Spain & Portugal: Classic Wines

You could sample a new Spanish wine every night of the year and still not experience all the variety that this country produces. Each region has their own specialty. Rioja creates smoky, earthy, subtle reds with the Tempranillo grape, while the Priorat region makes rich, dense, powerful reds from the Garnacha variety. The Ribera del Duero also employs the Tempranillo grape, yielding wines bigger and more powerful than those of Rioja. And this is just a few of the wines we will try.

As for whites, Spain may not spring to mind, but it should. Whether it's the crisp, aromatic Albarino grape of Galicia, or the lemony & spritzy apertif wines from the Basque region's Txacoli zone, Spain has countless inimitable bottlings, with many at extremely favorable prices.

Spain alone easily fills an evening, yet Portugal, its neighbor, is equally deserving of attention. Here you will taste many full-bodied wines made from varieties both familiar and unknown. While often a bit more 'old world' in style, they offer an interesting counterpoint to Spain's offerings.

We will also discuss food and wine pairing, some rules regarding the fare of the Iberian peninsula, and how to step outside them whenever you care to.  We hope you will join us!

 Zoom Details

• We will meet two times, with each session covering three wines, and lasting for around 75 minutes. The $45 registration fee covers both 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 (three 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 $175 (plus tax & shipping). 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 $175+ 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

Fortunately, Covid seems to be in the rearview mirror, but until fifteen people can cram together in a small space, the show must go on (via Zoom). Happily, there are many upsides to virtual classes. These include, but are not limited to:

• If you miss class, you can always watch the recording. 
• Rather than meeting once, we’ll meet thrice. This allows more time to absorb information, let it sink in, then ask questions the next time we meet. 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.