People who love wine are a happy bunch of folks. They don't tend to complain about stuff. There is one exception, though: nearly every wine drinker in PA is fed up with the PLCB.

My role at the Wine School has always been as an academic and a consumer advocate. Most of what I do is behind the scenes. Usually, all I have to do is write wine reviews and teach.

It's a pretty sweet gig, but sometimes I have to go toe-toe with the PLCB in Harrisburg. Just ask the PLCB's former chairman, Jonathan Newman: we are friends now, but I used to drive the man nuts. It says a lot that since he resigned, he's become a vocal critic of the PLCB, too.

My job has never been a big deal. However, some major news agencies, including NPR, BBC, and Consumer Reports, have started taking notice. Just a few months ago, over 200 major newspapers picked up the story when I spoke out against some recent big-brother tactics at the PLCB. So much for being anonymous.

Since it an election year in PA, I figure it was time to go beyond talking. I wanted to see if there was any chance at all at reforming the PLCB. So, for the last few weeks I been talking with some folks down in Harrisburg.

I am really excited: we have a once-in-a-decade shot at reforming the PLCB.

In those conversations, I have gained assurances that Gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett will make reforming the PLCB an element of his administration. Don't ask me to say more than that-- you know I can't; all this political intrigue is not good for a simple soul like myself.

If you want to throw your support into the ring and help the cause, Jonathan Newman --my former arch-enemy and now good friend-- is hosting a wine tasting/fundraiser on September 7th. You should be there!

The tasting/fundraiser will be a good time to hobnob with some political heavyweights, and also try some wine's from Newman's wine collection (he promises to open some great bordeaux and cali cult wines--he has a great collection.)

As with all such things, the price tag is high: it's $500 a ticket, but for industry insiders and those of you who want to support the reform of our onerous wine laws, it's worth it. The Wine School will have a strong presence at the event, and I hope to see you there, too.

If you want to attend, please email Jonathan at jnewman@newmanwineandspirits.com . Make sure you tell him you are a friend of the Wine School!

The Foundations of Beer Diploma

Mondays from September 13th to November 8th

The ultimate beer & brewing program for the novice, as featured in Draft Magazine.

Classes are held in two locations, at the Beer School in Fairmount and at the Philadelphia Brewing Company. Taught by master brewer Dean Browne, this first level certification program is a must-have for all beer enthusiasts and amateur brewers.

Enroll Now

Wine Reviews

Peachy Canyon 2006 Cirque du Vin

Bouncy and round and charismatic. There are plenty of wines like that at this price point, but this wine goes for the gold: it's got a bit of depth, too.

An edge of acidity and tannin offer a level of balance and , dare I say it, complexity. Nice bit of earth and flowers on the nose, but these are really just diversions . This is a great everyday wine. $9.99

Spice Route 2007 Pinotage

This producer is creating some of the most appealing pinotage available today. The tobacco and smoke notes are heavily woven into chocolate and fig flavors and a touch of soy sauce.

Fruit veers from dark to bright red fruit flavors. The pinotage-ness of this wine reveals itself fully in the granite and smoke finish. $12.99

Belguardo 2004 Morrelino di Scansano Bronzone

A lovely example of an older Tuscan wine (well, older than typically available commercially). Hazelnut and orange oil notes are followed by mocha and dark cherry flavors. $14.99

Portia 2006 Ribera del Duera

Put on you nicotine patch, because this smells just like cured tobacco: I had a hankering for a cigarette after just one sniff. A bit of forest and charcoal add to the overall character of this wine.

On the palate, this is a lean and liner wine, with just enough fruit to soften an otherwise austere wine. An very good example of this spanish wine region. $14.99

Chateau Maris 2006 La Touge Syrah

This bottle is an old Wine School favorite--circa the 2001 vintage-- and its making a comeback! From the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, this is a warm weather syrah: fleshy and full bodied . What separates it from the pack is it pitch-perfect bacony nose... and its chocolate finish. Truly a delight. $14.99

Vinnie Cilurzo, Brewing God at Russian River Brewing Company, named his new experimental Double I.P.A. after the Roman author and soldier.

So how did the Double I.P.A. come to be? "An accident", says Cilurzo. "I used 50% more malts, so I needed to add 100% more hops." Many do not believe the process was accidental at all, but it makes for a great story to attach to the already legendary brew.

A hefty 8% beer that smells of grapefruit and lime zest, the big evergreen scent can be detected from 4 feet away. It's a powerful lady. Full of excessive bitterness and soft malts, the sticky residue left behind in your mouth is quite nice; a harmonious blend of sweet and bitter notes show the true strength and length of this supremely balanced Double I.P.A.

Arguably the most popular style in the craft beer world, I.P.A.'s have become the flagship beer for many breweries across the country, and none so much as Bear Republic Brewing's Racer 5 I.P.A.

While I have other favorites that I might choose for personal preference, I can say without a doubt that this offering from the Healdsburg, CA brewer is the template for all other West Coast India Pale Ales.

As with most West Coasters, floral and flavorful hops are the name of the game here. More focused on pine than tropical fruit, The Racer 5 has a touch more refreshment than sweetness. The quiet malt backbone is a nice touch as well, making it sing a sweet and complex harmony with the hop flowers. A really superb beer.

Cantillon Gueuze

Very few breweries make beer with wild yeasts anymore, but the small group around Senne Valley in Belgium still practice this method. This style of brewing produces a very sour taste, unlike any beer you have ever experienced.

My very favorite brewery on Earth is Brouwerij Cantillon. They are one of the breweries still on the forefront of spontaneous fermentation. Their flagship beer is The Geueze. This legendary beer is created by mixing 6 lambics together, followed by a secondary fermentation in bottle that provides the champagne-like effervescence.

The nose is ridiculously funky with notes of barnyard, clay, and pungent moldy basement. It is intimidating to any non-adventurous beer drinker. But being daring can be rewarding, and in this case, so very true.

The flavors are all super tart fruits, a kiss of yeasty wheat, and rich leather. The mouthfeel is nearly perfect, and as it ages will only get better. For those of you looking for something different, this is the beer to try. For those in love with Gueuze, this is the yardstick.

Friday, September 3rd 7:30pm - 9:30pm

<>In this class, you will get a rare chance to try some lovely wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy, including a selection from from Keith Wallace's personal wine cellar.