Langdon-Shiverick, Jane Shiverick:
Bindernagel Les Chais du Vieux Bourg Cotes du Jura “BB 1″ 2005 (Jura, France) $37
Burgaud Morgon Cotes du Py Vieilles Vignes 2010 (Beaujolais, France) $21
Ollieux Romanis Corbieres Rouge 2008 (Languedoc, France) $16

A. I. Selections, Tim Brew:
San Giovanni Il Lugana 2010 (Trebbiano; Lombardia, Italy) $20
Badde Nigolosu Tuderi Romangia Rosso 2006 (Cannonau; Sardegna, Italy) $30
Vaona Odino Amarone Classico 2007 (Veneto, Italy) $51

Domenico Valentino, Jim Hutchinson:
Monteforche Pinot Grigio 2010 (Italy) $21
Sobrero Langhe Nebbiolo 2010 (Piemonte, Italy) $18
Lini Metodo Classico Rosso 2004 (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) $36
Pirro Varone “Tocy”  Fiano Minutolo Dolce 2008 (Puglia, Italy) $27

Breuckelen Distilling, Gino Di Stefano:
Tom Collins Cocktail, feat. Breuckelen Distilling Gin (Brooklyn, NY, USA) $36

MEGA TASTING IV
Friday, October 7
5:30-7:30pm

Though now firmly established as your favorite international wine and spirits store, Vino never forgets its origins dealing solely in Italian wine. Today we remain the go-to destination for those in search of the finest liquid products from up and down the great peninsula. Who better then to school you — the Italian wine lover — in the way they do things in il bel paese. Hosted by Vino’s resident Italian wine maven Jim Hutchinson, this intrepid tour of the peninsula will take in Italy’s vast mosaic of appellations, countless grape varieties, and myriad countless winemaking styles. Participants will be treated to an exclusive tasting representative of Italian wine’s remarkable quality and diversity, and learn more about the ever-shifting landscape of Italy’s richly entertaining winemaking culture.

THE WINES OF ITALY
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Monday, February 28
$45

For more information and reservations please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.

THE CLASSICS
with Scott Rosenbaum, DWS
Wednesday, October 27
$65

For more information please contact 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.

GRAPES INTO GRAPPA
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Wednesday, September 29
$65

For more information and reservations please contact 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.

It may still be pushing the high-nineties in New York, but believe it or not Fall is almost upon us! Vino’s wine and spirit classes return this September with a fresh autumnal schedule. Our selection has gone international and so have our classes: this semester’s tasting seminars are a reflection of our expanding blend of world-class wines and spirits from around the globe. But we’re starting things off with a return to our roots, as next Tuesday we present The Wines of Italy!

Before embarking on our international expansion earlier this year, we spent the best part of a decade dealing in Italian wine. All that tasting, talking and, uh, tasting some more, had to pay off in the end: the result is The Wines of Italy. Hosted by Vino’s resident Italian wine maven Jim Hutchinson, this intrepid tour of the peninsula will take in Italy’s vast mosaic of appellations, countless grape varieties, and myriad countless winemaking styles. Participants will be treated to an exclusive tasting representative of Italian wine’s remarkable quality and diversity, and learn more about the ever-shifting landscape of Italy’s richly entertaining winemaking culture.

THE WINES OF ITALY
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Tuesday, September 7
6:30-8:30pm
$45

For more information and reservations please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.


WINE 101
with William Leonard-Lee
Wednesday, September 1
$45
This term’s classes are a reflection of our new international outlook, none more so than Wine 101, a global introduction to wine and winemaking. Vino’s William Leonard-Lee will attempt to unravel much of the mystery surrounding wine, revealing secrets of the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle, and offering tips on selecting, storing and serving wine. Participants will take a whirlwind tour of some of the world’s celebrated wine-producing regions, tasting some fine examples of the local product along the way. There’s no better place to start making sense of one of everday life’s greatest pleasures.

THE WINES OF ITALY
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Tuesday, September 7
$45
Before Vino’s international expansion earlier this year, we spent the best part of a decade dealing in Italian wine. All that tasting and talking (and tasting some more) had to pay off in the end: the result is The Wines of Italy! Hosted by Vino’s resident Italian wine maven Jim Hutchinson, this intrepid tour of the peninsula will take in Italy’s vast mosaic of appellations, countless grape varieties, and myriad countless winemaking styles. Participants will be treated to an exclusive tasting representative of Italian wine’s remarkable quality and diversity, and learn more about the ever-shifting landscape of Italy’s richly entertaining winemaking culture.

FRENCH WINES IN A NUTSHELL
with Scott Rosenbaum, DWS
Wednesday, September 15
$45
Charles de Gaulle once asked, “How can you govern a country which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese?” It’s even more difficult to wrap one’s head around the country’s various wines (of which there are over 300 distinct appellations). This class introduces some of France’s best known exports: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Participants will taste representations of these grapes as they manifest themselves in some of their finest growing regions. Participants will learn about basic winemaking techniques, French wine laws and appellations including: Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy, and the Loire and Rhone Valleys.

WINES OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA
with Scott Rosenbaum, DWS
Tuesday, September 21
$45
Spain makes more than Rioja and there’s more to Portugal than Port. Wines of the Iberian Peninsula gives you the chance to learn why these countries produce some of the finest wine values in the world. Explore Spain’s wonderful whites and Portugal’s dry reds, taste Albariño and discover Green Spain, visit Jumilla and quaff Monastrell, and find out about Portugal’s indigenous varieties while downing Dão.

CLASSIC COCKTAILS
with Scott Rosenbaum, DWS
Tuesday, September 28
$45
The cocktail renaissance is upon us. New York has seen a surge in Prohibition-era speakeasies and bartenders who concoct their own signature bitters, but you don’t need a password or a degree in chemistry to mix up some of the classics. In this two hour seminar, Vino’s spirits specialist Scott Rosenbaum will recount the colorful history behind such hallmarks as the Martini, Manhattan, Daiquiri, and Sidecar. He’ll then shake ‘em up as he discusses the finer points regarding the importance of fresh juice, good ice, and proper barware. Participants will have a chance to mix their favorite cocktail of the evening. Prepare to be shaken and stirred!

WINE 101
with William Leonard-Lee
Tuesday, October 5
$45
Another chance to take part in our introductory wine class!

PAIRING FOOD & WINE
with Scott Rosenbaum, DWS
Wednesday, October 13
$55
We’ve all heard the “white wine with fish, red wine with meat” dictum – if only it were that simple! In today’s society we are faced with a limitless options for pairing food and wine it’s sometimes hard to know where to begin. This hands-on practical places each participant in a taste lab where we’ll be experimenting with various wine styles and food types. If you’re curious why some reds work with spicy food, what salt does to tannin, what foods are impossible to pair and what to drink with dessert, this class is for you.

THE CLASSICS
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Wednesday, October 27
$65
You’ve undoubtedly heard of them, and you’ve probably drunk them, but what do you really know about them? Let Jim Hutchinson take you on a top-class tasting tour of the world’s classic wines. Bordeaux, Burgundy, Mosel Riesling, Chianti, Barolo, Californian Cabernet… these essentially amount to wine’s Greatest Hits. Discover what makes these wines so renowned and why they so consistently top the charts.

WINES OF THE AMERICAS
with William Leonard-Lee
Tuesday, November 2
$45
There has never been a better time to be enjoying high quality wines from “our side of the pond”. As Europe migrated westward, so did their grape varieties and traditions, morphing into wines that began to reflect the distinct character of their new home. William Leonard-Lee will taste and discuss selections spanning both continents, picking out some of the regional flavors and practices that distinguish these wines from their European counterparts. Whether it’s lush California Pinot Noir, zesty Chilean Sauvignon Blanc or robust Malbec from Mendoza, one will find an ever-increasing array of fine wines spread throughout the wine growing regions of the Americas. For those of you who fancy a whistle-stop western wine tour this class is a no-brainer.

All classes start at 6:30pm and last approximately two hours. For more information and reservations please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.

BLIND TASTING
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Wednesday, June 16
6:30-8:30pm
$55

For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.

At Vino we’ve always had a knack for stumbling upon the next big thing. Our intrepid and inexhaustible probing of some of Italy’s most typical regional wines has led to the unlikely transformation of some of its most obscure grape varieties becoming household names among New York’s adventurous wine drinkers.

Our recent international expansion has given us even more scope to introduce you some of the world’s lesser known wines. Cesanese, Monastrell, Teroldego, Falanghina: if you’ve never heard of these grape varieties do not despair, until a few years ago nobody knew Malbec either. Join us at Vino for an evening of exploration. You may end up leaving with a brand new favorite.

SIX GRAPE VARIETIES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Tuesday, May 25
5:30-7:30pm
$45

For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.

Tuscany. Say it. “Tuscany.” I’ve seen grown adults go weak at the knees with the very mention of the word. That’s because nowhere evokes the magic of Italy more than this famed region: its rolling hills, picturesque towns and stunning artistic heritage have captivated for centuries and continue to attract millions of visitors every year. So familiar is Tuscany — and its celebrated wines — that in recent years wine enthusiasts in this country have begun to pass up a Brunello or a Vino Nobile in favor of something new. While we love Tuscany’s classic appellations, we also strongly promote the discovery of Italy’s lesser-known wines. This exclusive tasting class will remind you there is much more to Tuscan wine than the cliché of the straw Chianti flask on a checkered tablecloth. From the famous Sangiovese-based appellations to the law-bending Super Tuscans and an array of top-flight whites, Tuscany is home to some of the world’s finest wines. Taste some of our favorites with Vino’s Jim Hutchinson!

WINES OF TUSCANY
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Wednesday, April 21
6:30-8:30pm
$65

For more information and reservations please call 212-725-6516 or email reservations@vinosite.com.

As wine lovers we like to feel in complete control of our sensory judgment, yet it’s easy (even for wine professionals) to underestimate just how many factors can determine our appreciation of a wine.

For many, a blind tasting is often seen as the ultimate test of a wine’s true worth. External information such as labels, price, even the bottle’s shape or cork — elements which may sway the taster — are hidden, leaving us with the purest possible tasting experience.

While a useful technique for encouraging a more honest comparison, a blind tasting can also be a fascinating revelation as to the extent in which context and preconceptions can affect our perception of a wine.

Class participants will taste six wines and be asked to answer questions on each based solely on their sensory observations. This unique “blind date” is guaranteed to be an eye-opener… don’t miss out!

BLIND TASTING CLASS
Wednesday, March 17
6:30-8:30pm
$65

For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email register@vinosite.com.

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