Park Place Wines and Liquors in East Hampton is offering a number of classes for the fall. In small groups of participants, the store's wine experts will explore different regions and styles of wine to help customers expand their oenophile horizons.
Thursday (Oct. 20) evening's class is If You Like That, You'll Definitely Love This! Taking place from 6 to 7, the class will offer new twists on old favorites with tastings of three classic grapes side by side with a more esoteric style, think albarino or gruner veltliner over Sancerre, or tempranillo instead of chianti classico. Like cabernet? They'll pour you that along with a Portuguese touriga nacional.
On Nov. 3, quaffers can travel to South America to sample wines from Chile and Argentina. Although already well known for their way with malbec and cabernet sauvignon grapes, there is more to discover, including an interpretation of chenin blanc.
Nov. 17 brings on the bubbles for a pre-holiday celebration that also stresses sparkling wines' quotidian role in making our life a little brighter. With multitudes of styles and price points from all over the world, they promise there is a bubbly for everyone, and will offer six different international styles to appreciate.
And just in time for gift giving, the December class, Best in Show, on the 15th will offer a guided tour of some of the best wines in the store. Attendees will sample wines from six fabled regions, such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Piedmont, and Tuscany. Along with the more than $500 worth of wine bottles being opened to sample, there will be artisanal cheeses and charcuterie.
With the exception of the December class, which costs $50, classes are $25. Those who spend $125 or more on wines used in any class will receive a $25 credit to be used in the store for future purchases. Classes do sell out and early registration is recommended through the store's website. Cancellations are accepted up to three days prior to the event date.
