Cognac vs. Armagnac: Smackdown Rebooted

The Wine 101 class promises, at a minimum, you will taste ten unique wines, sample artisanal cheeses from Murray's Cheese, and leave with a keen sense of what makes wines different along with a better understanding of not only what you like, but also why you like it. While that may seem sufficient for two hours, we aim for more. In...

Both grow Cabernet Sauvignon, both are fiercely loyal to their region, and both create intense, complex, long-lived wines. Yet they are not the same. Bordeaux, with its centuries of history and ornate chateaux, claims restraint and finesse as well as power, yet by a judicious hand. The wines of Pauillac, Margaux, Graves, St Julien, Pomerol, St Emilion...

French wines ooze intimidation; the language, no grape listed anywhere in sight, countless vineyards and producers, and all this at often exorbitant prices. Yet even in the face of these apparent obstacles, France is worthy of our attention. Why? Simply because they still continue to create so many of the world’s most intriguing, exotic, and individualistic...

It is impossible to think about wine without thinking about France. France is truly a country dedicated to wine, and great wine, at that. Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace: all have their traditions, native grapes and regional foods. But what makes France so special?  In this class, we’re taking a tasting tour of this gorgeous country....

Learn to taste like a Master Sommelier. In this introductory tasting course, we will hone your deductive tasting skills and teach you how to tell the difference between classic grape varietals, based on three elements of wine: sight, nose, and palette. Join us in tasting three red wines and three white wines as we explore all that a glass of wine...

Astor Wines & Spirits consultant Sam Davies let's you in on one of the wine industry’s secret weapons: Riesling! You'll learn about producers that have built Riesling’s reputation as "The Best White Wine on Earth." Explore the spectrum of styles—from dry to sweet and everything in between—and learn why oenophiles are just crazy about this...

Nobody makes more wine than Italy. Not only is the quantity staggering, so is the breadth of styles, grapes, production methods, and more. Yet for this evening, the focus will be solely on Tuscany, one of the greatest, and surely most storied, of all Italian wine provinces. In addition to the many intriguing wines from this zone, we will also sample...

Close to 90% of all wine is consumed within 24 hours of being purchased. But what happens when you let those bottles age for a year? Two years? Or more? Time transforms the juice inside, and if you open a bottle at the perfect moment, you'll have the chance to taste something truly magical. Join us as we taste 6 wines to learn how time in the cellar...

When it comes to French wine, there's no bigger rivalry than Burgundy and Bordeaux. While the former embodies sensual elegance with light, yet complex character in the glass, the latter elicits grace and power through bold flavor and rich tannic structure. So who takes the cake? Join us as we pit 3 of our favorite Burgundies against 3 incredible Bordeaux...

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the seemingly endless variety of Italian wines? Don't worry, we've all been there. Imagine a land with more than 1,000 native grape varieties and hundreds of regional styles and nuances. It's all part of what makes Italy the inexhaustible spring of delicious and varied wines.  In this introductory class, we'll...

Step aboard the Yacht Manhattan or Manhattan II decked out in full holiday decor. Relax in our climate controled glassed-in observatory and sip on wines hand picked by our adored wine expert Wendy Crispell. She will teach you which wines go perfectly with everything on your holiday table. Additionally, each will be paired with the perfect cheese,...

What you'll learn in this wine tasting class: In class, you learn the fundamentals of tasting and talking about wine that you can use every day not only with wine but with every meal you eat. We also make 1 bottle of wine per person which you can customize to your palette and you get to take home with you (a $60 value). Perfect for a date night or...

Wines from the "New World" are easy to like. Places like California, Australia, and Argentina, tend to produce wines which are fruit forward and often, quite rich when compared to those from places like Burgundy in France, or Rioja, Spain, both from the “Old World”. Ultimately, these big & bold bottlings have become extremely popular due to...

Variety isn’t the spice of life…a variety of spices is the life of spice. Naan bread, not a keto-gluten-free-bread-substitute, it’s a simple flatbread.You’ll first make the naan dough and let it rise. While that is happening, you’ll grind you spices for the dish the old fashion way, by hand in a mortar &pestle. Toast them to perfection,...

Learn about one of the world's most planted grape varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon. Discover Cabernet Sauvignon’s history, and why it's such a popular grape today, often times with a high price tag to match.  Taste the noble grape's different expressions from its original home in Bordeaux, France to Napa Valley of California, Australia and beyond....

This grape variety is known the world over. It forms the backbone for many of the densest, longest-lived reds anywhere on the planet. Its wines tend to be big, full-bodied, and in need of at least a few years in the cellar (or closet, under the bed...). Despite these characteristics, however, this can be a versatile grape. This is exhibited most clearly...

Aside from red and white, the most important stylistic difference between wines is whether they’re made in the Old or New World style of winemaking. And while this distinction is generally referred to by geographic area (Europe vs. non-Europe), it actually embodies winemaking philosophies more than geographical locations. In this fun and informative...

Not the Rio Grande, nor the fireworks bonanza tucked between the Carolinas, but rather the equator. We'll taste and discuss well known regions such as Mendoza and Barossa, while also highlighting the lesser known, many of which provide some of the world's best wine values today.  Malbec from Argentina burst onto the scene about ten years ago,...

By far, my favorite class of the year. We’ll pour eight wines. Some from islands. Some from volcanoes. Some from volcanoes on islands. We’ll talk about why these wines are unique, what sets them apart, and how to track them down. Islands are a special habitat for growing grapes. When the vineyards hug the coast, the grapes soak up the sun...

Taste and enjoy wine in a relaxed garden environment. After sampling and discussing an assortment of white and red wines, you'll have a better grasp of what it means for a wine to be called dry, tannic, fruitforward, or acidic. We will also cover how different grape species, wine-making techniques, and the land itself influence how a specific wine...