RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTubeSo, imagine, hypothetically, that a local food-oriented nonprofit with an interest in taste education was thinking about the possibility of a series of wine workshops -- reasonably-priced events aimed at people who like wine and would like to know more about it. Without going into more specifics (the goal is to gather ideas, not to shape them), what do you think would make such a series of events interesting or useful? Do you think there's a need in this area in Columbus, and if so, how might it usefully be filled?
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Wine tasting/education: what do you want?
[70 posts] [18 contributors]
Topic Rating:
(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:
Rate this topic:
-
joev
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
Bear wrote So, imagine, hypothetically, that a local food-oriented nonprofit with an interest in taste education was thinking about the possibility of a series of wine workshops -- reasonably-priced events aimed at people who like wine and would like to know more about it. Without going into more specifics (the goal is to gather ideas, not to shape them), what do you think would make such a series of events interesting or useful? Do you think there's a need in this area in Columbus, and if so, how might it usefully be filled?
I think it would be great to taste Ohio wine. There is a growing number of good ones out there and a few great ones - I just need some help finding them, and a tasting would remove the risk in buying multiple whole bottles to find the good ones. Local, local, local! Maybe get some vintners in for some insight into their traditions and processes.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
Login to Send PM
The best experience I had in Sonoma was when I got to talk directly to the winemaker/owner at a smaller winery. It was pretty hands-on and you could tell the guy had a passion for what he was doing.
Now it would be almost impossible recreate that experience here, but I think getting passionate winemakers to show off thier stuff is a great thing to have in a tasting.
Another thought would be to have an Alton Brown-esque "science of winemaking" discussion.
Posted 4 years ago # -
hazy stars
The Brauhaus
Login to Send PM
dredd wrote Lets just take a trip to Geneva, OH. Mmmmm There is this old church that is now a winery. SO romantic.
This thread is about wine education - not romance. Bleck.
Posted 4 years ago # -
joev
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
blammo wrote There was an Ohio Wine tasting event at the North Market a few years ago. I learned a little too much about Ohio wines that day. :?
I've been to that, but something smaller and more in depth would be helpful for me. I'm from the Grand River Valley, so I know a bunch of great places in Geneva, Madison and Harpersfield, but I've only tried a couple from the Ripley area. With price points above $15, though, I'm reluctant to try too many on my own.
Posted 4 years ago # -
dredd
Login to Send PM
hazy stars wrote
dredd wrote Lets just take a trip to Geneva, OH. Mmmmm There is this old church that is now a winery. SO romantic.
This thread is about wine education - not romance. Bleck.
Listen, I tried to not let my mind wander, but I can't help it. Stupid aphrodisiacs.
Posted 4 years ago # -
hazy stars
The Brauhaus
Login to Send PM
Bear wrote So, imagine, hypothetically, that a local food-oriented nonprofit with an interest in taste education was thinking about the possibility of a series of wine workshops -- reasonably-priced events aimed at people who like wine and would like to know more about it. Without going into more specifics (the goal is to gather ideas, not to shape them), what do you think would make such a series of events interesting or useful? Do you think there's a need in this area in Columbus, and if so, how might it usefully be filled?
I'm 100% for wine education. In fact, I would love to help organize and orchestrate wine events with Slow Foods.
The major obstacle I see is the fact that there is already an abundance of wine tasting events around town. Many restaurants and wine shops already host their own tastings. Anything you do needs to be unique to what is already being done.
Once upon a time, when I was managing the wine for a local restaurant, I wanted to do some sort of wine of the month club. Having access wine reps from local distributors gave me the ability to taste wines that were not readily available to the public. The restaurant I worked for only carried around 6 bottles at a time, so I did not have the freedom to offer in as many wine varieties as I wanted. And so every once in awhile, I would purchase a case of wine for myself from the rep. I would then invite friends over to drink the wine.
A little known fact: The Beer Wench was a wino first. I had big aspirations of sommelier certification at one point. I'm sure Andrew Hall would be interested in this.
What we need to do is create an original concept.
I feel a brainstorm coming on ...
Posted 4 years ago # -
lisathewaitress
SoHud
Login to Send PM
joev wrote
Bear wrote So, imagine, hypothetically, that a local food-oriented nonprofit with an interest in taste education was thinking about the possibility of a series of wine workshops -- reasonably-priced events aimed at people who like wine and would like to know more about it. Without going into more specifics (the goal is to gather ideas, not to shape them), what do you think would make such a series of events interesting or useful? Do you think there's a need in this area in Columbus, and if so, how might it usefully be filled?
There are some really great Ohio wines; unfortunately, we have a very fickle climate which is not ideal for grape-growing. Kinkead Ridge produces excellant wines, but last year their entire crop of red grapes was wiped out by our early spring cut off by hard frost. They only had enough white to produce wines for their mail-order clients, so it will be almost impossible to find any of their wines this year. But, just for future reference, they are pretty reasonably priced, compared to other good wines such as Ravenhurst (sparkling) and Butch Harris (same people)
I think it would be great to taste Ohio wine. There is a growing number of good ones out there and a few great ones - I just need some help finding them, and a tasting would remove the risk in buying multiple whole bottles to find the good ones. Local, local, local! Maybe get some vintners in for some insight into their traditions and processes.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
Login to Send PM
So here's an expansion of my "science of wine" tasting...
Break it down into multiple events...
1) Sugars
2) Acids
3) Tannins
4) Fermentation
etc...
Essentially break a winemaking encyclopedia down into chapters.
Since everyone learns better when they look at extremes, find wines on the far ends of the spectrums that can be used to calibrate people's palates (tanniny cabernets, oaky chardonnays, sweet late season wines, etc...). Then switch over to more balanced wines.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Bear
The woods
Login to Send PM
hazy stars wrote The major obstacle I see is the fact that there is already an abundance of wine tasting events around town. Many restaurants and wine shops already host their own tastings. Anything you do needs to be unique to what is already being done.
I'm not sure I see that as an obstacle per se. I agree 100% that it's a major consideration, and if possible it'd be nice to design something that would complement and enhance the existing wine tasting events and increase their popularity.
Touring Ohio wineries and/or bringing winemakers to Columbus is an idea that's already been floated, and Kinkead Ridge is definitely on the radar. It's a very good idea and I think it'll probably happen. For this series of events, I was thinking of something a bit more general, though -- something for people who want to be able to go into a restaurant, look at the wine list, and have a considerably better idea than they do now of what they're seeing there.
Posted 4 years ago # -
joev
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
Bear wrote
hazy stars wrote The major obstacle I see is the fact that there is already an abundance of wine tasting events around town. Many restaurants and wine shops already host their own tastings. Anything you do needs to be unique to what is already being done.
I'm not sure I see that as an obstacle per se. I agree 100% that it's a major consideration, and if possible it'd be nice to design something that would complement and enhance the existing wine tasting events and increase their popularity.
Touring Ohio wineries and/or bringing winemakers to Columbus is an idea that's already been floated, and Kinkead Ridge is definitely on the radar. It's a very good idea and I think it'll probably happen. For this series of events, I was thinking of something a bit more general, though -- something for people who want to be able to go into a restaurant, look at the wine list, and have a considerably better idea than they do now of what they're seeing there.
The Ohio Wine Producers Association would be a great partner, if you haven't reached out to them already. I know they are actively targeting the young professional/millennial generation, as we are less likely to have been spoiled on Ohio wine when it was atrocious. PM me for contact info if you need it.
Posted 4 years ago # -
hazy stars
The Brauhaus
Login to Send PM
A unique concept would be to provide common wine essences and aromas.
Before the event, figure out all of the essences and aromas in each of the wines that will be tasted. Collect these ingredients and put them into glass bottles or something like that. Allow people to really engage their senses and heighten the tasting experiences by having them experience the different essences and aromas.
Does that make sense?
If you have a wine that is described as having the aroma of "orange zest," provide the tasters with orange zest so that they may detect it for themselves.
Posted 4 years ago # -
HeySquare
German Village
Login to Send PM
I'm kind of with Brew, what I'd like to see is something more like a wine education class. Like what does each element smell/taste like, and try to learn how to identify different elements in wine. When I read a description, I can often say "Ah HA... yes, I can taste the minerals/berry/chocolate/whatever taste" But I'd like to learn how to identify some of those with my own palate.
Most of the tastings I go to just kind of throw different wines at me, and I don't really know what I'm drinking. I read the descriptions, and say, oh yea, I get that. And that's kind of the end for me. I'd really like to learn more.
I know that's a huge subject, but something that helps me LEARN about wine... not just taste it would be a great thing for me. Maybe we could have a series focusing on the characteristics of different varieties, or different countries... anything like that would really interest me.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
Login to Send PM
dredd wrote Lets just take a trip to Geneva, OH. Mmmmm There is this old church that is now a winery. SO romantic.
Can't resist this, really can't :
In October there is an event called Ponte Vino Giro which combines two days of cycling (giro) with covered bridged (ponte) and ... wait for it ... Ohio wineries (vino, natch.)
You should come.
A.
Posted 4 years ago # -
hazy stars
The Brauhaus
Login to Send PM
Andrew Hall wrote
dredd wrote Lets just take a trip to Geneva, OH. Mmmmm There is this old church that is now a winery. SO romantic.
Can't resist this, really can't :
In October there is an event called Ponte Vino Giro which combines two days of cycling (giro) with covered bridged (ponte) and ... wait for it ... Ohio wineries (vino, natch.)
You should come.
A.
SIGN ME UP! RIGHT NOW!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
Login to Send PM
HeySquare wrote I'm kind of with Brew, what I'd like to see is something more like a wine education class. Like what does each element smell/taste like, and try to learn how to identify different elements in wine. When I read a description, I can often say "Ah HA... yes, I can taste the minerals/berry/chocolate/whatever taste" But I'd like to learn how to identify some of those with my own palate.
.
Why?
Seriously, why?
Being able to draw out these taste descriptors is not in the least helpful to enjoying wine unless you want to write silly tasting notes. (see disclaimer below) If you want to look at wine that way, think in families of taste, not details. Chocolate-mocha-coffee-tobacco - think about the progression and similarity. Don't be hung up on you tasting chocolate when someone else says tobacco. Same things going on just difference experiences in taste history like that person only having sweet chocolates vs you having dark ones. (And you are probably tasting the oak treatment, not the wine anyway.)
I would submit it is actually a hinderance as I see way too many people attempting to place particular verbiage then failing to see the whole wine or enjoy it. Don't be drawn into this trap - I can promise with a pretty high degree of certainty you will appreciate wine more.
ObDisclaimer : I work for the largest repository of user-generated tasting notes. I even write silly tasting notes reaching for all sorts of flowery taste decriptors. I am trying to recover. My notes focus way more now on tactile sensations and other elements that both seperate wine from other beverages and integrate it into a whole and with food.
A.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
Login to Send PM
hazy stars wrote
Andrew Hall wrote
dredd wrote Lets just take a trip to Geneva, OH. Mmmmm There is this old church that is now a winery. SO romantic.
Can't resist this, really can't :
In October there is an event called Ponte Vino Giro which combines two days of cycling (giro) with covered bridged (ponte) and ... wait for it ... Ohio wineries (vino, natch.)
You should come.
A.
SIGN ME UP! RIGHT NOW!
https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=FC2VDK7
I will probably do it again, but that was the time frame we were looking to go back to Savannah/Charleston.
A.
Posted 4 years ago #
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.