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.
Both Park Place Wines & Liquors and Nick & Toni’s in East Hampton are kicking off their annual wine-classes, and it’s not too late to grab a glass and a seat either.
On 2009, sister-brother owners Donna and Tom McDonald took over Park Place Wines & Liquors, started by their dad in 1969. Not only has the vino-vending staple been a go-to for wine and spirits lovers for over 50 years, the McDonalds have also taken great care in both stocking their shelves and in selecting the people who sell it to you, whose collective knowledge is as impressive as it is vast.
Starting this week through December 7, you can get in on their excellent bi-weekly wine classes and kick those wine-shy shenanigans to the curb.
There’s a ton of bang for the buck here. For $25 to $60 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—several of the classes offer a taste-transcending pairing from East Hampton’s The Cookery (if you didn’t read our story on owners Cynthia Sestito and Trudy Craney, click here).
Classes last about an hour and start at 6 p.m., and each is taught by the delightful duo of advanced certified sommelier Lisa Schock and wine-world veteran Chris Miller, who manage to combine learning with a really fun time. To see the schedule and reserve your place in your class of choice (or, heck, sign up for ’em all), click here.
Now in its 10th year, Honest Man Hospitality’s dizzyingly knowledgeable and thoroughly charming Chimene Macnaughton will be ushering in a new season of #WineWednesday Workshops at Nick & Toni’s, where themed tasting flights are held in the back dining room (with house-made noshes like their famed wood-fired pizza giving you a study-fuel boost).
Classes are from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and not only do participants get a discount on the wines tasted via Wainscott Main Wine & Spirits, but attendees are also entered to win a seat at Nick & Toni’s annual epic Feast of the Seven Fish dinner, this year served on Thursday, December 7.
“Over the years, we’ve introduced our East End community to internationally acclaimed winemakers, master sommeliers and masters of wine, niche importers and wine educators who are out there building the somms of tomorrow,” said Macnaughton in a press release, “all with tons of good humor, excellent vino and always the question: But is it delicious?”
Classes are $35 and are October 18 (“Back to School” edition), October 25 (“Wine Discoveries at Weekday Prices”) and November 1 (“The World According to Peter Weygandt”). After booking, a full syllabus (yup, Macnaughton is not messing around!) will be sent to participants.
