Photography by Fred Conrad

If you’ve ever bellied up to the Seneca bar, chances are, you’ve been served by Nick Caswell. In recent years, Caswell’s become known for his inventive cocktails—but, as some regular customers know, he’s also a trained sommelier with a degree in French cuisine. Now, the Green Island native is putting those skills to use.

This summer, Caswell launched The World of Wine, an educational wine seminar hosted on Monday evenings at Seneca when the restaurant is closed. The classes, which are $80 a person, can accommodate up to 12 people and include a guided tasting of four white wines and four red wines. “It’s for beginners only,” Caswell says of the class. “But when you leave, you’ll know more than all your friends combined.”

While food isn’t served at The World of Wine events, this fall, Caswell is introducing a new experience that’s equal parts dining and drinking. For $225 a person, Caswell will come to your house and prepare an eight-course French fusion dinner with wine pairings for each. Courses include snail duxelles paired with a 2024 Chardonnay from Burgundy, snapper en papillote with a 2024 Gruner Veltliner from Austria, and Crepes Suzette paired with a 2024 Muscat from Spain.

“Everything’s going to be the real deal,” Caswell says of the dishes. “We don’t take any shortcuts. We’re going to make everything right there. And you’re not going to leave hungry.”