 We usually taste five or six wines that best illustrate the theme of each class. And at each class we serve artisan cheeses that we feel best complement the wines. The cost per session is $30.00 per person, but if you sign up for all three, the cost is just $75.00 per person. To reserve your places, please either call us at 570-325-4440 with your credit card number or e-mail me at bartspringer@verizon.net Space in our Rose Room is very limited, so please make your reservations as early as possible. Thank you very much and I hope to see you at our first class on Wednesday, June 6. |
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Session I-Blind Tasting of the Major White & Red Grape Types
Wednesday, June 6 6:30PM
If you have never been a part of a blind tasting, you have missed a lot of fun and the chance to sharpen your senses. This session will be a single blind tasting, that is, you will know the names of the wines but not the order in which they are served. For the whites we will sample a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay and a Riesling. For the reds we will blind taste three wines made from different varietals (grape types), most probably Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. I will provide clues about each wine to help you to identify them based on the color, aroma and palate impressions. You will be surprised at how well you do!
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Session II-Reds of France’s Southern Rhone Valley
Wednesday, June 13 6:30PM
The reds-and lately even the whites-from the Southern Rhone Valley in France have become my favorite French wines. There are several reasons why I like these unique wines as much as I do. First, they are among the best values not only from France but from anywhere in the wine world. The climate in this southern part of France is nearly Mediterranean which means that the winters are mild and the warm summers relatively long. This means that the major grape types grown in this area-Grenache & Syrah-achieve excellent ripeness which translates into deeply fruity red with great concentration and character. And there are also lesser known grapes that are often part of these marvelous blended wines (both red & white), grape types such as Mourvedre, Cinsault, Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier.
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Session III-Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Bordeaux Reds
Wednesday, June 20 6:30PM
For the past couple of decades there has been a lot written about the quality of French wines compared to those from California. The debate has revolved mainly around the Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa and the great reds of Bordeaux. Finally, most aficionados now agree that it is not a matter of a qualitative difference, but one of style. One is not “better” than the other. They are of equal quality, yet, due to the different growing conditions, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Blends and red Bordeaux blends are necessarily simply what they are: two great and stylistically different reds
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