Presented by Yannick Benjamin, Head Sommelier of The University Club, NYC

Yannick Benjamin, Head Sommelier of The University Club, leads our guests on a journey through a celebrated but lesser known region of Bordeaux producing many lovely affordable wines that Wine Enthusiast says, “… Should Be Your Go-To French Wine”.

The Côtes de Bordeaux encompasses the following areas of Côtes de Blaye, Côtes de Castillon, Côtes de Francs and Côtes de Cadillac which are all situated on the right bank. The Côtes de Bordeaux has vineyards planted on gentle rolling hills with a significant amount of limestone. The majority of wineries are mostly family owned and chances are when you knock on their door you will either be greeted by the winemaker or possibly the grandmother who might invite you to have lunch. These are family owned vineyards who live modestly, and they want to be able to hand over the vineyards to the next generation but in order to do so they know that they must respect nature and not try to change it. Join Yannick as he explores this region that was first established by the Romans to discover the past, the present and future of this exceptional region.

About the Presenter

Yannick Benjamin is the Head Sommelier of The University Club and a proud New Yorker from Hell’s Kitchen. Born into a family of French restaurateurs, Yannick has worked for many highly regarded restaurants throughout NYC: Le Cirque, Oceana, Jean-Georges, Atlas, Felidia, and Atelier at the Ritz-Carlton. Additionally, he has worked for ten years for Le Du’s Wines, one of the top wine retail stores in Manhattan. In 2003, a car accident left Benjamin paralyzed from the waist down. However, his passion for wine drove him to quickly adapt, outfitting his wheelchair with a table that allowed him to continue working as a sommelier to educate on wine. Yannick went on to create “Wine on Wheels,” one of New York City’s largest and most exciting wine events to benefit https://wheelingforward.org/. “Wine on Wheels” brings hundreds of esteemed sommeliers together to pour over 180 wines from around the world for noble charity. The event is going on its eighth year. Yannick’s tireless work and innovative vision is bringing awareness and visibility to seldom-heard voices in the wine industry and championing inclusivity. Yannick Benjamin will bring his energy and passion to East Harlem as he plans on opening his first restaurant, Contento NYC in Fall 2020. Contento will be a barrier-free restaurant where wine and food come together and where they share a story of who they are and where social sustainability will be practiced and where they also plan to utilize their experiences and location to offer enriched programs that will enhance the quality of life for people living with disabilities.

About the Wines

Our presenter has curated a list of wines for you to order to accompany this tasting event via our partner Tribeca Wine Merchants. Once registered, you will receive purchase information in your confirmation email. Don’t hesitate to order to ensure you receive your wines on time!
1. Felix de Biac, Cadillac
2. Clos Puy Arnaud, Castillon
3. Chateau Jonqueyres
4. Moulin de la Rouquille

How to Register

To attend this event, you must have an account on this website — it’s free and easy to sign up! Scroll down and click “Log in to purchase.” You’ll be able to register with just your email address, and then you’ll be redirected to this page to complete your purchase. If you already have an account, just log in here and then you’ll be able to purchase a ticket to the virtual event. If you have an active Membership, the ticket fee will be waived.

Once you complete your purchase, you will receive a confirmation email with the private Zoom event link, and the link will be visible to you on the event webpage. If you experience any technical difficulties or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.