Italy: North to South

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.

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.