América del sur: Regiones, Viñas y Vinos
Take a class through the Learning Life dept @ the University of Minnesota Class with Sommelier Leslee Miller and Discover the wines of South America!
February 3, 10 & 17, 2015 (6:30-8:30pm) @ Coffman Memorial Union, University of Minnesota Campus
From the high desert climates of Chile to the foothills of the Andes Mountains of Argentina to the Atlantic coastline of Patagonia and Uruguay, South American wine and its record of winemaking have a longer history than anywhere else in the new world. In the mid-1500s, Jesuit missionaries brought vines to South America and planted them as a means to increase agricultural practice and create commerce among regions. Today, South America is one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world.
Join sommelier Leslee Miller on an extensive tour of the continent’s viticultural history as well as its contemporary winemaking practices and trends. As you travel from place to place, you’ll discover how climate, grapevarietal, and site, are expressive of and essential to the wines made in each region.
You’ll begin in the hot, arid, mountainous coastline region of Chile and as you sample the area’s fresh, mouth-watering whites and spicy reds, you’ll learn how a number of Bordeaux varietals—including Carmenere, the country’s most intriguing grape—came to be in the region.
Next, the chilly borders of Patagonia where you will taste some of the region’s top trending grapes, including the bold, full-bodied Tannat from the relatively new grape-growing country of Uruguay. A significant amount of time will be spent in Argentina, whose wide selection of grape varietals (Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Bonarda, Barbera, Torrontes and Malbec) make the country one of the world’s largest grape-growing regions despite its extreme vineyard plantings, many of which reach elevations in excess of 3,500 feet above sea level.
No wine experience is necessary as Wine 101 will be covered. A $30 fee, payable to the instructor at the first class, will cover the cost of wine for all sessions.
Leslee Miller is a dually certified sommelier through the International Sommelier Guild and the Court of Master Sommeliers. She is the former director of Archery Summit Winery in Oregon and was a member of the board of directors for its sister winery, Pine Ridge of Napa, California. Miller currently owns and operates Amusee, an international wine-consulting firm. Her goal, first and foremost, is to make wine education accessible and “drinkable” for all levels of enthusiasts.