Grab that wine list with confidence! If wine intimidates you, you’re certainly not alone—but you also don’t need to wallow in poorly made pinot grigio. Park Place Wines & Liquors in East Hampton has been a go-to for wine and spirits lovers for over 50 years. From now through May 11th, you can get in on their excellent bi-weekly wine classes and kick those wine-shy shenanigans to the curb.
But here’s the real treat: There’s a ton of bang for the buck here. For $25 a class, you taste up to 6 wines representing various grapes, regions and styles, drinking in the history, culture and traditions behind them. And hey, hey—each wine is paired with a transcending treat from East Hampton’s The Cookery (if you didn’t read our story on owners Cynthia Sestito and Trudy Craney, click here).
Classes, which last about an hour and start at 6 p.m., are taught by advanced certified sommelier Lisa Schock and Chris Miller, and they’re a ton of fun. There are still a few seats left for the next sesh—here’s the rundown!
- The Many Faces of Syrah (February 15th)—from the Rhone to California to Australia, learn how this gorgeous red grape expresses itself in different spots.
- Blind Tasting Challenge: High End Wines v. Their Lower Priced Doppelgängers (March 2nd)—your pre-conceived notions will be busted in this eye-opener of a class.
- The Transcendent Wines of Northern Italy (March 15th)—Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Corvina, Rondinella. They even sound delicious! Learn more about Italy’s indigenous northern grape varieties in this bellisimo class on the classics.
- Decoding Wine Labels While Tasting the World-Class Wines Behind Them (March 30th)—Learning how to read a wine label is the 101 of picking a good wine. Learn how to suss out the important bits of info right under your nose in this insider session.
- Wine and Cheese Pairing: A Match Made in Culinary Heaven (April 13th)—No further description necessary! Just know you’ll leave really happy.
- West Coast Reds: World Class Reds in Our Own Backyard (April 27th)—It’s not just Napa. California alone has a multitude of amazing wine regions for you to check out, not to mention Oregon and Washington State. This is a great night of exploring the left coast.
- Viva la France! (May 11th)—Indeed, the motherland of amazing wine is full of some of the most storied chateaux and vineyards in the world, not to mention some pretty phenomenal underdog discoveries, too. This is a great primer to get you revved up for vin.
