This weekend, I jet to the US for series of South American-driven events. While many of them are with private chef associations like Les Dames d’Escoffier, Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR), New York Women’s Culinary Alliance, and universities (including my alma mater, University of Pennsylvania), I will be teaching this Master Class at the French Culinary Institute’s, International Culinary Center on October 28, 2009.
Ok, ok, so here’s my shameless plug to convince all you guys to come to this class, Discover the Wines of South America. It is going to kick total butt and be a whirlwind journey through the region’s terroir–with not a big brand in site. Only, boutique terroir-driven labels. Here’s the write-up:
In recent years, we’ve become entranced with South America. We are vacationing in the jungles of the Amazon, tasting regional cuisines, and sampling an array of new South American wines—and for good reason. Chile and Argentina, in particular, are turning out excellent wines that are giving classic European vintages a run for their money, at very affordable prices. In this class, wine and travel expert Liz Caskey will guide you through an interactive tasting of the best these two countries have to offer, using evocative visuals and informative handouts to demystify the wines being presented. Explore terruño (that’s Spanish for terroir) and learn how Chile and Argentina’s characteristic approaches to wine making, coupled with climatic and geographical conditions, helped European vines take on unique expressions in the soil of the New World. In each glass of wine, you’ll discover rich, dynamic, exotic flavors that are as intriguing as the places from which they hail. Taste and discuss a variety of wines—from Chilean Carmenère to the wholly Argentine Torrontes—that will serve you well as a guide for future exploration.
So just to really sell you into coming, these are some of the rockin’ wines we are going to taste:
Argentina
Cruzat, Rosé Sparkling
Altavista, Torrontes Premium
Mendel, Unus
Finca Sophenia, Malbec Reserva
Chile
Aquitania, Sol de Sol Chardonnay
Quebrada de Macul, Domus Aurea Cabernet Sauvignon
Neyén, Neyén (Carmenere-Cab blend)
And perhaps a little extra surprise blend to share with everyone!
Once again, here’s the info to get hooked up. And of course, as a bonus, you will get to meet me and hang out. I would love to get to know you guys.
Date: October 28, 2009
Time: 7:00-9:30pm
Sign up here.
See you there!
