By Gil Kulers
For the AJC
To know wine is to love wine. And, while you don’t have to know a thing to enjoy a glass of Russian River pinot noir, wine’s history, customs, science, regions and, of course, its multifaceted aromas and flavors can pique the interest of even the casual wine lover.
Credit: Gil Kulers
Credit: Gil Kulers
Wine tastings led by experts abound in the ATL. Shops and restaurants regularly offer a broad array of educational tasting sessions, from formal classes to something resembling an informative cocktail party.
“Anyone who tastes a wine that they are not familiar with opens themselves to more opportunities to enjoy something different. That is number one for me,” said Perrine Prieur, owner of Perrine’s Wine Shop in Atlanta. “Too often, people only order what they are familiar with.”
Matt Bradford agreed. “There is a lot to gather from tasting a range of wines that can span a region or country,” said Bradford, owner of Canoe’s Cellar Door in Atlanta. “The wines are frequently compared to each other to illustrate how someone perceives different elements of wine. For example, aromas and flavors of oak can be easily discussed when there are different examples of wines with varying levels of oak.”
Credit: Gil Kulers
Credit: Gil Kulers
The Go Guide has compiled a sampling of area shops and restaurants offering a variety of tastings. For an expansive listing of tastings and related wine events, check out localwineevents.com, which also publishes the Juice, a weekly e-guide to wine happenings locally and around the country.
WINE TASTINGS AND CLASSES
Barcelona Wine Bar. Topics posted on website six to eight weeks prior to class. 240 N. Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-589-1010, barcelonawinebar.com/atlanta.htm.
Regular tasting times: 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Number of wines: about six
Format: formal, led by an instructor. Registration required.
Cost: $25-$45
Cakes & Ale. Special/winemaker tastings offered periodically. Reservations suggested. $20-$40, includes small bites. 151 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-377-7994, cakesandalerestaurant.com.
Regular tasting times: 1-4 p.m. Saturdays
Number of wines: two to four
Format: informal, led by staff
Cost: free
Canoe's Cellar Door. Souvenir wine glass available ($15). Regular wine dinners held at various Atlanta restaurants. 4199 Paces Ferry Road S.E., Atlanta. 770-437-1134, cellardooratl.com.
Regular tasting times: 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays
Number of wines: six
Format: informal, led by staff
Cost: free
Cellar 13 Wine Merchant. Regular wine dinners held at various local restaurants. 3765 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 404-816-4071, cellar13.com.
Regular tasting times: scheduled events listed on website
Number of wines: eight to 10
Format: formal, 10-12 person class conducted by proprietor, two- to three-hour sessions
Cost: $50-$85
D'Vine Wine Bar & Shop. Tuesday blind tastings, three wines, about $8 per glass. (Guess the wine, get 50 percent off.) Saturday tastings focus on a region or varietal. 5486 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-350-9463, atlantawinebar.com.
Regular tasting times: various times Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays
Number of wines: three to six
Format: informal, led by staff
Cost: $6-$9 per glass
Highland Fine Wine. Recently launched Sunday wine seminar series led by certified sommeliers ($25 plus tax, includes small bites). Reservations required. 1402-6 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta. 404-853-4731, highlandfinewine.com.
Regular tasting times: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Fridays
Number of wines: three to four
Format: informal
Cost: free
The Little Wine Shop. Group discussion encouraged. Cheese and meat trays for up to 20 people included. 100 N. Avondale Road, Avondale Estates. 404-294-3675, thelittlewineshopatl.com.
Regular tasting times: 7-8:30 p.m. first Tuesday of the month, Thursday of the third full week of the month
Number of wines: four to five
Format: informal, led by staff or local expert
Cost: $10, reservation and free club membership required
The Mercantile. Occasional tasting events on Thursdays and Saturdays feature importers, select varietals, regions or holiday themes. Postings of these events can be found at facebook.com/themercantileatl. 1660 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta. 404-378-0096, themercantileatl.com.
Regular tasting times: noon-3 p.m. Saturdays
Number of wines: three to six
Format: informal, led by staff
Cost: free
Murphy's Restaurant. Tastings follow a different theme each week. 997 Virginia Ave., N.E., Atlanta. 404-872-0904, murphys-atlanta-restaurant.com.
Regular tasting times: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays
Number of wines: six
Format: formal, sit-down tastings led by staff
Cost: $20
Perrine's Wine Shop. Tastings regularly feature winemakers and local wine experts specializing in a particular region. 1168 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. 404-254-5077, perrineswine.com.
Regular tasting times: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Number of wines: six to 10
Format: informal, led by staff
Cost: $20-$25 (free if you purchase six bottles; includes small bites)
Savi Provisions. Regular spirits and beer tastings also offered. Buckhead: 3655 Roswell Road N.E., Atlanta. Inman Park: 287 Elizabeth St. N.E., Atlanta. Brookhaven: 1388 Dresden Drive N.E., Atlanta. 404-523-2300, saviprovisions.com.
Regular tasting times: check website
Number of wines: six to seven
Format: informal
Cost: $20-$100
Sherlock's Wine Merchants. In conjunction with Cook's Warehouse, formal classes are offered covering a wide range of subjects, led by local experts. Costs vary. Buckhead: 3401 Northside Parkway, Atlanta. Decatur: 180 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. Brookhaven: 4062 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-377-4005, sherlocks.com.
Regular tasting times: 3-5 p.m. Saturdays; Buckhead: 2-4 p.m.
Number of wines: four to five
Format: informal
Cost: free
Vino Venue/Atlanta Wine School. Patrons can choose from 32 selections using an Enomatic dispenser; 90-minute, private sessions with a sommelier (six wines) are available. Regular food-and-wine pairing and cooking classes are led by chefs and sommeliers. Atlanta Wine School offers formal classes covering a wide range of subjects, including certification exams. 4478 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta. 770-668-0435, vino-venue.com.
Regular tasting times: 10 a.m.- 11 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays
Number of wines: 200 choices
Format: numerous informal and formal options
Cost: $2-$30 per glass
Woodfire Grill. Tastings feature organic and biodynamic wines; each event focuses on a particular region or style of making wine. 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta. 404-347-9055, woodfiregrill.com.
Regular tasting times: 6-9 p.m. last Thursday of the month
Number of wines: about eight
Format: formal, with a specific theme, led by staff
Cost: $20
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