WineMasters Class

Austria makes some of the greatest dry white wines on the planet, both in terms of value and overall quality. The Danube River going through the north-eastern part of the country provides ideal conditions for the rock star white grape varieties Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. You will learn to train your palate and all about the Austrian wine regulations, one of the strictest wine laws in the world and be surprised about two wine and food pairings.

Although California is quite a young wine-growing area comprising most of the European wine regions, it has a lot of history. You will learn about the ups and downs in the region, including the Judgement of Paris which has put California wines on the map. Learn about the bold Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa and Chardonnay from Sonoma and Zinfandel from the Sierra Foothills. The experiment will explain how wine is made from grapes.

The Loire Valley is most famous for its castles along the longest river of France, but it is also a very diverse wine region. In this episode we focus on the western part of the Valley, discussing the wine regions of Touraine, Anjou-Saumur and Nantais. Sur Lie, a wine term that can be found on the label of Muscadet wines, will be explained in our experiment.

This eastern segment of the Loire Valley is the reputed birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc and it is here where you can find the two most famous appellations of the Loire; Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. We will explain one of the fundamental traits in wine; acidity, which we will explain more in detail in our experiment. Besides Sauvignon Blanc we will also speak about Pinot Noir and other appellations like Menetou-Salon, Reuilly and Quincy.

The fame of this land was well described by the Romans, they knew the region as Campania Felix, which translates into English as "land of bounty and joy". Its fame as a great wine-producing region faded with the collapse of the Roman Empire. But today, Campania counts some of the highest densities of DOCs and DOCGs (quality wine areas) within Italy. Campania is thriving with re-planted ancient varieties that once grew on these lands some 2,000 years ago and were buried under volcanic ash and pumice in 79 A.D. We will explain the wine term oxidation in our experiment.

The Alsace area is known for its aromatic, fruity intense, and spicy white wines, primarily from Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat which are the 4 noble grapes varieties. Alsace wines tend to be dry, but these days wines can be more diverse in styles including some residual sweetness but that is not often indicated on the label, so that can make challenging for us drinkers. We will help you understand the wines more in detail. We will also highlight the Alsace sweet wines; Vendange Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles. The term vintage will be explained and what is needed to create great wines.

This southern French region is famous for rosé wine. Most are blends and include grapes like Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvèdre, among others. In our experiment, we’ll explain different methods to create a rosé wine. We’ll also highlight two unique appellations in the Provence; Bandol and Cassis, which produce red and white wine respectively.

Located in the northwest corner of Spain, the green vineyards of Galicia are dominated by many local white grape varieties, of which the Albariño grape is the best-known. But the area also boasts a wide selection of red grapes that have been increasing in both production and prestige in recent years. In our experiment, we’ll explain how winemakers ‘clarify’ their wines.

Sauvignon Blanc dominates New Zealand's wine industry. Although Sauvignon Blanc is planted all over the country, Marlborough is almost synonymous with New Zealand wine. Another French grape that performs well in many places is Pinot Noir. Depending on their location both grapes can express diverse aromas, which you can learn to understand by perfecting your sniffing skills.