Food & Drink

Pair Wines, Mix Cocktails, & Brew Coffee

Teaches Wine Appreciation

James Suckling

Meet your new instructor: Internationally-renowned wine critic James Suckling. In your first lesson, James brings you into Tuscany's Il Borro Cellars to tell you what you'll learn, why he's teaching, and how wine appreciation can enhance your life.

1. Introduction

Introduction

James believes that blind tasting can tell you a lot about a wine. Learn how to refine your palate and utilize the 100-point scale to evaluate the quality of a wine. 

2. Tasting Techniques: Conducting a Blind Tasting

Tasting Techniques: Conducting a Blind Tasting

In order to appreciate wine, you must first be able to truly taste it. Understand the common characteristics of different varietals by discussing flavor, aroma, acidity, structure, texture, and balance. 

3. Discerning Flavors and Aromas: Student Tasting Experience

Discerning Flavors and Aromas: Student Tasting Experience

Every bottle has a story. Meet the maker behind the historic Marchesi Antinori, and learn about the winemaking family's role in creating the legendary Super Tuscan Tignanello.

4. Meet the Maker: An Introduction

Meet the Maker: An Introduction

Soil and climate play an essential role in the winemaking process. James teaches you how to look for subtleties between vintages with a vertical tasting of Tignanello. 

5. Appreciation on Location, Part 1: A Vertical Tasting

Appreciation on Location, Part 1: A Vertical Tasting

Tasting from a barrel can be dramatically different than from a bottle. Learn what to look for in the barrel, and how to determine a wine’s potential direction. 

6. Appreciation on Location, Part 2: Barrel Tasting

Appreciation on Location, Part 2: Barrel Tasting

All great wines begin in the vineyard. Learn the principles of viticulture as James teaches you the factors that influence a great wine, and the importance of soil, climate, varietals, and regions.

7. Primary Factors of Influence: In the Vineyard

Primary Factors of Influence: In the Vineyard

James shares professional tips on how to design and organize a home cellar, properly store and age important bottles, and collect with confidence.

8. Storing and Curating: A Home Cellar

Storing and Curating: A Home Cellar

Along with legendary winemaker Lamberto Frescobaldi, James demystifies the process of reading a wine list. Gain the knowledge and etiquette to properly order in a restaurant setting, as well as share from your own collection.

9. Education and Etiquette: Reading a Wine List

Education and Etiquette: Reading a Wine List

For James, breaking the rules when experimenting with wine pairing is essential to the dining experience. Learn how to pair unconventional foods and wines to bring out new and highly creative flavor combinations.

10. Breaking the Rules of Pairings: A Tuscan Luncheon

Breaking the Rules of Pairings: A Tuscan Luncheon

James ends his class with a reminder of the key elements of wine appreciation: Be curious, be passionate, share with family and friends, and above all—don’t drink bad wine!