Secrets of Iconic Regions 3 (New - Apr/May)

You could pay a fortune to see one of Mark Oldman’s famous, “five-star” (Food & Wine) “wildly popular” (Aspen magazine) live seminars at the nation’s top food festivals or you can take a Bevinar virtual wine class for a fraction of the cost and from the comfort of your own living room. In his trademark style that Bon Appétit calls “winespeak without the geek,” award-winning author and renowned speaker Mark Oldman transports you to four of the world’s iconic wine regions: the Rhone Valley, Paso Robles, Australia, and New Zealand.

For each, you will learn and discuss the classic grapes and flavor profiles, how to decipher a label, food pairings, ageability, and more. But Mark’s virtual wine classes always have more: he fills each session with humor and his trademark “nuggets” of useful insider information that you won’t find anywhere else.

1) SECRETS OF THE RHONE VALLEY CLASS (April 20, 2022)

In terms of French wine, the Rhone Valley may have slightly less cachet than the twin titans of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but it is first in the hearts of many wine insiders. Escape with Mark for a revealing look at both the Syrah-driven Northern Rhone, home to some of the world’s most coveted wines, and the more accessible Southern Rhone, where the Mediterranean climate creates wines of inimitable spice and ripeness.

We will consider a range of key subjects, including how Northern Rhone reds differ from New World Syrah, which Rhone subregions and producers are the most collectable, which lesser-known regions are the best values in restaurants, which one subregion will always be a crowd-pleaser at your next dinner party.

We will examine the unique delights of the Rhone’s white wine and rosé. We will then delve into region’s many brilliant reds, homing in on Crozes-Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

2) SECRETS OF PASO ROBLES CLASS (April 27, 2022)

Equidistant between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles – a sunny land of rolling hills, steep mountainsides, and rugged coastline – is one of America’s most exciting wine regions. Less commercial than Napa Valley and blessed with an incredible diversity of growing climates, it is a must-know destination for high-quality, fairly-priced American wine.

We will explore Paso in depth, looking at how temperature swings and the coast influences the regions microclimates, how both Bordeaux and Rhone styles prosper here, the effect of “new wave” Californian vintners on Paso’s growing scene, and more.

We will consider a wide range of Paso pleasures, focusing first on its Rhone-inspired white wines. Then we will shift gears to two of Paso’s longtime sweet spots, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

3) SECRETS OF AUSTRALIA CLASS (May 4, 2022)

They call it the Lucky Country, and Australia is indeed blessed with an exciting array of wine styles, from lithe, delicate whites to burly, spicy reds to luscious “stickies”. Having just returned from a month-long trek Down Under, Mark will share with you his latest insights and discoveries.

We will cover how Australian wine has evolved dramatically over the past generation, which regions are blue chip and which are rising the fastest, Australia’s new vanguard of winemakers, how the country has reversed the stigma of “critter labels,” and more.

We will explore a broad variety of Aussie styles while focusing on cool-climate Tasmanian sparkling wine, beautifully refreshing (“smashable” as they say) Australian Riesling, and the most rewarding styles of Australia’s trademark Shiraz.

4) SECRETS OF NEW ZEALAND CLASS (May 11, 2022)

You might have read recently that Silicon Valley billionaires are building doomsday compounds in New Zealand. Sure, the Kiwi nation is the furthest place from anywhere, but another draw is the country’s superb wine. Join Mark as he spirits you to the pair of small islands at the bottom of the world.

Among the subjects we will cover is the country’s recent emergence as an iconic wine region, how to home in the highest quality examples of New Zealand’s hallmark grape, Sauvignon Blanc, what makes New Zealand Pinot Noir so ravishing and differentiates it from versions in other parts of the world, and more.

In addition to focusing on the country’s Sauvignon Blanc and increasingly world-class Pinot Noir, we will examine other grapes prospering on Kiwi soils, including Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, among others.

MORE ON THE COURSE:

You are encouraged — but not required — to taste along with Mark. If you wish to buy the accompanying Wine.com wine kits, please do so through these links soon as possible after you register below. 

TASTING KITS (Optional)

Bevinars Secrets of Rhone Valley Tasting Kit at Wine.com

Bevinars Secrets of Paso Robles Tasting Kit at Wine.com

Bevinars Secrets of Australia Tasting Kit at Wine.com

Bevinars Secrets of New Zealand Tasting Kit at Wine.com

The specific selection of wine, and its vintage, can vary depending on your location, but all bottles have been personally approved by Mark for their deliciousness and typicity.

Registrants of a Bevinars virtual wine class will be emailed the Zoom link and reminders prior to the class. The class fee is non-refundable.

DISCOUNT FOR FOUR-WEEK COURSE:  You can take individual virtual wine classes, but if you register below for the full, 4-week Secrets of Iconic Regions 3 (Apr-May), you will receive a 20% discount on the course. The cost for four classes is $176 per household.

MISS A CLASS, NO PROBLEM: Full course participants may access video recordings of the entire course for two months after the course ends, ideal for those who miss a class or want to watch again. Individual class registrants may request a link to the recording of the relevant class.

 

Events in this Series

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