Wine Seminars Objectives and Typical Seminar Structure

Wine seminar attendees' objectives

• learn about wine in a non-threatening environment
• expand their knowledge of wine
• be able to express what type of wines they like and dislike
• Pair wine with food
• order wine from a restaurant wine list
• pick out wines in a retail wine store
• have fun with friends

Wine Seminar Objectives

• "Teach" about wine in a non-pedantic way
• make each session fun, informative and inspirational
• utilize feedback from each session's attendees to personalize the week's material
• cover a progression of subjects about wine, making each week stand-alone, i.e., not dependent on any other session
• present each seminar in a consistent manner, including specific sub-topics relating to main topic
  • wine and food pairings=create menu with chef
  • taste a selection of wines related to the topic / region
  • sensory analysis of wines tasted: going through all the steps each time
  • what other wines taste like this one?
  • wine vocabulary building

Wine Seminar Typical Structure and Flow

• Outline for this wine dinner/seminar posted online on website 1 week in advance
• 15-20 minute "meet and greet" cocktail time before seating
• Choose wines and foods (Woody and Steve)
• Introduction of current week's topic
  
  • History of winemaking in region
  • Geographical and climate influences
  • Best-known wineries and producers
  • Q & A for input from group
• Serve first course with first wine(s)
  
  • Sensory evaluation, tasting
  • Group discussion of wine and food pairing
• Serve second course with second wine(s)
  
  • Everyone changes seats before this course!  Get to know your new tablemates
  • Taste and discuss second wine
• Serve last course
  
  • Back to your original tables (if you would like!)
  • Taste and discuss 3rd wine
• Steve will circulate throughout dinner to speak with each table individually
• Group discussion of wines and food pairings
• Preview of next dinner's subject

Wine seminar schedule featured on Steve's web sites, including facebook, my space, twitter, wine 2.0, linked in, etc