Uncork your inner Wino
Hot, full bodied, fleshy and lean. These are words commonly overheard around a college campus.
WINE 101: THE BIG SIX WINE TASTING
When: 7 and 8:30 tonight
Where: Ciné: 234 W. Hancock Ave.
Cost: $20 advance, $25 at door
Sorry lustful kids, think again. These are also descriptors students would hear if they happened to stumble into a wine class.
For those who have always envisioned a Sideways-like vino journey through Napa Valley with close friends and romantic encounters, but inconveniently know nothing about wine, venture onto Ciné tonight for a comprehensive crash course.
Ciné is hosting “Wine 101: The Big Six,” two one-hour classes introducing the cultish sport of wine tasting.
“It’s the first time we’re doing the class and we were hoping if it does well we can make it an annual thing. We are just trying to feel it out,” said Jamie Woodhead, a public relations intern at Ciné.
The Big Six will include, well, the most popular wines.
They are: pinot grigio, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc, and they will be hailing from the United States, France and Chile.
Out of the six, four will originate from the closest thing America has to French vineyards – California.
“They seem to be the most common when you go into restaurants especially for American clientele who tend to lean toward California reds and whites,” said Peter Birdsong, a wine expert from Georgia Crown Distributing Company, who will be leading the first class.
“When I think of the basics of wines and varietals, I think what better way to start than in your own back yard?”
Birdsong’s perspective might be comforting for younger class participants who like to keep it local.
“It’s definitely geared towards the of-age college crowd who don’t really know much about wine,” Woodhead said.
Although Birdsong typically teaches wine classes in restaurants to employees, he expressed the significance in honing in on the actual consumer.
After all, na’ve college kids are capable of learning the new use for common lingo as it relates to wine, not just the opposite sex.
“Especially with the age group we’ll be focusing on in this wine class, a lot of them have never really been introduced to different wines,” Birdsong said. “They don’t understand why they like something and the process of certain flavors that people are looking for.”
Birdsong also explains the perks of investing in wine over other alcoholic drinks.
“With spirits, if you want a good vodka, you have to pay for it, and if you want el cheapo, it obviously won’t be as good,” Birdsong said. “It’s not quite the same with wine, you can get a $5-6 glass of wine and it will still be very good quality.”
The class and tasting also include hors d’oeuvres catered by The National, a Ciné stemless wine glass and a discounted movie ticket for tonight’s features.
“Just one class can help someone not be quite as intimidated and they can sit down comfortably with a little bit of confidence when ordering wine,” Birdsong said.
