Register for WC’s 2017 El Centro wine class
by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On
Thursday night and the WC’s El Centro wine class: a perfect pairing
There is still time to register for the Wine Curmudgeon’s — dare I say it? — epic return to El Centro College in Dallas to teach the original wine class – RSTO 1319, viticulture and enology, for those who want to register. If you aren’t a student at El Centro, you can take it as continuing education through this link for about $100.
This semester, we’re doing 10 tastings among the 15 classes, and will cover most of the world’s great wine regions, including France, two classes on California, and U.S. regional wine. Depending on my samples, I usually find a very pricey Napa red wine for the Napa and Sonoma tasting.
In addition, we’ll discuss the three-tier system and the wine supply chain, and I’ll bring in a Dallas restaurateur to talk about everyone’s favorite subject, restaurant wine prices. That’s just one of the many guest speakers, featuring some of the smartest wine people in Dallas. There may also be a rant or two about wine scores – delivered with the proper academic perspective, of course.
All is delivered with my unique brand of enthusiasm, map drawing skills (my Texas map is legendary), humor, and passion for wine. And did I mention 10 tastings?
More on the El Centro wine class:
• El Centro wine class: A new semester
• The Wine Curmudgeon’s fall 2015 wine education extravaganza
• Beverage management at El Centro
Hi Jeff, glad to see you’re still teaching the class. I took it three years ago, best $150 I ever spent. By the way, I prepared the powerpoint presentation on German wine.
That class opened the door for me, as my winery report was on Lost Oak winery in Burleson. We’ve now been wine club members there for nearly 3 years.
About two months ago, I discovered the website for my favorite winery in Germany. Weingut Eduard Kroth, located in Briedel, was about a ten minute drive from my apartment in Traben-Trarbach. I’d visit them every 4-6 weeks, and I learned a lot from them.
I emailed them, and to my good fortune, learned that they ship to Texas. My first purchase consisted of 6 Auslese and 6 Spatlese, and the wine was as good as I remembered. The memories that were rekindled were even better. Although the pricing was a bit above the $10 level, I paid less than $200 for the case, including shipping.
They also rush shipped it to me, in time for Thanksgiving, a very pleasant surprise. In comparing the prices to similar vintages, I believe my total cost was about 40% of retail.
My Mosel wine tip, which I doubt will be a surprise to you, are the Piesporter Michelsberg wines. In my opinion, they get a bad rap, because they don’t have the panache of a Piesporter Goldtropfchen or an Urziger Wurzgarten. I understand why, as my daily commute went through Urzig. When I go to Spec’s or Total Wine, they usually have a few bottles on the shelf, with the Spatlese priced under $10.
If you need a presenter for German wines, feel free to contact me. If his parents allow it, I’ll bring my 6 year old grandson, to whom I’ve taught the German term “hochgewachs.” He is a budding sommelier, though we don’t let him touch the stuff. Sprite and root beer is as close as he gets.
Best wishes
Rich Kinley