2010 Wine Series

Introduction to Italian Wine

$45 per class, $120 for a block of any 3 classes, $210 for the entire 6 class series

In 2010 we are offering a series of six classes on Italian wine.  Classes will be offered every other month, on Thursday evenings starting at 7PM, and will last 1 to 1 ½ hours.  Each class will focus on certain concepts and we will taste roughly six wines per class in order to illustrate those concepts.  Each class will also feature small tastings of food to complement the wines.  Our wine classes are intended to be educational and useful so that when you’re out buying wine or out to dinner, you can select and choose wine with confidence.

Through this six-part program, we will explore what is important about Italian wines.  We will cover topics such as why acidity in wine is a good thing, how to match the right wine with the right food, what wines are worth buying (from inexpensive to extravagant), what are modern and traditional styles, and what regions are known for producing particular wines and why. We will also focus on famous vintages: what makes them good and why they’re important.  This wine series promises to be fun and enlightening for the novice and for the enthusiast as well. The six classes are intended to make up a complete course on Italian wine.  However, each course can also stand alone by itself. Once you complete this course, the world of Italian wine will be fun and enjoyable instead of complicated and confusing.

SCHEDULE

March 4th
The World of Wine.

April 15th
Vino Italiano: Introduction to Italian Wine.

June 17th
Yesterday and Today: Modern Wine vs. Traditional Wine

August 19th
A Lot for a Little: Good Values in Italian Wine and How to Find Them

October 21st
The Time Machine: Important Italian Vintages from 97’ to 07’

December 16th
Molto Bene: Italy’s Best & Brightest

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

March 4th – The World of Wine

This class will cover the fundamentals of wine and wine tasting. This is an important step in understanding and enjoying wine. Some of the basics covered will be how to taste wine, different styles and types of wines, basic characteristics and regional differences of wine from around the world. More importantly this session will help you start to develop your own point of view about wine in general.

Wines featured for tasting, evaluation, and comparison…

White Wines Featured

Italian: 2008 Ottella Lugana, Veneto, Italy

French: 2007 Francois Chidaine Montlouis Les Tuffeaux, Loire Valley, France

American: 2005 Hendry Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Napa Valley CA, USA

Red Wines Featured

Italian: 2004 Cerulli Spinozzi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzi, Italy

French: 2007 O. Cuilleras “Saint Leger” Vin de Pays, Rhone Valley, France

American: 2005 Cedar Knoll Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley CA, USA

April 15th
Vino Italiano: Introduction to Italian Wine

This class will delve into Italy’s wine culture and food culture and help shed light on why wines in each region differ from one another as well as the food. The topics covered will be the palate and tastes of wine and how they work with food. The differences and importance of the IGT, DOC, & DOCG classifications of Italian wine. This tasting will define each classification, why this system was developed, and will feature the best examples of wines from various regions of Italy.

Wines featured for tasting, evaluation, and comparison…

Whites Wines Featured

2008 Pieropan Soave, Veneto, Italy

2008 Le Fornacci Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

2008 Cusumano Insolia, Sicily, Italy

Red Wines Featured

2006 Camerano Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy

2007 Castellare Castellina Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

2008 Cantine Colosi Nero d’Avola, Sicily, Italy

June 17th
Yesterday and Today: Modern Wine vs. Traditional Wine

What is a Modern wine? What makes a wine traditional? This part of the program is where to start.  From the Traditionally rooted wines of Barolo and Chianti to the increasing popularity of Sicilian, and Campanian wines and everything in between you will have the chance to learn taste and fully understand the qualities of each end of the wine making spectrum..

Wines featured for tasting, evaluation, and comparison…

Modern

2007 Donna Fugata Anthilia, Sicly, Italy (bianco)

2008 Guidobono Nebbiolo, Piedmont, Italy (rosso)

2006 Castello Vicchiomaggio “Ripa delle Mandorle”, Tuscany, Italy (rosso)

Traditional

2007 Antonio Caggiano “Bechar” Fiano di Avellino, Campania, Italy (bianco)

2007 De Forville Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy (rosso)

2007 Il Secondo o di Pacina Colli Senesi, Tuscany, Italy (rosso)

August 19th
A Lot for a Little: Good Values in Italian Wine
and How to Find Them

This fascinating class will explore the subjective quality of value. We will taste and explore in detail how a $14 bottle of Barbera can be a great deal and why an $80 bottle of Barbaresco may not be.

Wines featured for tasting, evaluation, and comparison…

Wines Featured

Bellavista NV Franciacorta Brut, Lombardy, Italy (spumante bianco)

2007 Colle Stefano “Metallica” Verdicchio, Marche, Italy (bianco)

2004 Cantina del Glicine, “Cru a Cura” Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy (rosso)

1999  i Clivi “Galea” Merlot, Friuli, Italy (rosso)

2005 Librandi Duca San Felice Riserva, Calbria, Italy (rosso)

2000 Villa Martilde “Ghiro” Bonarda, Lombardy, Italy (rosso)

October 21st
The Time Machine: Important Italian Vintages
from 97’ to 07’

This step in the program should prove to be the most enlightening and challenging class so far. We will focus on the best vintages of this 10 year stretch what wines you can drink now and which wines to cellar and why, what to buy and what to you should pass on.

Wines featured for tasting, evaluation, and comparison

Wines Featured*

97’ vs 99’ – Super Tuscans

03” vs 04’ – Brunello or Barolo

05’ vs 07’ – Chianti Classico

*wines to be announced at a later date

December 16th
Molto Bene: Italy’s Best & Brightest

We will Taste and discuss Italy’s long established Superstars, the Unsung Heroes, and the Wineries/Winemakers on the Rise. This is a perfect way to end the series test your own knowledge and more importantly taste some outrageously good Barolos, Barbarescos, and Super Tuscans to some stunning and unusual wines from the likes of Massa Vecchia, Tenuta delle Terre Nere, and Giuseppe Quintarelli. This class will also include a “final exam” with a substantial prize for the highest score.

Wines featured for tasting, evaluation, and comparison

Wines Featured

1999 I Clivi “Galea” Bianco, Friuli, Italy

2007 Monastero Vitorchiano Ceonobium “Rusticum”, Lazio, Italy

2007 Tenuta delle Terre Nere “Santo Espirito” Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy

1998 Guiseppe Quintarelli “Ca del Merlo”, Veneto, Italy

2005 San Guido Sassicaia Proprietary Blend, Tuscany, Italy

2003 Le Piane Boca, Piedmont, Italy

2003 La Spinetta “Starderi” Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy

2004 Massa Vecchia “La Querciola” , Tuscany, Italy