14 Wines, 7 Cheeses, 1 Night

Friday, February 27th
6:30pm - 8:45pm

Price: $79
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One of the best ways to learn about wine is to simply pop as many corks as possible.  Of different wines, that is, and this is how you do it, in a veritable around-the-world tasting of wine and cheese! Rather than focus on one particular country or theme, we feature wines from around the globe, with many from up-and-coming areas such as South Africa, South America, Australia, Spain, and New Zealand. In turn, each pair is mated to a specific cheese, chosen for its compatibility with the wines, all sourced from Murray’s Cheese Shop, one of the best purveyors in the country.

Ultimately, tasting wines in pairs helps to demonstrate what makes wines different from one another, while also helping you discover your own preferences. Of course, we also highlight the grapes used, the climate, and the production method for each wine served. In addition, we’ll discuss how to find wines similar to the ones tasted, thus allowing you to discover new bottles, suited to your specific palate, every day of the week. We hope you can join us!

PS - Please note that, while things can get a bit noisy by the end, this is most certainly a class.  A fun class, but definitely an opportunity to learn, discover new grapes and regions, and to learn more about what moves you, and why.

The New Iberia

Friday, March 6th
6:30pm - 8:15pm

Price: $79
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After eighteen years in NYC, I moved back to California to farm a vineyard, make wine, and get my hands dirty again.  But I miss teaching, and seeing people, so I'm moving back.  I'm genuinely excited for this class (and all the classes) and hope you can attend.  And if you've never attended before, come join us to see what all the fuss is about.

Innovations are occurring in all major wine-producing countries - France, Italy, here in the US, and beyond.  And I could put together a great line-up of bottles from any of them, but none would be as compelling, as exciting, or as delicious as what we'll be pouring on May 9.

In previous Spain classes, I've already poured bottles from the Canary Islands, Sierra de Gredos, and Bierzo, and I'll do it again, because there are countless new producers worth discovering, putting their own spin on local, indigenous grape varieties.  But also on tap could be creations from the Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, or Monterrei.

As for Portugal, here, too, we will likely visit some known locales - the Douro, the Dão, perhaps Bairrada - but with a focus on the vignerons crafting the most intriguing wines, made from native grapes, and made with love.  We may even leave the mainland, and head to the Azores islands, land of volcanoes and fiery wines you won't soon forget.

We'll taste 8-10 wines, and yes, cheese, breads, and charcuterie will be served - the good stuff and plenty of it.  I hope to see you, and thank you for your consideration.

Wine 101

Friday, March 27th
6:30pm - 8:30pm

Price: $79
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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.

In this class, 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 drink 8-9 wines, mostly as pairs, allowing you to compare and contrast different styles.  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.

As always, cheeses and charcuterie from Murray's will be served, and breads, the works.  Thank you!

Italy: From North to South

Friday, April 3rd
6:30pm - 8:30pm

Price: $79
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Without question, Italy provides a staggering percentage of the world's most distinctive and interesting wines. In addition, the sheer breadth of styles they produce is equally impressive. From the steely, minerally whites of the Tre Venezie and Val d'Aosta to the dark, powerful reds of Sicily and Campania, this country is a formidable force in winemaking, with something for everyone, and so much more.

But you need to know where to look.  We'll explore the wines of Piedmont, Tuscany, and other wines from the north.  But the south, while less celebrated, gets equal attention in this class.  We'll taste the volcanic wines of Mt. Etna, Aglianico from Campania, or maybe Basilicata, and see how they stack up against their more famous counterparts in the north.

We'll explore the indigenous grapes of Italy, its geography, soil, and winemaking traditions.  We'll discuss its history, of course, but above all, we'll teach you what is special about this amazing country, and help you identify which wines work best for you and your palate.

As always, cheeses and charcuterie from Murray's will be served, and breads, the works.  Thank you!

14 Wines, 7 Cheeses, 1 Night

Friday, April 17th
6:30pm - 8:45pm

Price: $79
Buy Tickets

One of the best ways to learn about wine is to simply pop as many corks as possible.  Of different wines, that is, and this is how you do it, in a veritable around-the-world tasting of wine and cheese! Rather than focus on one particular country or theme, we feature wines from around the globe, with many from up-and-coming areas such as South Africa, South America, Australia, Spain, and New Zealand. In turn, each pair is mated to a specific cheese, chosen for its compatibility with the wines, all sourced from Murray’s Cheese Shop, one of the best purveyors in the country.

Ultimately, tasting wines in pairs helps to demonstrate what makes wines different from one another, while also helping you discover your own preferences. Of course, we also highlight the grapes used, the climate, and the production method for each wine served. In addition, we’ll discuss how to find wines similar to the ones tasted, thus allowing you to discover new bottles, suited to your specific palate, every day of the week. We hope you can join us!

PS - Please note that, while things can get a bit noisy by the end, this is most certainly a class.  A fun class, but definitely an opportunity to learn, discover new grapes and regions, and to learn more about what moves you, and why.