Date & Time: February 28, 2010 | 12:50 PM - :
Price: $$150
Location: Gansevoort South, Ballroom North, 2377 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach

To understand wine is to understand life itself. An ancient drink, wine has played a role throughout history and continues to inform our rituals today. For anyone who has ever enjoyed wine, this seminar series at the Gansevoort South offers a chance to take the pleasure to another level through important information that will make selecting and appreciating wines a much richer experience. This serious education focuses on key aspects of viniculture such as terroir (the characteristics of the land in which the grapes are grown), the varietal (the type of grape used to make the wine), technique, and aging, among others. Led by experts, each session provides an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of specific wines and identify the qualities of each that most appeal to you. Wine Spectator Senior Editor Bruce Sanderson will introduce this session.

Featured Seminars: 

1. The Antinori’s Interpretation of Sangiovese
The Antinori family is universally recognized for revolutionizing Italian winemaking with their innovative approach to producing Sangiovese at the family’s Chianti Classico estate, Tignanello. The estate and its namesake wine represent everything that is Antinori: a rich history marked by tradition and a spirit of innovation, a love for the terroir, and an ongoing determination to perfect their Sangiovese vineyards and wines.

For nearly 40 years, Marchesi Antinori has been experimenting with Sangiovese to achieve stylistic perfection from regional terroir, and this focused fascination motivated the family to develop Sangiovese wines at other important sites in Tuscany. These include the family’s Badia a Passignano and Peppoli estates in Chianti Classico, Pian delle Vigne in Montalcino and La Braccesca in Montepulciano.

A comprehensive tasting exploration of Antinori’s affection for Sangiovese will be led by Piero Antinori’s daughter Alessia who, along with her sisters Albiera and Allegra, represents the 26th generation of the family. 

Featured Wines:

• 2006 Tignanello, Toscana I.G.T.
• 2005 Badia A Passignano, Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Riserva
• 2004 Plan Delle Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino D.O. C.G.
• 2005 Marchese Antinori, Chianti Classico D.C.G. Riserva
• 2004 Vigneto Santa Pia , Vino Nobile di Montepulciano D.O.C.G. Riserva
• 2005 Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano D.O.C.G.
• 2007 Sabazio, Rosso di Montepulciano D.O.C.

2. Focus on Riesling
Riesling is quickly becoming one of the most popular varieties in America. Riesling’s style ranges from bone dry to dessert sweet and everything in-between. Its crisp, refreshing acidity make it a versatile wine to pair with a wide variety of foods. Join our panel of master sommeliers and masters of wine as they lead you through a tasting of some of the world’s greatest Rieslings from Germany, France, Austria, the United States, and Australia.

Featured Wines:

• White Flowers Sparkling, Pacific Rim, Washington State, USA
• 2008 Betts & Scholl, Eden Valley, Australia
• 2006 Grand Cru Saering, Domaines Schlumberger, Alsace, France
• 2007 Graacher Domprost, Erste Lage, S.A. Prüm, Mosel, Germany
• 2008 Eroica, Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen, Washington State, USA
• 2007 Semi Dry, Heron Hill, New York, USA

3. California Great Sparkling Wines
Join us for a special look into California’s great sparkling wines featuring four of the finest houses of the region: Domaine Chandon, Gloria Ferrer, Mumm Napa Valley and Roederer Estate. Discover what California’s best sparkling appellations have to offer through this exclusive selection of sparkling wines ranging from non-vintage to Tête de Cuvée.
The seminar will be lead by an extraordinary panel composed of Malcolm Dunbar, CEO of Domaine Chandon and Newton, Juan Furné, President of Gloria Ferrer; and Winemaker Ludovic Dervin for Mumm Napa.

Featured Wines:

• Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noirs NV
• Domaine Étoile Brut Sur Lees 2003
• Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV
• Gloria Ferrer Brut Rosé 2006
• Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvée 1998
• Mumm Napa Brut Reserve, NV
• Mumm Napa Brut Rosé, NV
• Mumm Napa DVX, 2001
• Roederer Estate Brut NV
• Roederer Estate L’Ermitage 2002

Domaine Chandon
In 1973 Domaine Chandon became the first French-owned sparkling wine venture in the United States. The famous Champagne producer Moët & Chandon and acclaimed Cognac maker Hennessy combined forces with the mission of producing world-class sparkling wine in Napa Valley. They identified prime vineyard sites on Mt. Veeder, in Carneros and Yountville, the location Domaine Chandon now calls home.
Chandon’s first sparkling wine was released in 1976. In 1977 the Visitor Center opened along with Domaine Chandon’s fine dining restaurant, now called étoile, introducing fine dining to the Napa Valley.
True to its pioneering spirit, Domaine Chandon was the first winery to introduce smaller containers to preserve delicate grapes during harvest and to use Pinot Meunier in its sparkling wines. Domaine Chandon also introduced the popular Blanc de Noirs style to American consumers. In addition to producing world-class sparkling wines, Domaine Chandon also produces a portfolio of still wines from the classic champagne varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

Gloria Ferrer
Pioneers of sparkling wine from California’s Sonoma Carneros region, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards is distinguished by a commitment to the highest quality fruit nurtured in hand-tended vineyards, thinned for low yields. Owned and operated by the Ferrers, the Spanish family behind the Catalan-based cava house Freixenet, the winery is named for José Ferrer’s wife, Gloria. Founded in 1982, Gloria Ferrer was the first sparkling wine house established in California’s Sonoma Carneros region. Today, the winery cultivates 385 acres of sustainably farmed vineyard land for its ultra-premium, award-winning sparkling and still wines.

Mumm Napa
Mumm Napa draws from the rich heritage of Champagne Mumm of Reims, France while integrating a unique Napa Valley style to make internationally respected wines of excellent quality. Ludovic Dervin carries on the inspiration that began with Guy Devaux in making Mumm Napa wines, bringing the ripe character of Napa fruit to the forefront while maintaining the classic balance and structure necessary in an outstanding sparkling wine. These wines are led by the prestige cuvée DVX one of the most honored California sparkling wines each vintage and named in honor of the winery’s founding winemaker, the late Guy Devaux.

Roederer Estate
Join us for a special look into California’s Anderson Valley with a tasting of Roederer Estate’s sparkling wines: the Non Vintage Brut and the 2002 vintage of their Tête de Cuvee, L’Ermitage.
Roederer Estate Brut is the first California sparkling wine to be produced by Champagne Louis Roederer, further building upon a 200-year tradition of fine winemaking from this family owned company. Roederer's unique winemaking style is based on two elements: complete ownership of its vineyards and the addition of oak-aged reserve wines to each year's blend or cuvée.
You will have an opportunity to experience the unique characteristics of this estate-bottled Anderson Valley wine, led by Master Sommelier Eric Hemer.

 

Participating Chefs

• Alessia Antinori
• Richard Betts
• Joel Butler
• Laura DePasquale
• Ludovic Dervin
• Malcolm Dunbar

Sponsors

• Gansevoort South
• Riedel
• Southern Wine & Spirits of South Florida
• Wine Spectator