Seaboard Wine & Tasting Bar

06/02/2026

We are delighted to welcome Cameron Mills, the Director of Trade Relations for Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes, one of the most critically acclaimed wineries in New York State.

Founded in 1979, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard is a pioneer of viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes, and in 2023 they became the only vineyard and winery on the East Coast to earn Demeter Biodynamic certification. In 2021, co-owner Fred Merwarth was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine, and made history as the first winemaker from the Finger Lakes region and New York State to receive this prestigious award.

Join us for a unique two-part wine tasting and dinner with Cameron. First, a casual tasting of four estate wines on Thursday June 18th from 5:00-6:30 at Seaboard Wine. $10 at the door. No reservation required.

Then from 6:30-8:00, we will go next door to Stellar for a three course dinner, pairing Cameron’s wines with special dishes from Chef Ann. $95 plus Eventbrite fee. Want to attend both events? Reserve your dinner reservation at Stellar and the wine tasting at Seaboard is free!

Reserve by scanning the QR code on the flyer or visiting seaboardwine.com or eventbrite .com

06/01/2026

And the winners are.....

Thanks to all our "judges" who participated in Raleigh's version of the Judgement of Paris 1976! Napa Valley Chardonnay and Cabernet vs. French Burgundy and Bordeaux. Who reigned supreme?

In 1976, Napa took first place in both categories with Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet.

In 2026, Bouzereau Meursault- Charmes and Chateau Montrose took top honors. Montelena and Stag's Leap were close seconds along with Freemark Abbey.

A 20 point scale was used in both competitions and judges tasted each wine blind, armed with only a pencil, score sheet, baguette and water. The only difference is in 2026 the judges were treated to charcuterie and Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs afterwards.

Stay tuned for more unique wine tasting events at Seaboard!


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05/28/2026

Only 2 seats left for our Judgement of Paris 1976 Redux this Sunday. Napa Valley vs. Bordeaux/Burgundy, including 3 of the top scoring wineries/Chateaux from the 1976 competition.

Sample and score 3 Chardonnays and 3 Cabernets in the same format as the 1976 competition, and may the best wines win! Details and reservations at eventbrite.com, seaboardwine.com or scan the QR code.

05/27/2026

Wednesday Special: $2 off wines by the glass at the bar all day!

05/20/2026

Kick off the holiday weekend with two special wine events: Meet Spanish wine importer/winemaker Andres Harmsen Corcuera on May 21st from 5-7pm and sample his wines from around Spain.

On Friday May 22nd from 5-7, meet owner/winemaker Will Hamilton of Violin Wine in Willamette Valley, Oregon and sample his Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs.

Both events are complimentary and no reservations required.

Events - A wine store and wine bar located at HighPark Village, 1914 Bernard St, Raleigh, NC 27608, USA

05/16/2026

Join us for a unique wine tasting event on May 31st! We are recreating the Judgement of Paris wine competition from 1976, where 10 California Chardonnays and 10 French Cabernet based wines went head to head in a blind tasting, with a panel of French wine professionals as the judges.

If you saw the movie Bottle Shock, then you know the outcome. The California wines took first place in both categories!

1976 was a groundbreaking year for the fledgling California wine industry. American wines were gaining respect and popularity at home, but oversees they were not taken as serious competition to established wineries with hundreds of years’ experience and history.

So, in celebration of America's Bicentennial, British wine merchant Steven Sperrier and his American associate Patricia Gallagher, organized a competition featuring top California wines against French wines. The pair aimed to showcase California Cabernets and Chardonnays against prestigious Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, with the goal of boosting the reputation of New World wines. The judges were all French wine professionals, and the competition saw California wines take the top spots in both categories, causing a shock within the French wine industry.

Fast forward to 2026. Can California wines still hold their own against their French counterparts? Let's find out. Obviously, we cannot procure the exact vintages available in 1976 since they ranged from 1969-1973. Even if we could, they would not be palatable. However, we have managed to procure three of the top four scoring wineries/Chateaux with their current vintages, along with others from the competition. The wines range in price up to $349 per bottle.

The original Judgement of Paris featured 10 white and 10 red wines, but in the spirit of time (and cost), we will be tasting the wines in two flights: three white wines in the first flight and three red wines in the second flight.

The wines will be tasted blind in Riedel glassware, and each "judge" will get a score sheet based on 20 points similar to 1976 and the UC Davis scale. The wines will be scored based on five criteria: appearance, aroma, palate, finish, and overall quality. At the end of the tasting, we will tally up the scores while the judges enjoy some charcuterie and sparkling wine. The winners will then be announced.

Our Judgement of Paris Redux is only open to 10 lucky wine enthusiasts. Scan the QR code or visit seaboardwine.com or eventbrite.com for reservations. $95. May the best wines win!