Wine 101

Our Wine 101 is not only one of the best classes we offer, it's also my favorite one to teach.  Yes, we talk fundamentals, but more than just a rote review of grapes and regions, our goal is to make wine your friend.  In this class, you'll become familiar with what you like, but also why you like it.  In turn, you'll know what questions to ask, what to look for on labels, and thus be able to find wines that fit your palate on a regular basis.

During our three sessions, we help you identify differences in body, we discuss tannins, we break down sweet vs. dry, and help you achieve a broad understanding of why wines have different characteristics from one another.  And while I will discuss the science behind these principles, my primary teaching tool is the wines themselves.  We will compare and contrast two wines in each of our three sessions.  We'll break them down, pick them apart, and based on your personal preferences, help you identify which wines in a store or restaurant are best suited to your palate.

As we do this, we will explore numerous regions of the world, as well as discuss how grapes are grown and how wine is made (perhaps the most exciting part of the class, honestly).  We believe that wine should be enjoyed by all on a regular basis.  We help get you there.

Zoom Details

• We will meet three times, with each session covering two wines, and lasting for around 75 minutes.  The $55 registration fee covers all three sessions.
• All classes are recorded, and links are emailed after class, allowing you to view them again later, or to watch any sessions you might miss.
• A few weeks before the first class, we will email you the Zoom links, as well as detailed notes with cheese pairing suggestions, recommendations on when to open the wines, and much more.
• Class reservations can always be rescheduled up until the start of the first class.

Wine Details

• We will taste a total of six wines (two per session).  There are several ways to source the wines, as listed below.  
• The designated 6-pack for this class can be ordered from our retail partner, Flatiron Wines & Spirits, and costs $160 (plus tax & shipping).  To order, please click here.  The wines will be shipped approximately two weeks before the start of class.
• If you prefer to source the wines yourself, just let us know!  We’re happy to send you the wine list, along with suggestions on where to find them locally.
  
• If $160+ is pushing the budget too much, we’re happy to send you a list of alternative bottles you can source. They won’t be the exact same, of course, but certainly close enough to make the points being taught in class.

The Upside Of Zoom

As long as Covid remains in wide circulation, our classes will be held online, via Zoom.  And while we miss meeting people in real life, there are many upsides to virtual classes.  These include, but are not limited to:

• Rather than meeting once, we’ll meet three times. This allows more time to absorb information, let it sink in, think of questions, then ask those questions.  You’ll be a pro in no time!
• Teaching wine requires the use of words, but pictures are equally important. With Zoom, you can expect graphs, maps, and lots of pretty pictures.
• We welcome questions and input during class, but if you’re shy, or have questions you’re afraid to ask, simply type into the chat bar and we’ll get you some answers.
• You can see us, and we’d like to see you, but if you’d rather be incognito, or do your best learning in your pajamas, you can always turn your camera off.
• When I teach in person, I often poll students for their preferences and opinions, and will ask for a show of hands. But sometimes, people are tepid to respond, or they vote after watching how other people vote.  It’s human nature, of course, but with polling on Zoom, no reason to hold back.  If you love the wine, flash the heart emojis.  Or, if it was worst wine you’ve ever had, we want to know!
• You’ll have tons of leftover wine to drink. In class, you’ll taste a couple ounces of each wine, but each bottle has 25.4 ounces.  That leaves a lot of ounces for after hours consumption.