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A moment from our recent Cru Wine Club trip to Bordeaux. This photo was taken moments after the infamous sighting of the Bordeaux Monster near Smith Haut Lafitte.
Smackdowns, New Regions, and Courses (Oh My!)Say what you will about us here, but we don't really sit around drinking all day (much as we'd sometimes like to!). No, we actually work hard to make sure that our classes and programs are as fresh and exciting as possible.
The only problem is that it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of all the new and exciting things that are happening at The Wine School. So a quick update seems to be in order.
First, there are still spots left for our Accelerated Foundations Program in August. This is a great way to not only prepare yourself for the Intermediate Global Studies course in the fall, but also to solidify your wine knowledge right now.
We also have a series of interesting regional classes that we're only holding once a year, from Bordeaux to Burgundy to Austria and Germany--so definitely keep an eye out for those. And, finally, the upcoming Sommelier Smackdowns include some very special guests and unusual formats (wine vs. cocktails sound fun?), so keep your eyes open and your taste buds primed for those, too. Who says summer is the time for relaxing? | ||
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Experiment...There's Too Much Out There Not To!It's lately become more apparent than usual that sticking with the same old wines is a great way to ensure a boring wine life. And while we talk about this regularly here at The Wine School, this seems like the perfect time to reiterate it. Because this time of year, with casual food and regular outdoor get-togethers, most people aren't thinking of opening their prized bottles of First Growth Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy. Rather, this is the season for easy-drinking, unexpected wines. Here's a selection of some of our favorites in the state system right now.
Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder
Ponzi Vineyards 2007 Arneis, Willamette Valley If Arneis from its home-base in Piedmont is unfamiliar to most American wine consumers, then its Oregon incarnation is likely to be downright bewildering. But one sip of this fruity, stony white will be enough to convince you that it's worth a go--and maybe even a second bottle. $24.99. Code: 18113.
Baumard 2005 Savennieres, Loire Valley
From one of our favorite producers comes this stunning Chenin Blanc. And it's from a great vintage. And it's reasonable priced at $23.99. And it's almost crazily delicious. And its code is 24811.
Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder Feudi di San Gregorio 2007 Greco di Tufo
Anyone who has ever taken one of Frank Cipparone's classes on Italian wines knows his love of obscure, less-familiar bottlings. And long ago it became clear that, in matters of all things Italian and unfamiliar, it's best to follow his lead. Take this wine, for example--he's been extolling its virtues for years now, and with good reason. $20.99. Code: 25229.
Muga 2006 Blanco, Rioja
Reds from Rioja are familiar to most people; the whites, somewhat less so. Whether you've tasted one before or this is your first, the Muga '06 is a great place to start. Autumn and stone fruit dominate, but are kept in check by a charming edge of austerity. Lovely. $13.99. Code: 26173.
Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder Have a great week!
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