Wine Ratings & Wine Tasting Notes
Snow? Nah! Wine Classes are a Go!
Saturday classes are a go! The weather reports –the real ones– are calling for rain and sleet in the morning. If there is any snow, it will end in the late morning and turn to rain, eventually petering out by 2pm in Philadelphia. That means the roads will be clear before classes are scheduled to begin at 4pm.
Of course, if you have premium tickets and rather not get your toes damp, free and reschedule your class. If you do, you will miss the amazing duo of Frank & Quinetta!
First Friday!
This Friday, the Wine School is holding its monthly “First Friday” celebration. No reservations needed, just show up anytime between 6:30 and 9:30pm. The brilliant drunks at the Wine School have devised a great wine tasting, as always.
But they got a little bored, so they added a new feature to the mix: cocktails! So, if you want to learn a thing or two about making the perfect cocktail, then check out the Wine School this Friday. Better education through drinking, as always. $30 at the door. Cash only. 127 S. 22nd Street in Rittenhouse.
Corked and Forked Live on NBC
Keith Wallace v. Benjamin Wallace? A Wine Book Showdown
Wow! Corked & Forked is rising to the top of Amazon’s Bestseller list for wine books! Right now, it’s just under Benjamin Wallace’s Billionaire’s Vinegar.
Ben is a friend of the school (he wrote a wonderful blurb for the book, and even taught a class at the school), and his book is a bona fide bestseller: the fact that its still on Amazon’s bestseller list after so many years is a testament to how incredible that book is. That said, I would be giddy beyond words if I could best him this holiday season…
Three Great Classes. Free Tickets.
We have three amazing classes coming up. These are the classes we LOVE to teach, since the topics are really fun, delicious, and fascinating.
Even better, you can win free tickets if you follow us on twitter: twitter.com/wineschool
The Italian World of Wine, Saturday, December 10th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Italian wines don’t end at the Adriatic Sea. Italian grapes and winemakers can be found across the world.
Did you know that Italian winemakers were planting vineyards in America during colonial times? Or that several renowned French winemakers are in fact Italian? Or that there is a vineyard in California that is producing amazing world-class wines from Italian grape varieties? Or that an Italian winemaker is making an Amarone-style wine in Argentina?
This is a rare chance (we only offer this class once a year!) to sample the finest Italian wines made inside Italy AND outside Italy. Discount tickets: $54.98 Information and reservations here: http://goo.gl/nLWhi
Beer Cocktails & Spirits, Friday, December 9th from 7:30 pm – 9:30
Everything you ever wanted to know about beer spirits, but were afraid to ask. This class ranges from innovative beer cocktails to spirits distilled from beer.
What spirits are distilled from beer? Bourbon and Scotch for starters. Come and explore a whole new way of thinking about beer, spirits, and cocktails! Discount tickets: $54.98 Information and reservations here: http://goo.gl/18UNI
Sommelier Smackdown, Wednesday, December 14th from 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Imagine two of the city’s top wine professionals competing to create the perfect food & wine pairing… and all for you! We pit one of Philadelphia’s top sommeliers against one of our top wine educators. Those attending try each of the food & wine pairings, and get to choose the winner. Discount tickets: $64.98 Always a spectacular event. Information and reservations here: http://goo.gl/cDSdv
First Friday with Winemaker Sean Comninos
One.of.the youngest head winemakers in the United States, Sean Comninos is considered by many to be the greatest talent to emerge out of the East Coast in many years.
We are especially proud to have him at the Wine School, as he was a student at the school for several years. In fact, he was a star pupil, and one of the very first students to earn the Diploma Oenotropae.
Join Sean this Friday (December 2nd) from 6:30-9:30pm at the Wine School of Philadelphia. He will be pouring a selection of his current releases and (possibly) barrel samples as well. No reservations required. $30 at the door, cash only.
The Chairman’s Sommelier
This Wednesday, we have a very special edition of the Sommelier Smackdown: The return of the original Chairman’s Selections! Pennsylvania’s wine drinkers fondly remember Jonathan Newman; he is without any doubt the greatest chairman to run the PLCB (the PA Liquor Control Board). Among many feats Jonathan is the original chairman of the beloved “Chairman’s Selections” program.
When he left the PLCB, many wondered if he left the wine trade for good. He didn’t, actually. He built a new company, Newman Wines & Spirits, hired one of the top talents in the wine trade, and started selling wines to the rest of the country. Our loss was everyone else’s gain. NWS is now one of the fastest growing wine suppliers in the country.
From the beginning, his secret weapon was a man we like to call the Chairman’s Sommelier: Chris Goldrick. Chris is a wino’s wino: hailing from New England, he ran the wine department for one of Connecticut’s largest retails, and then went on to become the Director of Education for the largest wine wholesaler in that state.
Affable and laid back, Chris is far from the stereotype of a Sommelier. A rising star in the wine trade, it’s no surprise that Jonathan tapped him to become the Chief Operating Officer of the fledgling company in 2008.
We are happy to have Chris with us, and so will our students! Chris will be bringing a selection of wines from the Newman Wines & Spirits portfolio to share. He shares the stage Zach Morris, one of the Wine School’s top sommelier-instructors. This is going to be fun!
Getting the grill ready for our family’s…
Getting the grill ready for our family’s traditional thanksgiving meal… Grilled lobster!
Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving!
Corked & Forked
The menu from last week’s Corked & Forked cooking class.
A Confit of Lamb with Endive, Butternut Squash and Pinoli
Paired with: La Maia Lina 2008 Chianti
Porcini Mushroom and Cippolini Onion Ragu with Fresh Pappardelle
Paired with: Damilano 2008 Nebbiolo d’ Alba
Budino Di Riso
Paired with: Pedro Romero Moscatel
The next C&F is more focused on tasting than cooking. More info here: Wine & Food Pairing class.
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