Enjoying Wine - How Much Do You Need to Know

Peter Rutledge

Wednesdays, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
October 13 - November 17, 2004
D.O.C. House

Living in the United States, where wine is not a regular part of our culture, learning about wine can be a challenge. Unlike countries where wine is as much a staple of daily life as food, here we seem to think we can only enjoy wine if we are experts on the subject.

In this class, I hope to share enough information to help you to enjoy wine however you choose to. We will examine the history of wine, from ancient times to the present. There will be opportunities to taste the wines after discussion, as well as in-depth demonstrations of how to go about buying and tasting wine. We will explore restaurant wine lists and how to find great wines at reasonable prices. Our ultimate goal is to learn enough to be able to appreciate any wine for what it is. No experience in wine is necessary, although an interest in wine certainly is.

Class is limited to 20 participants.

Peter Rutledge a 1988 graduate of Dartmouth, has been involved in the wine business since 1990. After working in the Upper Valley restaurant business, he moved to San Francisco in 1992 to learn more about wine. Three years in Sonoma provided opportunities to plant vines, harvest grapes, lead tours and tastings, and to immerse himself in the Northern California wine culture. Since 1996, he has owned and operated Norwich Wines & Spirits, and he continues to try at least one “new” wine everyday. His love for the world of wine is something he enjoys sharing, and his ability to demystify such a complex topic is refreshing and stimulating.