http://archive.aweber.com/wineschoolThe Wine School NewsletterTue, 03 Jan 2012 05:33:44 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/H0RhM/h/A_Gift_Certificate_from_the_Wine.htm Happy Holidays ! You have two complimentary gift certificates from the Wine School of Philadelphia. Please read below how to redeem! Hope you enjoy these complimentary gift certificates from Alana and myself . The $75 gift certificate is for academic programs, and the $15 Gift is for any purchase of two or more classes. To redeem, you will need to use these gift certificate codes: $15 Gift Certificate Code: xxkmggtpep $75 Gift Certificate Code: ccgirnspa20 If you need help with these gift certificates, please refer to our Online Help Center. Since these are complimentary, we don't offer phone or email support. Have fun and see you in school! Keith Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:33:44 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/DfqLs/t/A_Holiday_Gift_for_You_From_the.htmHappy Holidays from the Wine School! I am doing something special for you, and all our newsletter readers this week: I have reserved VIP seats to this week's Sommelier Smackdown, and you are invited to come as my guest! Here are the details: *The Smackdown is this Wednesday from 7:30pm-9:30pm *Reserve your seats here: http://www.vinology.com/proddetail.php?prod=11-12-14 *Use this code to get the free tickets: HOLIDAYSMACK *You can have up to two seats. *Only reserve seats if you can attend. If I don't see you at the Sommelier Smackdown, have a great holiday! Warmest, Keith Keith Wallace FounderMon, 12 Dec 2011 22:08:45 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/CA04c/h/Wine_School_Newsletter_for.htm America's Independent Wine School In This Issue... Free Copies of Corked and Forked! Wine Ratings and Reviews SALE! Up to 40% OFF! Earn your Professional Wine Certification The Wine School of Philadelphia Winter Semester | Professional Programs Our winter semester has just been announced. We are offering two sections of the Foundation program: Mondays and Thursdays. Start time is 6:30pm for both. More details here: Foundation Professional Certification Programs Our Advanced Program has also been announced: Advanced Certification: The Omnibus Program. This program covers dessert wine, Champagne and sparkling wine, advanced food and wine Pairing, wine buying, spirits, and cocktails. Advanced Certification Program Annual Pre-Holiday Sale! Save up to 40%! Whether you are buying for yourself or for the holidays, now is the time to pick up tickets! For every $125 you spend, we give you a $50 Discount! Use this discount code: 4FALL Take advantage of this sale now, as it ends in six (6) days! Valid for all classes (wine, beer, cocktail, or cooking). Not valid for academic programs. The Wine School First Friday! Come to the school on December 2nd for a night of secret society wines. We are talking some seriously skull and crossbones grape juice here. First Friday's at the Wine School are a chill event Meal Ticket/City Paper The Wine School has the perfect antidote for Beer Week Grub Street/New York Magazine First Friday is a mellow, free form night of wine and education in our new Rittenhouse mansion. You can tuck away in a quiet corner and peruse our wine and spirits library. Or you can curl up in a leather chair for a tasting of luxury wines. You can hold court at the winemaker's table, or hang out with one of our master Sommelier-Instructors. It's a posh way to start your weekend. Hell, it's a great way to start the month. December 2nd at 127 S. 22nd Street in Rittenhouse. No reservations, doors open from 6:30-9:30pm. $30 at the door, cash only. More Information. Members of our Cru Club enjoy free access! Two Free Signed Copies of Corked and Forked! Purchase two $50 Gift Certificates, and get two FREE signed copies of Corked and Forked! This is an amazing gift idea for the holidays. More information after the jump. Best Under $8 William Cole 2009 Albamar Chardonnay, Chile A touch of cinnamon, ginger and allspice on the palate along with some exotic fruits. Remains fresh and bright and crisp, like an Asian pear. Not a typical chardonnay, but delicious. Yering Station 2008 Little Yering Pinot Noir, Australia While I never suggest purchasing a cheap Pinot, this is is the exception that proves the rule. Fresh and light and fruit-forward yet retains its varietal character through and through. A good introduction to the grape for those folks, and better than most Pinots at twice the price. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Best Buys Under $15 Seigneur de Fontimple 2009 Vacqueyras Liquorice and charcoal propel this Rhone red into a web of iron and espresso. A big pillow of dark fruit flecked with earthy notes turns the entire experience from brooding to delicious. Atalon 2004 Merlot, Napa Valley A Merlot for lovers of big sexy Napa Cabs. Chalky herb and cedar notes show off its pedigree while rich milk chocolate and black cherry flavors roll over the deep and rich Damilano 2008 Nebbiolo d'Alba Dried cherries, roses, licorice and tar, all of which are supported by firm tannins. The Nebbiolo is already rather forward in its aromas and flavors, which suggests it is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. This bottle has many of the characteristics of a mid-teir Barbaresco, without the steep pricetag. Make sure to open an hour or two prior to enjoying to get the full impact of this wine. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Ultimate Bottles Eric et Joel Durand 2008 Empreintes Cornas This is the finest Cornas one can buy for under $50 (this is priced at $29.99 in the PLCB stores). Full bodied and deeply flavored, this wine flows from dark fruit to creme de cassis to burnt clay to bitter chocolate to roasted game, and back again. A complex wine that offers the rare feat of propelling and unveiling a myriad of flavors over one's palate, and doing so in a way that almost feels adulterous. Jacques Cacheux 2006 Les Suchots Vosne Romanee A spectacular premier cru vineyard bottling from one of the most vaunted wine regions in the world, Vosne Romanee. While $59 may not seem like a value, for this level of wine it's a remarkable value. While it is drinking well right now, this is one of those rare bottlings that will only get better over the next decade. Arrowood 2003 Reserve Speciale Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Never does a Cabernet this beautiful and well-aged come into the marketplace. Anyone with a penchant for the ultimate Cali Cab experience would gladly pay two, three, or four times the asking price of $45. Drinking this wine is like sticking your face into a flower bed in heaven. You wake up ten minutes later covered in dirt and blackberries and laughing like a lunatic. The experience is too powerful for words. Keep an eye out. La Querciolina Istriciaia Maremma 2007 $14.99 Carctere Les Hauts du Castellas Vacqueyras 2009 $17.99 Arrayan Premium Mentrida Spain 2005 $24.99 Domaine Durand Les Coteaux St Joseph 2009 $24.99 Gran Fassian Trittenheimer Riesling Spatlese 2007 Price $24.99 Escoces Volante 3000 Anos Bullas 2006 $29.99 Antiyal Valle del Maipo Chile 2008 $39.99 To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Wine Classes | Private Events |Academic Programs Subscribe now!l Did someone forward the Wine School Newsletter to you? get your own copy for free. Subscribe Here! Win Free Classes. Subscribe via Twitter. Every week, we are giving away free seats to classes! Follow us on twitter to win! Upcoming Classes Wine, Beer, Spirits and Culinary! Friday. November 18th Pre-Prohibition Cocktails! Saturday, November 26th Wine 101: Intro To Wine Saturday, November 26th Hopology: The Beer Class Saturday, December 3rd Perfect Food and Wine Pairings Friday, December 9th Whiskey to Tequila: The Beer Spirits Thursday, December 15th The Undiscovered Burgundy Thursday, December 15th The Wines of Italy Friday, December 16th Champagne and Dessert Wine Gala All classes are held at our new Rittenhouse headquarters: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA Talk to Us Questions? Need help? We have a new customer support center. Help us grow the Wine School by reviewing us on Yelp. Honest opinions only, please! Want to connect to millions of wine professionals? Connect via LinkedIn Are you a fan? Like us on Facebook. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:08:43 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/DeirM/h/Wine_School_Newsletter_October.htm America's Independent Wine School In This Issue... Free Copies of Corked and Forked! Wine Ratings and Reviews A Photo Tour of the Wine School Winter Semester for Pro Programs. The Wine School of Philadelphia Hope you are enjoying the great weather this week. I don't know if you saw, but I completely revamped our class listings over the last month or so. I was having a major creative rush, and the new classes are a some of the best we have ever offered. The Monster class and the Mediterranean classes are really sweet. Unfortunately, you can't attend both: They are on the same day, but you should register for one of them. That said, Exotica is great, too: it's a rare chance to to try the obscurest wines in my collection. I also just posted more spirits classes and beer classes. Enjoy! Keith Winter Semester | Professional Programs Our winter semester has just been announced. We are offering two sections of the Foundation program: Mondays and Thursdays. Start time is 6:30pm for both. More details here: Foundation Professional Certification Programs Our Advanced Program has also been announced: Advanced Certification: The Omnibus Program. This program covers dessert wine, Champagne and sparkling wine, advanced food and wine Pairing, wine buying, spirits, and cocktails. Advanced Certification Program A Tour of the School For our student, readers, and fans who haven't had a chance to take a class at our Rittenhouse location yet, feast your eyes on this! Wine Classes | Private Events |Academic Programs Corked and Forked: : Four Seasons of Eats and Drinks by Keith Wallace More Great Press this Month! Philly Beer Scene Drink Nation Relish Magazine Daily News Get Two Free Signed Copies of Corked and Forked! Purchase two $50 Gift Certificates, and get two FREE signed copies of Corked and Forked! This is an amazing gift idea for the holidays. More information after the jump. Top Whites under $15 Bodega Quo 2009 Plumia Dry Moscatel Here's an odd duck from the Aragon region of Spain. The Muscat grape is traditionally made into a sweet fortified wine, but here it's fermented until dry. It's both remarkable and unique. Aromas of white flowers and peach pit merge with hibiscus-scented pear on the palate. A bit of honey and lush fruit, but palate remains dry and the acidity remains crisp and clear. $8.99 Bridesmaid 2009 White A blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley that over-performs. I always question white wines that are produced in Napa. Often, the effort for the winemaker and the expense of the final product are not worth it. This is one of the rare exceptions. This is a label from the Napa Wine Company, and is a joint venture with Drew Neiman (the former winemaker of Kongsgaard). Neiman's hand is very evident in this wine: the artful balance of exotic fruit, fresh garden herbs, and white flowers is tremendous. A delightful and unique wine. $12.99 To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Top Reds under $15 Domaine Des Hauts Chassis 2008 Les Galets Crozes Hermitage Typically twice the price, Les Galets is historically a major wine, with great ratings to boot. The '08 vintage was one of the very worst in recent years for the Northern Rhone, Even a wine of this pedigree suffers. That said, this is still an exceptional wine, the finest northern rhone Syrah one will likely every purchase for under $20. Thank goodness for a bad vintage to halve the price of a remarkable wine! Classic beefy notes with pipe tobacco and granite on a clear frame of bright cherry. Will age well for another 4-5 years. $14.99 Tenuta di Castiglioni 2008 Red Here's a modern style of Italian wine that drinks amazingly well, but is getting discounted because the following vintage (2009) is even better. Typically going for about $20, this bottle is now $12.99 in the state system. It has just enough age on it to have fully integrated it's uber-oak and flesh out the deep black fruit. A nice bit of sweet tarragon and anise on the finish, too. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. My Favorite Monsters Stag's Leap Winery 2007 Petite Sirah The winery that put Petite Sirah on the map in the mid-nineties. SLW has been the standard bearer every since. Recent vintages have fallen in quality, but this vintage is bucking that trend. Cassis, lavender and licorice on the nose, with a remarkably balanced palate of wet clay, dense blackberry, white pepper, and striated tannins. At $20, that's about 30% off average bottle price. Drink this puppy with a grass-fed rib eye. Vezer 2007 La Salette 15 miles from Napa, Suisun Valley is one of the few undiscovered wine regions left in California. This bottle, which typically retails for $70, is a great introduction to these wines. A petite sirah with about 35 percent Zinfandel added to the mix, is a gentle but deep force, kinda like Giovanni Ribisi. Syrup-like red fruit slathers over dense white pepper and milk chocolate, and bundles up with a velvet texture. Opulent and delicious. $29.99 FYI, if these are the style of wine you like --you know, MASSIVE fruit bombs with insane amount of flavor-- then you really better come to my class on Monster wines: this is going to be one of the best classes of the year. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Share this email Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe Here! Subscribe via Twitter Get live updates, reviews, and more. Follow here. Upcoming Classes October 19th Wine Exotica October 21st Monster's Ball October 21st Cruising the Mediterranean October 26th Sommelier Smackdown October 28th XO: Cognac and Beyond All classes are held at our new Rittenhouse headquarters: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA First Fridays First Friday's at the Wine School are a chill event Meal Ticket/City Paper The Wine School has the perfect antidote for Beer Week Grub Street/New York Magazine First Friday is a mellow, free form night of wine and education in our new Rittenhouse mansion. You can tuck away in a quiet corner and peruse our wine and spirits library. Or you can curl up in a leather chair for a tasting of luxury wines. You can hold court at the winemaker's table, or hang out with one of our master Sommelier-Instructors. It's a posh way to start your weekend. Hell, it's a great way to start the month. September 2nd at 127 S. 22nd Street in Rittenhouse. No reservations, doors open from 6:30-9:30pm. $30 at the door, cash only. More Information. Members of our Cru Club enjoy free access! Support the Wine School Are you a Yelped? We would love your review. Want to connect to millions of wine professionals? Connect via Linked In Become a fan of the Wine School via Face book. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:33:07 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/7IQIY/t/My_Annual_Birthday_Celebration.htmHey! For the last ten years, there's been a tradition at the school. Every September 21st (my birthday) we give stuff away to friends of the Wine School. This year we are giving away 20 seats to a food & wine class AND a handful of $300 gift certificates! Read on for the details. ---------------------------------------------------- *Free Food & Wine Pairing Class for "Corked & Forked" Fans this Saturday* If you bought multiple copies of my book, Corked & Forked, you can come to this Saturday's class for free! Reserve your FREE seat here: http://www.vinology.com/proddetail.php?prod=11-09-24 Make sure to use the coupon code FREEFORK to get your free seat. Please remember to bring your copies of Corked & Forked to class! I'll be happy to sign books after class, too. ---------------------------------------------------- *A FREE $300 Gift Certificate for Programs* The next FIVE people to register for the upcoming Fall semester will get a $300 gift automatically deducted from their tuition. This is good for this semester's Foundation, Intermediate, Core, and Advanced Programs. There is only FIVE of these gift certificates. Use the coupon code KEITHDAY to see if you are one of the lucky ones. Register for our professional academic programs here: http://www.vinology.com/education_academic.php ---------------------------------------------------- Thank you and enjoy my birthday! Keith Keith Wallace Founder The Wine School of Philadelphia 127 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA www.vinology.comWed, 21 Sep 2011 16:42:45 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/JeH9I/h/Wine_School_Newsletter_for.htm America's Independent Wine School In This Issue... End of Summer Sale: 25% Off September Classes! Wine Ratings and Reviews Corked and Forked: Get Your Copy Today! First Friday The Wine School of Philadelphia Well, it eventually had to happen, didn't it? Our fearless leader FINALLY got hitched! The lucky (not sure if that's the right word...) lady is Alana. Alana was a Washington, DC lawyer who worked in human rights law. However, after meeting Keith she moved to Philly, earned her Sommelier certification, and started working at the Wine School. We are lucky to have her. Really lucky. Sommelier-Lawyers are pretty hard to come by. Keith and Alana were married on Sunday, August 28th, just as the hurricane died down. They left the next day. However, it wasn't for their honeymoon. Nope, it was for a working trip to Rioja Spain. Of course, for the rest of us, meeting with worldclass winemakers to drink their wine and talk shop would be an amazing vacation... sigh. Cheers to the happy couple! END OF SUMMER SALE 25% off All September Classes! Use this Coupon Code: winesummer11 Valid until September 12th. Good for all Wine and Beer Classes in September Corked and Forked: The Books is Here! Pick up your copy today! Bring it to class and have it signed by Keith Wallace, our fearless leader! Eric Arnold, author of First Big Crush: The Down and Dirty on Making Great Wine Down Under I own two types of cookbooks: Those that are dog-eared and adorned with spills, splashes and burns, and those that barely have the spine cracked. Corked and Forked is sure to be in the splashed-and-burned category. This is the first useful, smart, thoughtful guide to food and drink that Ive seen in a long time. Thanks to Wallace, well all be overweight and drunk in no time. Benjamin Wallace, author of The Billionaires Vinegar Here, finally, is a book that puts wine in its proper place, showcasing it not in sterile isolation but as food's boon companion. I want to make a ridiculous number of Keith Wallace's recipes, and when I do, I'll know just what to drink with them. Click to purchase the book via Amazon The best wines available in Pennsylvania, as tasted by our Fearless Leader. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Important Note As many of you know, our Fearless Leader has been leading the charge for privitization of wine sales in Pennslvyania. One of the ugly truths that has come out is that the PLCB was storing wine in very bad conditions in Philadelphia this summer. If you taste a wine that you think is damaged, make sure to return it to a PLCB wine shop. By law, they are obliged to accept it and offer, at the minimum, store credit. Great Under $10 Finds These are the two best values in the PLCB stores at this point. Durbanville Hills 2010 Sauvignon Blanc $6.99 Marquis Philips 2008 Grenache $6.99 The Durbanville is a very classic Sauvignon Blanc with an intense nose of wet lawn and quince. The Philips Grenache, on the other hand is a fruit bomb of the first order. Both of these wines were crafted to be luxury wines, and cleary should not be priced at under $7. Good Value Bordeaux It's been about five years since the last time I wrote that heading.Good value Bordeaux dissapeared from the marketplace about five years ago: the budding wine culture of China and a near perfect vintage in 2005 pretty much guaranteed that Bordeaux would never be affordable again. Personally, I am glad to see I was wrong! Chateau du Bousquet 2006 Côtes de Bourg $10.99 Chateau Barreyres 2006 Haut Medoc $12.99 Thes two are very good examples of modern Bordeaux winemaking: classic flavors married with new oak and pronounced fruit notes. The Medoc is a particularly good value. Monster Ball Reds If you have a taste for --or want a taste of-- a cult wine, then these bruisers are for you. FYI: These are the type of wines we will be opening for our Monster Ball class coming up in October. Clarendon Hills 2005 Grenache Clarendon Hills Vyd. $29.99 Two Hands 2005 Harry and Edwards Garden Shiraz $29.99 These are two favorites for wine collectors, so it's rare to see them discounted. The expected price point on these two gems is double what the PLCB is asking for. Luxury Burgundy These are great values for Burgundy. One caveat, though: we strongly suggest you take our Burgundy class before trying to buy wines from this region without assistance. Domaine Pierre Morey 2006 Meursault Les Tessons $54.99 Louis Latour 2007 Gevrey Chambertin $29.99 The Latour is very accessible, as their wines almost always are. The Morey is a profoundly luminous Mersault. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Share this email Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe Here! Subscribe via Twitter Get live updates, reviews, and more. Follow here. Upcoming Classes September 15th The Great Wines of Burgundy Once a year, we reach deep into our wine cellar for this class on Burgundy. September 17th Italian Cuisine and Wine Pairings Learn Italian the easy way, with a three course tasting menu paired with six great italian wines. September 22nd The Wines of Chile and Argentina South America is one of the most exciting places in the wine world right now. Friday, September 23rd Wine 101: Intro To Wine The most popular wine class in Philadelphia. Saturday, September 24th The Food and Wine Pairing Class Keith Wallace, author of the great new cookbook and wine pairing guide, Corked and Forked, will be teaching this class. All classes are held at our new Rittenhouse headquarters: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA First Fridays First Friday's at the Wine School are a chill event Meal Ticket/City Paper The Wine School has the perfect antidote for Beer Week Grub Street/New York Magazine First Friday is a mellow, free form night of wine and education in our new Rittenhouse mansion. You can tuck away in a quiet corner and peruse our wine and spirits library. Or you can curl up in a leather chair for a tasting of luxury wines. You can hold court at the winemaker's table, or hang out with one of our master Sommelier-Instructors. It's a posh way to start your weekend. Hell, it's a great way to start the month. September 2nd at 127 S. 22nd Street in Rittenhouse. No reservations, doors open from 6:30-9:30pm. $30 at the door, cash only. More Information. Members of our Cru Club enjoy free access! Support the Wine School Are you a Yelper? We would love your review. Want to connect to millions of wine professionals? Connect via LinkedIn Become a fan of the Wine School via Facebook. Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:29:51 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/FqJg2/h/VIP_Invitation_to_the_Sunday.htm This upcoming weekend, we are hosting a FREE Grand Cru tasting of some of our favorite wines from around the world. Keith Wallace, our founder and director, will be hosting the event, and will be pouring over 30 of his favorite wines. We would love for you to attend. To gain entry, you must have proof of purchase (a printed receipt from amazon.com or a copy of the book) of his just released wine and food book, Corked and Forked. The book is on sale for less than $16 at Amazon, and the book is getting some amazing praise from fellow writers like Patrick McGovern, Benjamin Wallace, and George Taber. So, support the school, get a great book, and have some great wine... all for about $16. Date and Time: Sunday, August 21st from 4-8pm The Book: Corked and Forked: Four Seasons of Eats and DrinksRSVP: VIP WINE EVENT Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:05:45 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/5xaz./h/The_August_Wine_School.htm America's Independent Wine School In This Issue... Academic Programs Wine Ratings and Reviews A Free Sunday Wine Event! Corked and Forked: The book! First Friday A SPECIAL INVITATION You are invited to the Wine School tomorrow (10am, Tuesday, August 2nd) to witness a historic moment in the fight for the abolition of the PLCB. Join former PLCB chairman Jonathan Newman, House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, and myself at this major press conference. If you support abolishing the PLCB, you should be there! Where: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street When: 10am Why: Be apart of a historic moment in local vino history! I am asking each and everyone of you to come. The more people who attend, the stronger the message. Your friend, Keith Wallace Founder and Director Wine School of Philadelphia. The economy remains sluggish, but our people keep getting hired, getting promotions, and building companies. If you are looking to become inspired and break away from the downward grind, then the time is now. For the summer, we have reduced our tuition to under $600. In the Accelerated Foundation Program, you can earn your first level certification in a single week, starting August 8th. The same goes for the Accelerated Global Intermediate Program, which begins August 15th. Earn your second level program in one week! Or you can save even more by earning both certifications programs by attending the Accelerated Core Program. Schedule August 8th to 13th Noon to 3pm The Accelerated Foundation Program August 15th to 20th Noon to 3pm The Accelerated Global Intermediate Program August 8th to 20th Noon to 3pm The Accelerated Core Program All programs are held at our new Rittenhouse headquarters: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA Corked and Forked: The Books is coming! On September 15th, our Fearless Leader's cookbook-slash-wine pairing book will be hitting the streets. It's already getting some seriously high praise. Here is a sample: Eric Arnold, author of First Big Crush: The Down and Dirty on Making Great Wine Down Under I own two types of cookbooks: Those that are dog-eared and adorned with spills, splashes and burns, and those that barely have the spine cracked. Corked and Forked is sure to be in the splashed-and-burned category. This is the first useful, smart, thoughtful guide to food and drink that I've seen in a long time. Thanks to Wallace, we'll all be overweight and drunk in no time. Benjamin Wallace, author of The Billionaire's Vinegar Here, finally, is a book that puts wine in its proper place, showcasing it not in sterile isolation but as food's boon companion. I want to make a ridiculous number of Keith Wallace's recipes, and when I do, I'll know just what to drink with them. Click for more information about the book. (Amazon) The best wines available in Pennsylvania, as tasted by our Fearless Leader. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Elegant and Pretty These are wines that play well with others, and oft en work exceptionally well at the dinner table. Cave des Vignerons 2009 Saumur Champigny $10.49 Lively and delicate, this wine offers a laser-like concentration of flavors. If one could reflect tart cherry and lingonberry into a laser beam and cut through granite and coriander seeds, well, you would have a glass of this wine. Sella and Mosca 2005 Terrerare Riserva $7.99 A show-stopper of a wine, it offers a delicate array of varietal flavors and scents (lavender, tar, and kirsch) but also the complexity of a flower and the edge of mineral. A beautiful wine, and one of the most undervalued wines I have ever seen in PA. Classic Cali These two wines remind me of why California is such a great wine region. Byron 2007 Wente Clone Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley $17.99 More evidence of the quality explosion in Santa Barbara County. Tree fruit and lemon zest are layered with allspice and mango. A densely packed wine, but still maintains it's freshness. Louis Martini 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley $19.99 My description of this wine makes it sound like a golem, but it's much friendlier than that: Notes of earthen clay and damp wood rise from under an strong tannic grip. Fresh red fruit and Chinese five-spice come into play as well, along with a hint of graphite. Classy Monsters I have a soft spot classy monsters, the kind that stomp around in order to gain a crowd's attention, then starts singing a beautiful and quiet ballad. Many of my friends are like that. There are also some wines like this, too: brassy but complex. The two top picks, which also happen to be the wines I am drinking tonight, are the Bellum 2006 El Principio ($12.99) and the Copain 2008 L'hiver Syrah ($10.99) Pinot Lesson Here's a quick lesson in buying Pinot Noir: in cooler climates, vintage matters. The Expression 44 from Eola-Amity Hills is amazing. In 2006, the bottle was lovely. The same goes for the 2008 and the 2009. Eola-Amity is my favorite AVA in Willamette Valley, Oregon, which in turn is my favorite spot in the US for Pinot Noir. However, the 2007 is thin and dreadful, even at the cut-rate price of $19.99. This is clearly a wine dumped into PA because it won't sell anywhere else. Then there is the Saintsbury 2007 Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch. It's typically sold for about $45, but in PA right now, it's $24.99. It is because it's trash? No way. This is one of the finest Pinot's Saintsbury has ever produced. It is layered and gorgeous and nearly everything one would want from a Pinot Noir. So, why is it underpriced? It got dumped in PA for one reason: it's getting old. In about two years, it won't be amazing anymore. Age It Most wines --and I mean 99.9% of all wines--are not meant for aging. A few years is about all you can expect before they start falling apart. The wines that are made for aging are typically priced in the hundreds of dollars, which is what makes the Duorum 2009 Douro ($14.99) such a remarkable wine. This is the rarest of rare wines: an inexpensive wine that will age well for ten years. If you are interested in aging wines, but are not a gazillionaire, then buy a case of this and try a bottle every year for the next decade. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Share this email Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe Here! Subscribe via Twitter Get live updates, reviews, and more. Follow here. Free Sunday Event Sunday August 21st Time: 4-8pm Keith, our Fearless Leader, will be hosting a free wine tasting event at the Wine School from 4-8pm on Sunday, August 21st at the Wine School. He will be pouring a wide selection of luxury wines. We are talking DOZENS of wines from Bordeaux to Napa to Barossa. To gain entry, you must have proof of purchase (a printed receipt) of his upcoming wine and food pairing book, Corked and Forked.(fyi, Amazon is offering a pre-release price of $16, which is an amazing price: Corked and Forked) Upcoming Classes Thursday, August 4th Wine 101 The most popular introduction to wine class in Philadelphia Friday, August 12th Corked and Forked: Summer Wines and Snacks Straight from the pages of the upcoming cookbook, a food and wine pairing class like none other. Thursday, August 18th Wines of Italy Everything you need to know about Italian wine in less than two hours of tasting. Wednesday, August 24th Sommelier Smackdown Featured in Wine Spectator and Wine and Spirits magazine! Friday, August 26th Wine 102: The Pleasure Class Learn the tricks of the trade on how to pick great wines every time, AND how to make any wine taste its best. All classes are held at our new Rittenhouse headquarters: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA First Fridays First Friday's at the Wine School are a chill event Meal Ticket/City Paper The Wine School has the perfect antidote for Beer Week Grub Street/New York Magazine First Friday is a mellow, free form night of wine and education in our new Rittenhouse mansion. You can tuck away in a quiet corner and peruse our wine and spirits library. Or you can curl up in a leather chair for a tasting of luxury wines. You can hold court at the winemaker's table, or hang out with one of our master Sommelier-Instructors. It's a posh way to start your weekend. Hell, it's a great way to start the month. July 1st at 127 S. 22nd Street in Rittenhouse. No reservations, doors open from 6:30-9:30pm. $30 at the door, cash only. More Information. Members of our Cru Club enjoy free access! Support the Wine School Are you a Yelper? We would love your review. Want to connect to millions of wine professionals? Connect via LinkedIn Become a fan of the Wine School via Facebook. Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:45:40 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/7TMRU/h/Wine_School_Newsletter_June.htm America's Independent Wine School In This Issue... Our Annual Summer Sale First Friday! Wine Ratings and Reviews Free Classes (the Cru Club) Get a $100 Discount for Summer School! Register here: www.vinology.com/learn Use Coupon Code SUMMERSCHOOL Get 18% Discount on any Wine Class! Register here: www.vinology.com Use Coupon Code SUMMERSALE The fine print: discounts are not valid for dinners, first Friday, or trips. The $100 discount is exclusively for academic programs in August. Sale ends July 1st! First Friday's at the Wine School are a chill event Meal Ticket/City Paper The Wine School has the perfect antidote for Beer Week Grub Street/New York Magazine First Friday is a mellow, free form night of wine and education in our new Rittenhouse mansion. You can tuck away in a quiet corner and peruse our wine and spirits library. Or you can curl up in a leather chair for a tasting of luxury wines. You can hold court at the winemaker's table, or hang out with one of our master Sommelier-Instructors. It's a posh way to start your weekend. Hell, it's a great way to start the month. July 1st at 127 S. 22nd Street in Rittenhouse. No reservations, doors open from 6:30-9:30pm. $30 at the door, cash only. More Information. Members of our Cru Club enjoy free access! The economy remains sluggish, but our people keep getting hired, getting promotions, and building companies. If you are looking to become inspired and break away from the downward grind, then the time is now. First of all, we have reduced our tuition to under $600. Second, we are offering a $100 Discount if you register online before July 1st. For the summer, we are bringing back one of our most requested academic programs: the Accelerated Certification Series. In the Accelerated Foundation Program, you can earn your first level certification in a single week, starting August 8th. The same goes for the Accelerated Global Intermediate Program, which begins August 15th. Earn your second level program in one week! Or you can save even more by earning both certifications programs by attending the Accelerated Core Program. Members of the our Cru Club get free access to our First Friday events, special classes, invitations to our annual trips..... and it's pretty much free! Membership is $25 a month, but you get all your money back (in the form of a gift certificate) at the end of the year. Pretty sweet, eh? To register for the Cru Club, register via this PDF form. In PA, you can expect wine to be both overpriced and under-priced, but never, sadly, to be normally priced. This is because of several competing factors. First, the infrastructure cost of the PLCB is staggering: it's one big pork barrel for Harrisburg politicians. That in itself guarantees that retail prices are going to be staggeringly high. In certain circumstances, though, the fact that the PLCB runs a state-enforced monopoly works in the consumer's favor: Wine suppliers (wineries, importers, and distributors) will dump huge volumes of excess wine into PA, and do so for pennies on the dollar. That means that there will be one-time-only purchases that will be dramatically lower than retail, sometimes even lower than wholesale. In this column, we point out the top buys of the month in Pennsylvania. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Bordeaux Blends from South America Veramonte 2006 Primus At $6.99, this is going for about half it's typical retail price. It's always a lovely red from Colchagua Valley in Chile. This vintage is the weakest in the last decade, which is probably why it's been so steeply discounted. However, it's still a very high quality red with fine currant, mineral, and tobacco flavors. Monte Quieto 2006 Reserva I thought the Primus was a good deal until I discovered the Monte Quieto from Mendoza in Argentina. This is a staggeringly good wine, and a fantastic value. Aromas of cedar, allspice, and graphite show off a pedigree that a wine under $9 wine shouldn't have. On the palate, black cherry and cassis turn lush and savory with a very fine finish and great depth. The Chardonnay Crowd Veramonte 2008 Chardonnay Reserva What is the nature of perfection? If you think it's seamless joy without the taint of self knowledge, then this wine is for you. This is perhaps the most perfectly drinkable wine I have had in several years. It's a tad too rich for summer sipping, so keep it for a cool night. $7.99 Familia Zuccardi 2009 Chardonnay Viognier Serie A Looks like a few South American producers are flooding PA with wine. That probably means that either the importer or distributor had financial pressure to liquidate inventory at any price. Good for the consumer, not so good for the economy. Anyway, back to the wine. A nice blend that marries the lushness of chardonnay with the peach and aromatics of the Viognier. At $8.99, this is a great buy. BBQ Reds Familia Zuccardi 2009 Bonarda Serie A Bonarda is the friendliest red around. Simple and fruity and appealing. At $8.99, this is priced right (we don't like spending more than $10/bottle for this style of wine), and really great for parties where you want a wine that almost everyone will enjoy. Anciano 2004 Reserva As the Bondarda is simple, this is complex. And at $7.99, this is definitely a go-to wine for lovers of rustic flavors. There is plenty of pleasing red fruit, but the bitter chocolate and wet leaves dominate. Instead of Dinner Reds Copain L'hiver 2008 Syrah Copain winemaker Wells Guthrie is a folk hero at the Wine School, and we buy all his wines. He is one of the greats, and the prices charged for his wines reflect that. Here, though, is a chance to sample his skills at a remarkably low price. At $10.99, we just bought two cases (no joke). Peachy Canyon 2007 Westside Zinfandel This winery produces a lot of wine, mostly zins and zin blends. Generally, they are kinda bland. This bottle, which usually sells for about $18, almost always bucks that trend. With fruit coming from some of the cooler vineyards in Paso Robles, it has a savory and burning sage quality that turns it into something very special. $12.99 For the Wine Collections Two wines that serious wine collectors should pick up have entered the state. The Fonterutoli 2006 Siepi is selling for $49.99, which is about half the going rate. The same goes for the Two Hands 2006 "Coach House Block" Shiraz. I don't usually suggest buying luxury wines in the summer: this is the exception. Make sure to buy them only from one of the stores with temperature controlled wine rooms. To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Share this email Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe Here! Subscribe via Twitter Get live updates, reviews, and more. Follow here. A Free Cooking Class with Keith Wallace! On Saturday, September 24th, Keith will be personally holding a FREE cooking and wine pairing class for anyone who pre-purchases two copies of his upcoming cookbook: click here to pre-order via Amazon This is an amazing deal. You get two signed copies of Corked and Forked and a cooking class with Keith for less than $32, which is HALF the price of the class itself. Upcoming Classes Friday, July 8th Top 10 Regions: Italy Italian wines are loved by American connoisseurs. Thursday, July 14th Wine 101 The most popular introduction to wine class in Philadelphia Friday, July 15th Sparkling for Summer Time to unwind and celebrate the season! Wednesday, July 20th Moveable Feast at Davio's Come and enjoy a wine tasting class, followed by a fabulous four course dinner at Davio's! Friday, July 22nd Top 10 Regions: Germany and Austria The wines of Germany and Austria are the perfect wines for summer! All classes are held at our new Rittenhouse headquarters: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA Summer Programs August 8th to 13th Noon to 3pm The Accelerated Foundation Program August 15th to 20th Noon to 3pm The Accelerated Global Intermediate Program August 8th to 20th Noon to 3pm The Accelerated Core Program All programs are held at our new Rittenhouse headquarters: The Wine School 127 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA Support the Wine School Are you a Yelper? We would love your review. Want to connect to millions of wine professionals? Connect via LinkedIn Become a fan of the Wine School via Facebook. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:33:29 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wineschool/easw/h/Wine_School_Newsletter_for_May.htm America's Independent Wine School WineSchoolNewsIn This Issue... Summer Wine School Enrollment. First Friday! Our First Months in Rittenhouse. Wine Ratings and Reviews. Wine School Trip to Rioja! Join the Cru Club. Memorial Day Sale! Summer Wine School! For our first summer session in Rittenhouse, we are bringing back our most requested academic programs: the Accelerated Certification Series. In the Accelerated Foundation Program, you can earn your first level certification in a single week, starting August 8th. The same goes for the Accelerated Global Intermediate Program, which begins August 15th. Earn your second level program in one week! Or you can save hundreds of dollars (and at least 4 months) by earning both certifications programs in the Accelerated Core Program. Here is some more good news: with the move to Rittenhouse, we have dropped our costs to below $600 per semester! Plus, we added an extra class. So, ALL our programs are now less expensive AND more comprehensive. We are also offering an early bird registration offer. Save $75 on any of these three academic programs if you register before July 1st. May sure to use this code: earlybird. Also, Fall Advanced Semester has been announced! We are releasing a new Advanced Class: The American Winemaker! In the American Winemaker program, we are studying modern winemaking from Oregon to Argentina. This will be taught by Keith Wallace, and will focus on both regionalism and winemaking. First Friday! Come visit us June 3rd for our First Friday celebration! From 6-10pm, the wine school's doors are open for you to come by, have a wine tasting, and check out the school. This is a laid back affair. No reservations needed, and $30 (cash only) at the door. Members of our Cru Club get to come free! Make sure to bring your membership card! First Months in Rittenhouse Our first months in our swank new Rittenhouse digs have been remarkable. It's amazing what can happen when a business is built on passion and determination. From the beginning, the Wine School was very special, one of those rare entities that exists for reasons other than to earn money. Our new Rittenhouse location is a case in point. After designing and building one of the most beautiful interiors in Philadelphia, we didn't increase prices and turn into an exclusive club. In fact, we dropped prices on many classes. Offering fun classes is just the frosting, though. We are still hard at work protecting the wine consumer whether it's by writing cookbooks that promote small local farms, or talking about the dirty secrets of the wine trade on National Public Radio, or working with politicians in Harrisburg to insure that we have an open wine market in the future. The bottom line: the more you learn about wine and have fun with us, the more we can do to protect the interests of all wine lovers. Thank you so much for supporting the school. Here are a few pics from the gala. Wine Ratings and Reviews About our Reviews The wines we select for our newsletter are the very best wines in the state of Pennsylvania, in both quality and cost. To insure objectivity, we purchase all wines through the PLCB system. The first layer of our selection process is price: only wines that are being sold at a price well below the average retail price are considered. After a formal wine tasting, only wines that are rated as excellent are slated for publication in this newsletter. Spain and Portugal The offerings from Spain and Portugal are a bit ridiculous right now. From Sogrape Vinhos Callabriga in Portugal, we have their Alentejo and Douro bottles from 2008. Both are way underpriced at $8.99. We had the Douro at our opening Gala, and it was a huge smash. Heading into Spain, the PLCB has one of our all-time favorite inexpensive bottles of Rioja, the Castillo de Fuenmayor Gran Familia at $8.99 for the 2008 vintage. For white, the Val Sanzo Verdejo 2009 Rueda is a fantastic deal at $9.99. The best deal by far is the Senorio de Barahonda 2006 Bellum El Principio from Yecla. For $20 it's a ridiculous value. At $12.99, it's pretty much free. Oh, and one of my fave Priorats, the classic Fuentes Gran Clos 2000 Priorat is coming in at about half it's typical price, at $27.99 To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Italy Rocca di Frassinello 2008 Poggio alla Guardia Another fave from our grand opening. An unoaked Merlot/Cabernet blend from Tuscany. Roast plums and chocolate with a bit of dusty tannins. Delicious and simple. $14.99 Feudi di San Gregorio 2001 Taurasi Riserva Piano Montevergine Excellent fruit from a great wine region, and made in an expensive manner. Layers of creamy oak lushness that feels like layers of cashmere unfolding to show a wine of charcoal, flesh, and porcini mushrooms. Powerful and awe-inspiring bottle of wine. $28.99 To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. California Saintsbury 2007 Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch A remarkable Pinot from Carneros; Ginseng tea and roasting spices on the nose, followed by rich berry fruits which turn into a pleasant farm-meets-forest moment that fades into a mineral laden and gently tannic finish. $24.99 Louis Martini 2005 Cabernet Monte Rosso Vineyard Mark our words: best effing bottle of Gallo wine ever. Yeah, LM is owned by Gallo, and it's atypical of us to review such wines. However, this is such a gem that it's worth picking up. Black currant and tobacco crown a classically structured Cabernet that offers clarity and sumptuousness, a rare balance in northern Cali Cabernet. Layers of berry and tree fruits compounded with layers of briar and dried spice notes. Excellent. $39.99 To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. Burgundy Domaine Faiveley 2006 Mercurey A simple and pretty Pinot Noir with a saddle of earth and fresh cherries. Very nice for the price. $14.99 Joseph Drouhin 2007 Chorey les Beaune At the bottom of Corton, below all the grand Cru fruit, lies Chorey. While not as grand as it's bigger brothers, this is also a fraction of the price. Ripe bing cherry and damp firewood rise above a firm and light texture, finishing with spice and cherry. Best value in Burgundy. $15.99 Morey-Blanc 2006 St Aubin 1er Cru Old Vine Chardonnay from Premier Cru vineyards above Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy. A no-brainer for burgopiles: with its hints of sea salt and peaches and a lush texture that is cleaved with enough acidity to keep the oak notes from dominating: vibrant, decadent and exciting. $29.99 To find these wines near you, use our Wine Finder. The Rioja Trip Every year, the Wine School takes a trip to a major wine region. These trips are legendary, and for good reason. This year, we have turned a small 14th century hilltop town into our base camp, and exploring the food wine wine of Rioja. The trip will be the week of August 29th. Members of our Cru Club get first dibs on slots, followed by students in our Advanced program, and finally anyone whom attended any of our academic programs. We will be contacting eligible students in the next two weeks. The Cru Club Members of the our Cru Club get free access to our First Friday events, special classes, invitations to our annual trips..... and it's pretty much free! Membership is $25 a month, but you get it all back (in the form of a gift certificate) at the end of the year. Pretty sweet, eh? To register for the Cru Club, register via this PDF form. Memorial Weekend Sale All Classes 30% Off this Weekend Come to a Class this Friday or Saturday, and get 30% off. Use coupon code DIOWKD All Classes are 15% Off. Even if you can't come to a class this weekend, you still can enjoy the sale. Just use coupon code DIDIELS. Be quick! Sale ends June 10th. Share this email Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe Here! Subscribe via Twitter Get live updates, reviews, and more. Follow here. Corked and Forked has (almost) Arrived! Our fearless leader's first food and wine book is available for pre-order via Amazon , and we have a very special offer for you. Pre-order two copies of Corked and Forked via Amazon and get a free ticket (value: $65) to an upcoming cooking and wine pairing class with Keith in September. And yes, he will sign your books, too. Upcoming Classes Friday, May 27th Wine 101: Intro To Wine The most popular introduction to wine class in Philadelphia. Bacchus Classroom Friday, May 27th Cognac and Beyond The beautiful and exclusive brandies of France Franklin Classroom Saturday, May 28th Top 10 Regions: Australia Taste a selection of truly remarkable wines from Down Under. Bacchus Classroom Friday, June 17th Sauced Education: Tequila An in-depth class on ultra-premium Tequila that goes way beyond your bad night in college! Franklin Classroom Saturday, June 18th Premier Tuscany Enjoy some of the the most famous wines in Italy. Bacchus Classroom Friday, June 24th Craft Brew and Food Pairing Learn the ins and outs of pairing beer and food. Franklin Classroom Support the Wine School Are you a Yelper? We would love your review. Want to connect to millions of wine professionals? Connect via LinkedIn Become a fan of the Wine School via Facebook. Thu, 26 May 2011 07:25:28 -0400