Fearrington News
2018 Wine Classes
Dear Fellow Wine Lovers,
I would like to take the time to say thank you for the amazing year that we’ve had here at Fearrington. Fearrington Village’s beverage program has been in full swing from The Restaurant’s multi-awarded wine list and its progressive wine pairings, to The Wine Corner at The Goat’s wide array of wine deals and specials, to the reinvented wine classes at The Granary. All of this would not be possible without the amazing support and love you all have shown to us this year.
This coming year, I’d like to invite all of you to join us for another round of Wine Classes at The Granary. We’ve asked for many of your thoughts and suggestions for classes that you want to attend and wines that you’d like to taste and we came up with the lineup below. It is a combination of traditional wine classes and a few that are “supper club-style.” The Wine Supper Club will include both the class as well as food pairings for the six wines that will be tasted. The food will reflect the region that the wines are from that pair best with the wines.
We hope you can join us for the coming year!
Santé!
– Paula
P.S. Be sure to note, if you reserve for all four of the Volcanic Island Series, featuring wines from four distinct volcanic regions, you’ll receive a 20 percent discount on the class package!
February 1, 2018
The Big and Bold in Portugal
Notable wine writer Madeline Puckette of WineFolly.com says, “Duoro Reds make Cabernet Sauvignon look like a big wimp.” We are in agreeance to that statement after having tasted some truly sumptuous offerings from this region! It is surprising that not many are aware that there are grape varietals that deliver more fleshy and rich flavors than Cabernet Sauvignon and they are found in Portugal, a country more well-known for its fortified wines of Port and Madeira. While these are the most prominent, the country’s red wines from the Duoro and Dao regions rival many other countries’ big and bold wines. Touriga Nacional, considered to be Portugal’s finest grape produces wines of extreme intensity and extraction, high aromatics, and visible tannins. Discover the red wines from Portugal that can be alternatives to full-bodied red blends from all over the world at reasonable prices. $75 includes wine, two tasting courses, service fee and tax. Purchase tickets here!
Wine Supper Club
Love Fearrington’s Wine Classes? We are now offering wine classes that features a two-course food pairing with the six wines that will be taught by Beverage and Service Director, Paula de Pano. Watch out for these unique wine classes that will showcase the topic’s wines paired with the region’s specialties prepared by Granary Chef, Matt Cafarella. Limited seats per evening!
February 8, 2018
Bordeaux in South Africa
South Africa’s wine scene has risen over the past few decades due to the country’s dedication to quality. Bordeaux varietals have thrived in the region and have garnered renown throughout the wine world. Blends from top wineries like Meerlust, Warwick Estate, De Toren, and Rustenberg have constantly over performed in the market with their boldly flavored and richly textured wines. This is another region that has consistently given both the uninitiated wine drinker and connoisseurs alike a sensuous taste of Bordeaux outside of France, without the associated price tag. $50 includes wine, tasting course, service fee and tax. Reserve at 919.542.2121.
March 15, 2018
Big and Bold Australia
Australia is mostly known for highly extracted Shiraz, GSM, and Bordeaux Blends that ultimately stain your teeth yet warm your soul with their hearty and rich flavors. Yet in recent years, this country has had a wave of winemakers that are focusing more on older vines, and cultivating varietals that are suitable to their regions. Cool climate Pinot Noirs in Victoria, sparkling wines from Tasmania, Shiraz that drink like Northern Rhone Valley wines, and balanced Cabernets from the Margaret River are some examples of wines that are catching wine drinkers’ attention these days. $55 includes wine, tasting course, service fee and tax. Reserve at 919.542.2121.
April 5, 2018
Mencia – Spanish Pinot Noir?
Fans of Pinot Noir lament on the higher price tags they command these days. Top producers from Burgundy, Willamette Valley, and the Russian River Valley command prices upwards of $50 per bottle, sometimes even more! Here at Fearrington, we are always on the lookout for alternatives of mainstream grapes from all over the world. This usually means that they do not have the corresponding price tags attached as some of these grapes tend to be out of the spotlight. Mencia is a grape originating from the Iberian Peninsula that has been gaining notice from wine professionals as an alternative to lighter grape varietals like Pinot Noir, Gamay and Schiava. With its bright red fruit – strawberries, sour cherry, and pomegranate, licorice, crushed rose petals, and prominent minerality at a fraction of current Pinot Noir prices, what’s not to love? $75 includes wine, two tasting courses, service fee and tax. Purchase tickets here!
Wine Supper Club
Love Fearrington’s Wine Classes? We are now offering wine classes that features a two-course food pairing with the six wines that will be taught by Beverage and Service Director, Paula de Pano. Watch out for these unique wine classes that will showcase the topic’s wines paired with the region’s specialties prepared by Granary Chef, Matt Cafarella. Limited seats per evening!
April 19, 2018
Volcanic Wine Growing Regions Part 1: Etna
This class is one of four classes in the Volcanic Wine Growing Regions Series. Each class is $55 per person, however, guests who book all four classes will receive a 20 percent discount on the class package! Book here now!
Volcanic eruptions may not seem the most positive events for mankind, but for vine cultivation, it is one of the most ideal. Due to the amount of rich nutrients that are brought to the surface by magma from the earth’s core and the volcanic ash acting as an additional fertilizer, soils near a volcano are considered to be some of the most fertile.
Part 1 of the Volcanic Island Series will focus on wines produced on an island that is home to an active volcano, Mt. Etna. Explore wines made from the Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, and Catarratto grapes.
May 10, 2018
Volcanic Wine Growing Regions Part 2: Canary Islands
This class is one of four classes in the Volcanic Wine Growing Regions Series. Each class is $55 per person, however, guests who book all four classes will receive a 20 percent discount on the class package! Book here now!
Volcanic eruptions may not seem the most positive events for mankind, but for vine cultivation, it is one of the most ideal. Due to the amount of rich nutrients that are brought to the surface by magma from the earth’s core and the volcanic ash acting as an additional fertilizer, soils near a volcano are considered to be some of the most fertile.
Part 2 of the Volcanic Island Series will focus on wines produced on the volcanic archipelago of the Canary Islands in Spain – an extreme wine growing region subjected to rugged terrains, extreme winds, and potential volcanic eruption.
May 17. 2018
Volcanic Wine Growing Regions Part 3: Santorini and Soave
This class is one of four classes in the Volcanic Wine Growing Regions Series. Each class is $55 per person, however, guests who book all four classes will receive a 20 percent discount on the class package! Book here now!
Volcanic eruptions may not seem the most positive events for mankind, but for vine cultivation, it is one of the most ideal. Due to the amount of rich nutrients that are brought to the surface by magma from the earth’s core and the volcanic ash acting as an additional fertilizer, soils near a volcano are considered to be some of the most fertile.
Part 3 of the Volcanic Island Series will focus on white wines produced on the one of the most breathtaking islands of Greece – Santorini and the ancient volcanic terroirs of Soave in Italy. This class will delve into mineral-driven, voluptuously textured white wines from the Assyrtiko grape to steely wines made from Garganega grapes grown on decomposed volcanic soils.
May 24, 2018
Volcanic Wine Growing Regions Part 4: Campania
This class is one of four classes in the Volcanic Wine Growing Regions Series. Each class is $55 per person, however, guests who book all four classes will receive a 20 percent discount on the class package! Book here now!
Volcanic eruptions may not seem the most positive events for mankind, but for vine cultivation, it is one of the most ideal. Due to the amount of rich nutrients that are brought to the surface by magma from the earth’s core and the volcanic ash acting as an additional fertilizer, soils near a volcano are considered to be some of the most fertile.
Part 4 of the Volcanic Island Series will focus on wines produced in the Campania wine region of Italy. Explore wines made from Aglianico, Piedirosso, Coda di Volpe, and Greco grapes grown on the slopes of Vesuvius.
June 21, 2018
Nebbiolo out of Barolo and Barbaresco
Whenever the Nebbiolo grape is brought out in conversation among wine lovers, one cannot help but immediately associate the grape to its region – in Piedmont, Italy. It is in Piedmont that Nebbiolo produces the famed wines from Barolo and Barbaresco – wines that are often drunk years after it has been produced to mellow out its rigid tannins and develop a flavor and aromatics that cannot be compared to anything else. But this grape is also found in other parts of Italy in different iterations – some in softer, lighter styles from Gattinara, some redolent of alpine flavors coming from high up in the mountains of Lombardy and Valle d’Aosta, and some with its characteristic high acid but with a more forgiving tannin structure than can be drunk earlier from Roero. $45 includes wine, tasting course, service fee and tax. Reserve at 919.542.2121.
June 28, 2018
Chenin Blanc, the Gem of the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley has long been the bastion of the Sauvignon Blanc grape, as many associate the region with the famed Sancerre wine. But the Loire is also home to another grape that is equally, if not more, impressive than Sauvignon Blanc. Known to produce a wide range of styles from dry, to off-dry, to sweet, and even sparkling, Chenin Blanc’s signature flavors display tart pears, quince, orange marmalade, ginger, passionfruit, apple blossoms, chamomile tea, and honeycomb. Due to its wide range of styles and its inherent acidity, it pairs extremely well with appetizers to meats, to desserts to even different styles of cheeses. The class will showcase sparkling wines from Vouvray, dry wines from Savennieres, and sweet wines from Quarts de Chaume – an extraordinary way to get to know this gem of a grape from the Loire. $75 includes wine, two tasting courses, service fee and tax. Purchase tickets here!
Wine Supper Club
Love Fearrington’s Wine Classes? We are now offering wine classes that features a two-course food pairing with the six wines that will be taught by Beverage and Service Director, Paula de Pano. Watch out for these unique wine classes that will showcase the topic’s wines paired with the region’s specialties prepared by Granary Chef, Matt Cafarella. Limited seats per evening!
July 12, 2018
Trocken: German Riesling
Riesling – a grape oft maligned and misunderstood despite it having so many worthy qualities. Not all Rieslings are sweet, not all Rieslings are from Germany, not all Rieslings are paired with desserts. Due to all of these hardline misconceptions about this grape, not many truly are able to appreciate its otherworldly qualities that make it the darling grape of the wine world – and that includes top wine critics and professionals in the food world. From its juicy acidity that makes it very friendly with a wide variety of cuisines, to its lighter and ephemeral texture that makes it gulp-able, to it being the definition of ‘minerality’ in a bottle – it truly is a wonder why not many advocate for this grape as the perfect food wine. This class explores Riesling in its dry form – zero residual sugar – to understand the soul of this grape, it’s acid and mineral qualities. $55 includes wine, tasting course, service fee and tax. Reserve at 919.542.2121.
July 26, 2018
Mediterranean Rosé
The rose craze during the summer was brought about by the amazing amount of delicious pink juice from Provence in France. Roses epitomize the bright summer days, filled with sunshine, warm breezes, and the need to just have a chilled glass of an easy, friendly rose while lounging on your front porch. These days, there are roses produced all over the world, from California, to South Africa, to Spain, to even ones that come in a can! All delicious, all bursting with summertime flavors of red cherries, watermelon, and grapefruit. Discover other ways to drink roses other than just straight from a wine glass – from slushies, to punches, to even ingredients in cocktails.
August 2, 2018
The Chalk Connection – English Sparkling Wines
Our collective love and adoration for sparkling wines cannot be overstated, and the recent arrival of English sparkling wines here in the state has brought much excitement to us here. In the past few years, English sparkling wines have consistently won accolade after accolade – sometimes even trumping Champagnes themselves. What gives? In this class, we will explore the climate and terroir that allows the British Isles to produce world-class sparkling wines and give the Champenois a run for their money. $55 includes wine, tasting course, service fee and tax. Reserve at 919.542.2121.
September 27, 2018
Bored with having Pinot Grigio day in and day out as your go-to Italian white wine? Perhaps you’ve even had your share of Moscato or Prosecco and would like to branch out? This wine class may be for you! Italy has an abundance of indigenous grape varietals that go beyond the usual suspects that we had to divide this wine class in to two – for white grape varietals that are mainly grown on the northern section of the country and for the ones that are more encountered in the southern regions! Explore and taste grape varietals like Carricante, Grillo, Falanghina, Catarratto, Gaglioppo, and Biancolella – definitely not the usual white grapes that are on regular display in your friendly neighborhood wine shop! $75 includes wine, two tasting courses, service fee and tax. Purchase tickets here!
Wine Supper Club
Love Fearrington’s Wine Classes? We are now offering wine classes that features a two-course food pairing with the six wines that will be taught by Beverage and Service Director, Paula de Pano. Watch out for these unique wine classes that will showcase the topic’s wines paired with the region’s specialties prepared by Granary Chef, Matt Cafarella. Limited seats per evening!
October 4, 2018
Southern Italian Whites
Bored with having Pinot Grigio day in and day out as your go-to Italian white wine? Perhaps you’ve even had your share of Moscato or Prosecco and would like to branch out? This wine class may be for you! Italy has an abundance of indigenous grape varietals that go beyond the usual suspects that we had to divide this wine class in to two – for white grape varietals that are mainly grown on the northern section of the country and for the ones that are more encountered in the southern regions! Explore and taste grape varietals like Carricante, Grillo, Falanghina, Catarratto, Gaglioppo, and Biancolella – definitely not the usual white grapes that are on regular display in your friendly neighborhood wine shop! $75 includes wine, two tasting courses, service fee and tax. Purchase tickets here!
Wine Supper Club
Love Fearrington’s Wine Classes? We are now offering wine classes that features a two-course food pairing with the six wines that will be taught by Beverage and Service Director, Paula de Pano. Watch out for these unique wine classes that will showcase the topic’s wines paired with the region’s specialties prepared by Granary Chef, Matt Cafarella. Limited seats per evening!
October 18, 2018
Old World versus New World Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a grape that has seen its share of adoration from many wine drinkers over the years. Most know it as THE grape of Napa Valley or the main varietal in top Bordeaux chateaux. This wine class focuses on the different characteristics of this well-known grape to dissect its intrinsic qualities that make so recognizable all over the world. Featuring iterations of Cabernet Sauvignon from France, USA, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Slovenia. $45 includes wine, tasting course, service fee and tax. Reserve at 919.542.2121.
November 1, 2018
Evolution of Cabernet Franc & Riesling in New York
New York State has had a love affair with Cabernet Franc and Riesling for a long time yet hasn’t been explored much outside of the state. It is completely understandable to hoard quality wines and drink them all by themselves, but now the proverbial cat is outside the bag. Cabernet Francs from Long Island showcase deep black berry fruit with a concentration only allowed by a region that is moderated by its warmer location. Rieslings from the Finger Lakes are citrus and orchard fruit driven with a zippy and linear finish reminiscent of their dry German cousins from the Nahe. It is easy to overlook such gems due to the state not being as renowned as California or Orgeon, but that is the exciting part of this discovery – being one of the firsts to champion this wine region. $45 includes wine, tasting course, service fee and tax. Reserve at 919.542.2121.
November 15, 2018
Southern France – Languedoc/Roussillon
Southern France has long been known as the wine lake of France with inexpensive wines that are sold in bulk or distilled. Not many know that this region has some hidden gems that have either long been considered pillars of the wine world, or are currently the trailblazers of the industry. With its moderate climate conducive to grape-growing, the Mediterranean wine region has certainly started to come on its own with modern winemakers taking the helm of vineyards planted to old vines and implementing sustainable practices that have brought the region to new heights. $75 includes wine, two tasting courses, service fee and tax. Purchase tickets here!
Wine Supper Club
Love Fearrington’s Wine Classes? We are now offering wine classes that features a two-course food pairing with the six wines that will be taught by Beverage and Service Director, Paula de Pano. Watch out for these unique wine classes that will showcase the topic’s wines paired with the region’s specialties prepared by Granary Chef, Matt Cafarella. Limited seats per evening!
December 6, 2018
Oregon Pinot Noir
When did the craze for Oregon Pinot Noir start? When did the focus of New World Pinot Noir shift from California to Oregon? Die-hard fans of Oregon Pinot Noir are almost evangelical in their love about Pinot Noir made from this wine region. Is it how the region perfectly balances the red fruit qualities with refreshing acidity? Is it how the wines’ earthiness is more alluring rather than overpowering in nature? And just like in Burgundy, where Pinot Noir is king, Oregon is also weather dependent on the quality of the finished product year after year. This wine class will showcase top producers from the Willamette Valley’s sub-appellations to delve deeper into the wide range of styles being produced from this region. $55 includes wine, tasting course, service fee and tax. Reserve at 919.542.2121.
Cheers to 2018!
Check out the up-to-date class schedule by clicking here!