbet between a Riesling and a Gewürztraminer
• Quick pairing prompts on biodegradable tasting cards
Questions are encouraged at every stage: inquire about terroir influences on a Beaujolais, or why a smoked rosemary syrup elevates our bourbon highball. Our team thrives on conversation, ensuring every guest—from curious newcomer to budding connoisseur—leaves with fresh insights.
Farm-to-Table Pairing Menu
Our chef-crafted small plates are engineered to highlight each flight’s key attributes. Selections rotate weekly, but here’s a snapshot of our current lineup:
• Charred Octopus Carpaccio with preserved lemon, purple potatoes, and smoky paprika oil—ideal for crisp, mineral-driven whites
• Wild-Mushroom Arancini drizzled with truffle aioli—perfect next to a medium-bodied Barbera or earthy pinot noir
• Citrus-Cured King Salmon on rye crouton with dill cream—elevates bright, zesty rosés and citrus-finished gins
• Heritage Pork Belly Bites glazed in pennyroyal honey—pairs beautifully with off-dry Rieslings or maple-cask bourbons
• Seasonal Vegetable Mille-Feuille layered with chevre, basil gelée, and sunflower microgreens—designed for pét-nat or herbal botanical cocktails
Rare Finds: The Sommelier’s Vault
Beyond public flights, our private vault houses library selections and one-off releases. Ask about exclusive vertical tastings of 10-year-old Chardonnay from a single Dijon clone, or reserve a deep dive into pre-phylloxera Port. Our vault offerings include:
• Magnums of cult Napa Cabernet—hand-picked allocations available twice annually
• Single-cask Japanese whisky never bottled elsewhere
• Lost-vine Zinfandel rediscovered in Sonoma’s Rockpile district
Guests can book a “Vault Evening” for up to ten people, complete with behind-the-scenes cellar tours, decanting demos and chef-paired five-course menus.
Signature Cocktails Spotlight: New Creations
In addition to our classics, we introduce a seasonal cocktail series spotlighting hyper-local ingredients:
• The Foggy Harbor: Aquavit infused with foraged bay leaf, shaken with quince shrub and topped with a spritz of North Coast sea breeze mist
• Orchard in Bloom: Applebrand Armagnac stirred with lavender-pear reduction, garnished with a charred rosemary bouquet
• Citrus Grove Negroni: Grapefruit-washed gin, pink verjus, and amaro from a nearby distillery, finished with grapefruit bitters and an orange oil flame
Each drink arrives with a mini pairing guide—such as goat-milk ricotta crostini with honey blossom when ordering the Orchard in Bloom.
Sustainability & Sourcing
Our commitment extends beyond taste to responsible stewardship:
• Rooftop solar panels power refrigeration for our temperature-controlled wine lockers.
• Compostable tasting spoons, upcycled wood coasters, and reclaimed-wood liquor shelves.
• Partnerships with oyster farms using regenerative aquaculture—our oyster shots pair naturally with crisp sauvignon blancs.
• All corks are natural sources, supporting forests certificated by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Seasonal Specials: Limited-Edition Flights
We tap into local harvests and distillery collaborations for truly ephemeral experiences:
• Spring Forage Flight: Wild-flower mead, nettle-gin tonic, and verbena-lillet rosé spritz
• Summer Field Day: Rosé bottled on-site in June, garden-fresh cucumber margarita, and a lavender-hopped pilsner
• Autumn Barrel Series: Chestnut-aged Porto, spiced-pear brandy, and oak-matured sparkling cider
• Winter Apothecary: Clove-infused mulled cider, spiced-honey cognac, and a dark-chocolate mezcaltini
Each flight is accompanied by a “Harvest Sheet” detailing the farm or distillery origin, harvest date and recommended chef pairing from our fall or winter menus.
Community Nights and Themed Events
Our tasting calendar brims with recurring gatherings designed to deepen connections within the neighborhood:
• Global Tour Fridays: Every week, we showcase a different country—Armenian fortified wine one week, Georgian amber wine the next—plus small plates from that region’s cuisine.
• Jazz & Juniper Saturdays: Live saxophone sets under twinkling lights, paired with rotating gin flights and artisanal cheese boards.
• Beer Bingo Tuesdays: A casual, free-play night spotlighting new craft-beer releases with fun bingo prizes—free flight upgrades, branded glassware, or brewery swag.
• Coffee & Cocktails Sundays: Espresso-martini tastings alongside cold-brew barrel-age samples and chocolate macarons for bittersweet balance.
No RSVP required for community tables; just drop in and mingle.
Educational Resources & Membership Perks
For those eager to go deeper, we offer:
• The HMD Wine Society: $150/year membership with quarterly curated shipments, 15% off on all flights, and invitations to closed-door tasting dinners.
• Digital Tasting Library: Access video tutorials, detailed varietal profiles and pairing masterclasses at hmdbarandgrill.com.
• Passport Program: Collect stamps from every flight category—wine, beer, spirits, zero-proof—and redeem rewards ranging from complimentary flights to a private chef’s table dinner.
• Gift Cards & At-Home Kits: Purchase tasting kits for up to six people—complete with pre-measured pours, pairing snacks, and a guided livestream session with our sommelier.
Outdoor & Al Fresco Tastings
When weather allows, we transform our back patio and rooftop into seasonal pop-up lounges:
• Sunset Spritz Series: Cordial-topping spritz flights paired with Mediterranean mezze boards, accompanied by sea-breeze simulators and lounge hammocks.
• Picnic Flights: Wicker baskets filled with three cocktail cans, cheese wedges, charcuterie, and fresh fruit—ideal for casual group tastings in the urban garden.
• Wine & Sketch Nights: Bring your watercolors; we provide glasses, paint sets and flowing pinot gris as you capture cityscapes at dusk.
Hosting Private Tastings and Events
Elevate any gathering with bespoke HMD experiences:
Spaces and Capacities
• Library Salon: A cozy setting for 6–10, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bottles—perfect for book clubs or small celebrations.
• Veranda Lounge: Semi-open space for up to 25, with retractable glass walls, fire pits and market-light canopies.
• Loft Gallery: 70-guest capacity, AV-equipped for presentations and live taps for beer and cocktail dispensers.
Custom Experiences
• Emperor’s Tasting: A 12-wine vertical flight of a single producer, featuring three vintages each of white, red and dessert wines, paired with a six-course chef’s tasting menu.
• Botanical Immersion: A guided walk through our herb garden, cocktail-lab session infusing spirits with house-grown botanicals, followed by a flight of botanical cocktails.
• Corporate Crossover: Multi-stage blind-tasting challenges and flavor-blend workshops aimed at team building, complete with digital leaderboard and prizes.
Event Extras
• Customized menus printed on deckle-edge paper
• Live charcoal-grilling stations for on-site small bites
• Private audio systems and mood lighting preset to your event theme
• Off-site pop-up bars, portable cellar racks and beverage-director consultations for any venue
How to Book Your Tasting Experience
Securing your spot is effortless:
1. Browse available dates and menus at hmdbarandgrill.com.
2. Select public tasting events or customize your private function.
3. Specify guest count, dietary needs, preferred flight styles and any special decor requests.
4. Confirm with a small deposit refundable up to 48 hours before your reservation.
5. Receive a digital tasting guide and event checklist to prepare.
Packages and Pricing
• Discovery Flight ($30/person): Three thoughtfully paired pours plus chef’s bite.
• Enthusiast Experience ($50/person): Five-pour flight, extended small-plate menu, tasting journal and a sommelier Q&A.
• Grand Tasting Journey ($75/person): Seven pours (including one vault selection), plated four-course menu, commemorative glass and priority seating.
Custom corporate and milestone packages can feature branded glassware, live-stream support, printed collateral and sensory team-building modules.
Visit Us for Your Next Sip Adventure
Whether you’re exploring rare vintages, mastering mixology techniques or simply enjoying an evening with friends, HMD Bar & Grill offers an immersive tasting landscape. From our commitment to sustainability and community to personalized private events and at-home experiences, we invite you to deepen your appreciation of exceptional drinks and the artisans who craft them.
Raise a glass, expand your palate and join us at HMD Bar & Grill—where every pour tells a story. We look forward to welcoming you.
