WINE CLASSES

Sunny Vines and Spirits is a recreational “academy” that was created to serve as a fun way to get educated about wine and spirits.  Wine is about enjoyment, laughter, education and fun gatherings – all of which we hope will be included in our classes. The classes are made to fit both novices and connoisseurs with a passion for wine.  Remember – no question is silly and enthusiasm and inquiries are always welcome! As a matter of fact, when you sign up for a class at Sunny Vines and Spirits, we will give you a “Lifetime Membership” which will entitle you to email Sunny with questions at any time after the class should you have any questions about a wine, a label, region or how to purchase wines. We welcome anybody who is interested enough in wine and spirits to sign up for a class and wish there were many, many more of you in the world!

Sunny Vines and Spirits also welcome professional groups and corporations interested in team building events for their members and employees respectively. Call us at (914) 482 1709 and we will customize the perfect event for you!

*Please note: Unless otherwise agreed, you will be responsible for providing the location where you wish the wine class to be held. Sunny is a “flying wine educator” at the moment, but we will happily arrange a location if notified in a timely manner. Additional fees will apply.
**Pure wine courses will include a welcoming tapas dish, crackers, and water.  Glassware and napkins are provided and a summary of written materials from the class will be handed out after class.  Prices per person differ from course to course and we are dependent on a minimum of 6 people signing up.  Deposit of 6 people at the relevant course price, required. Tax is included in all listed prices.
Group prices are also available – this will include a $500 fee for the wine speaker plus cost of wines and location if needed, unless otherwise specified.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations may be made up to 10 business days prior to event. Cancellation notification made less than 10 days before event will result in uncredited class. No refunds available but credit can be issued towards a future class. Future class must be within 90 days of cancellation of orignial class. Transfer of reservation to a third party may be possible - please call to inquire.

A sample list of courses currently offered:

HOW TO TASTE WINE
Flight of 6 wines – class will go through the methodical way of how to see, smell and taste wines and learn how to write a professional tasting note similar to the ones you see in trade magazines such as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and Decanter.  The flight will consist of 3 whites and 3 reds very different in taste, color, texture and body.

WINES AROUND THE WORLD
Flight consists of 8 wines from around the world. This will consist of wines from the “Old World” (aka Europe) and the “New World” (the rest of the world) and include a discussion at the end of the class about favorites and the differences in style and tastes.

WINES OF FRANCE
Flight of 6 or 8 wines depending upon interest and demand to include following regions: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Loire Valley, Languedoc and a surprise region or appellation. France is the country responsible for putting wine up to the high standards we expect and see today – come join and see why the French truly deserve their reputation of producing fine wines.  A mixture of red and whites.

WINES OF SPAIN
Flight of 6 or 8 wines will be provided, to include regions of Rioja, Castilla-La-Mancha, Cataluna, Galicia, Levante and Navarra among others.  From the old, famous wines of Rioja to the steely whites of Riax Baixas and the exciting, big and (often) pricy reds from Priorat – Spain is currently one of the most exciting wine regions in the world. Red and whites.

WINES OF ITALY
Flight of 6-8 wines to include, but not limited to, regions of Piemonte, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Sicily and Puglia.  Almost every square foot in Italy has some vines planted on it – discover this country’s beautiful, fascinating regions and come to understand why Italian wines are so popular in the U.S. Cheese pairings can be included at an additional price if requested.  Bienvenuto!

WINES OF LATIN AMERICA
Flight of 6-8 wines from countries in Latin America, including Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico plus one additional surprise. Course will include history of winemaking in these countries and the fascinating development in quality and winemaking techniques that are currently taking place in these regions.

WINES OF AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Flight of 6-8 wines and will include mostly higher end wines such as Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley, Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, NZ, Rieslings from Eden Valley and sparkling wine from Tasmania. We will also look into how the Australians and Kiwis have managed to produce such popular, everyday drinking wines and analyze their place in the future market, as people get more and more knowledgeable about wine.

HIDDEN TREASURES
This is a class for the adventurous wine enthusiast, who would like to discover new, up and coming region of fantastic wines at bargain prices.  Countries can include Lebanon, Morocco, Switzerland and South Africa – we’ll go to areas in the world where you thought nobody produced wine and taste through whether or not these can be compared to the more famous wines of the world.

FUNDAMENTALS OF GRAPE VARIETIES
What’s the difference between Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio? Why does Pinot Noir have a different color than Cabernet Sauvignon? In this class we’ll cover all the basics for the most popular grape varieties such as the above, in addition to Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz/Syrah, Merlot and Riesling among many more.  After this class you can show off to your friends how you can taste the difference between the grapes and pass on your knowledge how they vary!

COMPARATIVE WINE TASTING CLASS
This class will consist of about 10-12 different wines, and will consist of flights of 2 different wines made from the same grape. Why can Chardonnay taste so different in Burgundy and Napa? Oak, ageing and temperature play just a few parts in this. Let us discover why you should never turn your nose down at a certain grape variety even if you had a “bad” experience – it all comes down to winemaking and terroir!

YOU PICK, WE SPEAK
In this customized class, everyone will bring one bottle each of either a wine they love and would like to know more about, or a wine that caught your eye in the store that you are curious about.  The lecture will include background about the region and country where the bottle is form, information about the producer and conclusions about quality and what occasion this wine would be good for, as well as a suggestion for food pairing.

MIXOLOGY 101
In this fun class, we will learn how to mix modern, cutting edge cocktails with a twist- as well as the classic cocktails enjoyed since the 1930s, such as the Old Fashioned, the Manhattan, and not to mention the Martini ! Learn how to use a muddler, different cocktail spoons, knives and shakers, and look like a pro at your next party!  The class will also talk about the history of cocktail making in the U.S., including politics and regulations surrounding spirits in general.  While the class will touch upon these subjects, for a more in depth lecture on these issues contact Sunny to set up a specialized lesson.

GROUP CLASS
This class is perfect for a group of friends who want to combine efforts and all participate in an evening of fun that includes a wine lecture and tastings combined with some snacks. Tapas provided by Sunny Vines – you bring the wine and anything else you’d like the class to include.  Please email name of wines you are bringing 5 days before class is to be given to allow sufficient preparation.  

SUNNY’S WINE CLUB
This is a special offer for people who have a more serious interest in wine and would like in-depth knowledge about the wines around the world.  The options are either 1) month by month, where we will meet for 2 hours and the theme will change every month to include major wine regions and wines as well as up and coming areas and hot wines, 2) a 6-week course that handles all the essentials of wine. The course will include information about vines, soil, the science of winemaking as well as the history, culture and geography that encompasses the world of wine, and finally 3) a 12-week course which will earn you a “Wine Aficionado” certificate and include a small quiz at the end.  All wines provided, we will go through anywhere between 4-6 wines in each class and each course. Duration of each class: 2 hours.

Prices:
Month –by month: $75 per class
6 week course:  $450
12 week course:  $900

 FOOD AND WINE PAIRING CLASSES:
Samples of classes offered:
- 3 course menu (appetizer, main course and dessert) will include 5 wines.
- 5 course menu (amuse, appetizer, soup or salad, entrée, dessert) – includes 7 wines.
- 7 course menus (2 amuse-bouches, 2 appetizers, entrée, dessert or cheese course) will include 8 wines plus a surprise wine.
- How To Pair Desserts with Wine and Spirits.
- Cheese and Wine Pairings.
- Scotch Dinners Galore (pair food with your favorite Scotch).
- Russian, Swedish or Polish? Discover a wide array of vodkas and food that go along with them.

All classes will start with a specialized cocktail prepared by Sunny Gandara, our spirit professional who currently holds the Lead Educator and Mixologist position for Heavy Water, a luxury vodka brand from Scandinavia. Heavy Water has already earned 8 international medals for its quality vodka and cutting edge design.

* Recipe booklet will be provided at the end of the class.

** Food is prepared by Chef Mark Gandara.  Chef Mark is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has 10 years of experience at highly acclaimed 3-star restaurants in Manhattan such as Union Square Café and Aquavit and is currently located in Cold Spring in the Hudson Valley where he prepares his signature dishes made from the freshest produce and ingredients from farmer’s markets in the area.