Announcing The Expansion Of Vino-versity� Wine School

INTRODUCING VINO-VERSITY� BASIC TRAINING: WINE FOR BEGINNERS BOOT CAMP!

TUTORIAL SIT-DOWN WINE LECTURES DESIGNED TO BRING WINE SENSE TO THE WINE DENSE

Attention wine novices looking to turn over a new (grape) leaf next year: Are you ready to enroll in wine school? To learn the basics beyond Pinot Grigio? Then we have the answer for you.

Beginning in January 2009, Vino-Versity� (www.vino-versity.com), will be offering a new sit-down wine series that will teach everything one needs to understand wine, wine lists, wine labels and wine mystique. Offered as a two-part lecture on consecutive Sunday evenings for $189 total, this "Basic Training" wine program is fashioned after Cornell University's wine seminars. It is a wonderful holiday gift for any person to give themselves or to their (wine-challenged) loved ones.

"Vino-Versity� BASIC TRAINING: Wine for Beginners Boot Camp" is part of an expanded curriculum offered by the Vino-Versity� program. Previously, Vino-Versity� had been established in 1998 solely as a bi-weekly series of thematic and instructional wine tastings; each was designed as a walk-around "cocktail party" with education disseminated by wine professionals pouring up to 28 different wines from a given theme. Now, Vino-Versity� lectures will be available to any individual who wants to attend a 'starting-from-scratch', fundamentally enlightening seminar that won't break their pocketbook and will give them entry into the intimidating world of wine.

Future plans for Vino-Versity� include an expansion to geography and grape based sessions, such as "Basic Training: Wines of Spain Boot Camp", "Basic Training: Wines of Italy Boot Camp", and "Basic Training: Pinot Noir Boot Camp."

Here are the details for "BASIC TRAINING: Wine For Beginners Boot Camp":

WHO?
Shari Schneider, the founder and principal of NYC's foremost wine bar, Divine Bar, is prepared to take her private restaurant staff wine training public! She will conduct ongoing two-part lectures and tastings to teach wine novices everything they ever wanted to learn but were afraid to ask. Schneider, a graduate of Cornell University, has formatted wine training lectures after those she attended at her alma mater and has already taught "Wines 101" at The New York Restaurant School, as well as all her Divine Bar staff members for the past 12 years and counting. Here it is...the ONE and ONLY lecture you will ever have to attend to finally demystify wine!

WHAT?
Two Lectures, 2.5 hours each part. $189 per person.

Part 1 Syllabus:
* How wine is made (from grape growing to fermentation)
* Definitions and explanations of corks, glasses, swirling, breathing, decanters, screw caps, varietals, "terroir", appellations, Old Vine, "Old World vs. New World", and wine-making jargon.
*A tasting and explanation of 6 grape varietals (types) featuring:
1. A comparison between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
2. A comparison of Chardonnays from around the globe
3. A comparison of Sauvignon Blancs from around the globe
4. A comparison of other fun and exciting white grapes

Part 2 Syllabus:
*A comparison of differences between white and red grapes
*An explanation of aging and tannins
*An explanation and comparison of Barrel Fermentation and Barrel Aging
*A tasting and explanation of 10 grape varietals (types) featuring:
1. A comparison of Cabernet and Merlot
2. A comparison of Merlots from around the globe
3. A comparison of Cabernets from around the globe
4. A comparison of "Spicy" Grapes: Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel
5. A comparison of grapes/style