This week through April 3, 16 of the top restaurants around the city will be participating in the second annual Boston Wine Week. During the event, which is the brainchild of restaurateur Babak Bina, diners will be offered select, high-end wines at the set price of $9 per glass and $32 per bottle during regular business hours. Some of the wines featured retail for up to $90 a bottle.

“We really hit it right with this concept,” said Bina, who owns Bin 26 Enoteca, BiNA Osteria/Alimentari and Lala Rokh. “You get to try these great wines at affordable prices.”

The success of the event is also predicated on the fact that people are truly interested in learning. If a glass of wine usually costs $25 and is discounted to $9, then it gives people the opportunity to see for themselves the nuance of a higher end wine.  “We are as much in the business of education as feeding and nourishing,” said Bina.

In celebration of Boston Wine Week, the Second Glass is hosting a Classy Boston Bar Crawl tonight, March 31, that stops at a group of the participating restaurants. The crawl starts at 6 p.m. at 94 Mass Ave and moves on to Back Bay Social and Brasserie Jo. On April 3 they will be hosting an Industry Night Classy Bar Crawl with stops at BiNA Osteria, Kingston Station, Petit Robert Central and Woodward at the Ames Hotel.

Boston Wine Week is an opportunity for both wine experts to find great deals and for those who don’t know much about it to learn, or be swayed.

Wine racks at Bin 26 Enoteca, one of Bina's restaurants participating in this year's Wine Week.

“At the end of the day the bottom line is there is a difference between wines, and our goal is to facilitate appreciation and a better understanding,” said Bina. “I went on the Classy Bar Crawl last year and there was a man there who told me that he was a beer connoisseur who wasn’t a wine drinker. He told me that he felt kind of enlightened and it was a great experience. To have someone who is a beer drinker appreciate wine, that is perfect.”

For tickets to tonight’s Classy Boston Bar Crawl or the Crawl on April 3, go here. For a complete list of participating restaurants, go here.

About The Author

Andrew Castronovo is editor of Blast Recipes and Managing Editor of Features for Blast Magazine.

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