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March 13, 2025

Friday Food Insider: Portland distillery closes; Portland Wine Week on pause

Photo / Peter Van Allen Maine Craft Distilling was located at 123 Washington Ave. in Portland.
By Alexis Wells

Two months after announcing what was to be a temporary closure, Maine Craft Distilling, located at 123 Washington Ave. in Portland, is auctioning off brewing and restaurant equipment. 

The auction's online bidding began on March 2 and will run through March 18. Portland-based Keenan Auction Co. is managing the auction. 

The owner of Maine Craft Distilling announced in a social media post on Jan. 14 that the business was temporarily closing and reassessing operations. "A perfect storm of rising costs and deep dark winter has forced our hand," said the post. "It has been a true honor and joy to spend time raising a glass and listening to wonderful music with you all in our remarkable community."

Maine Craft Distilling was founded in 2012 and launched at its original location, 101 Fox St., in 2013. It moved to 123 Washington Ave. in 2017.

Portland Wine Week is on pause

Wine Wise, the organizers of Portland Wine Week, announced on Monday that they plan to postpone the summer event so the team can focus on other Portland-based wine events throughout the year.

Portland Wine Week was set up as a showcase for local food, restaurants and the city's diverse selection of wine. It had typically been a weeklong series of wine-pairing meals, tastings and wine sails on Casco Bay. 

In a prepared statement, festival founder and organizer Erica Archer said that Portland Wine Week's team is reevaluating the event, which she indicated has grown into a complex venture requiring significant time, energy and coordination. 

"As the small but dedicated team behind both Wine Wise and Portland Wine Week, we have carefully evaluated the demands of organizing the festival while simultaneously managing Wine Wise’s peak season, which runs in parallel," said Archer. "Continuing to execute both at the level of excellence we strive for has required increasing demands on our small team, especially in light of the consistent growth of both companies year after year.

Archer said that her team hasn't ruled out Portland Wine Week returning in the future. Wine Wise events are now running year-round beginning in June.

National Pi Day

Happy National Pi Day, a day to celebrate the ratio of the circumference of a circle, which is known as 3.14.

Here is a list of local retailers getting in the spirit by offering pi-themed deals and freebies to math enthusiasts. 

  • For pi-themed Maine wild blueberry pies, stop by the Two Fat Cats locations at 195 Lancaster St. or 175 Spring St. in Portland.
  • Portland Pie Co., which has locations in Bangor, Brunswick, Biddeford, Falmouth, Portland, Scarborough, Waterville, Westbrook, and Windham, has been offering pi deals all week. Check its social media page for today's deal.
  • Blaze Pizza, at 465 Payne Road in Scarborough, is having a buy one 11-inch pizza and get one for $3.14.
  • Box of Maine at 34 Abbott St. in Brewer offers free chocolate whoopie pies.

What foodie events are you most excited to attend this year? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to know! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.

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