Trouble with emails?
View this entire newsletter at http://www.connectwithwine.com/newsletters/april05.htm
Complimentary subscriptions here  

Someone once told me, "the world is your classroom--don't skip class." Wine is the most pleasureable way of connecting to places, history, and experiencing new cultures and taking in the sights.

So whether you are "extending" your learning at the Atlanta Wine School or just looking for a fun get-away, check out our travel options--where wine is a good supporting actor--not the entire movie.

Join Chef John for some Culinary Vacations

I was fortunate to visit Vina Morande in Chile last month, and as all the photo's are not ready, I'll post a photo-journal of this fantastic trip next month.

We formally announced our private event services by participating as a sponsor of the annual Georgia Association of Meeting Planners International (GAMPI) cocktail party dubbed "The Gathering" at Mason Murer gallery. We provided a selection of 60 wines with the help of some very sharp volunteers.

Speaking of private events, our sponsor Icecaters.com, is providing a complimentary sculpted ice bucket for any wine-tasting event we do with 30 or more attendees.
Alive Expo

Spain's 2nd renaissance began in the 1990's--prior to that the whites were brown, the red's were brown, and her global audience was narrow. Arnie discusses the turn-around, mentioning some tasty wines along the way--from the prestigious l'Ermita and Vegas Sicilia to fresh, crisp kiwi-whites from Rias Baixas. Go to Spain

Fun, informative classes for all levels

Atlanta Wine School Course Calendar

March - June, 2005


Introduction to Wine Series, $299, 7-9pm, held at Signature Events Facility
The classic how, why, where of wine. An essential to finer living.
Choose from Mondays, April 25th - June 6th (May 30th is skipped), *8 seats remain
or Wednesdays, June 15th - July 20th, *18 seats remain
More Info

April 23rd, Dinner and Wine Tasting Benefit, hosted by The Buckhead Relay, $75, 7pm, held at Violette Restaurant. The Relay For Life is about the community taking up the fight and raising funds to find the cure for cancer. More information here on the event.

April 24th, World of Reds, $40, 6pm, held at Oughtabee's in Alpharetta. A very popular series, we explore red wine from regions all over the world. Ten wines in two flights, from light fruity ballerinas to muscular linebackers--this event covers the gamut of skin-stained juice!
*11 seats remain
More Info

April 28th, American Wine & Cheese, $49, 7-9pm, Muss & Turners. On the two previous events involving Matt Bonano for cheese presentations, attendee ratings have been 5 out of 5 across the board. Join us again for the standard 9 cheeses/9 wines symphony--this time we call upon our countrymen for their artisanal products. *14 seats remain
More Info

May 1st, Discover Italy, $40, 3-6pm, Signature Events Facility
The next in our Discover! Series, this event will showcase Italy's diverse wines, foods, cheeses, specialty coffees, & entertainment. A tasty cultural trip state-side on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Premium Sponsors are: Atlanta Wine School, The Wine Report Magazine, Palm Bay Imports, La Tavola Trattoria, Icecaters, Blaine Travel, MochaMyDay Mobile Espresso, and LocalWineEvents.com. More Info

May 12th, The Pinot Brothers: Gris & Noir, $40, 7-9pm. Industry veteran Gary Lynn of King Estate Winery, an organic winery, will replicate the seminar on Pinot Gris & Pinot Noir, given to $185 ticket-holders at the famed Epcot International Wine & Food event. Current and older vintages of global expressions will be tasted. Limited to 30 people. *18 seats remain
More Info
Travel With Atlanta Wine School

Impertinance, vivacity, savory, silky, velvety, lively, bright...wine descriptors are so often feminine, helping us to describe our relationship with this thing of beauty.

Interestingly, few wines are made by women. But this is changing, and Lisa Allen's interview with veteran winemaker Kay Simon of Chinook Winery, touches on early attitudes toward women as well as the growing trends today. Read Lisa's interview.

Unlike coffee (which I enjoy immensely) wine is "grown" in industrial nations, and is almost always in proximity to culinary treasures, historical sites, and breathtaking countrysides. It is no wonder that wine's magnet pulls all of us clear across the world to experience and savor this cultural other-worldliness.

As such, Atlanta Wine School is fortunate to host some excursions over the next year. In all cases we have "checked out" these tour operators, and like you, plan to be on these trips as well. Over the coming weeks we will devote a permanent section to Travel, but in the meantime, here are two incredibly priced trips for the wine & food adventurer in you:

Cruise through Burgundy & Rhone Accompanied by Winemakers, July 3rd - 10th

Vine to Wine--Touring Napa & Sonoma on the Cusp of Harvest, August 6th - 13th (download the brochure in Adobe PDF format--270kb file)

 



Advertiser

Icecaters.com

 

The March-April Drawing

Trade Sponsor

The April May Issue of The Wine Report Magazine

One lucky person will be the recipient of an Introduction to Wine Gift Certificate, good for any Introduction to Wine course posted in the next 12 months.
Retail value: $299.00

Enter the Drawing Here

Tips, Tricks & Trivia

  • Di-Vine Divas
    One tasting group in Boston is proof of why The Wine Market Council reports that women make up the largest part of the wine consumer market and account for 60 percent of "high-end" wine buyers. The Divas Uncorked
  • 11 Master Sommeliers Added--List up to 73 in North America
    The Court of Master Sommeliers has awarded a record-setting eleven wine professionals the internationally recognized title of Master Sommelier at its 2005 examination held February 21-24 in San Francisco, CA The list is here
  • Jancis on Australia
    Read up on Australian reactions to the French waging a marketing battle; what's the hot grape down-under, and more. Hot in Australia
  • Americans Shifting to the "European Mindset"
    "There is a definite shift to the European mindset. Of particular note, 86% of the US-based panel now agree or strongly agree that red wine, drunk in moderation, is beneficial to health," from a leading on-line publisher and research panel manager. More
  • Gambero Rosso “Tre Bicchieri” Wine Tasting
    What is essentially a "Discover Italy" event for San Francisco, one can taste the best wines from all over Italy, all the while sampling artisan cheese, new harvest olive oils and fresh fruit. Read up on some tasty Italians
  • Chateau Montelana Challenges TCA Assertions
    "If you can't smell it, you can't taste it--is it a problem?" Winemaker Bo Barrett has steered the injured winery through unsettling assertions that the famous winery has a TCA issue. The winery's road show is facing the TCA issue head on--attempting to address analytical detection versus subjective satisfaction in TCA-tainted wines. More