Secrets of the Rhone

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.

SECRETS OF THE RHONE VALLEY CLASS

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 imitable 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, and more.

We will first examine the unique delights of the Rhone’s white wine and rosé. We will then delve into area’s many brilliant reds, homing in on Crozes-Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. And we will cover tasting techniques, decoding the label, agebility, and food pairings (including regional favorites like lamb, sausage, cassoulet, and tapenade).

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 3-bottle Bevinars wine kit is 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:

• Côtes du Rhône Blanc
• Crozes-Hermitage
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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 three wine types listed above.

Registrants will be 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 3 (April-May) 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.