First Friday: Cocktails!
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Snow? Nah! Wine Classes are a Go!
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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!
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First Friday!
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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.
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Keith Wallace v. Benjamin Wallace? A Wine Book Showdown
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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…
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Three Great Classes. Free Tickets.
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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
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First Friday with Winemaker Sean Comninos
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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.
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The Chairman’s Sommelier
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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!
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Corked & Forked
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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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November Newsletter
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Winter Semester | Professional Programs
Our winter semester has just been announced. We are offering two sections of the Foundation program: Mondays and Thursdays. Start time is 6:30pm for both. More details here: Foundation Professional Certification Programs
Our Advanced Program has also been announced: Advanced Certification: The Omnibus Program. This program covers dessert wine, Champagne & sparkling wine, advanced food & wine Pairing, wine buying, spirits, and cocktails. Advanced Certification Program
Annual Pre-Holiday Sale!
Save up to 40%!
Whether you are buying for yourself or for the holidays, now is the time to pick up tickets!
For every $125 you spend, we give you a $50 Discount!
Use this discount code: 4FALL
Take advantage of this sale now, as it ends in six (6) days! Valid for all classes (wine, beer, cocktail, or cooking). Not valid for academic programs.
First Friday! Come to the school on December 2nd for a night of secret society wines. We are talking some seriously skull and crossbones grape juice here.
“First Friday’s at the Wine School are a chill event” Meal Ticket/City Paper
“The Wine School has the perfect antidote for Beer Week” Grub Street/New York Magazine
“First Friday” is a mellow, free form night of wine and education in our new Rittenhouse mansion.
You can tuck away in a quiet corner and peruse our wine and spirits library. Or you can curl up in a leather chair for a tasting of luxury wines. You can hold court at the winemaker’s table, or hang out with one of our master Sommelier-Instructors.
It’s a posh way to start your weekend. Hell, it’s a great way to start the month.
December 2nd at 127 S. 22nd Street in Rittenhouse. No reservations, doors open from 6:30-9:30pm. $30 at the door, cash only. More Information.
Members of our Cru Club enjoy free access!
Two Free Signed Copies of Corked & Forked!
Purchase two $50 Gift Certificates, and get two FREE signed copies of Corked & Forked! This is an amazing gift idea for the holidays. More information after the jump.
Best Under $8
William Cole 2009 “Albamar” Chardonnay, Chile
A touch of cinnamon, ginger and allspice on the palate along with some exotic fruits. Remains fresh and bright and crisp, like an Asian pear. Not a typical chardonnay, but delicious.
Yering Station 2008 “Little Yering” Pinot Noir, Australia
While I never suggest purchasing a cheap Pinot, this is is the exception that proves the rule. Fresh and light and fruit-forward yet retains its varietal character through and through. A good introduction to the grape for those folks, and better than most Pinots at twice the price.
To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder.
Best Buys Under $15
Seigneur de Fontimple 2009 Vacqueyras
Liquorice and charcoal propel this Rhone red into a web of iron and espresso. A big pillow of dark fruit flecked with earthy notes turns the entire experience from brooding to delicious.
Atalon 2004 Merlot, Napa Valley
A Merlot for lovers of big sexy Napa Cabs. Chalky herb and cedar notes show off its pedigree while rich milk chocolate and black cherry flavors roll over the deep and rich
Damilano 2008 Nebbiolo d’Alba
Dried cherries, roses, licorice and tar, all of which are supported by firm tannins. The Nebbiolo is already rather forward in its aromas and flavors, which suggests it is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. This bottle has many of the characteristics of a mid-teir Barbaresco, without the steep pricetag. Make sure to open an hour or two prior to enjoying to get the full impact of this wine.
To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder.
Ultimate Bottles
Eric et Joel Durand 2008 “Empreintes” Cornas
This is the finest Cornas one can buy for under $50 (this is priced at $29.99 in the PLCB stores). Full bodied and deeply flavored, this wine flows from dark fruit to creme de cassis to burnt clay to bitter chocolate to roasted game, and back again. A complex wine that offers the rare feat of propelling and unveiling a myriad of flavors over one’s palate, and doing so in a way that almost feels adulterous.
Jacques Cacheux 2006 “Les Suchots” Vosne Romanee
A spectacular premier cru vineyard bottling from one of the most vaunted wine regions in the world, Vosne Romanee. While $59 may not seem like a value, for this level of wine it’s a remarkable value. While it is drinking well right now, this is one of those rare bottlings that will only get better over the next decade.
Arrowood 2003 “Reserve Speciale” Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma
Never does a Cabernet this beautiful and well-aged come into the marketplace. Anyone with a penchant for the ultimate Cali Cab experience would gladly pay two, three, or four times the asking price of $45. Drinking this wine is like sticking your face into a flower bed in heaven. You wake up ten minutes later covered in dirt and blackberries and laughing like a lunatic. The experience is too powerful for words.
Keep an eye out.
- La Querciolina Istriciaia Maremma 2007 $14.99
- Carctere Les Hauts du Castellas Vacqueyras 2009 $17.99
- Arrayan Premium Mentrida Spain 2005 $24.99
- Domaine Durand Les Coteaux St Joseph 2009 $24.99
- Gran Fassian Trittenheimer Riesling Spatlese 2007 Price $24.99
- Escoces Volante 3000 Anos Bullas 2006 $29.99
- Antiyal Valle del Maipo Chile 2008 $39.99
To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder.
Wine Classes | Private Events |Academic Programs
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 Upcoming Classes
Wine, Beer, Spirits & Culinary!Friday. November 18th Saturday, November 26th Saturday, November 26th Saturday, December 3rd Friday, December 9th Whiskey to Tequila: The Beer Spirits Thursday, December 15th Thursday, December 15th Friday, December 16th All classes are held at our new Rittenhouse headquarters: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA |
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Pre-Prohibition Cocktail Class Debuts at Wine School
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About Sauced Education
This class is part of the school’s “Sauced Education” series. Our policy of “Zero Endorsements” from the multi-national booze companies means one thing: you get an uncensored evening with one of the top spirits writers in the country and a brilliantly curated selection of cocktails. Whether you are a cocktail cognoscenti, a spirits’ shaman, or just a happy tippler, “Sauced Education” is essential coursework.
About the Wine School.
The Wine School of Philadelphia is the largest and oldest independent wine school in America. Since 2001, the school offers a full array of professional and consumer programs; the school is located in the historical Rittenhouse neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia.
About the Instructor
JASON WILSON writes the spirits column for the Washington Post. His column has twice won an award for Best Newspaper Food Column from the Association of Food Journalists. Wilson is also the series editor of The Best American Travel Writing and editor of The Smart Set. His work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, the Boston Globe, and the Washington Post’s Sunday magazine. Wilson was previously the restaurant critic at Philadelphia Magazine. He teaches at Drexel University.
Direct link: http://www.vinology.com/proddetail.php?prod=11-11-18a
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