Date & Time: 2006-02-25 | 1000 - 1800
Price: $$300
Location: Hotel Inter-Continental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami

The festival once again invites those who seek a serious education in the finer things in life, whether novices or aficionados, to its teaching tastings. The all-inclusive daylong series - six distinct mini-courses and an informative "wine luncheon" - offers guests a comprehensive view of today's vin scene by bringing together experts ready to share their unique knowledge. Learn about the special qualities of specific wines (while sipping from your keepsake Riedel glass) as well as the grapes and techniques that go into creating them. Wine Spectator Executive Editor Thomas Matthews will introduce the first session, and vintners and principals from a variety of handpicked houses will head the others.The pleasure of consuming wine starts with the glass. Riedel: The Wine Glass Company celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, and their special gift to you is a pair of Riedel Vinum Burgundy glasses. Riedel glasses are the loudspeaker for wine - clearly communicating its sweetest song. You say Syrah, I say Shiraz - A panel of experts will guide you through a tasting of world-class wines made from fruit grown in four different terroirs especially suited to producing magnificent syrah/shiraz grapes. Get the lowdown from distinguished panelists Jacques Grange of Delas Freres in France's Rhone Valley; Bob Lindquist of Qupe in Santa Barbara County, Calif.; Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery in the Columbia Valley, Wash.; and Jonathan Maltus from the Colonial Estate in Barossa Valley, Australia. Over, Under, Sideways, Down: Global Pinot Noir Perspective - Taste great wines produced from the grape that made Burgundy famous long before Santa Barbara. Guiding you will be winemakers Alex Gambal of Maison Alex Gambal, Burgundy; Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat, Calif.; and Gary Andrus of Gypsy Dancer, representing both Oregon and New Zealand. Thomas Brown: California's New Generation - Brown has quickly become one of the most sought-after consulting winemakers in the Napa Valley. In 1997 he met Ehren Jordan from Turley cellars and worked his way up from "Cellar Rat" to assistant winemaker. In 2000 he began making wine for several high-profile wineries, among them Chiarello Family Cellars, Outpost, Nicholson Ranch, Tamber Bey and Rivers-Marie, whose products he will include in today's tasting. "Chateau Lafite abroad . . . or why I chose to invest in vineyards in Chile, Argentina, Portugal and the Languedoc" - BARON ERIC de ROTHSCHILD - Beginning in 1988, Baron Eric de Rothschild began a series of investments in high quality, elite vineyards around the world. From Vina Los Vascos (Chile) in 1988, to Quinta do Carmo (Portugal) in 1992, Bodegas Caro (Argentina) in 1998 and, most recently, the Chateau d'Aussieres (Languedoc) in 1999, Baron Eric has sought vineyards that occupy exceptional locations and has worked tirelessly and meticulously to develop their unique potential. These long-range projects are now bearing fruit in the form of Le Dix de Los Vascos, Quinta do Carmo Reserva and CARO from Bodegas Caro, three "first growth" wines produced by Chateau Lafite outside of Bordeaux. We will taste these wines along with the first and just-released wines from the Chateau d'Aussieres, the most recent of the great vineyards outside of Bordeaux. The seminar will conclude with the tasting of a specially selected vintage of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild from Baron Eric de Rothschild's personal cellar. Ageability in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Grand Cru California Farming at Hanzell Vineyards: Jean Arnold Sessions will lead a rare vertical tasting of four selected vintages each of Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay and Pinot Noir spanning three decades of great California Winemaking. Taste through these rare wines and learn why Hanzell Vineyards has been honored by former Time Magazine writer George Taber as "the place where great California winemaking began". Experience for yourself the answers to how needlepoint "Grand Cru" farming practices and attentive hands on winemaking can provide structure for great abeability for leading New World wines. Marqués de Riscal: Historic Rioja Tasting - Marqués de Riscal, founded in 1860, sends Luis Hurtado de Amézaga, winemaker, and José Luis Muguiro to guide us on a journey that will demystify Spain’s lovely Rioja. The secrets of Rioja will be revealed as you taste through the top vintages of Marqués de Riscal wines of the past century including 2001, 1999, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1989 and 1964. This vertical tasting promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates luncheon - Ste. Michelle Wine Estates luncheon - Washington State’s oldest and most acclaimed wine company hosts a special meal that is custom-prepared by its culinary director John Sarich and complemented by its award-winning Col Solare, Northstar and Chateau Ste. Michelle wines. Washington's emerging prominence as the nation's second largest wine-producing region will be explored by today's guest speaker Ted Baseler, president/CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. You won't want to miss this lively discussion. Prepare to be dazzled by the dishes even as the wine takes center stage!