Wine 101

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...

The United States is the world's fourth largest wine producer. In this class we cover the wines of California, Oregon, Washington, and other states, plus Canada and Mexico. Discover labeling laws, American Viticultural Areas, the history, climates and wine styles of each region.   This workshop is part of the Certified Specialist of Wine...

Travel the world of Syrah...  Explore the power, elegance and versatility of Syrah/Shiraz and its potential to challenge Cab & Pinot as king of CA reds. Learn its origins, other homes and characteristics.  Discover how Syrah varies based on climate, soils and traditions in various international regions through a guided tasting of 5-6...

Dive down under to explore all of the wines of the Southern Hemisphere in one course. These New World wine regions continue to challenge the supremacy of Old World regions and increase their market share worldwide.  Learn about the regions, climates, grapes and wine styles of Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. We'll explore...

Interest in Willamette Valley wines has skyrocketed in recent years. While Oregon produces just 1% of American wine by volume, it accounts for 20% of Wine Spectator magazines top-rated wines.  Most of those are from the Willamette Valley, with its cool-climate Pinot Noir, lean Chardonnay, distinctive Riesling and, now, excellent Gamay. The...

"God made Cabernet Sauvignon" - André Tchelistcheff  Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest of the Bordeaux family of grapes are grown all over the world. Learn Cabernet’s origins, other homes and characteristics. Discover how it varies based on climate, soils and traditions in various international regions through a guided tasting of 5-6 wines....

Are you skilled in the sensory evaluation of wine? The practice of wine tasting requires a formalized methodology that includes understanding perceived wine flavors, aromas, and characteristics of wine. Sommeliers understand and can explain the structure, style, balance and quality of wine, as well identify winemaking flaws.  This workshop is...

The goal of this course is to refresh and deepen the tasting skills you gained with WSET Level 2 empowering you with more skills giving you greater confidence over tasting and describing wines. Includes certificate of completion if you take all classes. This course can also be taken as a Level 3 prep course, to polish your tasting chops so you are...

“Genetically identical to Primitivo? Maybe, but I’m not Italian” – Paso Wine Man  Zinfandel is a California classic and accounts for almost 10% of California grape vine acreage. Learn its origins, other homes and characteristics. Compare it to its genetic relatives from Italy, Croatia & perhaps beyond. Discover how it varies based...

If it were an American state, British Columbia would be our fifth largest producer of wine, just behind Oregon. It’s growing regions range from the verdant Vancouver Island to the gorgeous, lake-strung Okanagan Valley. It offers convincing wines from international varieties, such as Cabernet Franc and Gewurtztraminer, but also delightful wines from...

Cab is often proclaimed as King, but Chard is everywhere...  Chardonnay is Pinot’s Burgundian cousin, California’s most widely grown grape and is grown all over the world. Learn its origins, other homes and characteristics. Taste it with and without oak, from cool and warm climates. Discover how it varies based on climate, soils and traditions...

The world of wine is vast and it’s impossible to learn everything about it. However, if you know the four major grapes of the world and the regions that produce the best of them, you will always find a delicious bottle of wine suitable for any occasion.   In this class, the focus will be on Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and...

Who says Riesling is sweet?  Riesling thrives in cool climates and ages for decades but many only know the sweet and simple styles. It is made in many places from still to sparkling, bone-dry to dessert sweet. Learn its origins, other homes and characteristics. Discover how it varies based on climate, soils and traditions in various international...

Join us in exploring cool climate wines of the world. We'll unravel the mysteries of the EU labeling scheme and compare it with the rest of the world. We will also look for global patterns as we tour the world by glass. Take in the highlights of crisp wines from cool climates from Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, Northern France, Oregon and New Zealand. ...

Kevin is a true Francophile as well as a history buff. He loves everything about French wines – from the grapes, to the centuries-old wineries to the distinctive flavors and, of course, the famous and storied wine-producing regions.  In this class, Kevin will lead you through a discussion and tasting of red wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, and...

This Napa Valley workshop provides students with an in-depth exploration and significance of the world-famous Napa Valley.  Learn more about the amazing geography, history, and climate ideal for grape growing, as well as the importance for understanding the region’s impact on the state of California and its significance within the world of...

Flying at 10,000 feet, we will look for global patterns touring the world by glass.  In this class, we leave the extreme climates of cold and hot and strike out in the middle with both white and red wines as we journey through the highlights of Central France, Central Italy, Northern Spain and California. Our guided tasting of 6-8 wines will...

Taste the beauty of Italy through its wines.  Whether it’s Tuscany’s elegant and food-friendly wines, Sicily’s "new" style wines, the full-throttle reds of Piedmont, or the fun wines of Veneto, Italian wines are well known for their sense of place.  In this class, you will take an exciting journey through the vineyards of Italy and...

Join us in unravelling the mysteries of the EU labelling scheme and compare it with wine from the rest of the world. We will look for global wine patterns touring the world in a glass. Take in the highlights of France, Italy, and Spain, plus various New World regions. The tasting of 5-7 wines will focus on New World vs Old World and examples from various...

Complete Course Title: "Introductory Wine Class: The One-Hour California Red Wine Expert". Almost 50 years ago, Kevin hitchhiked from New York to California, visiting the few quality wineries (all 24 of them!) that existed at that time.  Today, there are more than 3,300 wineries!  The United States is the number one consumer of...