Introducing a four week course in French wine education with Wine Importer Adam Fox of Uva Imports, held in the Private Tasting Room at Sauer Grapes.
This four part series will prepare you for all French wine drinking adventures — foreign and domestic— and will cover the principal areas of focus of Uva’s import portfolio: Champagne, Burgundy, Rhone and Loire.
You will learn:
- How to read (and pronounce) a label to really know what you are drinking
- About new appellations and grapes
- How to drink and dine in France like a local (in French if you want!)
- A greater understanding of French culture and how to enjoy yourself without falling into the typical pitfalls of the American traveler
You will taste examples of benchmark producers and benchmark wines in each and every appellation that we cover. You’ll also have opportunities to add some of these very limited allocations to your collection. Sauer Grapes will receive special access to some of Uva’s most allocated wines for this course – wines almost never opened as “samples”.
For those interested, the course can be preparation for a Joy of France Tour — a 5 star luxury tour of France operated by Uva Imports founders Adam and Natalie Richard who will take you on the ground to experience the regions, the wineries and the cuisine that we will cover in the Cork and Culture class. Check out the website for more details about their voyages. By reputation – there is no tour which rivals Joy Tours in terms of luxury, cuisine, and the access to experience of the Wine Routes of France and Italy as trade professionals do.
Adam Richard founded Uva Imports as an extension of the language and culture of hospitality he experienced throughout Europe at a young age. Friendships with Italian & French winemakers and shared passion for their process forged the foundations of his career.
Restaurant management unlocked a new application of his science and business degrees as he pursued the idea of wine importing. His knowledge and palate developed through years of tastings while exploring new regions and meeting producers.
READ MORE ABOUT ADAM
Today, the Atlanta-based Uva Imports represents some of Italy and France’s best small family vineyards throughout the US and has welcomed vineyards from New Zealand, Argentina and the former Republic of Georgia to the portfolio. Adam is enthusiastic about traditions of winemakers, geography, history and diverse culinary landscapes.
Through the rolling hills of Piedmont, the steep slopes of the Northern Rhone and the historic family farms of the Veneto, Adam engages with Uva Imports producers and their history. He maintains an elevated sense of respect for the living process of wine making and represents vineyards that create concentrated, natural wines from low yield vineyards with minimum intervention.
In 2012 these relationships and time spent in Italy and France gave birth to Joy of Wine Tours. With Adam’s wife Natalie, they have been curating and leading gourmet food & wine tours through northern Italy. Over the years these tours have expanded to now include also a signature tour in France. These experiences focus on the rich family histories of the Uva Imports family of producers and exploring the culinary diversity of each wine region they visit.
CLASS DATES AND WINES BY WEEK
Classes will begin at 6 pm and last approximately 90 minutes.
October 30th – Loire
Domaines Vinet Maleco Cremant de Loire
Clos de la Houssaie Muscadet Sevre et Maine
Domaine Loic Mahe Fougerais or Equilibre
Domaine Thomas Le Perrier or Brand Chaille
Domaine Thomas Terres Blanches Pinot Noir
Domaine Brocourt Chinon Les Couteaux
November 6th – Rhone
F/R Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
Domaine Louis Cheze – Breze Condrieu
F/R Cotes du Rhone
Clos du Calvaire Pere Pape
Domaine Louis Cheze Cote Rotie
Domaine Louis Cheze Anges St Jospeh
November 13th – Burgundy
Domaine Cordier St Veran
Domaine Cordier Pouilly Fuisse Vielles Vignes
Domaine Cordier 1er Cru Les Ménétrières
Domaine Serafin Gevrey Chambertain
Domaine Serafin Les Millandes Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru
Domaine Serafin Les Baudes Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru
November 20th – Champagne
Champagne Philippe Gonet 3210
Champagne Philippe Gonet Ter Blanc
Champagne Philippe Gonet Millesime 2016
Champagne Eric Taillet ExclusivT
Champagne Eric Taillet Renaissance
Champagne Eric Taillet Decem 2004
We’re also having a party on the Sunday before Thanksgiving after the fourth class. We’ll have a bunch of French pass around foods made by Marie Arno and some additional wines that we didn’t get to try in the course.