Do you love wine but struggle to make a great selection when going to a giant wine store? Yep, me…read moretoo! At www.CorkQueen.com owner Karen Koch ("Cook"). a.k.a. the "WineQueen", teaches you about wine from "the ground up". Starting with the top wine growing regions around the world, she educates you on the types of grape vines grown in each locale, the vines history and the types of soil they are grown in. Karen then teaches how those soils and the climate in each region work together to bring out the wine "nose" and "flavors" you will smell and taste. You will learn how to identify these smell and taste attributes that you prefer and how to match the wines from other countries and regions that will have similar attributes so you can easily make great wine selections on all of your future wine purchases. Some of this information in on the website but the best way to truly learn about wine is by attending one of the WineQueen events. Choose from her weekly Wine Down Wednesday, Wine Frenzy Friday or set up a private or group "Wine 101" private wine tasting event to celebrate a birthday or anniversary at the WineQueen CQ's Wine Works location, your home or business. The CorkQueen is not a classic brick and mortar wine store. It's more of a wine club. All purchases are made online. You can pick up your order at the CorkQueen CQ's Wine Works location or have your wine delivered. By creating her business this way the CorkQueen is able to offers thousands of different wines from every region around the world. Plus, for you beer lovers out there, the CorkQueen loves you too! You will find beers from around the world at www.CorkQueen.com that will both pleasantly surprise and delight your taste buds! Private Wine Events are available for booking now. Online wine and beer ordering and weekly Wine Down Wednesday and Wine Frenzy Friday events are scheduled to officially launch April 1, 2020 - April Fools Day! Be sure to check back on April 1, 2020 for the CorkQueen Launch Specials! The CorkQueen is looking forward to seeing you!

What a fabulous gem! The owner (The Cork Queen) has a deep knowledge of wine. Tell her what you…read morelike and she will make a fantastic recommendation! And take the time to educate yo on what to pair the wine with! There are events - wine tastings & education events. Lots of price points to choose from and lots of opportunities to try fantastic wines. Prices are also better than the big shops. And delivery locally in a gift bag, with a note. Great service. Can't recommend highly enough!

Grace really knows what she is talking about when it comes to wine, and she makes wine tasting so…read moremuch fun! Definitely recommend her services for any type of event that involves wine. She is professional, charismatic, and fashionable to boot!

Grace hosted a wine tasting for a goodbye party work event. She is so knowledgable about wine and…read morekept our rowdy crew of nurses very entertained. We really enjoyed the selection of wine she provided. Highly recommend and would hire her again!!

My husband and I had the most incredible date night at the Epicurean Theatre! We attended the…read more"Dinner with a Master Chef" class on Friday, July 18th 2014. Our instructor was celebrity chef, Whitney Miller, winner of Master Chef (season 1). The Epicurean Theatre is a gorgeous and very modern culinary classroom in the Epicurean Hotel in South Tampa. The culinary classroom has a kitchen in the front of the theatre for the instructor/ chef and stadium-style seating for the students. (If you want a seat near the front of the class arrive early!) Flat screen televisions are located in the front corners of the classroom to display close-ups of the food as it is being prepared. The layout of the classroom allows participants to eat and drink while watching a cooking presentation. After the chef completes each course of the meal the Epicurean's wait staff serves the dish. Whitney Miller was so charming and entertaining throughout our class. I loved her stories about growing up in Mississippi and being a contestant on the Master Chef. Her menu in our class included some of her favorite Southern dishes: First Course: Arugula Salad with Grilled Figs, Homemade Buttermilk Ricotta Cheese, Crispy Prosciutto and a Citrus Vinaigrette (Wine Pairing: Schiopetto Pinot Grigio) Second Course: BBQ Shrimp and Cheese Grits (Wine Pairing: Black Bird Rose) Third Course: White Chocolate Bread Pudding (Wine Pairing: Rosa Regale) Everything was so delicious and I cannot wait to make these dishes at my home! Confession: I probably won't make my own ricotta cheese for the arugula salad because who has time for that?! We received so many great cooking tips from the class and I plan on purchasing Whitney's cookbook so I can introduce my husband to more Southern cooking. If you are interested in taking a class at the Epicurean Theatre I highly recommend it! They offer a variety of classes from cupcakes to cooking to wine or even speaking a foreign language. They even offer brew bus tours! The classes range from $45-$125. Our Master Chef class cost $65 per person which wasn't a bad deal in my opinion considering we received a two hour demonstration from a celebrity chef, a three course meal, and three wine tastings. Can't wait to take my next class at the Epicurean Theatre!

I went to a great event here called Cupcakes and Cocktails held by Chef Beth Lukens, who owns and…read moreoperates the local company Cloud 9 Confections. Everything about this event was fun. Just like you see on cooking shows, Beth stood in front of the 3-tiered seating area, with a camera on her, and a camera overhead showing inside the pot she was cooking in. Beth is an experienced baker, and I loved that in addition to demonstrating how to make the Bourbon Chocolate Pecan cupcake, she also gave us helpful tips for substitutions and shortcuts. In addition to cupcakes, the event included 3 cocktails, specially designed to compliment the cupcakes we would be taking home. Pumpkin Prosecco - made of champagne and pureed pumpkin, Hard Apple Cider - made with gin, cider, and fresh crushed grapes, and a Bourbon Cocktail - but after the first two drinks, I have no recollection of what went into this last one. It was great, though! :-) Roger, the bartender from the hotel restaurant Élevage, came in each time to explain his concoction, which was really a nice personal touch. After Beth demonstrated how to make the first cupcake, all the participants went down to group stations where we got to frost our own cupcakes. She had all the different cupcakes lined up for us, as well as the different bags of frosting. First we did our own Bourbon Chocolate Pecan cupcake - by scooping out the inside to fill it with pecan filling, then frosting it with a thick bourbon chocolate buttercream, and sprinkling roasted pecans on top. Next was the Hard Apple Cider cupcakes with cinnamon buttercream. And finally we did the Pumpkin Spice cupcake, with a sweet cream cheese frosting. I have to admit, there was a LOT of taste-testing the frosting, even after the cupcakes were all frosted. Beth even provided plastic cupcake containers, so our 6 masterpieces (2 of each flavor) could travel in safety and comfort. I would definitely do another event here - it was very well organized, and in addition to the promised take home cupcakes, we were also provided with recipes on how to make the different cupcakes and frosting. The only thing that wasn't cool, and wasn't mentioned ahead of time, is that you had to pay $5 for valet, which also meant tipping too. I think the Epicurean Hotel needs to include this in the cost of the class, or let people self-park in the spots they have available for the wine store or bakery. Other than the parking, an A+ event from start to finish. Support local small businesses and go check out Beth's webpage, too - yum!

Updated review! My second time visiting I was able to taste the cheeses and meats with my wine…read more The service from the bartender was prompt and vibes are relaxed, both times I've come in, there's not a crowd which is nice. Intimate and cozy.

Cute place with lots of great options! Service was good! They have very tasty grilled cheeses among…read moreother items! Great place to stop at for after work drinks too! I had a pistachio martini that was delicious but I didn't take a picture.

I really enjoy going to Fine Wines and Tastings on Main St in Lakewood Ranch. Scott and his mom…read morehave created a wonderful atmosphere for buy wine by the bottle or by the glass. They have a revolving selection of well known and under the radar wines for you to enjoy. They also offer a small selection of fantastic light snacks to eat while sipping good wine. Additionally, they have a couple of beers and seltzers. If you find yourself wanting a nice glass of wine, please give Fine Wines and Tastings a chance. I promise you will love it.

We went in after a full day of working on our boat and we were headed to Trader Joe's to do our own…read morecharcuterie board. I hopped on yelp while on the way to Home Depot and this place popped up. We love charcuterie and thought for the price point we would give it a try. The sommelier was extremely helpful and after our food order, recommended this fantastic French wine which pared perfectly. We will be back as they also had Justin Isosceles in stock on shelf next time we are cooking steaks on our boat

Perfect Birthday Night at The Black Pearl…read more My husband took me to The Black Pearl for my birthday, and it was absolutely perfect from start to finish. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt special--elegant but comfortable, the kind of place that makes you feel like you're celebrating something important (because we were!). The service was outstanding--attentive without being overbearing--and the staff truly made the evening feel memorable. Our meals were phenomenal, beautifully prepared, and worth every bite. It was one of those dinners where you're already planning what you want to order next time before you've even finished your plate. Between the incredible food, wonderful service, and getting to spend the evening with my favorite person, it was exactly how I wanted to celebrate my birthday. The Black Pearl helped turn a special night into a truly unforgettable one. Highly recommend for celebrations, date nights, or anytime you want an exceptional dining experience. We'll definitely be back!

Came in for anniversary dinner and had a terrific experience at The Black Pearl. Restaurant itself…read moreis very small and intimate but not cramped. We were seated and taken care of by a fantastic waiter. We opted for wine and sparkling by the glass and the sommelier was able to provide some good recommendations and even provided some insight on the region of the wines. Waiter explained the menu which was à la carte but included bread, their Black Pearl Salad , and a palate cleanser before the main entree. The food was prepared and spaced out perfectly so you did not feel rushed or waiting at any point during the experience. From start to finish, it ended up being around 1 hour and 45 minutes which is a good range for a fine dining experience for 2. Our food order as followed: Hors d'oeuvres - Pork belly rillettes Bread (included) - Potato bread with garlic herb olive oil Starter - Pate of Foie Gras Salad (included) - Black Pearl Salad Entremet (included) - Watermelon Jalapeño popsicle Entrees - White truffle lobster risotto , Hereford filet mignon Dessert - Tarte Tatin with side of vanilla ice cream Everything was absolutely amazing and the execution and technique was perfect. If I did have a complaint (if you can call it that) was the choice of using a watermelon and jalapeño popsicle as a palate cleanser. The taste was amazing but it may be too aggressive in flavor prior to an entree. Putting my fake chefs hat on, I would have gone with a similar concept but using watermelon and maybe a yuzu citrus for a palate cleanser. Amazing experience, amazing food and presentation, amazing staff. 5/5. If you are in the Tampa Bay Area and you are looking for a true fine dining experience, check out The Black Pearl.

I've been here a few times with different friends and family, and every visit has been a great…read moreexperience. The service and hospitality are always excellent, and I really love the ambience. During the day it has a cute, relaxed vibe, while at night it feels much more intimate and cozy. I've also tried the food before and thought it was really good. Overall, it's a great spot for both casual outings and special occasions.

The atmosphere wasn't exactly what I expected. It's upbeat and loud with a DJ some nights but nice…read moreand vibrant if that's what you want. You can order at the bar or from servers who come around with good timing. The bartenders were great! They were attentive and helpful even though the place was packed. The drinks themselves were hit or miss. I tried 2 cocktails off their Christmas menu that were delicious and festive, but my friend's Christmas cocktail and mai tai tasted like rubbing alcohol.

Went here for the Blueberry Festival! A lot of the event was super lively; people could shop from…read morevendors, pick blueberries, drink blueberry adjacent wines and beers, and have foods with a blueberry twist on them. Luckily there was a lot of outdoor seating, so it wasn't too difficult to find a seat. I ended up getting the sweet blueberry wine, blueberry flatbread (had caramelized onions, arugula, and prosciutto with a blueberries glaze drizzle), and the blueberry shortcake. The wine was lightly sweet and not dry. The blueberry flatbread tasted more of the caramelized onions and the blueberry drizzle added a little hint of sweetness and tartness. My favorite though was the blueberry shortcake. It was soft and the blueberry compote was absolutely delicious. Although it was rich, it didn't feel heavy. I wish I had gotten another slice. In general, I've been here before and it's nice and cozy inside with great service! I love trying all the flavors available with their wine and beer flights (some are seasonal). Honestly, sometimes I buy their wine by the bottle in stores because it's actually just that good.

Continues to be my favorite winery around. Made reservations with hubs to have a wine lunch then…read morestrawberry shortcake down the road. We chose to sit out on the patio. Service was great and so was the food. I got the sangria and the wine burger. Hubs got the tacos. Love their French fries too! The crispiness and the seasoning on them is just plain good. The wine burger was delicious and probably my fav entree they have.

The wines! The wines! This establishment has everything from wine trinkets to wine glasses. It's…read morefestive and the owners/brothers are and knowledgeable. Not only do they over a variety of wines but they make the most exquisite gift baskets. I think the only thing missing is tasting but with so many wines, to see, I don't think you'd miss it.

Great wine store managed by friendly and knowledgeable owners. Great selection of wines at all…read moreprice points. Convenient location for those in South Tampa. Get on their email list for tastings, seminars, sales and more. Nice place to stop in for a quick chat, grab a bottle from the shelf or cooler and go home for dinner. Definitely recommend adding this location to your wine stores for shopping