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The trouble with running the wine school is that my employees are a bunch of drunks. Well-heeled and educated, but drunks nonetheless.

Some mornings, I will find five or six of them passed out in the wine cellar, empty bottles of Petrus scattered about the marble floor.

Oh, I kid. One of the crazy facts of working with fine wine everyday, is that we don't really don't drink that much. Well... at least maybe not as much as you may think.

That all changes when I go on vacation. Sure, I am stoked to be visiting the most hallowed chateaus in Bordeaux, but that isn't the greatest part of the trip.

The finest part is the simple dinners at our vineyard house with great friends of the Wine School. We will be enjoying many a good bottles of wine. That will be pure joy.

Okay, the the last thing I have to do before I get on the plane is finish this newsletter! I better get moving! See you when I get back!

-Keith

I'll look forward to seeing ya'll later in the summer. If you are interested, I will be teaching the Accelerated Program in August.

The Accelerated Program is a week-long immersion into wine. This is a very special program that we only run once every two years.

On offer this summer are the accelerated versions of the Foundation program and the Intermediate program. You can also take the Core Program, which fuses both of those respected programs together into an epic week of learning & tasting. If you have any questions about these programs, feel free to shoot me an email at keith@vinology.com

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They Grow Cabernet and Merlot, Right?

You're opening this newsletter through the magic of technology, because Our Fearless Leader isn't sober enough to hit the old "Send" button right now.

Why? Because we're slumming it in Bordeaux. That's right, it's school trip time, and Keith, Brian, and 10 of our students are right now in the town of Eynesse, about 25km from St.-Emilion.

Or maybe we're at Chateau Lafite. Or Mouton. Or Rauzan-Segla. Or Brane-Cantenac.

Be that as it may, expect to hear all about it upon our return. Come to think of it, you should also expect to drink all about it, too: If last year's excursion to Priorat was any indication, we'll be bringing home enough wine to sprinkle throughout classes for the next year.

Until then, we'll just see you when we return, purple teeth and all.

-Brian

Photo courtesy of David Snyder

Whoops, May has sold out! Here are the top picks for June:

The Sommelier Smackdown: Back from Bordeaux!
We're back from France and its time to challenge a sommelier in an all-French food & wine challenge!

Wine & Cheese Pairing:
The Basics
Our "Cheese & Wine 101" class, featuring Italian, Spanish, and Domestic cheeses.

The Wines of Italy
Italian wines are loved by American connoisseurs. At this point, more premium Italian wines are consumed in the USA than in Italy itself.

An Homage

No, we're not trying to get all gloat-y. We really just want to share our enthusiasm for the wines of Bordeaux. From the Right Bank to the Left, from St.-Estephe to Margaux, from the clay-rich soils of Pomerol to the gravelly ones of Graves, this is a region whose reputation has been well earned over the centuries. And right now, there are more than enough options on local shelves to satisfy your cravings for these wines...without having to suffer through airline food to get them.

Chateau Carbonnieux 2005, Graves - This consistently under-the-radar producer has turned out a series of stellar wines in recent years. Their 2005 is yet another success in a string of them, showing beautiful fruit, typical Bordeaux earth, and a price tag that's a minor miracle given the vintage. $41.49. Code: 20032.

Chateau Carbonnieux 2005 Blanc, Graves - If you've never had white Bordeaux before, this is a great place to start. The Carbonnieux Blanc 05 is to Sauvignon Blanc as Pavarotti is to Britney Spears. Which is to say, pretty impressive, indeed. Code: 20045.

Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder

Chateau Laroque 2005, St.-Emilion - Again, not a cheap wine, but for a 2005 from this producer, it's not hard to justify. Especially once you consider the rich, dramatic fruit, big chocolate notes, and fabulous potential for evolution in the cellar. $39.99. Code: 19248.

Chateau Liot 2005, Sauternes - From perhaps the most famous sweet-wine region in the world comes this wildly affordable sticky. We've recommended it before and are unashamed to do so again. A drinkable, not-cloyingly-sweet wine from Sauternes is always something to cheer about. $27.99. Code: 10106.

Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder

'Tis the Season

No, not that one--thankfully, Christmastime (and all the not-so-charming Philadelphia weather that comes along with it) is a long way away. Rather, now is the time for rosé, the perfect wine for the warmer weather. The 2008's are finally hitting shelves, just in time to chill us all down as we work our way into spring.

Turkey Flat Rosé 2008, Barossa Valley - Not your usual rosé blend, but the proof, year after year, is difficult to argue with. In fact, we recently opened up a bottle of 06 that still had life in it! Grenache, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Dolcetto. $16.99. Code: 27652.

Crios Rosé 2008, Mendoza - Buy half a case of this and just try to make it last through May. Yeah...good luck with that: I'll likely be kicked by Memorial Day. Easy drinking, supply, fruity: Quintessential rosé from one of Argentina's best. $10.99. Code:28961.

Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rosé 2008 - For many of us, Southern France springs to mind when thoughts turn to rosé. And Guigal, one of the most reliable producers in the Rhone Valley, comes through with flying tri-colors with this bottling. Perfect with everything from bouillabaisse to hot dogs...or even on its own! $13.99. Code: 04884.

Moet et Chandon Brut Imperial Rosé, Champagne - Not, it's not cheap. And no, you probably won't be slurping down a case of it on your patio. But with grilled lamb chops it's delicious, and if firing up the old bbq isn't cause for celebration, then nothing is. $49.99. Code: 29453.

Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder