Escape to the coast for a briny, sweet, and vegetal adventure.

Akin to a sommelier-led wine tasting, an oyster tasting is a guided dining experience through nature, labor, time, and flavor. Virginia is the founder of Lady Oyster, and an Oyster Master Guild Certified™ Oyster Specialist who hosts tastings on a small, waterfront lodge in Phippsburg, ME.

You'll try an array of Maine oysters from three different bodies of water, with unique pairings and accoutrements. We'll discuss how the oysters are grown, the influences on their flavor, Maine's ecology and lifestyle practices, and stories from the farmers.

Virginia provides expert oyster knowledge across:

✓ Aquaculture practices
✓ Accoutrements and pairings 
✓ The ecology of Maine’s estuaries and bays
✓ Indigenous heritage
✓ Modern tasting etiquette
✓ How to identify oyster aromas, flavors, mouthfeel, and finish

Your Experts

1) A certified oyster specialist
2) A professional oyster shucker

Guided Tasting Inclusions:

- 1 dozen oysters per person, from 3 Maine farms
- 2 pairings per person
- Tasting wheels and maps
- Take-home tasting journals
- Accoutrements, e.g., lemon, mignonettes, and sauces
- Freshly-baked focaccia

Table Settings

A feast for the eyes with season linens, candles, and cutlery.

Virginia Shaffer is the founder of Lady Oyster Tours and an Oyster Master Guild Certified™️ Oyster Specialist, who has written about and studied oysters for over 10 years. She holds a B.A. in International Studies and a certificate in Gastronomic Tourism by Le Cordon Bleu in France.

Virginia has led oyster appreciation nights at prestigious venues like the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, NY, and is the upcoming author of Oyster Society: Adventures with the Shellfishly Motivated, which will be published by Islandport Press in August 2026.

Virginia’s oyster tastings guide guests through Maine’s bountiful rivers and bays. From farm stories to tasting profiles, she serves as an enthusiastic representative of Maine’s aquaculture community.