Barrel Thief Academy - Wine Tour of Europe

Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 7pm

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When air travel is safe, again, who wants to take a wine trip to Europe? Yeah, us too. But until then, we can take a virtual vacation and appreciate European wine from home.

In these classes, which you may attend individually or as a fabulous complete series, we'll learn about the history, wine-making traditions, major styles of wine, and current trends in the three biggest wine-producing countries in Europe. What grapes are grown in different regions, and why? How do people enjoy wine in each country, and how does it pair with their cuisine? If you're going to take a trip there, where should you go?

Classes are offered every other week:

Wines of France
Thursday, Jan 14, 2021 @ 7:00pm

Ah, France.  Home to so many renowned styles of wine...Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Chteauneuf-du-Pape.  Where to even begin?  We'll use geography, climate, and history to make sense of French wine, delving into centuries-old traditions, but covering modern topics like labeling, tourism, and climate change.  Most importantly, we'll link French wine to French culture, since the two go hand in hand.  It's a lot to pack into 90 minutes, so buckle up!

Wines of Italy
Thursday, Jan 28, 2021 @ 7:00pm

The variety in Italian wine is simply immense.  Highly various geography and a penchant for indigenous grape varieties make for a dizzying spectrum of Italian wine.  That won't faze us as we tackle Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, and the entire Italian wine landscape.  You'll come away with a better understanding of the types and organization of Italian wine, and hopefully an appreciation of how important wine is in this culture.

Wines of Spain
Thursday, Feb 11, 2021 @ 7:00pm

Spain has a long history of wine, contributing to diverse traditions throughout the country. Spanish wine has evolved so much in recent years, and we'll tour the country from well-known to obscure regions, from cool coastal vineyards to toasty plateaus.  As elsewhere in Europe, wine in Spain is closely linked to food and other expressions of culture, so while it's not quite as rich as being there, we'll enjoy our virtual visit and tasting.

Each class is accompanied by 5 samples of wine (each in a 2-oz bottle), which you'll pick up at The Barrel Thief Wine & Whiskey Bar in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, the day of class or up to two days prior (ensuring freshness).

Classes are taught by Christopher Gronbeck, owner of The Barrel Thief and long-time wine educator, and moderated by Carolyn Sellar, proprietor of Adventures in Whisky. Classes are held via Zoom Meeting, and include a presentation, guided tasting, and interactive Q&A session.

Tickets to the three classes are offered individually ($50), or as a series of three classes ($120).  The series make great gifts for the holidays!

Students must be 21+.  Classes will be recorded so you can watch them later, if you can't attend live (students may elect to keep their video & audio off for privacy).


The Barrel Thief

3417 Evanston Ave. N #102
Seattle, WA 98103