French Wine Society Events

[Sherry'sWineandSpirits]

When learning about wine, France is the benchmark. It is where the novice starts and the expert finishes...

Taste the diversity, savor the culture.

Experience France in your glass!

The French Wine Society, in partnership with the prestigious Society of Wine Educators, offers a unique opportunity to increase your French wine knowledge and enjoyment! This course, while thorough and in-depth, also has the right balance to allow you to enjoy while you learn. Like all FWS programs, this is educational and instructive, both in the mind and in the art de vivre.

The session is divided into 6 classes, with each one focusing on a specific wine region. The one hour and a half class will include a tasting of many diverse wines from the featured region.

Spring session will be held on Tuesdays from 6:45pm to 8:15pm:

- Tuesday, February 5th, Loire Valley

- Tuesday, February 12th, Bordeaux

- Tuesday, February 19th, Alsace

- Tuesday, February 26th, Burgundy

- Tuesday, March 4th, Rhone Valley

- Tuesday, March 11th, Champagne

*MEMBERS OF THE TRADE RECEIVE FWS MEMBER DISCOUNT FOR FRENCH WINE ACADEMY* E-mail ryan.wegman@frenchwinesociety.org for information.

A buffet of artisanal French cheeses and breads will be served at each class.

Classes are taught by Certified Wine Educators.

Missed classes may be made up at no charge the next or following time(s) the same course is offered provided FWS is given sufficient notice of intent to attend and there is space available. Call or e-mail at least 48h in advance.

Metro access: The Washington Club is located one block from the Dupont Circle metro station.

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TO REGISTER, VISIT frenchwinesociety.org

[Sherry'sWineandSpirits]

Ben Gilliberti, world famous Bordeaux expert and Washington Post wine critic for 20 years, will lead us on an in-depth discovery of the two places wine experts and aficionados have been highly rating for years, but without much insight into their secret gifts.

By the conclusion of this seminar, you will understand this region with such finesse and clarity that you will be prepared to continue the journey into our next Bordeaux "Grand Vin" series of Margaux and Pauillac.

St. Emilion and Pomerol wines, like most Bordeaux, are blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Being located on the right bank of the Gironde river, the distinguishing characteristic of these appellations, the 'assemblage' is predominately Merlot. The Merlot grapes found throughout the world can trace their origins, more often than not, directly to this area of Bordeaux.

The first vines of St. Emilion were planted by the Romans around 2 A.D. (even the Italians knew a good thing when they discovered it!). Pomerol is the smallest wine appellation in Bordeaux and commands immense attention at wine auctions the world-over.

To register and for more information, visit www.frenchwinesociety.org

[Sherry'sWineandSpirits]

While the world knows the famous Chateau of Margaux, fewer people understand this is also the name of a commune and appellation in the Médoc, Bordeaux. Margaux, most southerly of Médoc's appellations, is home to more classified second and third growths then any other appellation including: first growth Château Margaux; second growths Château Rauzan-Ségla, Château Rauzan-Gassies, Château Durfort-Vivens, Château Lascombes, and Château Brane-Cantenac; third growths include Château Kirwan, Château d'Issan, Château Giscours, Château Malescot St. Exupery, Château Cantenac-Brown, Château Boyd-Cantenac, Château Palmer,…

Margaux has the thinnest soil in the region with the highest proportion of gravel that allows the soil to drain very well. This appellation is known as the most feminine of the Médoc wines. In the best vintages it produces wines of rare finesse.

Located north of Margaux, Pauillac is another legendary legendary appellation that "houses" three first growths: Château Latour, Chateau Lafitte Rotschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Pauillac, having the highest elevation of the Médoc, produces unique virile, powerful wines, with a great concentration of flavors.Ben Gilliberti, world famous Bordeaux expert and Washington Post wine critic for 20 years, will lead us on an in-depth discovery of the two appellations, their terroir, history, famous chateaux and exceptional wines.

To register and for more information, visit: www.frenchwinesociety.org

[J. Camus FWS]

Location: Sofitel Lafayette Square

Address: 806 15th St. NW Washington, DC 20005 - Map

Date & time: Wednesday, May 07th From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Cost: $85.00 members, $99.00 non-members

Taste old and new vintages from Saint-Emilion, Margaux and Saint-Julien, personally meeting the producer of each; this is a unique occasion! Meet Anabelle Cruse Bardinet, Winemaker/Proprietor, Chateau Corbin; Emmanuel Cruse, Owner/Director, Chateau d’Issan and Bruno Eynard, Winemaker/Director, Chateau Lagrange.

We will begin with a seated tasting and each maker will present his/her wines. The seated tasting will be followed by a social reception of wine from the Chateaux and hors d’oeuvres from Ici Bistro.

7:00 – 8:30pm: Seated tasting

8:30 – 9:00pm: Informal reception, with a selection of hors d’oeuvres from Ici Bistro

Château Corbin (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé)

Château Corbin, a Grand Cru Classé on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, is one of the oldest estates in St.-Emilion, as well as one of the region’s “up-and-comers.” A family property of 13 hectares, Corbin has been owned and managed since 1999 by Anabelle Cruse Bardinet. After renovating the Château, rebuilding the cellars and improving vineyard and winemaking techniques, Ms. Bardinet is reaping the benefits with stylish wines that have garnered praise from fans and critics alike.

Château d’Issan (Margaux Grand Cru Classé)

Château d’Issan has been called “one of the stars of Margaux” by Robert Parker, thanks to the leadership of Emmanuel Cruse, who took the helm of this Third Growth in 1993 and has spearheaded a dramatic rise in quality, fuelled by family investments of more than $6 million. An historic property, where grapes have been grown since the 12th century, the Château dates to the 17th century and is one of the most beautiful in Bordeaux. Acquired by Emmanuel Cruse’s grandfather in 1945, Château d’Issan remains privately owned by the Cruse family.

Château Lagrange (Saint-Julien Grand Cru Classé)

A Third Growth in the Classification of 1855, Château Lagrange is the largest classified growth in the Médoc, with 113 hectares under vine. An historic estate that has enjoyed an upsurge of critical praise, Lagrange was acquired in 1983 by Suntory, the Japanese wine and spirits conglomerate, which has spared no expense in extensive replanting and renovation. In 2007, Bruno Eynard took over as winemaker/director, having worked as second-in-command for 17 years under his predecessor and mentor, Marcel Ducasse.

For more information or to register for this event please visit our website: www.frenchwinesociety.org

Location: The Washington Club

Address: 15 Dupont Circle NW, Washington DC 20036 - Map

Date & time: Tuesday, May 13th From 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Cost: $55.00 members, $65.00 non-members

When learning about wine, France is the place to begin. Every major grape produced throughout the world is indigenous to France! To learn where things are going, learn where they started.

This class focuses on the major varietals and covers the most important points of history in French wine and its evolution.

In this class you will learn:

- What is Wine?

- Basic Viticulture & Vinification Processes

- Grape varietals

- Wine components

- What makes a great wine?

-The Sensory Evaluation Process

- Brief History of French Wine

- Why is French Wine the Benchmark?

-Which grapes are grown in each

French wine region?

- What do the French mean by terroir?

- How are French wines labeled?

- Are French wines more expensive?

- Do all French wines need to be aged

before drinking?

- Why is the year so important in France?

- Why are French wines often referred to as “Food Wines”?

This Intro class is taught by Lisa Airey, certified wine educator.

The two hours class will include a tasting and a buffet of French cheeses.

For more information or to register for this event please visit our website: www.frenchwinesociety.org

Location: The Washington Club

Address: 15 Dupont Circle NW, Washington DC 20036 - Map

Date & time: Tuesday, May 20th to Tuesday, June 24th

From: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Cost: $315.00 members, $350.00 non-members

When learning about wine, France is the benchmark. It is where the novice begins and the expert finishes.

Taste the diversity, savor the culture...

experience France in your glass!

The French Wine Society offers you a unique opportunity to increase your wine knowledge with an in-depth and thorough series of classes on the wine regions of France that are as fun as they are educational.

Each 90-minute class is taught by a Certified Wine Educator. Taste the wines. Hear the legends. Learn the wine laws. Understand the legacy.

Each class includes a tasting of 6 to 8 wines of the region being studied.

The Summer session will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 8:00pm:

Schedule:

ALSACE (May 20, 2008)

CHAMPAGNE (May 27, 2008)

BURGUNDY (June 3, 2008)

LOIRE (June 10, 2008)

BORDEAUX (June 17, 2008)

RHÔNE (June 24, 2008)

A tasting of 6 to 8 wines and a buffet of French cheeses is served at each class.

For more information or to register for this event please visit our website: www.frenchwinesociety.org