IN VINO VERITAS by JONATHON ALSOP | Boston MA, Dec. 14, 2024 — Bacchus in Berlin is a journey into the heart of Berlin’s dynamic and eclectic wine culture, where old-world traditions meet cutting-edge innovation. This series explores how Germany’s capital, long celebrated for its beer and bohemian charm, has blossomed into a vibrant hub for wine […]
Everything I Needed To Know About Wine I Learned From Larry Bird
Everything I Needed To Know About Wine I Learned From Larry Bird By Jonathon Alsop, Boston Wine School Founder & Exec. Dir. The secret to great wine is the opposite of what most people think it is… but we can fix that. BOSTON MA USA April 17, 2023 Bill Simmons, the writer formerly known as […]
Ten Things Wine Pros Never Do That You Do All The Time
Our wine lives are full of rules, some expressed and some implied, that in theory are supposed to make things better and easier, rules that should keep us drinking the right wine at the right temperature out of the right glass, but really, they’re rules that deliver a sense of relief and assurance that in […]
Wine Word Of The Month: “Lean”
By Jonathon Alsop BOSTON, MA — It’s hard to speak the language of wine because it’s a language invented by drunk people, but wine lovers blame themselves for the convoluted vocabulary. Talking about wine is like writing a poem where multiple literal and metaphorical images appear and overlap. But it would help if we could get […]
Southern Star Malbec: New world fruit, old world style
By Jonathon Alsop BOSTON, MA — Inventive holidays like International Malbec Day give us the chance to look deep into the many Malbec based wines we teach with in wine class. Alma Andina – Soul of the Andes – hits the Boston Wine School trifecta: we use it in “Come To Cheeses” with Manchego, “Grape Expectations” […]
Pinot To The People
By Jonathon Alsop BOSTON, MA — California makes more Pinot Noir than it grows, not by importing out-of-state wine, but by blending in other grapes. Technically, US wine only has to be 75% one grape type to be named for that grape on the label. In theory, your favorite bottle could be pure Pinot, or […]
Zinfandel Dreams
By Jonathon Alsop BOSTON, MA — Our “Signature Grapes” tasting class really gets fundamental by tasting the connection between certain wines and the places around the world they’ve made famous – and vice versa. Zinfandel fills this role in California wine. Cabernet and Chardonnay may be just as famous, but you only get this kind of […]
Blending For Power Wine
By Jonathon Alsop BOSTON, MA — This is one of those wines that really sets your expectations before you even get into the bottle. First of all, the richly artistic label – evocative and powerful on its own – promises a powerful wine experience. And then the blend – Cabernet Sauvignon plus Zinfandel – is […]
Magical Merlot: Off the beaten path in Castillon
By Jonathon Alsop BOSTON, MA — This Wine Club Selection comes right out of our Burgers And Bordeaux class. Our curriculum always focuses on the delicious, and this Merlot-heavy blend really teaches us what Merlot means in Bordeaux. As always, every Wine School Selection is a wine we teach with and you taste in class. […]