Classes & EXPERIENCES
Drink to learn. Learn to drink.
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Need a date night? A new hobby? Something to break the monotony of the work week? Join us for classes taught by Sarah, Dave, and industry friends. We’re dialing down the pretension and judgmentalism, and leaning into the fun of tasting wines and learning about how they came to be. You’ll find all our classes and events over the next few months, and we update this page regularly as we add things to the schedule!
FOUNDATIONS
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If you’ve come to appreciate how wine can elevate a meal, but want to understand how wine and food interact–in both desirable and undesirable ways–then this is the class for you. As we taste through our flight, we’ll be investigating how these wines interact with various food components (salt, fat, acid, and heat, as it were). We’ll empower you with the resources to ask the right questions of wine stewards and sommeliers when you’re looking for the perfect bottle or glass to accompany your meal.
Just for fun
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While Champagne absorbs much of the Holiday glow at this festive time of year, we also want to shine a light on the dazzling array of sparkling wines made outside of the Motherland. All our selections will be made in the “traditional” or Champagne method, where the bubbles are created naturally in individual bottles. But then the differences in grape varieties, terroir, and winemaking styles will come into play. Some are crafted as an homage to Champagne, others are made with local grapes to be distinctly different. All will offer festive flavors, versatility in food pairings, and compelling quality for the price.
A native New Yorker, Oliver Longwell caught the wine bug in 2012 after a number of years working in government and politics. He has worked for leading wine retailers in New York and Los Angeles, with a particular focus on organically-farmed and natural wines. Oliver is a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and works as a freelance wine consultant. He enjoys experimenting with fermentations, especially ciders. He and his wife moved to Northeast Portland in 2021 and welcomed their first daughter in 2022 and second daughter in 2024.
EUROPE
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Join our own Tanya Zumach (who happens to hold a Master of Champagne certification) to discover the magic behind the world’s most celebrated wine in this fun and immersive class! From the rich history of Champagne to the complex production process, you’ll gain a deep appreciation for what makes this wine truly unique. Explore how Champagne stands apart from sparkling wines around the globe, and dive into the diverse styles with six wines to taste—from classic blends to single varietals. We’ll even pop off the experience with a sabering demonstration! Whether you’re a newbie or just want to learn more, this class will elevate your understanding and enjoyment of Champagne.
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Take your Champagne knowledge to the next level with this in-depth Master Class, taught by our very own Tanya Zumach, WSET3 and Master of Champagne. As we taste through six premium wines, we’ll explore the diverse regions, cult grower-producers, and grand marques that define the world of Champagne. Dive into the nuanced roles of oak and reserve wines in crafting exceptional cuvées, and experience a live sabering demo! Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a budding connoisseur, this class will refine your palate and deepen your appreciation for the complexity and artistry behind every bottle.
Not Europe
SPECIAL TASTINGS & EVENTS
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Founders of import company Black Lamb, Stetson and Kristyn are nationally recognized for their pioneering efforts in preaching a vinous gospel concerning the wines of Georgia and Central Europe. And get this…they just moved to the Portland area from New York City. We’ll be hosting Stetson for a tasting of four wines from a unique Slovenian producer. Read about Stetson, his import company Black Lamb, and KABAJ below!
My wife and partner Kristyn and I started our wine import company Black Lamb in 2018 in CA. Most of our professional wine experience has been with indigenous wines from Central Europe and Georgia, and we are attracted to low-technology, grower-produced wines that range from dogmatically traditional to the new and unknown. This is the first tasting I have hosted since we relocated to the Northwest! We love it here! It reminds us of the Alpic foothills of Slovenia.
Fittingly, we are excited to share the wines of KABAJ, a familial estate, nestled in those very foothills, within the wine district of Goriška Brda. Like western Oregon, Western Slovenia is something of an agricultural cornucopia. Caught between the Alps and the Adriatic, it is the most northerly position where olives are grown and home to some of Europe's tastiest stone fruit. It is also one of the places where orange wine is old-fashioned, and KABAJ has long been dedicated to this style of vinification. The diverse selection KABAJ produces establishes that, at least in Brda, vinfiying white wine with the skins results in wines of greater drama, longevity and specificity. Come learn more, and try for yourselves.
purchase tickets here, $15, with your ticket credited toward a purchase of two bottles at the event
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Lisette Hrapmann hails from New Orleans, worked with Brianne Day of Day Wines, and began crafting her own juice from Columbia Gorge grapes.
Lisette’s wines honor her roots, as her label Lagniappe (“a little extra”) indicates. Her “Fizzy Lizzy Swampwater” pet-nat, “Stoop Juice” Dolcetto, and “Seersucker” Sauv Blanc are creatively named and labeled, but more importantly #deliciousaf.