Do you prefer
your wine with an autolytic aftertaste, a blowzy bouquet, or a
coconut complex?
I've no idea either. However all this eyebrow-raising waffle could be yours to command, along with good wine, good food, and a good laugh with friends at a wine tasting course near you.
Arduous adjectives aside, knowing the basics about the 8000 year old inebriator will enhance your enjoyment of it. So if you imbibe a tipple now and again you should get yourself along to a course at some point.
Sydney is awash with options.
The Art of Wine,
Wine Odyssey,
The Sydney Wine Centre, and
The Wine Society are just a few of the main runners.
Most courses will take you through from 6 to 10 different wines, comparing the origin, taste, and the production process. Some courses also include a food matching component, which usually means you get some yummy food along with the plonk.
The cost of a wine course can vary greatly, depending on the wines drunk (some are quite expensive), who is doing the teaching, and if they include food. Expect to pay anything from $60 for a simple wine-only evening, to $80 or $90 for food as well, and anything up to $200 or $300 for a more rigorous educational experience.
After my usual ring-around and ear bashing I've managed to get a 40% discount out of The Art of Wine for their Sydney Food and Wine appreciation nights. $49 instead of $85.
Click here for more details or to sign up.
The Art of Wine hold their wine tasting evenings at
Le Pain Quotidien in Surry Hills which deserves a separate dedicated article, and who provide the food for the evening. They are an artisan bakery and "communal table" which started out in Brussels and which I used to frequent all too often when living in London. Great for a Sunday brunch.
