Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Have you registered for "Exploring Mark’s Wine Picks" - Thursday, Sept 3 ??
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Franklin Wine Club joins Painting with Annie for Wine Club Craft Night
Ann Handy (better known as Annie) is a watercolor and acrylic instructor, lifelong artist, and graphic designer with more than 35+ years of creative experience. Coming from a family of artists, she began painting at the age of 19 and earned a college degree with a focus in photography. Known for her playful, nature-inspired projects and easy-to-follow teaching style, Annie combines, vibrant color, and step-by-step instruction to help every student create artwork they’ll be proud of. When she’s not teaching or designing, Annie finds inspiration in nature—photographing wildlife, sketching new ideas, and exploring the outdoors. Her mission is simple: to inspire creativity, build confidence, and remind people that everyone has an artist within.
Mark is a veteran beverage educator, professional wine buyer, and podcaster with over four decades of industry expertise. As the driving force behind Franklin Liquors—a family business serving wine lovers since 1978—Mark holds an impressive suite of top industry credentials, including CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS, SWS, OWE and IWM. Renowned for turning complex regional terroirs and tasting nuances into fun, interactive discoveries, Mark’s passion is simple: helping every wine enthusiast uncork a deeper appreciation for what’s in their glass."
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Exploring Umberto Cesari: A Masterclass in Emilia-Romagna
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| Exploring Umberto Cesari: A Masterclass in Emilia-Romagna |
With over 20 years’ experience in the wine industry, in roles including wholesale, retail, and supplier side, Roger Warner has extensive knowledge of wine production, from vineyard to glass. Roger has traveled to vineyards and wineries both within the United States and internationally, learning from growers and winemakers along the way. He is passionate about the wine industry and loves to share his knowledge and experience with consumers.
Monday, May 25, 2026
Franklin Wine Club: Exploring Bodegas Luz贸n - Thursday, May 28
Join the Franklin Wine Club for an exclusive sit-down educational tasting as we explore the rugged beauty and bold flavors of D.O. Jumilla, Spain. We are honored to host Jos茅 Requena Abellan, Head of International Sales for the historic Bodegas Luz贸n, for an evening dedicated to the "soul" of Spanish winemaking.
The Story of Bodegas Luz贸n Founded in 1841, Bodegas Luz贸n is one of the most storied producers in the Jumilla region. The winery’s name carries a unique history: its founder, Don Jos茅 Molina, was a military commander stationed on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Upon his return to Spain, he named the estate in honor of his journey. For over a century, the winery was famously passed down through the female side of the family, maintaining a legacy of tradition that continues to evolve today.
Today, Luz贸n manages 415 hectares of vineyards, including prized plots of 40-year-old, ungrafted, and non-irrigated vines. They are pioneers in environmental stewardship, being the first in their region to produce organic wines and one of only 40 wineries in Spain to hold the "Wineries for Climate Protection" certification.
Meet Our Guest: Jos茅 Requena Abellan Born and raised in Jumilla, Jos茅’s connection to the land began in his grandfather’s Monastrell vineyards. After earning his WSET 3 certification and building a career in the wine trade, he joined Bodegas Luz贸n in 2026. Now leading their international team, Jos茅 brings a lifetime of local heritage and professional expertise to our wine room.
The Tasting Experience We will focus on the region’s native superstar: Monastrell. These sun-drenched grapes produce wines of intense color, dark fruit aromas, and sophisticated spice notes. Our exploration will include:
- The unique characteristics of dry-farmed Monastrell.
- Traditional, minimal-intervention winemaking techniques using large wooden barrels.
- A look at how Bodegas Luz贸n blends tradition with modern sustainability.
Event Details:
- When: May 28th at 7:00 PM
- Where: Franklin Liquors Wine Room
- RSVP HERE: Exploring Bodegas Luz贸n, Thu, May 28, 2026, 7:00 PM | Meetup
Saturday, November 8, 2025
High-Elevation Harvest: Exploring Brassfield Estate Winery (wine tasting event)
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Franklin Wine Club: Exploring The Wines of McManis Vineyards - Sep 18
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Franklin Liquor: Wine Tasting Event - June 19 at 7 PM
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Bacchus Buster (Saturday, April 26) Plus the Wine & Beer Clubs return
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Friday, April 11, 2025
An Exploration of French Wines - April 24 at Franklin Liquor
Embark on a journey through the diverse and captivating world of French wines. Vincent will guide you through a curated selection of classic French styles, sharing his expertise and enthusiasm for the unique terroir and winemaking traditions of France.
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| An Exploration of French Wines - April 24 at Franklin Liquor |
During this engaging session, you will have the opportunity to taste and explore:
- The Versatility of Sauvignon Blanc: Discover three distinct expressions of this celebrated white grape, showcasing the regional nuances and stylistic variations found across France
- Classic French Ros茅: Experience the elegance and refreshing character of a quintessential French ros茅, perfect for any occasion
- Elegant Pinot Noir: Delve into the delicate aromas and nuanced flavors of French Pinot Noir, a benchmark for this beloved grape
- The Majesty of Red Bordeaux: Explore the structure, complexity, and age-worthiness of renowned Red Bordeaux blends, understanding the different appellations and their characteristics
Come and discover the passion Vincent Mareel has for French wines as you taste, learn, and expand your palate in a relaxed and informative setting. This is a fantastic opportunity for both seasoned wine enthusiasts and those new to the world of French wine to deepen their appreciation and understanding.
Limited seating is available, so reserve your spot today!
About Vincent:
Vincent Mareel, French born, living in Lille and south of France. He began his US career in Washington, DC with twelve years in the food and wine scene in DC catering to residence and patrons on Capitol Hill. He continued in DC representing both French and prestigious American wines in the DC Metropolitan area, working with elite country clubs and restaurants. Today he has worked for Luneau USA representing the Group Castel as leader in French wines, for 15 years, as well as wineries all over Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal).
Tickets - $5 at -> https://www.meetup.com/franklin-wine-club/events/307167111/
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Exploring Italian Wines With Ciro - March 27 at vFranklin Liquors Wine Room
- Sparkling wine from the Veneto region
- Rich and robust Tuscan reds
- The prestigious "King of Wines" from Piedmont
Mark C Lenzi CSW,CSS,CWAS,FWS,IWS*,SWS,IWM owner of Franklin Liquors
- Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) And Spirits( (CSS) by the Society of Wine Educators.
- California Wine Appellation Specialist (CWAS) by the San Francisco Wine School. (First In MA)
- French Wine Scholar(FWS)/instructor, Spanish Wine Scholar (SWS), And Italian Wine Scholar (IWS*) by the Wine Scholar Guil
- Italian Wine Specialist (IWS*) by the North American Sommelier Association.
- Oregon Wine Expert (OWE) by the Napa Valley Wine Academy,
- Italian Wine Maestro (IWM) by the Vinitaly International (First USA Class)
- Co Host-Podcast/Radio Show The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)
- Founder-The Franklin Wine Club
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Exploring Susana Balbo Wines with Franklin Wine Club - Nov 17
Pablo Tome, is the Senior National Export Director of Susana Balbo . He is a native of Argentina living in Stamford Connecticut and is Passionate about all things Argentina. He is especially proud to represent the Iconic winemaking of Susana Balbo in the Untied States. Pablo has an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and is an avid Rugby and soccer player. Previously he managed Bodegas Salentein, Santa Rita from Chile and Bornos from Spain. He is an active member of the “Wines of Argentina Marketing committee contributing to promoting the excellence of Argentine culture around the globe.
RSVP required -> https://www.meetup.com/franklin-wine-club/events/304269750/?eventOrigin=group_upcoming_events
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Pour Richards Celebrates 11 years - Thank you!
spot - (noun) 1. a small round or roundish mark. 2. a particular place or pointeleven - (noun) one more than ten
Monday, October 10, 2022
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 223 - Chewy, Countries Signature Wines
Wonderful World of Wine with Kim Simone, Mark Lenzi shared their most recent podcast episode. Listen here (or on your favorite podcast app).
Audio file -> https://www.podpage.com/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www/episode-223-chewy-countries-signature-wines/
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| The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 223 - Chewy, Countries Signature Wines |
Sunday, May 30, 2021
FM #548 - Inside The Wonderful World of Wine - 05/18/21 (audio)
FM #548 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 548 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Mark Lenzi and Kim Simone about their Wonderful World of Wine podcast.
Our conversation was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
We find out about the story of Kim and Mark, and the making of The Wonderful World of Wine. The recording runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Kim and Mark. Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a1eae6f0-fed1-479b-a6ae-8fff17c94c2a
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Franklin Liquors -> https://www.franklinliquors.com/
Wine Club Meetup group -> https://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/
Commonwealth Wine School -> https://www.commonwealthwineschool.com/
Wonderful World of Wine social links
Facebook page: https://facebook.com/TheWonderfulWorldOfWine/
Twitter @wineeducation https://twitter.com/wineeducation
Daily Newspaper https://paper.li/TheWonderfulWorldofWine#/
Wonderful World of Wine podcast ->
via player.fm (and many other podcast services)
https://player.fm/series/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| Podcast: The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW) |













