Beer and Wine Courses
When you learn the science behind wine tasting and food pairing, every meal going forward will be improved. A fun way to learn the science is using your taste buds! This food and wine class is like no other class as it’s a packed 3 hours of learning all about wine including; history, terminology, aging, purchasing, storing, old world vs. new world, wine making and specific grape varietals You will also be doing an isolated component tasting (sweet, sour, salty, bitter). You will enjoy 5 wines with food (chicken, olives, mushrooms, lemons, tomatoes, cheese, hot sauce) That's 5 glasses of wine with food + an amazing education! Education has never tasted so good.
future offerings posted here
If you have ever been curious as to whether that expensive bottle of bubbly is truly worth it, now you can find out! In this class, members will sample French Champagne along with other sparkling white wines such as Italian Prosecco and Spanish Cava at different price points. There will definitely be some lively discussions among your fellow classmates. So join us for a wine exploration that just might change your mind about cost versus quality when it comes to your wine budget. Some wine tasting experience would be beneficial but not mandatory.
#35264, Commercial Avenue Campus, 11/19, Tuesday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Bob Taylor
#65398, Commercial Avenue Campus, 5/8, Thursday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Bob Taylor
Unleash your inner winemaker in this interactive and exciting class! You’ll begin by sampling four distinct red wine varietals, learning the art and science of blending. Using small beakers, you’ll experiment with different combinations of the wines, refining your creation sip by sip until you’ve crafted the perfect blend. Once you’ve created your masterpiece, bottle it to take home and savor at your leisure! To add a little fun and friendly competition, I’ll sample each blend and award the “Best Blend” a special prize. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just love a creative challenge, this class is perfect for anyone looking to have a great time while learning about wine. Cheers to creating your own custom wine!
#67729 Commercial Avenue Campus, 1/22, Wednesday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Rob Lewis
This is a fun, educational and entertaining class to teach you the basics of food and wine pairing. In this class you’ll enjoy 4 different styles of wine with 6+ fundamental taste (sweet, salty, sour, etc.,) Some of the fun foods you’ll be enjoying are pickles, cheese, salami, potato chips, cookies and more. Each pairing is evaluated to reveal a foundational strategy to successfully pair food and wine. Join Winemaker and Sommelier Rob Lewis for this engaging and insightful class.
#67666, Commercial Avenue Campus, 1/28, Tuesday, 6:30-8 PM Instructor: Rob Lewis
Take a wine tasting tour through Italy where you will learn about the rich and historic traditions of some of the country’s finest wine regions, including Venice, Chianti, Umbria, Sicily, and more. You will taste red and white wine varietals, compare notes, and engage in a lively discussion with your fellow classmates. Please join us for a wine exploration of this great land that promises to be a fun introduction to a famous and noteworthy region. Some wine tasting experience would be beneficial but is not necessary.
#65332, Commercial Avenue Campus, 1/30. Thursday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Bob Taylor
Treat yourself to an evening of chocolate, wine, and good company. We will begin the evening with small tastes of white, milk, and dark chocolate pairing each nibble with a local crafted wine. The Chocolate & Wine Tasting Experience class pairs four premium Wisconsin chocolates and four local Wisconsin wines. This course is just the thing to give you an in depth understanding of how to truly taste chocolate and wine to best enhance your flavor experience.
#65462, Commercial Avenue Campus, 2/8, Saturday, 1-2:30 PM Instructor Rob Lewis
During this five week class with commercial winemaker Rob Lewis of Lewis Station Winery and Stable Rock Winery, this winemaking course covers the full winemaking process: from fermentation to bottling. Learn techniques to start or improve your own home winemaking while creating your own wine during class in small teams and hone your wine evaluation skills with topics on sensory evaluation, wine making knowledge and learning some of the secrets to food and wine pairing. Students will get to take some wine home to enjoy.
#65424 Commercial Avenue Campus, 3/27-4/24, Thursday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Rob Lewis
Take a cabernet sauvignon tasting trip to various locations around the world where you will learn about the rich differences of this most noble grape variety. You will taste cabernet sauvignon from various regions such as California, Australia, South America and more. Compare notes with classmates and engage in a lively discussion about which "cab sauv" is the best. Please join us for a wine exploration of the the very popular cabernet wine that promises to be fun and educational.
#65468, Commercial Avenue Campus, 2/13, Thursday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Bob Taylor
Embark on a delectable adventure through some of the world’s finest wine and cheese regions! In this class, you’ll explore expertly curated wine and cheese pairings from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and the USA. Each pairing is thoughtfully selected to highlight the rich and diverse flavors of these renowned wine and cheese-producing countries. Discover the art of pairing as you savor each bite and sip, learning the unique qualities that make each combination special. Whether you're a connoisseur or just love a good glass of wine with your cheese, this class promises to be a deliciously enlightening experience. Raise a glass and let your taste buds travel the world!
#67735 Commercial Avenue Campus, 2/19, Wednesday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Rob Lewis
Learn to evaluate and appreciate wine. Black glass is used so the taster doesn't know if it’s a white, rose’ or red wine. You get to learn the science of taste using a guide to evaluate the wine and then everyone guesses and the wine is revealed at the end of the class.
#65466, Commercial Avenue Campus, 2/27, Thursday, 6:30-8 PM Instructor: Rob Lewis
Explore the wine regions of Germany and learn about the rich and historic traditions of some of the area’s finest wine regions, including the Rhinegau, Mosel and more. You will taste the typically sweeter style white wine varietals that Germany is known for. Compare notes, and engage in a lively discussion with your fellow classmates. Please join us for a wine exploration of this great wine region that promises to be a fun introduction to a famous and noteworthy wine country. Along the way we will learn how to pronounce "Gewürztraminer " as an added bonus.
#65470, Commercial Avenue Campus, 3/4, Tuesday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Bob Taylor
Are you ready to move from novice to professional wine taster? This class covers many details in the wine industry like; component tasting, learning about wine labels, cork closures, wine storage, top 5 grape varietals and tasting wines from around the globe. You’ll also enjoy a food & wine tasting experience that will guide you in proper pairings based on taste and science. This class is based on the book “Sommelier Secrets: Unveiling the Mysteries of Food & Wine Pairing “ written by the instructor, Rob Lewis.
#67676, Commercial Avenue Campus, 3/8, Saturday, 1-2:30 PM Instructor: Rob Lewis
Have you ever wanted to set up your very own wine cellar in your home? Come join us to explore the do's and don'ts for where to store your valuable collection, options for the ideal serving temperature for white and red wine, and purchasing ideas for various wine styles to create your very own wine cellar. The class promises to be both fun and educational as you learn about what goes into making a home wine collection. We will also do taste comparisons of popular wine types to see how temperature affects taste. It may surprise you! Class discussions will be lively and entertaining.
#67720, Commercial Avenue Campus, 3/26, Wednesday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Bob Taylor
Have you ever wondered if that $40 bottle of wine is truly better than a $10 bottle? Come join us to do blind tastings of various wine varietals at different price points. You will try Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon at low and high prices. The class promises to be both fun and educational as you learn about what goes into making a bottle of wine. It may surprise you. Class discussions will be lively and entertaining.
#65472, Commercial Avenue Campus, 4/8, Tuesday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Bob Taylor
Wine and cheese are a match made in heaven, but have you ever wondered what wines go best with which cheeses and why? Treat your senses to a night of exploring how the flavors wine and cheese interact to create perfect (or sometimes not so perfect) pairings. You’ll learn cheese and wine tasting techniques and how to describe and evaluate cheese and wine flavor characteristics, all while enjoying delicious wines and a featured cheese selection from Wisconsin creameries.
#65464, Commercial Avenue Campus, 4/12, Saturday, 1-2:30 PM Instructor: Rob Lewis
“New World” and “Old World” are terms commonly used in the wine industry to distinguish between wines produced in different regions of the world. Old World pertains to traditional winemaking regions in places such as Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. These regions have a long history of winemaking, dating back thousands of years. New World refers to wines from the United States, Canada and others with more recent winemaking history. In this class, we’ll be comparing the same grape varietals from the Old World and the New World in a side-by-side comparison. Not only will you taste the difference, but Rob will lead you on a journey in understanding the differences from a historical perspective too.
#67677, Commercial Avenue Campus, 4/26 Saturday, 1-3 PM Instructor: Rob Lewis
Explore the wine regions of the Pacific Northwest where you will learn about the rich and historic traditions of some of the area’s finest wine regions, including the Willamette Valley, Columbia valley and more. You will taste red and white wine varietals and rare sparkling wines, compare notes, and engage in a lively discussion with your fellow classmates. Please join us for a wine exploration of this great wine region that promises to be a fun introduction to a famous and noteworthy wine region. Some wine tasting experience would be beneficial but is not necessary.
Future offerings posted here
Take a Pinot Noir tasting trip to various locations around the world where you will learn about the rich differences of this most popular grape variety. You will taste Pinot Noir from various regions such as California, France and more. Compare notes with classmates and engage in a lively discussion about which "Pinot" is the best. Please join us for a wine exploration of the very popular cabernet wine that promises to be fun and educational.
Future offerings posted here