Here is the tentative schedule for the 2009 wine class at Cap*Rock winery. Classes will be held every other Thursday beginning January 15th. They will last from 6:30-8PM. There will be appetizers served with the wine. You can come to any or all of the classes. Child care is available by prior arrangement. Each class is priced at $30 per person or $50 per couple. Discounts for groups or multiple classes are available.
The classes will primarily be taught by General Manger Phillip Anderson. Phillip has his advanced certification from the Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (WSET) program. He has run a wine distribution company, been a partner in a South African wine company, & traveled the country talking about wines. He has blended wines in South Africa & made wines from grape to glass in Texas. He hates writing about himself in the third person.
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April 23
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Riesling
One of the most versatile wines to pair with food, Riesling is sometimes thought of as only a sweet wine. The reality is that Riesling can range from bone dry to super sweet. We will try Riesling from Australia, California, & Germany. We will also talk about how to read German wine labels so that you will know what to expect when you make a purchase.
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May 7th
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Chile & Argentina
Chile & Argentina are two of the most consistent newer growing regions in the world. We’ll try several wines including examples of Malbec & Carmenere, which are specialties of the region.
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May 21st
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Syrah/Shiraz
Whether you call it Syrah or Shiraz, this grape produces delicious & distinctive wines. We will try examples from Australia, California, France, & South Africa.
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June 4th
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Dessert wines
Some wines are a dessert all by themselves & some pair perfectly with a sweet at the end of a meal. We’ll try a smattering of dessert wines and discuss pairings.
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June 18th
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Real Men (& Women) drink Rose´
In June it should be hot in Lubbock. That’s the perfect time to drink dry rose´. Cheap white Zinfandel almost ruined the image of pink wine, which is a shame. Nice dry, or semi dry rose´ can be the perfect wine to pair with many dishes & it just tastes great on a hot day. We’ll try some good examples from France, Spain, & Texas.
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July 2nd
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No class scheduled
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July 16th
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Spanish wines
After decades of stagnation, Spanish wine producers have seen a surge in quality & innovation over the last 15 years. We’ll talk about the wine history of the region while trying some wines. In particular, we will sample & discuss the Tempranillo grape, which seems to do better in Spain than anywhere else (although Texas shows promise for the grape).
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July 30th
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Fun & unusual white wines (for those days when it is anything but Chardonnay)
It should be blisteringly hot by the end of July & you may have drunk all of the Chardonnay & rose´ that you can stand. Now is the time to try some white wines that will cool you down & refresh your palate. This list may change, but we will definitely try some Albarino, Arneis, Gruner Veltliner & Viognier. If I can find a good Assyrtiko, we’ll try some of that as well. It’s cold while I’m typing this & I’m still excited about those wines!
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August 13th
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Canceled for harvest
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August 27th
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Canceled for harvest
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September 10th
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Canceled for harvest
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September 24th
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Italy
There are more than 1,000 grape varietals cultivated in Italy. Each region has its own classic wine that the locals defend as the best in the world. We can’t cover in detail the regions of Italy in 1 classes or in 10, but we will hit the high spots.
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October 8th
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Australia
The first person to export wine from Australia did so in 1822. It took a while to catch on. Beginning in the 1980’s though the government really got behind the industry & now Australia is the 4th largest wine exporter in the world. We’ll sample & discuss Australian Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, & Cabernet.
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October 22nd
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Pinot Noir/Burgundy
With Riesling, Pinot Noir is probably the easiest wine to pair with a wide variety of food. In general, the best Pinot Noir is produced in Burgundy. We will talk about its history there & Burgundy’s unique appellation system. We’ll also try Pinot Noir from California & Oregon. If I can find some from Tasmania, we’ll try that as well.
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November 5th
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Cabernet Sauvignon
As the days turn colder & the nights grow long, not much beats a good Cabernet Sauvignon by the fire. We’ll fire up the fireplace & try Cabernets from around the world while we discuss what makes a delicious Cabernet.
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November 19th
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Pairings for Thanksgiving dinner
Few meals carry as much pressure as Thanksgiving with the family. Whose recipes should you use? What subjects are off limits? What wine should you serve? I can’t do anything about the first two, but I can definitely help with the pairing. We’ll try different wines with samples of traditional Thanksgiving food & come up with some perfect options.
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December 3rd
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South African Wine
Until recently, most people in the U.S. had never tried or even heard of South African wine despite the fact that they have been making wine there since at least 1659. These days there are a more good South African wines for sale in the U.S. than ever before along with even more bad ones. We’ll try some of the better ones including examples of Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, & Shiraz.
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December 17th
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Bordeaux
I saved the most famous wine region for last. A cold December evening is the perfect opportunity to try the heavier whites of Bordeaux & the delicious red blends. We’ll discuss the appellation system of Bordeaux & try wines from the different regions. Of course we’ll try Merlot & Cabernet, but we’ll also focus on the blending grapes Malbec, Petite Verdot, & Cabernet Franc.
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December 31st
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To be announced
Depending on the response to the class, we may have a dinner & party with plenty of wine to ring in the New Year.
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