Newport Beach Vineyard and OC Wine School offer Wine Education
Beautiful “Secret Spot” is Venue for Casual but Informative Classes
Bordeaux vs. California Meritage Tasting
We look at the history of these two regional wines as we taste, and discover what makes them different and what brings them together. One goes back centuries, the other celebrated its first quarter-century last year. Though both are blends of grapes (both red and white) that are traditional in the Bordeaux region, the style of each is truly based on its own region, and the end result can cover a wide range. As is often the case with wine, these things can get frustratingly complicated, but in this class you’ll learn what’s important to know, and what you can happily ignore as hype! We examine the motivation behind the Meritage Association and how it and others around the world managed to escape the constraints of established rules, and how this has enriched the enjoyment of every wine lover.Other upcoming classes:
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- March 28, 7-9 PM: Intermediate Wine Tasting-Regions of the World
- April 13, 3-4:30 PM: Wines of Chile & Argentina-New World Stars
OC Wine School, run by veteran wine adventurers Peter and Holly Smith, has teamed up with one of Southern California’s smallest and most exclusive wineries to offer classes at this secluded venue on Newport’s Back Bay. Normally open only for private and charity events, Newport Beach Vineyards manager Justin Myers jumped at this chance to open the cellar doors. “We love to welcome people to the vineyard, but being so small it’s just not practical to be open on a regular basis, so this is a great opportunity for us to bring people in without them having to host an event here themselves.”
The intimate setting of the cave at Newport Beach Vineyard, excavated beneath the vines and landscaped gardens, is an ideal setting for learning about wine. The massive oak doors open onto stacked barrels of wine that enjoy a perfect environment for their slow maturation, with an atmosphere that puts visitors in the mood to concentrate on the subtleties of the fruit of the vine under the Smiths’ expert guidance.
Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Smiths have been running custom wine tours for over 20 years, mostly in Europe and South America, through their Newport Beach-based Avalon Wine Tours agency. They launched the wine school on the suggestion of tour guests who thought they should share their experience with a wider audience. “Not everyone is in a position to travel to the wine country to experience it first-hand,” says Peter Smith, who emphasizes that they cater to all levels of wine experience. “We definitely don’t belong to the wine snob community,” he adds, even though he knows many of the world’s top winemakers as personal friends. “Winemakers love to talk to people who are passionate about what they create, and we share that enthusiasm and try to help others enjoy it as much as we do, without feeling intimidated or awkward”.
