Secrets of Spain

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 Bevinars 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: Spain, Portugal, the Loire, and Champagne.

SECRETS OF SPAIN CLASS

No other wine region is more diverse than Spain. Not only does it have breathtaking variation in climate and grape variety, but it excels in almost every category of wine, from the bubbly cava to white wines of personality to a range of deeply rewarding, spicy reds to sherry and more. And it does so with affordability and flair.

We will consider a range of key subjects, including the stylistic differences between Spain’s traditional and modern wineries, which Spanish wines are collectable and which are among the world’s best values, why some insiders are obsessed with dry sherry, and which Spanish wine accessory never fails to be the life of the party.

First, we examine the effervescent delights of the Spanish cava. We then head to the vineyards of Galicia on Spain’s north Atlantic coast, where the white wine Albariño has become a favorite of wine drinkers around the world. After that we arrive at Spain’s’ preeminent wine region, Rioja, and also learn about Priorat, a region tucked in the mountains southwest of Barcelona that has been transformed into one of the hottest names in wine.

In addition to the featured wines being presented, Mark will clue you into a slew of other fabulous Spanish wines, from blue chips such as Ribera del Duero to lesser-known Godello.

And we will cover tasting techniques, decoding the label, and food pairings — including regional favorites such as Jamón Ibérico, paella, gambas al ajillo, and more.

Moreover, if you’ve ever been to one of Mark’s presentations, you know it is brimming with humor and his trademark “nuggets” of useful insider information that you won’t find anywhere else.

The cost of the class is $55 per household, and if you want to taste along with Mark, an optional Bevinars wine kit is now available to purchase at Wine.com. 

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

The featured wines are

  • Cava
  • Albariño
  • Rioja
  • Priorat

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.

If you do not purchase the wines online, you are free to ask a trusted local merchant for their recommendations for the featured wine types listed above.

Registrants will be emailed the Zoom link and reminders prior to the class. The class fee is non-refundable.

FOUR-WEEK COURSE: The Secrets of the Rhone class is part of the four-week Secrets of Iconic Regions 4 (Sept-Oct) course. Register below for the full course (4 classes) and 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.

FREE GIFT WITH FULL 4-WEEK COURSE: Purchasers of the full course will be mailed a complimentary limited-edition Bevinars wine glass polishing cloth. Custom-made for Bevinars, the cloth is extra large and made of plush microfiber, perfect for polishing your stemware to a fine sparkle.

Sorry, you missed this event!

Tickets are no longer available, but check out these other events that you might like.

  • Bevinars being scheduled — check back soon.

Other Events in Secrets of Iconic Regions 4 (Sept/Oct)