Wine classes, private parties & corporate events
ENOUGH STUFF | This year, give the gift of wine, food, people & fun with a BWS gift certificate
Gift tickets are applicable to all Boston Wine School classes and are good for seven years from the date of issue, per the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Gift tickets are not refundable nor redeemable for cash.
People ask me all the time if I ever thought about doing some Boston Wine School travel programs. Fact is, tour companies contact me all the time, and I’ll be honest: it sounds bad – too much travel, too many hotels, too little time – and I’ve never ever done it.
Until now.
I’ve finally found the right place, the right wines, and the right people to create the Boston Wine School in Tuscany. Put it on your calendar!
What’s it going to be like? If you’ve ever been to a Boston Wine School class, you know how interactive and fun and creative they are. It’s going to be exactly like that, only in Tuscany for six days!
Each day features different interactive wine, food, science, business, history, or linguistics classes to take you deep into Tuscany. Our home base is the vineyard and winery Tenuta Santo Pietro just outside the town of Pienza, south of Siena. From there, we will travel easily and leisurely to our day of cooking classes, our workshop at the cheese farm, or the morning of soil and geography and tasting right where the grapes are grown and the wine is made. Wine lovers have been asking for this kind of total immersive wine and travel education experience for a long time.
Please note this itinerary is tentative and subject to change based on availability and curriculum. See “The Fine Print” below for details.
DAY ONE ARRIVAL DAY Monday, October 12
ARRIVE | Train station @ Chiusi-Chianciano / Shuttle from train station to winery. Private transportation from Rome or Florence can be arranged for an additional fee.
AM | Arrive, unwind, relax, get settled in, taste some wine, eat some prosciutto
PM | Check in at 3pm, dinner in the winery with winemaker Giuseppe Savignano
DAY TWO TUSCANY ALL AROUND YOU Tuesday, October 13
AM | Breakfast | Vineyard tour of major grapes and soils
TASTING CLASS: Tasting Tuscan Terroir by Jonathon Alsop
Drive to Caseificio in Pienza for Pecorino tasting & light lunch
PM | COOKING CLASS: Fundamentals of Tuscan Cooking
Horizontal wine pairing dinner by Giuseppe Savignano with Tenuta Santo Pietro selections
DAY THREE MASTERING MONTEPULCIANO Wednesday, October 14
AM | Breakfast | Drive to Montepulciano
TASTING CLASS: Vino Nobile at Crociani Cellars by Jonathon Alsop + vist and tour at historic Palazzo Ricci
PM | Lunch at Acquachetta (or equivalent neighbor) in Montepulciano
Afternoon at leisure in town or back at the vineyard
TASTING CLASS: Prugnolo Gentile Over Time by Jonathon Alsop
Cinghiale all Toscana wine pairing dinner at Tenuta Santo Pietro with wines by Antico Colle
DAY FOUR BRAVO BRUNELLO Thursday, October 15
AM | Breakfast | Drive to Montalcino
TASTING CLASS: Understanding Brunello by Jonathon Alsop at Innocenti Winery
Drive to San Giovanni d’Asso
PM | Truffle market lunch
TASTING CLASS: Triumph and Truffles
Afternoon at leisure
Trans-Italian truffle pairing dinner with Barolo, Amarone and Brunello
DAY FIVE COMPLETELY CHIANTI Friday, October 16
AM | Breakfast | Drive to Castellina in Chianti
TASTING CLASS: Fundamentals of Chianti by Jonathon Alsop at Sparviero
PM | Meat market tour and lunch
TASTING / COOKING CLASS: Red Wine and Red Meat
Bistecca alla Fiorentina wine dinner at Tenuta Santo Pietro
DAY SIX EXAM & GRADUATION DAY Saturday, October 17
AM | Exam prep + exam + lunch at Tenuta Santo Pietro
PM | Afternoon at leisure | Graduation and sparkling wine dinner in the winery
Sunday, October 18 2020
DEPART | ItaliaRail @ Chiusi-Chianciano Terme / Private transportation to Rome or Florence can be arranged for an additional fee.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS
Advance reservations are required for all tours. A 50% per person deposit is required and final payment is due no later than 45 days prior to tour departure. Payments may be made by cash, check, or credit card.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY:
We understand that you may occasionally need to change your travel plans due to unexpected events. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance (see below). Cancellations may be made by phone or in writing. Please carefully read the following Cancellation Policy: Cancellations made less than 60 days prior to departure forfeit the deposit. Cancellations made 30 days prior to the departure date on any tour are 100% non-refundable. Additionally there are no refunds for unused portions of your tour. If Boston Wine School must cancel a tour, all travelers will be notified and receive a full refund of all payments made to Boston Wine School. Please note: we often co-sell tours with other travel companies whose cancellation policies may differ from Boston Wine School. Please call for details.
AIRLINE TICKETS PURCHASED INDEPENDENT OF A TOUR:
Boston Wine School urges you to check airline cancellation policies before purchasing airline tickets. Tours can be cancelled for reasons including low enrollment. Boston Wine School accepts no responsibility or liability for cancellation penalties related to airline tickets purchased independently.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
Travel insurance protects you if you need to cancel your trip for covered reasons prior to departure or if other covered, unforeseen circumstances arise during your trip. Deluxe Policy protects you for cancelling for ANY reason! Policies apply to both domestic and international travel, cruises and airfare. Travel insurance is offered through many highly regarded providers of travel insurance.
TWO IMPORTANT NOTES:
You must purchase travel insurance within fourteen days of your initial deposit to waive the pre-existing condition exclusion.
Medicare does not cover expenses incurred outside the U.S. If you have supplemental insurance those expenses may be covered by that company however, check directly with them.
WHAT IS TYPICALLY INCLUDED:
Included in the price is 6 nights’ accommodation, all meals during the tour, all winery tours, all wines at the visits, local transport for the duration of the tour, and all taxes. Basically everything is included except your flights, your onwards transport after the tour ends in Pienza, insurance, gratuities, and any items of a personal nature.
CHANGES:
Itineraries are subject to change. We do our best to avoid changes, but we must reserve the right to add a surcharge or to modify or cancel a tour if we are faced with significant increased costs and/or currency fluctuations over which we have no control.
GRATUITIES AND TIPPING:
Tipping may be awkward for some people. Your tour price typically includes gratuities, but a personal gratuity for tour managers, drivers, guides and hotel housekeeping is a typical way of showing your appreciation.
TERMS OF SERVICE:
Boston Wine School, acts a only in the capacity of agent for the tour participant. We in no way represent nor act as agent for travel service suppliers such as hotels/motels, restaurants, sightseeing attractions and tours and transportation. We accept no responsibility or liability caused by the defect or negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved. We cannot be held responsible for events beyond our control, such as (without limitations) acts of God, declared or undeclared war, strikes, government restrictions, terrorist activities, defects in vehicles, breakdown of equipment, delay, or cancellation of, or changes in itinerary or schedule.
We reserve the right to make changes in the published itineraries whenever, in our sole judgment, conditions so warrant, or if we deem it necessary for the comfort or convenience or safety of our tour participants. We reserve the right to withdraw without penalty, any tour announced. Our sole responsibility upon cancellation of a tour is the refund of monies paid.
We also reserve the right to decline to accept any person as a participant in a tour or end an individual’s participation in a tour at any time when such an action is determined by the appropriate Boston Wine School staff to be in the best interests of the health, safety, and general well-being of the tour group or individual participant. Any dispute or controversy that might be the subject of any action in court shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall be resolved through the binding arbitration in accordance with the terms and conditions of state law.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
I understand that this agreement with Boston Wine School, contains an agreement to arbitrate. After consenting hereto, I understand that I will not be able to bring a lawsuit concerning any dispute that may arise, which is covered by the arbitration agreement, unless it involves a question of constitutional or civil rights. Instead, I agree to submit any such dispute to an impartial arbitrator. Your partial or full payment or signature on a Boston Wine School constitutes consent to all provisions of the conditions and general information listed here.
Level 1 Certificate in Wine
Saturday + Sunday, October 3 + 4 | 10am – 3pm each day
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Level 1 is an introductory course for beginners and enthusiasts. It assumes some exposure to wine but little or no formal wine knowledge. This program is appropriate for both consumers and professionals in all wine, food, hospitality and service industries.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Students will learn technical wine tasting, the major wine grapes, wine and food pairing basics, and fundamentals of wine style. The emphasis in Level 1 is on providing an overview of wine and wine tasting, plus an introduction to wine and food pairing concepts.
LEVEL 1 PROGRAM FORMAT
8 hour classroom program
20 – 24 wines tasted
LEVEL 1 PROGRAM SYLLABUS
Seven “S” System Of Wine Tasting
The Big Four: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon
Understanding Wine Grapes: Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Rosé, Montepulciano, Syrah, Merlot
Wine Styles: Old World Versus New World
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Guests, students and certificate candidates must meet the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages in the country where the program is being held: 21 in the USA and China.
CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Complete classroom program
Complete classroom wine tasting exercise
Multiple choice exam of 25 questions
Minimum passing score 75%
YOUR EDUCATOR
JONATHON ALSOP is founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
He began writing about wine, food and travel in 1988 and emerged as a wine expert through his syndicated wine column. He has contributed numerous articles to the Associated Press, Frequent Flyer Magazine, La Vie Claire, Beverage Business Magazine, Mobil Travel Guides, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Boston Globe, and many others.
Jonathon founded the Boston Wine School in 2000 where he teaches wine and food classes in a dedicated 100% snob-free zone. His new book Wine Life: A Collection Of Verses will be published in 2020.
VENUE
CITY WINERY strives to deliver the highest-end combined culinary and cultural experience to our customers who are passionate in sharing wine, music, and culinary arts. We are a unique facility, combining a fully functioning winery with intimate concerts, food & wine classes, private events in a variety of configurations, and fine dining. We have created a compelling mix for our sophisticated clientele of foodies, and active cultural patrons—bringing the wine country experience to the middle of a large city.
CELLAR ROOM is an intimate space, perfect for 12 -14 wine lovers who want to learn how to taste, think, and talk about wine. The views from the classroom into the barrel room inform our tasting and learning in a concrete way. Learning wine in the cellar, tasting the very wines being made in that cellar, this makes wine life real and explains why wine matters in a vivid way.
City Winery | Boston
https://citywinery.com/boston
Level 2 Certificate in Wine and Wine Tasting
Saturday + Sunday, July 18 + 19, 10am – 3pm each day
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Level 2 is a foundation course for experienced beginners and enthusiasts. It assumes basic exposure to wine and some technical wine tasting knowledge. This program is appropriate for both consumers and professionals in all wine, food, hospitality and service industries.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This program focuses on the unique role that place plays in the world of wine. Students will learn the major wine regions of Europe, how wine making techniques influence wine style, and the language of wine. The aim of Level 2 is to provide a broad range of knowledge about wine history, wine agriculture, and wine making.
LEVEL 2 PROGRAM FORMAT
8 hours classroom program
1-2 hours exam
24 – 30 wines tasted
Online multiple choice exam | 25 questions | Minimum passing score 75%
Wine tasting exam | 3 wines | 3 short-form questions | 1 essay question
LEVEL 2 SYLLABUS
DAY ONE, PART ONE | 10am – 12pm
Veni Vidi Vino: Wines of Italy
DAY ONE, PART TWO | 1pm – 3pm
The Language Of Wine
– Wine And Words
– Wine Label Interpretation
– Best New Wines You’ve Never Heard Of
DAY TWO, PART ONE | 10am – 12pm
Tour de France: Fundamentals Of French Wine
DAY TWO, PART TWO | 1pm – 2:30pm
Wine And Cheese: Making The Perfect Match
– Fundamentals of Wine & Food Pairing
– Wines of California, Oregon & Washington
DAY TWO, PART THREE | 2:30pm – 3pm
Online multiple choice exam
Wine tasting exam
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Guests, students and certificate candidates must meet the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages in the country where the program is being held: 21 in the USA and China.
CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Multiple choice exam of 25 questions
Wine tasting exam of 3 wines, 3 short-form questions, and 1 essay question
Complete classroom program
Complete classroom wine tasting exercise
YOUR EDUCATOR
JONATHON ALSOP is founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
He began writing about wine, food and travel in 1988 and emerged as a wine expert through his syndicated wine column. He has contributed numerous articles to the Associated Press, Frequent Flyer Magazine, La Vie Claire, Beverage Business Magazine, Mobil Travel Guides, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Boston Globe, and many others.
Jonathon founded the Boston Wine School in 2000 where he teaches wine and food classes in a dedicated 100% snob-free zone. His new book Wine Life: A Collection Of Verses will be published in 2020.
VENUE
CITY WINERY strives to deliver the highest-end combined culinary and cultural experience to our customers who are passionate in sharing wine, music, and culinary arts. We are a unique facility, combining a fully functioning winery with intimate concerts, food & wine classes, private events in a variety of configurations, and fine dining. We have created a compelling mix for our sophisticated clientele of foodies, and active cultural patrons—bringing the wine country experience to the middle of a large city.
CELLAR ROOM is an intimate space, perfect for 12 -14 wine lovers who want to learn how to taste, think, and talk about wine. The views from the classroom into the barrel room inform our tasting and learning in a concrete way. Learning wine in the cellar, tasting the very wines being made in that cellar, this makes wine life real and explains why wine matters in a vivid way.
City Winery | Boston
https://citywinery.com/boston
Level 1 Certificate in Wine
Saturday + Sunday, July 11 + 12 | 10am – 3pm each day
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Level 1 is an introductory course for beginners and enthusiasts. It assumes some exposure to wine but little or no formal wine knowledge. This program is appropriate for both consumers and professionals in all wine, food, hospitality and service industries.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Students will learn technical wine tasting, the major wine grapes, wine and food pairing basics, and fundamentals of wine style. The emphasis in Level 1 is on providing an overview of wine and wine tasting, plus an introduction to wine and food pairing concepts.
LEVEL 1 PROGRAM FORMAT
8 hour classroom program
20 – 24 wines tasted
LEVEL 1 PROGRAM SYLLABUS
Seven “S” System Of Wine Tasting
The Big Four: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon
Understanding Wine Grapes: Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Rosé, Montepulciano, Syrah, Merlot
Wine Styles: Old World Versus New World
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Guests, students and certificate candidates must meet the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages in the country where the program is being held: 21 in the USA and China.
CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Complete classroom program
Complete classroom wine tasting exercise
Multiple choice exam of 25 questions
Minimum passing score 75%
YOUR EDUCATOR
JONATHON ALSOP is founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
He began writing about wine, food and travel in 1988 and emerged as a wine expert through his syndicated wine column. He has contributed numerous articles to the Associated Press, Frequent Flyer Magazine, La Vie Claire, Beverage Business Magazine, Mobil Travel Guides, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Boston Globe, and many others.
Jonathon founded the Boston Wine School in 2000 where he teaches wine and food classes in a dedicated 100% snob-free zone. His new book Wine Life: A Collection Of Verses will be published in 2020.
VENUE
CITY WINERY strives to deliver the highest-end combined culinary and cultural experience to our customers who are passionate in sharing wine, music, and culinary arts. We are a unique facility, combining a fully functioning winery with intimate concerts, food & wine classes, private events in a variety of configurations, and fine dining. We have created a compelling mix for our sophisticated clientele of foodies, and active cultural patrons—bringing the wine country experience to the middle of a large city.
CELLAR ROOM is an intimate space, perfect for 12 -14 wine lovers who want to learn how to taste, think, and talk about wine. The views from the classroom into the barrel room inform our tasting and learning in a concrete way. Learning wine in the cellar, tasting the very wines being made in that cellar, this makes wine life real and explains why wine matters in a vivid way.
City Winery | Boston
https://citywinery.com/boston
Level 2 Certificate in Wine and Wine Tasting
Saturday + Sunday, May 30 + 31, 1pm – 5pm each day
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Level 2 is a foundation course for experienced beginners and enthusiasts. It assumes basic exposure to wine and some technical wine tasting knowledge. This program is appropriate for both consumers and professionals in all wine, food, hospitality and service industries.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This program focuses on the unique role that place plays in the world of wine. Students will learn the major wine regions of Europe, how wine making techniques influence wine style, and the language of wine. The aim of Level 2 is to provide a broad range of knowledge about wine history, wine agriculture, and wine making.
LEVEL 2 PROGRAM FORMAT
8 hours classroom program
1-2 hours exam
24 – 30 wines tasted
Online multiple choice exam | 25 questions | Minimum passing score 75%
Wine tasting exam | 3 wines | 3 short-form questions | 1 essay question
LEVEL 2 SYLLABUS
DAY ONE, PART ONE | 1pm – 3pm
Veni Vidi Vino: Wines of Italy
DAY ONE, PART TWO | 3pm – 5pm
The Language Of Wine
– Wine And Words
– Wine Label Interpretation
– Best New Wines You’ve Never Heard Of
DAY TWO, PART ONE | 1pm – 3pm
Tour de France: Fundamentals Of French Wine
DAY TWO, PART TWO | 3pm – 4:30pm
Wine And Cheese: Making The Perfect Match
– Fundamentals of Wine & Food Pairing
– Wines of California, Oregon & Washington
DAY TWO, PART THREE | 4:30pm – 5pm
Online multiple choice exam
Wine tasting exam
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Guests, students and certificate candidates must meet the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages in the country where the program is being held: 21 in the USA and China.
CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Multiple choice exam of 25 questions
Wine tasting exam of 3 wines, 4 short-form questions, and 1 essay question
Complete classroom program
Complete classroom wine tasting exercise
YOUR EDUCATOR
JONATHON ALSOP is founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
He began writing about wine, food and travel in 1988 and emerged as a wine expert through his syndicated wine column. He has contributed numerous articles to the Associated Press, Frequent Flyer Magazine, La Vie Claire, Beverage Business Magazine, Mobil Travel Guides, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Boston Globe, and many others.
Jonathon founded the Boston Wine School in 2000 where he teaches wine and food classes in a dedicated 100% snob-free zone. His new book Wine Life: A Collection Of Verses will be published in 2020.
Not sure if you know the difference between red, white and rosé? What are sparkling wines and why aren’t they all called Champagne? How does Sauvignon Blanc differ from Cabernet Sauvignon?
The Boston Wine School is here to help answer those questions and more. “How To Taste Wine And Why” is an ideal class for wine lovers just starting their explorations of wine. You will learn about the 4 major wine styles and focus in on 4 of the most popular wine grape varieties. In the process, you will begin to learn basic wine tasting skills and how to describe the different personalities of these wines. An assortment of cheeses and antipasto will be served during class to introduce some of the fundamentals of pairing wine and food.
Here at the Boston Wine School, we are a 100% Wine Snob Free Zone. We believe that learning about wine involves learning more about yourself. Our goal is to help you understand and communicate what you are experiencing when you are enjoying a glass of wine. Come start your wine journey with us.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
“How To Taste Wine And Why” is a Level 1 introductory course for beginners and enthusiasts. It assumes some exposure to wine but little or no formal wine knowledge. This program is appropriate for both consumers and professionals in all wine, food, hospitality and service industries.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Students will learn technical wine tasting, the major wine grapes, and fundamentals of wine style. The emphasis in Level 1 is on providing an overview of wine and wine tasting, plus an introduction to wine and food pairing concepts.
PROGRAM FORMAT
2 hour classroom program
6 wines + bread, cheese, olives
PROGRAM SYLLABUS
TASTING LIST (tentative – subject to change)
Bubbling Over
NV Villa Jolanda Prosecco
(Prosecco, Veneto, northeast Italy)
Wild Vines
2018 Clos Fussay Reuilly Sauvignon Blanc
(Reuilly, Loire Valley, northwest France)
To Oak Or Not To Oak?
2018 Grove Ridge Chardonnay
(California, USA)
Pretty In Pink
2017 Altopiano Rosato
(Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, east-central Italy)
Pinot To The People
2016 Yering Station “Little Yering” Pinot Noir
(Yarra Valley, southern Australia)
Life Is A Cabernet
2016 Puerto Infinito Cabernet Sauvignon
(Aconcagua, Mendoza, Argentina)
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Guests, students and certificate candidates must meet the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages in the country where the program is being held: 21 in the USA and China.
YOUR EDUCATOR
JONATHON ALSOP is founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
He began writing about wine, food and travel in 1988 and emerged as a wine expert through his syndicated wine column. He has contributed numerous articles to the Associated Press, Frequent Flyer Magazine, La Vie Claire, Beverage Business Magazine, Mobil Travel Guides, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Boston Globe, and many others.
Jonathon founded the Boston Wine School in 2000 where he teaches wine and food classes in a dedicated 100% snob-free zone. His new book Wine Life: A Collection Of Verses will be published in 2020.
VENUE
SOLERA – A SHRINE TO WINE is a neighborhood specialty wine store nestled in the heart of Roslindale Square (Boston). The store, now in its 18th year is warmly decorated in green and deep purple resembling the colors of the grapes and filled with rack after rack of “offbeat wines”, pretty much everything a modern wine geek seeks out and loves, at more than reasonable prices.
With nearly 500 bottle selections from across the globe, unlike the monster chain stores and supermarkets, Solera takes a back seat to none and offers a stellar sampling of the world’s best and some unusual vineyards with average prices from 10 to 20 dollars or more, if your budget allows. Since wine education, and customer service are vital to our business, individual attention to the customer is the reason why the press has designated the Solera staff as “well versed grape-talkers”. When you want to smarten up on your wine there is no better place to do just that than in this little gem of a store, where wine is constantly being discussed with purpose and a smile!
Not sure if you know the difference between red, white and rosé? What are sparkling wines and why aren’t they all called Champagne? How does Sauvignon Blanc differ from Cabernet Sauvignon?
The Boston Wine School is here to help answer those questions and more. “Wine Tasting for the Complete Novice” is an ideal class for wine lovers just starting their explorations of wine. You will learn about the 4 major wine styles and focus in on 4 of the most popular wine grape varieties. In the process, you will begin to learn basic wine tasting skills and how to describe the different personalities of these wines. An assortment of cheeses and antipasto will be served during class to introduce some of the fundamentals of pairing wine and food.
Here at the Boston Wine School, we are a 100% Wine Snob Free Zone. We believe that learning about wine involves learning more about yourself. Our goal is to help you understand and communicate what you are experiencing when you are enjoying a glass of wine. Come start your wine journey with us.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
“Wine Tasting for the Complete Novice” is a Level 1 introductory course for beginners and enthusiasts. It assumes some exposure to wine but little or no formal wine knowledge. This program is appropriate for both consumers and professionals in all wine, food, hospitality and service industries.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Students will learn technical wine tasting, the major wine grapes, and fundamentals of wine style. The emphasis in Level 1 is on providing an overview of wine and wine tasting, plus an introduction to wine and food pairing concepts.
PROGRAM FORMAT
2 hour classroom program
6 wines + bread, cheese, olives
PROGRAM SYLLABUS
TASTING LIST (tentative – subject to change)
Bubbling Over
NV Villa Jolanda Prosecco
(Prosecco, Veneto, northeast Italy)
Wild Vines
2018 Clos Fussay Reuilly Sauvignon Blanc
(Reuilly, Loire Valley, northwest France)
To Oak Or Not To Oak?
2018 Grove Ridge Chardonnay
(California, USA)
Pretty In Pink
2017 Altopiano Rosato
(Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, east-central Italy)
Pinot To The People
2016 Yering Station “Little Yering” Pinot Noir
(Yarra Valley, southern Australia)
Life Is A Cabernet
2016 Puerto Infinito Cabernet Sauvignon
(Aconcagua, Mendoza, Argentina)
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Guests, students and certificate candidates must meet the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages in the country where the program is being held: 21 in the USA and China.
YOUR EDUCATOR
JONATHON ALSOP is founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
He began writing about wine, food and travel in 1988 and emerged as a wine expert through his syndicated wine column. He has contributed numerous articles to the Associated Press, Frequent Flyer Magazine, La Vie Claire, Beverage Business Magazine, Mobil Travel Guides, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Boston Globe, and many others.
Jonathon founded the Boston Wine School in 2000 where he teaches wine and food classes in a dedicated 100% snob-free zone. His new book Wine Life: A Collection Of Verses will be published in 2020.
VENUE
SOLERA – A SHRINE TO WINE is a neighborhood specialty wine store nestled in the heart of Roslindale Square (Boston). The store, now in its 18th year is warmly decorated in green and deep purple resembling the colors of the grapes and filled with rack after rack of “offbeat wines”, pretty much everything a modern wine geek seeks out and loves, at more than reasonable prices.
With nearly 500 bottle selections from across the globe, unlike the monster chain stores and supermarkets, Solera takes a back seat to none and offers a stellar sampling of the world’s best and some unusual vineyards with average prices from 10 to 20 dollars or more, if your budget allows. Since wine education, and customer service are vital to our business, individual attention to the customer is the reason why the press has designated the Solera staff as “well versed grape-talkers”. When you want to smarten up on your wine there is no better place to do just that than in this little gem of a store, where wine is constantly being discussed with purpose and a smile!
A NIGHT IN TUSCANY with special guest wine maker Marco Paier from Fabbrica Pienza (tentative)
We could do 52 nights in Tuscany in a row, and we’d still have more to taste, so let’s get started! White and pink wines are rising in the market today, so we’ll start with a blended Tuscan white plus a new-to-us Rosato of Sangiovese. You’ll taste old-school Sangiovese and post-modern Syrah, plus a range of reds that explain what Chianti the place can do and why it’s so famous. We’ll have you speaking Sangiovese in no time!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
“Wines Of Italy” is an introductory course for beginners and enthusiasts. It assumes some exposure to wine but little or no formal wine knowledge. This program is appropriate for both consumers and professionals in all wine, food, hospitality and service industries.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Students will learn technical wine tasting, major wine grapes, wine and food pairing basics, and fundamentals of wine style. The emphasis is on providing an overview of Italian wine and wine tasting.
PROGRAM FORMAT
2 hour classroom program | 6 – 8 wines + bread, cheese, olives
PROGRAM SYLLABUS (tentative)
Seven “S” System Of Wine Tasting | Grape Expectations | Making Wine Matters
FABBRICA PIENZA
Bianco di Fabbrica
Rosato di Fabbrica
Prototipo 470 Sangiovese
Syrah di Fabbrica
CHIANTI
Chianti
Chianti Colli Senesi
Sparviero Chianti Classico
SUPERTUSCAN
Viper
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Guests, students and certificate candidates must meet the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages in the country where the program is being held: 21 in the USA and China.
CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Complete 2 out of 3 classroom programs
Complete classroom wine tasting exercise
Multiple choice exam of 25 questions
Minimum passing score 75%
YOUR EDUCATOR
JONATHON ALSOP is founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
He began writing about wine, food and travel in 1988 and emerged as a wine expert through his syndicated wine column. He has contributed numerous articles to the Associated Press, Frequent Flyer Magazine, La Vie Claire, Beverage Business Magazine, Mobil Travel Guides, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Boston Globe, and many others.
Jonathon founded the Boston Wine School in 2000 where he teaches wine and food classes in a dedicated 100% snob-free zone. His new book Wine Life: A Collection Of Verses will be published in 2020.
VENUE
PSP IMPORTS is a fully integrated importer and wholesaler of wine and olive oil. We grow and produce a portion of our portfolio in the Tuscan hill town of Pienza, Italy. We source the best available products through local personal connections. And we are part of food and wine culture though our 24-person agritourismo at the vineyard Tenuta Santa Pietro. All of this goes together to create a unique portfolio of the highest quality wines and olive oil from all over the world.
Wine and cheese are a naturally delicious combination. They’ve been together for 8,000 years that we know of, and our species has been busy figuring out ways to make both of them more and more delicious all the time. The match of wine and cheese is partly natural and automatic, but by applying ourselves, our tastes, our abilities to understand and choose, we can put together pairings that are many times greater than just the sum of the parts.
This class – limited to 14 students – will taste six major wine and cheese combinations together that express the full range of how these foods match up: by style, by texture, by flavor, geography, even temperament.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
“Wine, Cheese And The Pursuit Of Happiness” is a Level 1 introductory course for beginners and enthusiasts. It assumes some exposure to wine but little or no formal wine knowledge. This program is appropriate for both consumers and professionals in all wine, food, hospitality and service industries.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Students will learn technical wine tasting, the major wine grapes, wine and food pairing basics, and fundamentals of wine style. The emphasis in Level 1 is on providing an overview of wine and wine tasting, plus an introduction to wine and cheese pairing concepts.
PROGRAM FORMAT
2 hour classroom program
6 wines + 6 cheeses tasted
PROGRAM SYLLABUS
TASTING LIST (tentative – subject to change)
Bubbling Over
NV Villa Jolanda Prosecco
100% Glera
(Prosecco, Veneto, northeast Italy)
Liuzzi Ricotta Fresca
(Cow’s milk, Hamden, CT, USA)
Salt & Acid
2018 Clos Fussay Sauvignon Blanc
100% Sauvignon Blanc
(Reuilly, Loire Valley, northwest France)
Garrotxa
(Goat’s milk, Catalonia, northeast Spain)
Blending In
2016 14 Hands “Hot To Trot”
Chardonnay + Riesling + Others blend
(Washington, Pacific Northwest, USA)
Beemster X-O | Aged 26 months
(Cow’s milk, Beemster, north Amsterdam,
The Netherlands)
Grape Expectations
2014 Terrilogio Toscana
85% Sangiovese + 10% Cabernet Sauvignon + 5% Merlot
(Tuscany, central Italy)
Robiola al Tartufo
(Cow’s milk, Umbria. central Italy)
Sheepish
2017 El Capricho Tannat
100% Tannat
(Uruguay, South America)
Sfizio Crotonese | Aged 9 months
(Sheep’s milk, Calabria, southern Italy)
Kind Of Blue
2018 Cave de Roquebrun “Chemin des Olivettes”
45% Syrah + 30% Grenache + 15% Mourvèdre + 10% Carignan blend
(Languedoc, southwest France)
Fourme d’Ambert
(Cow’s milk blue, Ambert,
Central France)
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Guests, students and certificate candidates must meet the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages in the country where the program is being held: 21 in the USA and China.
YOUR EDUCATOR
JONATHON ALSOP is founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
He began writing about wine, food and travel in 1988 and emerged as a wine expert through his syndicated wine column. He has contributed numerous articles to the Associated Press, Frequent Flyer Magazine, La Vie Claire, Beverage Business Magazine, Mobil Travel Guides, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Boston Globe, and many others.
Jonathon founded the Boston Wine School in 2000 where he teaches wine and food classes in a dedicated 100% snob-free zone. His new book Wine Life: A Collection Of Verses will be published in 2020.
VENUE
SOLERA – A SHRINE TO WINE is a neighborhood specialty wine store nestled in the heart of Roslindale Square (Boston). The store, now in its 18th year is warmly decorated in green and deep purple resembling the colors of the grapes and filled with rack after rack of “offbeat wines”, pretty much everything a modern wine geek seeks out and loves, at more than reasonable prices.
With nearly 500 bottle selections from across the globe, unlike the monster chain stores and supermarkets, Solera takes a back seat to none and offers a stellar sampling of the world’s best and some unusual vineyards with average prices from 10 to 20 dollars or more, if your budget allows. Since wine education, and customer service are vital to our business, individual attention to the customer is the reason why the press has designated the Solera staff as “well versed grape-talkers”. When you want to smarten up on your wine there is no better place to do just that than in this little gem of a store, where wine is constantly being discussed with purpose and a smile!