All Wine Classes
Below are all the wine classes we offer.
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A Tour of Argentina Learn about the major wine regions of Argentina, from Salta to Rio Negro and everything in between. Ever since Malbec from Mendoza took off, Argentina has been a hotbed of upstart wineries and pioneering winemakers. We'll taste and cover: Argentinian wine laws and history; six major wine regions and their climates, grapes, styles of production and suggested pairings. 
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A Tour of California Learn about the major wine regions of California, from Mendocino to Santa Barbara and everything in between. There's SO much more to this state than Napa Cab or Sonoma Chard — it's almost hard to find a grape California winemakers haven't tried. We'll taste and cover: California wine laws and history; six major wine regions and their climates, grapes, styles of production and suggested pairings.
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A Tour of France Learn about the major wine regions of France, from Alsace to Languedoc-Rousillon and everything in between. Traditionally, this has been one of the most important countries for wine in the world, and understanding the "classic" regions, grapes and wine styles is fundamental to a solid wine knowledge. (Not to mention, they're good wines!) We'll taste and cover: French wine laws and history; six major wine regions and their climates, grapes, styles of production and suggested pairings.
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A Tour of Germany Learn about the major wine regions of Germany, from the Ahr to Württemburg and everything in between. Germany has much more to offer than Riesling (though those are phenomenally versatile, and no, they're not all sweet!). We'll taste and cover: German wine laws and history; six major wine regions and their climates, grapes, styles of production and suggested pairings.
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A Tour of Italy Learn about the major wine regions of Italy, from Alto Adige to Sicily and everything in between. There's such a wide range of wines produced here — over 1,400 native grapes! — it's no wonder Italian wine can be a little confusing. But the wines are delicious and well-worth getting to know. We'll taste and cover: Italian wine laws and history; six major Italian wine regions and their climates, grapes, styles of production and suggested pairings.
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A Tour of Spain Learn about the major wine regions of Spain, from Rías Baixas to Jerez and everything in between. This country bridges the gap between the Old and New Worlds, combining tradition with innovation with a fascinating array of grapes and styles. We'll taste and cover: Spanish wine laws and history; six major wine regions and their climates, grapes, styles of production and suggested pairings.
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All About Orange Wines So called because of their unique, golden color, orange wines are made by letting the juice from white grapes sit on their skins. The resultant wines have added texture, intrigue and distinctly savory, earthy notes — oh, and a gorgeous, orangey color! We'll taste and cover: this winemaking style; trends and pairing techniques; some of the best examples from around the world.
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All-American Cheese & Wine Pairings In this special All-American class, we'll go way beyond Kraft singles to explore cheeses and wines made in the United States. We'll taste and cover: composition of cheese and wine; types of American cheese; general pairing guidelines; specific domestic pairing suggestions.
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An In-Depth Guide to Champagne Champagne is one of the most famous, revered wine regions in the world. This prestigious area produces unrivaled sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grown on its chalky soils... so what makes Champagne so very special? In this intermediate class, we'll taste and see for ourselves. We'll cover: history of the region; geology and climate; villages, crus, classifications and styles; top producers; and vintages.
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An In-Depth Guide to the Wines of Burgundy Burgundy's Côte d'Or is one of the most famous, revered wine regions in the world. This "golden slope" produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from clay and limestone soils... so what makes them so special? In this intermediate class, we'll taste and see for ourselves. We'll cover: history of the region; geology and climate; appellations and classifications; and vintages.
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Back-Vintage Wine What's a 20- or 30-year-old bottle taste like, and is it really worth the wait? Which bottles should I cellar, and how do I know if they're ready? We'll share some great older bottles from the 1980s and 1990s while we discuss how wine ages, what wines to cellar and which current vintages to hold onto.
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BBQ Pairings The dog days of summer call for cooking outdoors and over an open flame. They also call for wines that can stand up to bolder flavors and a little smokiness without overwhelming your fresh ingredients. Through tasting, we'll explore some of our favorite wines to seek out for pairing with your barbecue.
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Blind Tasting We won't blindfold you, but we will pour the wines "blind" — meaning you won't be told what you're tasting at first. Hone your deductive tasting skills and learn how to tell the difference between grapes like Pinot Noir and Tempranillo or Riesling and Chenin Blanc. We'll cover: the language of wine; purpose of blind tasting; classic grapes, regions and styles; and the full deductive tasting process.
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Blind Tasting 201 You're familiar with blind tasting and are ready to take your skills to the next level. In this workshop, we'll collectively work through eight wines at a pace appropriate for those studying for intermediate sommelier certification. This is a great way to meet peers at a similar level of commitment, to enhance your wine theory studies, and to share both ideas and the cost of bottles for comparison tastings.
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Burgundy Basics Burgundy is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, with a legion of passionate devotees. It can also be one of the most confusing to explore, with some vineyards boasting only a few rows of precious vines tended by multiple producers. We'll taste and cover: Burgundy's history and organization; its main grapes and sub-regions; recent vintages.
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Cheese & Wine 101 Though they're famous for going well together, cheese and wine aren't the easiest of things to understand. Stilton and Syrah or Gruyère and Grüner — who knows?? We do. We'll taste and cover: composition of cheese and wine; main types of cheese; general pairing guidelines; specific pairing suggestions.
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Everything Rosé This special seasonal class welcomes in the new fleet of rosé wines just as the weather and the barbecues heat up. We'll taste and cover: the different ways rosé is made; our latest favorites; perfect pink pairings.
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Exploring Brown Spirits Scotch, bourbon, whisky (or whiskey) — what exactly is the difference? What about Cognac versus Armagnac? And Calvados?! We'll taste and cover: all the aforementioned brown spirits, plus dark rum, as well as their bases, requirements for distillation and aging, and classic cocktails.
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Exploring Greek Wines It was the Greeks who spread vines around much of Europe. And while its modern reputation may have ailed for a minute, Greek wine is back — and better than ever. In this stunning Mediterranean country, producers are refocusing on high quality, and the native grapes have plenty of interesting things to say. Don't let the foreign language on the label deter you: these are unique, delicious and well worth exploring.
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Exploring Kosher Wines It's a difficult question every sommelier has faced: Got any recs for a good Kosher wine? This year, as a matter of fact, we do! We've searched all of Israel and beyond to pull together a list of awesome wines ready for your kosher table. And yes — they'll pair perfectly with your brisket or latkes! Come taste, learn and see for yourself at this special seasonal class.
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Exploring New Zealand & Australia What's happening down under? New Zealand has gone way beyond Sauvignon Blanc, and many of Australia's most exciting wines aren't Shiraz. From cool climates to unique soil types, pioneering winemakers and wildly old vines, these two countries are turning out some of the world's most interesting, exciting wines. Come learn and taste for yourself.
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Exploring South American Wines South America is home to some of the most fascinating up-and-coming winegrowing areas, with vineyards popping up everywhere from the hot high desert to the foothills of the Andes to the cool and foggy coast (and everywhere in between). We'll discuss new and established appellations while we taste through a diverse array of whites and reds from some of this continent's most exciting wineries.
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Food & Wine Pairing 200 In this series of pairings classes, we'll cover a specific food and wine "match" by tasting three dishes with one common component along with eight wines that highlight what works and what doesn't, so you can take your pairings outside the box. This 200-level pairings course is designed for individuals who already have a basic foundation of wine (major varietals, how wine is made, basic tasting vocabulary) and are looking to increase their understanding, either for service/sales or for their own interest.
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Geology for Geeks Sand, stone, marl, loam, loess, clay, limestone — the geology of wine is complicated but essential to an advanced understanding of the field. We'll taste, "geek" out and cover: major soil types; how soil affects agriculture and the concept of terroir; farming and soil health; specific wines and their soil types.
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Great Grapes Certain grapes carry international clout. They're planted all over the world and can walk and talk with a different attitude based on their terroir, or where they grew up. In these relaxed yet thorough, tasting-based classes, we'll focus on a different variety each session, sampling great examples from around the world while breaking down their similarities and differences.
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Great Wines from New York State "Drink local!" has become a popular slogan as New York State's wine industry has taken off, and quality has seen a huge upswing of late. Today, we're excited about our home turf and proud to say that world-class wines are coming out of the Finger Lakes and Long Island. We'll taste and cover: major appellations, our current favorite producers and grape varieties.
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Monthly Unlimited Class Pack - June 2013 Sign up for as many classes as you'd like in June! This monthly unlimited class pack ($225) is a great way to immerse yourself in wine and create your own curriculum of wine classes, whether you start at Wine 101 and move up to 200-level courses, focus on a variety of food-and-wine pairings, or tour the world's major wine countries and regions — the choice is yours! Add just this item to your cart. After check-out, you will receive an order confirmation email. To request your seats and register for classes, simply reply to that email with your desired class name(s) and date(s). You can always request additional class registrations within the month as you desire; all registrations are subject to class availability and will be confirmed by email reply. This class pack is valid for all June classes.
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Monthly Unlimited Class Pack - May 2013 Sign up for as many classes as you'd like in May! This monthly unlimited class pack ($225) is a great way to immerse yourself in wine and create your own curriculum of wine classes, whether you start at Wine 101 and move up to 200-level courses, focus on food-and-wine pairings, or tour the world's major wine countries and regions — the choice is yours! Add just this item to your cart. After check-out, you will receive an order confirmation email. To request your seats and register for classes, simply reply to that email with your desired class name(s) and date(s). You can always request additional class registrations within the month as you desire; all registrations are subject to class availability and will be confirmed by email reply. This class pack is valid for all May classes.
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Natural, Organic and Biodynamic Wine Just like with food, wines now come with a plethora of claims about their "natural" natures. What are sulfur and other chemicals doing in my wine, and what on Earth does the moon have to do with winemaking? We'll taste and cover: terms "natural," "organic" and "biodynamic" in relation to wine; regulations for each; vineyard management techniques and winemaking practices.
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New-School California What's new in California?? Plenty. It's almost hard to find a grape or area California winemakers haven't explored. We'll taste and cover: "new school" California wines, from ultra-natural/non-interventionist winemaking to off-the-wall grape varieties and off-the-beaten-path vineyards. Check out our Old-School California class, too!
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Old World v. New World Cheese & Wine Pairings In this special pairings class, we'll look at the differences between wine and cheese made in what's known as the "Old World" (traditionally most of Western Europe) versus the "New World" (countries like the U.S. or Australia). We'll taste and cover: main types of Old World cheese and their New World counterparts; general pairing guidelines; specific pairing suggestions.
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Old-School California Want to understand what first made the California wine world explode in the 1970s? Want to experience examples of the classics with some age on them? We'll taste and cover: "old school" California wines, from iconic Napa Cabernet and Chardonnay to traditional, Burgundy-influenced Pinot Noir and more. Check out our New-School California class, too!
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One Pairing, Three Ways Food and wine pairings can leave you elated or, well... ready to move on. But what makes the difference? We'll taste and cover: the importance of good pairings; general pairing guidelines; three specific dishes from our current menu, each with one "match made in heaven" wine, one "that'll do" pour and one "mismatch" to understand the specific elements of a great pairing.
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Perfect Pizza Pairings This fun, social "pizza party" class involves three types of pizza with different seasonal, gourmet toppings, all paired with a comprehensive lesson in perfect pairings. We'll taste six unique wines while we learn and discuss what works and what doesn't (and why).
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Picnic Pairings 'Tis the season for beach blankets and picnic tables, for rooftop parties and front-stoop soirées! Lazy days call for refreshing, easy-drinking wines paired with simple food and a relaxed mood. Through tasting, we'll explore some of our favorite wines to seek out for great value and sheer deliciousness this summer.
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Regional Roundtables In these region-specific workshops, we come together to taste and talk about a variety of benchmark wines from a particular area. In true roundtable spirit, this is a relaxed discussion with conversation and key points guided by one of our certified sommeliers. Roundtables are a great way to taste a variety of classic wines side-by-side and to learn in a more social environment. No experience is necessary!
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Seasonal Pairings Join us for a class that takes inspiration from the farmer's market! Each season brings an abundance of different types of produce, and just as your cooking often has to get creative (kale for the fifth night in a row?!), so do your wine pairings. We'll taste and cover: how a wine's structure and flavor influence pairings; general pairing guidelines; foods in season currently and the best wines for pairing with them.
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Sommelier Sweethearts: Discover New Wines Which esoteric grape is the darling of sommeliers across the country right now? Which region is seeing a resurgence of interest? We'll taste and cover: the regions, grapes and styles that are exciting the wine world today; where to look for great value; ideal occasions and cuisines for experimenting with new favorites.
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Sparkling Wine Around the World What do blanc de noirs and blanc de blancs mean? Why is Champagne so much more expensive than Prosecco? And how does vintage bubbly differ from non-vintage? In this class, we'll taste and cover: how sparkling wine is made; styles of sparkling wine and popular regions; what makes true Champagne so special; sparkling terminology and general pairing suggestions.
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Starting a Collection Why do we age wine in the first place? And how long does it continue to get "better"? Learn how to begin and maintain a wine collection that fits your budget and tastes. We'll taste and cover: the wine aging process; proper storage; buying strategies tailored to your budget and tastes; service tools and tips.
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Take-Out Pairings Pizza (or Pad Thai, or sushi) will be at your door in 20. Now: What to drink with it? We've got foolproof pairings for every delivery menu in NYC. We'll taste and cover: how a wine's structure and flavor influence pairings; general pairing guidelines; the most popular take-out options and the best affordable wines for pairing with each.
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Wine 101 Learn the basics and discover what you like in a wine so you can choose bottles in a restaurant or wine shop with confidence. We'll cover: how wine is made; the difference between Old World and New World styles of wine; how climate affects the body, alcohol and acidity of wine; how to determine and describe what you like.
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Wine 200 This 200-level course is designed for individuals who already have a basic foundation of wine (major varietals, how wine is made, basic tasting vocabulary) and are looking to increase their understanding, either for service/sales or for their own interest. In this series of classes (see below for schedule), we'll cover the world's major wine-producing countries and regions in detail. In addition, we'll practice professional wine service and review the language of wine, including blind tasting components. Perfect for: those in the restaurant industry, or anyone interested in studying wine in a more structured environment.
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