Charles de Gaulle famously asked, "How can one govern a country that has 246 varieties of cheese?"
But what about the wines?
Who among us has not been baffled, and perhaps intimidated, by the many regions and varieties of French wines that we see on restaurant menus and on the shelves of stores throughout Paris?
In this introduction to wine tasting, WICE member and wine educator Elisabeth Iriart will guide us through five different, but basic, French wines and discuss the various aspects of a wine that that give it its mark.
After a short discussion about some commons terms—grand cru, premier cru, domaine, AOC, etc.—we will begin with a dry white wine to awaken the palate, then examine a Burgundy, a Bordeaux, a Rhône, and finish with something sweet, like a Sauterne.
In each case we will discuss the appearance, the aroma, the taste, and the length (aftertaste), and the features of each that make it distinct.
Price: €50, which includes the wine and all accoutrements.
About the Instructor:
A native of Bordeaux, Elisabeth started her career in the wine business for Bordeaux wine merchants, where she developed her knowledge and love of wine.
She earned her WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) diploma and started her own business in Paris in 2011. She leads tasting classes and training for WSET in wines (Levels 2 and 3), as well as in spirits (Levels 1 and 2). In 2012 she was certified as a Cognac Educator for the BNIC (National Office of Cognac), and in 2017 she was certified as a Bordeaux wine educator for the Bordeaux Wine School. She currently works all over France in the area of wine and spirit education.
