Wine Classes: Intimate, Casual, Fun

	Thank you for opening your living room to all of us last Saturday night for the "Wine from the Vine Up" class. It was a pleasant way to learn about wine without having to go through the hit or miss process of guessing what I would like based on characteristics with (previously) very little meaning to me. If you could let me know when the next offerings in the wine series will be held, I’d like to enroll!
—C.H., a student

Wine glasses and bottles ready
for our Wines of Spain class.

Our Smell Box.
Each glass contains items,
from green pepper to black pepper
and much more, whose scents may
be found in wines.

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Living Room Wine Classes Server Wine Education

Living Room Wine Classes

We call these our "Living Room Wine Classes" because they are informal in style but in-depth in learning. Really held in the living room of a private home, each class is a casual gathering, either of existing friends (you can arrange a private class) or of students who may have never met. We talk about wine, taste a variety of different wines relating to the topic, and go home with an excellent knowledge of the subject matter. Some classes focus on regions or varietals; others are in-depth and focus on techniques and history. All are fun and informative!

Please note: until further notice our Wine & Spirits classes will be held offsite; locations are TBA or described with class information below.

Our currently available class list follows below. To learn about coordinating or hosting a private wine class, click here.

Guest List
Click here for Special Discounts & Openings!

All of our wine classes at CC House utilize Spiegelau German crystal glassware, with glasses of the right size and shape for each wine, to provide you with the best tasting experience possible.

The Following Classes Are Currently Available:
Rosé Tasting Now Registering!		Part of our Sprits Tasting series! A Rosé is a Rosé! Join us in The Loft, a casual, hip, upscale atmosphere, to meander through a tasting of rosé wines. First you'll receive an introduction to rosés, wines made from red grapes but only allowed enough skin contact to turn them pink instead of red. Then you'll undertake a self-guided tasting tour of a variety of different rosés. Each tasting station includes information about a particular roseé, with scents from our smell box to help you identify what you're smelling in the glass. You'll wander between rosés and snacks, nibbling and sipping, learning and tasting as you go. Like any wine, rosé has an enormous range in quality; it has a bad rap because of sweet versions such as "White Zinfandel," although we won't be trying any of those! Rosé is usually very dry and extremely refreshing, often with bursts of vivid flavor. As our favorite Master Sommelier puts it in reference to rosé, "Pink is cool." Find out why with us tonight! When: Saturday, May 31, 2008, 7-9pm. Where: Private Home, Beacon Hill How Much: $39 per person. How: Call us at 206.284.8687 or click here to register online. Please see "The Fine Print" for registration details. Registration is limited to 30 students.

Previously Taught Wine, Cheese, and Spirits Classes…
Wines of the World Three-Class Series		This three-class series will give you an incredibly in-depth wine education. Our focus is on regions, styles, varietals, and winemaking techniques rather than on specific bottles, although we do get to taste some really wonderful wines. This series will help you to feel comfortable with a wine list, understanding major regions, grapes, and winemaking styles. You will be able to identify scents and other characteristics of wines and describe them accurately, making an assessment of fruit, tannin, sweet/dry, etc. Perhaps the best thing about these classes is our massive smell box. It's a set of about 60 unique scents found in wine. We've packed it with strawberries, oak, dirt, pipe tobacco, cinnamon, grass, and many other scents. For each wine we taste in class, we'll set out eight or ten glasses, and students take turns smelling the various items and then sniffing for the same scents in the wine. Smelling cassis by itself, then breathing in a Cabernet Sauvignon, creates a revelation when we smell the same scents in both glasses. This tool really helps students pick out different characteristics in wine by smelling back and forth between the wine and the real thing. And it's great fun! The three classes are: Wine from the Vine Up Wine is a lot more than just fermented grape juice. It's poetry and mystique wrapped up with careful planning, science, and a lot of hard work This class will cover wine from the very beginning, teaching you exactly waht factors combine to create wine, how it is made, wine regions, the effects of terroir, types of grapes—the list goes on and on. We'll taste wines representative of different styles of winemaking and really round out our overall knowledge of wine. A very informative class for wine lovers and novices alike. Wines of the Old World. Understanding the techniques and history of winemaking and some basic grapes is just the beginning. Now we will really examine how the grapes interact with the land (terroir) and how various laws affect what winds up in the bottle. This class covers European wines in all their variety, from sparkling wines all the way to dessert wines, with light and robust whites and reds along the way. We'll taste seven incredible Old World wines and will be able to understand how the enological history of Europe has affected wine the world over. Wines of the New World. When Europeans came to the New World, they brought grapes to make wine. The New World wine scene has had some hiccups—we'll learn about these— but is now thriving. From Washington to Mexico, Argentina to Australia, New Zealand to New York, there's a ton of variety in the wine regions of the New World. In this class we'll talk a lot about the characteristics imparted to wines by their regions and about winemaking techniques used by New World winemakers. You will learn how to recognize a variety of wines by commonly-found traits of scent and palate, from "dirty" wines to "buttery" wines. You'll learn about the history of wine-grape-growing in the New World and the trials and tribulations winemakers have undergone to produce the great wines we have today.
Sherry		One of the most famous fortified wines of the world, sherry is an amazing beverage of incredible character and wide variety. There is so much more to sherry than you may think! Most sherry is dry and is drunk as an aperitif, to whet your appetite before a meal; other sherries are rich and round, nutty or sweet or both; a few are sweet as maple syrup and will make your mouth water. In tonight's class we will taste this incredible beverage in six completely different styles, following the magical flor as we move from light to heavy and from dry to sweet with a Manzanilla, a Fino, an Amantillado, a dry Oloroso, a semi-sweet Oloroso, and a dessert sherry.
Wine Appreciation		Have you ever wondered why your server shows you the wine label and then flops the cork on your table and waits? When you ordered wine for your meal, have you ever heard a snicker? If you desire intelligent wine buying skills or just want to know which glass you should buy for your wine party, this is the class for you. We will cover a basic wine introduction, wine glass specifics, how to read a wine label, the importance of the vintage, and how to have a great wine party while feeling like the expert! Class will include a discussion forum where all questions are welcome and none are considered silly or foolish. Come and join us for an attitude-free evening of wine tasting, basic wine education, interesting facts, tantalizing food, and shared stories of embarrassing wine moments — we all have them!
Wines of Spain		The wines of myth and legend, the wines of romance and passion: bubbly Cava, big Rioja, crisp Rueda, and many others will be sampled during this class. You'll learn about Spanish winemaking regions, the laws governing wine in Spain, and the primary grapes. Spanish wines are significantly lower priced than similar-quality wines from France and Italy; they have a character and nuance all their own. Knowing what you like from a given region is a big step toward being really comfortable with a wine list, and knowing what you like from Spain is key to enjoying yourself more often!
Single-Malt Scotch Tasting		Part of our Sprits Tasting series! Join us in The Loft, a casual, hip, upscale atmosphere, to meander through a tasting of single-malt Scotches. After an introduction to Scotch, or whisky made in Scotland, you will undertake a self-guided tasting tour. Each tasting station includes information about a particular Scotch, with scents from our smell box to help you identify what you're smelling in the whisky. You'll wander between scotches and snacks, noshing on appetizers (but sorry, no haggis!), learning and tasting as you go. We'll learn about different Scotches, how they are made, and what makes some stand out.
Bourbon Tasting		The first in our new Sprits Tasting series! Join us in The Loft, a casual, hip, upscale atmosphere, to meander through a tasting of bourbons. After an introduction to Bourbon, an American whisky named for Bourbon County, Kentucky, you will undertake a self-guided tasting tour. Each tasting station includes information about a particular bourbon, with scents from our smell box to help you identify what you're smelling in the whisky. You'll wander between bourbons and bites, noshing on appetizers, learning and tasting as you go. Bourbon has a long history and can range in quality from the half-gallon jug style (we'll let you imagine that rather than including it in the tasting) to bottles worth hundreds of dollars and more. We'll learn about different Bourbons, how they are made, and what makes some stand out. This is a fun, social event to taste, learn, and enjoy!
Gin Tasting		Part of our Sprits Tasting series! Join us in The Loft, a casual, hip, upscale atmosphere, to meander through a tasting of gins. Gin is a grain spirit flavored with botanicals, especially juniper berries. After a brief introduction to the varieties of this liquor, you will undertake a self-guided tasting tour. Each tasting station includes information about a particular gin, with scents from our smell box to help you identify what you're smelling in the glass. You'll wander between gins, noshing on appetizers, learning and tasting as you go. We'll learn about different gins, how they are made, and what makes some stand out.
Porto		Considered one of the greatest dessert wines ever, Porto (the name can only be used for Ports made in Portugal) is a personal passion for our instructor. Few wines have so much magic. Come, let us infect you with the Port bug! We will taste six different Ports, including a Ruby, Tawny, Age-Indicated Tawny, Colheita, and Vintage. You will learn what each of these designations means, how Port is made, and how to enjoy it!
Wines of Spain		The wines of myth and legend, the wines of romance and passion: bubbly Cava, big Rioja, crisp Rueda, and many others will be sampled during this class. You'll learn about Spanish winemaking regions, the laws governing wine in Spain, and the primary grapes. Spanish wines are significantly lower priced than similar-quality wines from France and Italy; they have a character and nuance all their own. Knowing what you like from a given region is a big step toward being really comfortable with a wine list, and knowing what you like from Spain is key to enjoying yourself more often!
Food & Wine Pairing		This class explores the connection between food to wine using a number of tools and guidelines as well as examples of how different pairings taste. We will examine characteristics of wine (such as weight, acidity, fruit, and flavor) and how these are used to pair wine with food. Understand how to use tannin in wine to your advantage when creating a dish and how to use sweetness in wine to balance spicy flavors in food. We'll taste some fabulous food and wine pairings and also some that are just awful so you truly understand how pairings work. This is a very exciting class, with great potential for discussion. Class includes a full meal. Please refrain from wearing any cologne or perfume to class. Sample Menu: The last time this class was taught, we enjoyed Red Curry Mussel Stew with a Washington Gewurztraminer; Wild Mushroom Risotto with a Macon Villages; Pork Roast with Prunes and Cherries with a Barbera; and Seared Top Sirloin with Onions and Peppers with a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Summer Sips: Wines for Warm Weather		Certain wines just scream "summer" to us. Light, refreshing, and perfect for outdoor cooking, there are many fantastic bottles that are perfect for summer. Summes wine doesn't mean sweet wine, and it doesn't necessarily mean white either—a crisp, dry rosé is perhaps the quintessential summer sip. We will taste some bubbly, dry rosé, Alsacian white, vinho verde, and even sangria, and more, in this fun and informative class!
Tasting Wine Blind		Ever wonder how the wine experts can just take one sniff of a wine and pronounce its whole story? This is actually a learned skill, not divine guidance! In our basic blind wine class, learn the skills to pick apart what you see in the glass, smell in the nose, and taste on the palate. Use inductive reasoning to identify not only a wine's place of origin and grape type but also vintage. This class is based on the teachings of the Court of Master Sommeliers and is taught by a Certified Sommelier. Students should have some knowledge of wine, but need not be experts.
Advanced Blind Wine Tasting		Take your wine knowledge to a whole new level with our new Advanced Blind Tasting class. This class builds on our Tasting Wine Blind class in which you learn how to dissect what you are seeing, smelling, and tasting in a wine in order to build a guess about what the wine is. In this advanced course, you will be called upon to actually come up with that guess in a low pressure environment. This might sound scary but it will be a lot of fun. Students will take turns going around the room, giving their sensory impressions of a wine, then a voulenteer will put all of the pieces of the puzzle together and divine the secrets of the glass! This class is a must for all serious wine aficianados. We are extremely lucky to have as our guest instructor Master Sommelier Greg Harrington, one of only 124 such experts in the world.
Sparkling Wines		Sparkling wine, which is now allowed to be called Champagne only when it is made in that region of France, is a delightful and delicious beverage that has in the past been used mostly only for celebrations. Whether you are ready to make every day a celebration or to demystify this bubbly delight, it's time to unveil the charms of sparkling wine for more than just New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day! There's a lot to learn about this yummy style of wine, not only how it gets its bubbles and the history of the method of its making, but also how delicious it can be paired with food for a regular meal instead of being relegated to celebrations only. Of course we will also cover how to select a great sparkler for life's best moments, be they dinners with the family or major milestones. Join us to sip and savor several different sparklers and open your wine world to a new friend.
Intro to Washington Wines		Washington is home to a rapidly increasing number of world-class wines, with a variety of wine regions and a great many wineries. Learn what makes Washington wines unique, the best grape varietals we're known for, and how to best enjoy and serve Washington wines. We will taste six great Washington wines in this class.
Food & Wine Pairing		You've cooked a great dinner, but what wine should you serve? Going to friends' for dinner—what bottle to bring? The interplay of food and wine can be magical and wonderful, making each better, if you know how to pair the two. There are a few simple principles involved in pairing food and wine. You don't have to be a wine expert to go beyond "white with chicken, red with beef." In this class you will learn about some of the characteristics of wine (such as weight, acidity, fruit, and flavor profile) that can be paired with food, and how to know which wines are which. This is a very exciting class, with great learning opportunities as we try food and wine pairings that work well and those that don't, learning the whys of each. Please refrain from wearing any cologne or perfume to class.
April in Paris: A Beginner's Guide to French Cheeses		There is a saying in France that one can eat two cheeses every day for a year and not taste the same cheese twice. With so many cheeses, no wonder people are confused when trying to decide. This two-day seminar will cover, however briefly given our time constraints, the wonders of French cheese. We will begin our journey with a basic understanding of the cheesemaking process, different types of cheese, what to look for, how to store your cheeses, and finally our recommendations on putting together great cheese plates and wine pairings. Of course we will taste many wonderful cheeses in both classes! We recommend you take both classes, but they can be taken separately: Class 1: Double & Triple Cream Cheeses, such as Brie & Camembert, Pierre-Robert, Chaource, Pont l'Eveque and Eppoisses Goat Cheeses (we will choose those that are in season and the very freshest). Class 2: Bleu cheeses such as Roquefort and Forme D'Ambert; Semi-Hard Cheeses such as Beaufort, Munster, Tomme de Savoie; and Aged Cheeses such as Mimolette.
Rhône Wines		Rhône wines are some of the most exciting and famous wines of France, from the complex, multi-faceted Southern Rhônes such as those of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas to the powerful, austere Syrahs and Viogniers of the Northern Rhône such as Hermitage and Saint-Joesph. Your instructor has a particular passion for the Rhône region: his newborn son is named for it! He will have just returned from the Rhône valley and will bring back not only some special bottles but also first-hand vineyard and tasting room experiences.
Vodka & Caviar		Dare we say it…these are two great tastes that go great together. Vodka and caviar have traditionally been paired in the houses of the world's royalty for centuries. We'll taste and compare four super-premium vodkas, learning about how vodka is made and its history and cultural significance. Alongside we'll sample and savor three or four different caviars, learning also about the history of this delicacy—one of the most expensive foods on earth. A decadent and delicious class!
Beer Tasting		Beer is becoming more and more of a connoisseur's beverage, with many restaurants (such as Portland's famous Higgins) employing a beer steward for food pairings right alongside their sommelier. Join us on a round-the-world tour of beer as we learn about different styles and types of beers, their flavor profiles and characteristics, and how they're made. We'll taste seven world-class beers and discuss food pairings as well. A very fun class!
Napa Wines		Fresh from a visit to the wine-growing region of Napa Valley, California, our instructor will share with us a selection of wines from the area. We'll discuss the specifics of that growing region and why certain grapes perform so well there, tasting a flight of spectacular wines from the Napa region and learning to identify great bottles, producers, and varietals.
American Cheeses and Wines		Guess what? You don't have to buy imported cheese to get something exciting. American farmhouse cheeses will blow your mind. There are small producers all over this country making cheese that can compete with and possibly beat any European counterpart. In this class, we will taste some of the best and pair them with some (equally) excellent American wines.
European Cheeses and Wines		"Wine and cheese"—the words go together. Europe's millennia-old traditions of fermenting both grapes and dairy products have given today's culture a huge variety of wines and cheeses to choose from. We'll taste some of the best, and also learn about various production regions in Europe. Previously Taught: May 2002, Private Home, View Ridge
Dessert Wines & Desserts		Botrytis-affected what? Why does nature use such odd tools to make such delicious libations? When you're praying for some really good mold, you know you've entered the realm of dessert wines. In this class, we'll learn all about these nectars, from the lightly sweet to the downright sticky. Plus we'll pair them with a variety of desserts, maybe some bleu cheese, a friend … You get the idea.
Tequila Tasting		Tequila—which used to mean "One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor"—has become popular as a sophisticate's choice, a beverage of smooth drinkability. We are pleased to offer a class designed to increase your appreciation of tequila by exploring its history and production, examining the different kinds available, and working to understand what makes quality tequila. We will sample six different amazing tequilas.
Sherry		One of the most famous fortified wines of the world, sherry is an amazing beverage of incredible character and wide variety. There is so much more to sherry than the super-sweet Harvey's Bristol Cream we might be used to! Most sherry is dry and is drunk as an aperitif. In tonight's class we will taste this incredible beverage in six incarnations, following the magical flor as we move from light to heavy and from dry to sweet with a Manzanilla, a Fino, an Amantillado, a dry Oloroso, a semi-sweet Oloroso, and a dessert cream sherry.
Syrah/Shiraz		Does a rose, by any other name, smell as sweet? Syrah does, if you call it Shiraz. In this class we'll examine, discuss, and of course taste wines made from the Syrah grape (called Shiraz in Australia). Learn the typical flavor and scent characteristics of this wine, assisted by the many scents in our smell box. (Not sure if you smell blackberries? Smell the blackberries in the smell box, then smell the wine again—it's a whole new way to perceive wine with your olfactory receptors [your nose!].) Previously Taught: February 15, 2003, CC House
Wines of the Rhone Valley		Some our favorite letters: GSM, Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvedre. These big, rich wines have so much power, so much history, and so much flavor that it's no wonder why they are some of the most popular wines today. We will taste many different wines from the Rhone including Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and we'll probably sneak a white in there as well with a Condrieu (Viognier). Come and warm up with Rhone Wines.
Dessert Wines		Botrytis-affected what? Why does nature use such odd tools to make such delicious libations? When you're praying for some really good mold, you know you've entered the realm of dessert wines. In this class, we'll learn all about these nectars, from the lightly sweet to the downright sticky. Plus we'll pair them with a variety of desserts, maybe some bleu cheese, a friend … You get the idea. Previously Taught: June 2002, Private Home, View Ridge
Turkey Day Wines		Thanksgiving is right around the corner and people are coming over... but which wines to choose? We will learn (and taste) the best wines to go with turkey and all of the trimmings. This class will focus exclusively on Washington wines for a local touch to your holiday. A must for a successful Thanksgiving!
Wines of Italy		Of all of the wine countries in the world, Italy is definitely one of the most exciting. It has such great history and long tradition warring with modern taste and innovation; so many examples of seamless integration. Italy has delighted people for thousands of years with its fruits of the vine and so it will you. We will learn all about the wine system in Italy, the grapes, wine styles, and winemaking traditions. Of course, we'll taste some tremendous wines, from light and refreshing to Italy's delicious dessert wine, with several bold, beautiful reds in between!
Apartment Wine Series		Announcing the launch of our newest family of classes, the Apartment Wine Series. These classes are designed for wine novices who would like to learn more about wine—on a budget. We will focus on how to select great wine for under $15, where to go, and what to expect. Every class in the series will teach you a little more about the vast world of wine, making you feel more comfortable in any environment. We'll taste some great wines, too! Class will be taught in a very casual environment, and is limited to eight people. Previously Taught: April 26, 7:30-9 pm, Private Home, Lower Queen Anne
Wines of Burgundy		Pinot Noir, Chardonnay: Boring? No. If you go back to their roots, you'll find amazing, exciting, sophisticated wines in Burgundy, France, that have been oft-abused by their association with American budget imitations. Discover the real tastes of Burgundy in this fun, 90-minute class.
Pinot Noirs		Pinot Noir has been called the Heartbreak Grape: It is infamous for being difficult to grow and is easilty affected by climate and soil changes. But the rewards are enormous; Pinot Noirs can be some of the most amazing, exciting, and sophisticated wines in the world. The only red grape grown in France's Burgundy region, this grape is now also grown extensively in Oregon, as well. Learn about the beauties of Pinot Noir, the seductive, subtle flavors and haunting scents. Tonight's class will walk you through a variety of Pinot Noirs from France, Oregon, and other regions, teaching you to truly appreciate what may be the world's most delicate and rewarding grape.