Never mind cheese, would you like some knowledge with that wine? Several metro Atlanta entities are willing and able to teach the 21-and-up crowd wine appreciation. You can opt for the less formal, like a tasting with extra notes at Perrine's Wine Shop.
But there are also multi-session options for wine lovers who aren't snobs–yet! Here are classes and guided tastings the budding oenophile (that's wine lover) has to look forward to this fall:
Enjoying Wine: The Basics and Beyond
6:30-8:30 p.m. four Tuesdays beginning Oct. 8, $225.
Emory University Century Center, 2635 Century Pkwy NE, Suite 300. 404-727-6000.
Instructor Nancy Waldeck has a Culinary Institute of America background and leads students through the wine experience, including pairing, ordering wine in restaurants and developing personal preferences.
4 p.m. Saturdays (call ahead to confirm), $20.
General Store at Serenbe, 10642 Serenbe Lane, Palmetto. 770-463-2222.
This small, luxury community in Fulton County offers pleasant classes with tasting notes and small bites. It's a great date option and the drive over takes you past small-town charm and wholesome farm scenery.
Tour and tasting, Chateau Elan Winery & Resort
2:30 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday, 12 noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday, $30.
100 Rue Charlemagne Drive, Braselton. 678-425-0900, ext. 41.
About 45 minutes from Atlanta, an impressive chateau on acres and acres is the site for tastings guided by wine stewards. They explain the grape-to-glass process and then give you the fruity, chocolate or floral notes from five wines. Be sure to check out their online wine list and tasting notes to be way ahead of the rest of the class. It's also possible to upgrade to a Chateau Grandeur at select times daily for $70. It includes a longer tour and pairings with artisanal cheese and other nibbles.
Times and dates vary, but the session lasts two hours and cost $75
Chateau Elan Winery and Resort, 100 Rue Charlemagne Drive, Braselton. 678-425-0900, ext. 41.
Learn more about a highlighted Georgia region or vendor at each unique event that also features three to five chef-prepared tapas. You can feel like a fancy wine buyer when the event's held in the chateau's industrial private dining room, though the winery cask room is the impressive alternative site.
The Homestead Atlanta's Bootlegging 101: Muscadine
3-5:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, $60 or two for $100.
The Learning Kitchen, in the Municipal Market at Sweet Auburn, 209 Edgewood Ave. SE. 404-313-0004.
If you love wine so much you'd like to make your own, here ya go. The artisans from the Homestead Atlanta are guided by the instructor's grandpa's muscadine wine recipe, so it's got to be good. You can look forward to squishing (not stomping) the grapes and later trying this at home.
6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, $60.
Perrine's Wine Shop, 1168 Howell Mill Road NW, Atlanta. 404-254-5077.
A great opportunity to expand your wine knowledge and your wine cellar at the same time, an experienced sommelier teaches with fun methods like blind tasting your way to a better "nose" for wine. The shop also hosts various two-hour tastings on different themes like Labor Day Wines for the Weekend. Each tends to cost $25, require tickets and feature six wines and nibbles or cheese.
