APWASI Courses Add A New Dimension To Wine Education

Add culture and cuisine to your wine learning menu.

New Wine Horizons

It’s been five years since I studied, swirled, and sweated to earn my Certified Specialist of Wine designation. My wine education is not over, though. I’ve continued to learn, some through formal training while also absorbing knowledge through less formal means such as tastings and reading.

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Whenever the world opens up again, our next international trip will be to Argentina to explore the country and its famed wine regions. To help prepare, I enrolled in the Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute class to become a Certified Argentinian Wine Specialist.

APWASI has an interesting approach to learning. In addition to the country’s wine history, geography, climate, grapes, and wine, it adds some extra elements. Culture, cuisine, and history are all well covered.

Cultural Interaction

Indeed, part of APWASI’s mission is to expand global awareness, diversity, and inclusivity, through cultural interaction, experience, and adventure. It has an interesting array of classes. For those with general interest in wine there are the following classes: Consumer Wine Course, Wine Essentials I and Wine Essentials II.

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There is also a training course for tasting room staff and courses on luxury and spirits topics like whiskey, cigars, ice wine, and caviar. What attracted me is the deep dive into wines of a particular country. The wine icons like France and Italy have courses, but so do countries like Portugal, South Africa, and Canada. A new course, on the wines of China, was just introduced.

The country-specific course are US$345 except for Italy and France, which are US$545. The spirts and luxury courses are also US$345. The Wine Essentials and tasting room training courses cost less.

My focus was on Argentina. The course is all online and has 10 lessons. Each lesson consists of facts and information plus a number of videos. The videos are not produced by APWASI and aren’t included on the exam, but I found them to be tremendously valuable.

Immersed In Wine And Culture

They enabled me to become immersed in the country, its wine and culture. Some of the early lessons had videos that simply showed drone footage of various regions in Argentina. How wonderful! It really allowed me to get a feel for the land. Later courses had videos with winemakers, tours of Mendoza and Salta, and videos highlighting the food and dance of the country.

After each lesson, there is a brief quiz, which is timed. Most questions are true/false or multiple choice with a few fill-in-the-blanks. You must get 55% right in order to proceed to the next lesson. Even though I could refer to my notes, it’s easy to get tripped up. When I prepared for the final exam, I went back and retook several of the quizzes to test my knowledge. I estimate that the course took about 20 hours to go through the lessons then I spent another five hours reviewing and studying. I did this over a month’s time. For a country like Italy, I image the time would be considerably longer.

The culture and food aspects of the course really brought Argentina to life. Since I’m planning on visiting Argentina, it was extremely valuable to learn, for example, that dinner doesn’t start until 10 PM and that it is insulting to pour with the left hand. There was information on the asado, which is the Argentinian barbecue. Not only was there information, but a great video showing a family cooking up some tremendous dishes.

Trying An Argentinian Specialty

It was through the cuisine section that I learned about Milanesa, a dish that is made from pounded beef or chicken covered in breadcrumbs. As a way of driving home my knowledge, we created a wine dinner with Milanesa Napolitana (there is a tremendous Italian influence in Argentina), basil roasted potatoes, and a nice wine pairing.

Malbec is the signature red grape and we poured the 2011 Nieto Senetiner
"Don Nicanor" Villa Blanca Malbec from  Luján de Cuyo and the Phebus 2020 Torrontés, Mendoza. The Phebus has round flavors with citrus notes. Torrontés is the country’s signature white grape and its flavor can vary depending on the altitude of the vineyard and the soil.

The Don Nicanor is simply one of the best Malbecs we've had. At 10 years since vintage, the tannins are unobtrusive and only show at the finish. The texture is plush and soft with black cherry and raisin.

Fortified by this great meal and wine I was ready for the exam the next day. The exam is 100 questions and it is timed – although time for me wasn’t really an issue. Many of the questions were easy after studying all the course lessons. Others were a bit tricky, like the name of the first Spanish settlement or the date when the first vines were planted.

This is an unproctored exam, so you can glance at your notes if your willpower weakens.A minimum grade of 65% is required to pass the exam. If you do not pass the exam, you can retake it for a $60 fee.

Crossing The Finish Line

As an added bonus Dr. Clinton Lee, who is the APWASI executive director, hosts weekly Zoom wine discussions, which I’ve found to be enjoyable and educational. Dr. Lee is an international wine lecturer, wine writer and critic, who has earned the top WSET designation of Diplomat and well as numerous other wine credentials. He is a visiting professor at the North-West University College of Oenology China, China’s only Oenology institution. He is an International Sherry Educator and Sake professional under the auspices of the Japanese Sake Education Council. Dr. Lee has trained and passed the Whisky Ambassador program in Scotland and is the only recognized Whisky Ambassador to offer Whisky classes in British Columbia.

I was quite proud to successfully complete the APWASI Certified Argentinian Wine Specialist class and celebrated in style with a glass of delicious 2018 Arraigo Benegas Cabernet Franc from Mendoza. Cab Franc is uncommon in Argentina and can be beautiful and expensive. Here’s a bit of knowledge from the course: the Benegas Cab Franc comes from stony soil that is flooded for irrigation, as is traditional in Argentina.

Learning is a lifelong quest – and with the APWASI courses, the journey can be a delicious one.

Vitis House Brings World Wine Knowledge To Raleigh

You don’t have to travel the globe to earn a world-class wine education.

Uncorking Wine Knowledge

Whether you sip wine only on rare occasions or consider yourself a wine connoisseur, Vitis House in Raleigh has something for you.

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The wine school offers an assortment of classes to delight and inform wine lovers, such as Malbec & Empanadas, Champagne & Friends, and Romantic Reds (all upcoming on the calendar. For those seeking a deeper dive into oenology, wine courses from the prestigious Wine Scholar Guild and the respected Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) are available.

The guiding spirit behind the school and its programs is Doreen Colondres, a media personality who is a world-class chef with a healthy passion for wine. In addition to visiting more than 40 countries she’s worked work at Chateau Biac in Bordeaux, participated in the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour, authored an Amazon best selling book, La Cocina No Muerde (The Kitchen Doesn’t Bite), and hosted three cooking shows that aired in 16 different countries.

“After living in Spain and traveling to so many countries, I found Raleigh has not only the vibe I personally like, but the potential to become one of the best cities in the US -- I feel it is now,” said Doreen. “People here are humble, friendly, educated, open to learn and willing to explore and experience new things.  The community lives in a slower pace than other cities but it has absolutely everything.  People live here! This is why I am in Raleigh.”

Classified R

We recently attended the Wine 101: Classified R class at Vitis House. The classroom is located at The Loading Dock, 1053 E Whitaker Mill Rd. in Raleigh. During the pandemic class size is limited to 10 (less than half the capacity), with private tables and plenty of space between students.

Doors are kept open into the wide central area and all participants and instructors are masked. In short, Vitis House has your safety concerns covered and you can sit back and enjoy an engaging program of wine education and fun.

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I wasn’t sure what to expect. Although I continue to learn new things about wine everyday, I feel I have the basics of wine pretty well covered. That’s where the “R” classification enters in. The “R” is for rare wines. SPOILER ALERT: If you intend to go to the class, scroll past the next paragraph which covers the wines presented.

I was pleasantly surprised by the interesting array of wines that were chosen. Instead of a Chardonnay or Merlot, we started with a trio of sparking wines, a Champagne, Cava, and Prosecco. The next pair were an Albariño from Spain and a rosé from Patagonia. The closer was a red I couldn’t identify until it was revealed, a Touriga Nacional blend from Portugal.

Now that’s a wine lineup that can delight any wine lover, be they newbie or crusty old expert! Along the way interesting bits of information were woven into the program, such as the production methods of sparkling wine and how eggs are used in the final stages of winemaking.

“Wine to me is alive,” said Doreen. “It’s excitement, respect, tradition.  There is always a great story inside every good bottle of wine.” The program is presented through PowerPoint slides and videos – along with a guided tasting of six wines. Doreen has a refreshing personality and likes to engage with the audience and have fun, so the class time flies quickly.

Classes For Learning And Fun

Class prices are mostly $75 or $69 and range from wine, to food, to spirits. An online class costs $55. If you are interested in the WSET classes, WSET Level 3 is a bit higher, at $1,495. Levels 1 and 2 are much less costly. Having WSET classes nearby in Raleigh is an amazing plus for wine lovers in the area. Online corporate wine classes, private events, and gift certificates are also available.

The Vitis House formula is proving popular. A second location has opened in Winston-Salem at FlyWheel, located at 500 W. 5th Street. Like the professional chef she is, Doreen Colondres has combined all the ingredients to serve up a product sure to appeal to all those hungry for wine education.

WIYG – A Cavalcade Of Wine Reviews

WIYG? That’s a question we are often asked. Here’s a look at what's in our glass.

What the heck is a cavalcade and what’s it doing in my wine blog? Well, if you must know, it is defined as a formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles. Many years ago there was a variety TV show called Jackie Gleason’s Cavalcade of Stars. I never saw the show and my introduction is veering into the weeds quickly, so I’ll simply say that I’m proud to present a cavalcade of wine so that I can catch up on wines that we’ve tasted but haven’t yet been reviewed. So, ta da, here is the cavalcade…

Nadia 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard

Although we carefully cellar our wine, when you dip back 10 or more years, the quality can be hit or miss. With Nadia, it was a big hit. We love Napa Valley, but it is nice to explore Cabernet Sauvignon from other regions.

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We were rewarded with a rich, rich, body. The wine has lovely notes of caramel and plum. This is a single vineyard Cab from Santa Barbera County, a wonderful – and less explored – part of California wine country.

2007 Long Shadows Wineries Syrah Sequel, Columbia Valley

This is a wine from one of the coolest wineries around: Long Shadows. Long Shadows pairs international winemakers with the fantastic vineyards of Washington State. The winemaker of Sequel Syrah is John Duval, the former winemaker for Penfolds Grange in Australia.

We purchased two bottles, drinking one in 2013 and the last seven years later. Alas, the wine didn’t hold up. The wine is still broodingly dark, but the fruit has all but disappeared with some olive notes and faint blueberry left. Time to get a new vintage.

Winemaker Selection 2018 Pinot Noir, Hawkes Bay

This wine goes into the “why not” category. I picked this up for less than $8 at the Lidl grocery store. Hawkes Bay is perhaps New Zealand’s best known region for red wine. We weren’t expecting much based on the price, but were pleasantly surprised.

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The Winemaker Selection isn’t complex, but is varietally correct and quite satisfying. Notes of smoke and raspberry carry this medium-light bodied wine. Low price but super high QPR (quality price ratio).

Gran Corte 2015 Red Blend, Valle de Colchagua

This wine comes from the southern reach of Chile and sounded like a winner with a promising blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and Syrah. Gran Corte, in Spanish, designates an assemblage of high quality wines. This wine weighs in at 15% ABV and the bottle has a bit of heft too.

This is another wine from Lidl and I thought I’d opt for quality by spending a few dollars more. This cost about $13. However, it was a bust. The wine was grapey, which is a funny thing to say about a product that is entirely made of grapes. It had no refined flavors – strictly one dimensional with weak bleary flavors.

Beaux Frères 2014 The Upper Terrace 2014 Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge

The Upper Terrace rocked it from first drop to last. The wine comes from the uber-cool Ribbon Ridge AVA, which is part of the beloved Willamette Valley AVA in Oregon. The wine is unfiltered, unfined and unparalleled. On the nose there are sour cherries. On the tongue there are earthy plum notes and black tea leaves. It has a divine, lush texture and finished with a touch of spice.

Beaux Frères was one of the earliest wineries in Oregon, founded in 1986 by Michael G. Etzel, and brother-in-law (Beaux Frères in French) wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr.

El Viejo del Valle 2019 Chardonnay, Central Valley

El Viejo del Valle means Old Man of the Valley. This Chilean Chardonnay, with 1950s-style Chilean street graffiti on the label, was a sub -$10 buy on sale at Great Grapes in Cary. The wine, imported by the French company Boutinot, is unoaked with pure notes of apple and pear. It is lively with a crisp finish. Fruit for this 2019 vintage comes from the Central Valley and an old vines vineyard beneath a volcano.

Chilean wines represent great value. Many of the white grapes take on different flavor expressions in the unique Chilean climate.

Tenet 2014 The Pundit Syrah, Columbia Valley

With all the political fireworks, we’ve just about had our fill of pundits – except when it comes to The Pundit, a Syrah from Washington’s Columbia Valley. It’s a blend of 88% Syrah, 6% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre,  and 2% Viognier.

We paired it with Beef Bourguignon and the red cherry, blackberry and earth undertones of the wine melded beautifully with the dish. The label art is captivating, so much so you’ll feel you’re being watched. It explodes with flavor and is refined by aging in French oak and concrete. A true beauty.

Cavalcade out!

Ravines Wine Cellars Dazzles With Small Production Gems

Pioneering winemaker crafts European-style wines in the Finger Lakes.

Rock The Ravines

Ravines Wine Cellars was one of the first Finger Lakes wineries that captured our hearts. Setting out on a road trip from Ohio on the advice of neighbors we aimed for a wine destination we were told would perfectly suit our palates.

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In our salad days, the first wines we enjoyed were sweet white wines from Germany. For years we opted only for sweet Riesling wines and similar ilk. Perhaps it is inevitable, but as years came and went, our palates became drier and we became more discerning in our wine.

Riesling was set aside, because we believed it was only sweet (as opposed to the world’s most versatile white grape!). Then we learned of the Finger Lakes and their refreshingly dry style of Riesling. We packed up the car and headed for the promised land.

Keuka Lake was one of the first stops on that trip back in 2009 as we swept from west to east. It was there we were first introduced to Ravines, the passion of winemaker Morten Hallgren and his chef wife Lisa. The winery has since expanded to include not only the original tasting room on Keuka, but a production facility and tasting room on Seneca Lake near Geneva.

International Roots Run Deep

Morten is Danish by birth, and grew up on his parents’ winery in the French Côtes de Provence. While Lisa trained in the culinary arts, Morten gained a degree from one of France’s top winemaking school and went to work in Burgundy’s famed Medóc region.

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Wine positions in Texas and the Biltmore Winery in Asheville, NC, then led Morten to a chief winemaker position at Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars in the Finger Lakes. The job allowed the couple to see the potential for crafting premium cool-climate wines in the region. They purchased their original parcel of 17 acres of land on the steep eastern slop of Keuka between two ravines and began making wine. The holding has since expanded to 130 acres.

Morten describes his technique as transparent winemaking, striving to grow the best grapes possible while being good stewards of the land. Sustainable farming and organic methods are used in line with this philosophy.

A Taste Of Excellence

We were delighted to have the chance to taste three of Ravine’s current releases: 2017 Dry Riesling, 2018 Cabernet Franc, and the 2018 Maximilien red blend.

2017 Dry Riesling

We paired the Dry Riesling with teriyaki-glazed salmon steaks. The wine is an example of what makes Finger Lakes Riesling the best (in our opinion) in the United States.

The grapes come from the White Springs Vineyard and the 16 Falls Vineyard, one vineyard is on each side of Seneca Lake. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed and aged on light lees.

The wine has delicate flavors of juicy apple and citrus perfectly balanced with light acidity. It’s all bound together with flowing minerality. It’s a perfect food wine, as we discovered with our meal. At an SRP of $17.95, this is a great bargain. Ravines also has single vineyard Rieslings, and we love the Argetsinger Vineyard Riesling.

2018 Cabernet Franc

The standout red in the Finger Lakes is Cabernet Franc, which does particularly well in cool climates. This bottle was a delight from first drop to last.

I put on my chef’s apron to whip up Shrimp & Corn Cakes with Salsa for our pairing. Fainter souls might have opted for a white wine, but I know Cab Franc can be a melodious match with a wide range of entrees. My faith was justified.

The wine undergoes oak aging, but the accent is on balance and minerality. It's a beauty that rocks with juicy plum, strawberry, and herbal notes. The wine gets malolactic fermentation, which contributes to the soft and smooth texture. French and Slovenian/Austrian oak barrels were used. At $21.95, it’s an amazing value.

2017 Maximilien

One of my favorite reds during my first visit more than a decade ago was the Meritage. Red Meritage is the US equivalent of a Bordeaux blend and the use of the name is limited to a winery’s best red blend. I was disappointed to learn that Ravines no longer made Meritage – but I was soaring again when I learned that they had simply named their premium red blend Maximilien.

Maximilien is a 54% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon formulation. It opens with tart cherries and blackberries with a distinct savory note. Maximilien puts the focus on rich, expressive fruit. It gets 17 months in French and American oak, with 18% being new. There is a note of sweet oak and on the finish, there is an enjoyable toasted oak flavor.

This wine expresses the spirit of Finger Lakes red wine excellence. There is no need to mimic a bombastic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Instead, the terroir and fruit lead in another direction: red wines that are accessible, artistic, and true to the grapes. This is a red wine bonanza at $24.95.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Cameron Hughes Delivers Stylish DOCG Prosecco And Carneros Pinot Noir

Ready to add some spark to your evening, or maybe just need a good bottle for hunkering down? Here are two great picks.

Grace And Style For Little Scratch

The train has pulled out of the station leaving the festive holiday season behind and is rumbling down the tracks toward months more of pandemic. It’s time to reach for another bottle while seeking out the light at the end of the tunnel. Here are two excellent choices.

Cameron Hughes Lot 738 Prosecco, Valdobbiadene DOCG, NV

One of the best values for sparkling wine is Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco from Italy. There’s a sea of sweet and insipid Prosecco out there, but if it has DOCG on the label that’s a mark of quality. That means someone actually tasted the wine and approved the quality. This sparkling wine comes from Glera grapes grown in the hills of Valdobbiadene, the home of stellar Prosecco.

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We enjoyed Lot 738 with a meal of tuna steak, quinoa, and roasted vegetables. The Prosecco is crystal in color with notes of white flower blossoms and citrus on the nose. The perlage is frothy, lending a great creamy texture. The bubbles are tiny and persistent. On the palate it has notes of lemon zest and green apple.

Cameron Hughes is a négociant, sourcing wine and reselling it direct to the consumer under their label at great savings. There were 750 cases were produced. The price is $15.

Cameron Hughes Lot 704 2018 Carneros Pinot Noir

Grapes for this Pinot Noir come from one of California’s top Pinot Noir regions: Carneros. The grapes are estate grown and the vines are 20- to 40-years old. We enjoyed this with a delicious roast turkey breast.

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Finding a Pinot Noir like this for $16 is a revelation. It has complex layers of dark cherry, cooking spices, herbs, and tobacco. Underlying acidity makes Pinot Noir a standout food wine, and Lot 704 displays a nice undercurrent that balances the flavors and the 14.5% ABV.

Cameron Hughes works with wineries that have excess wine and don’t want to deeply discount their own label. Cameron Hughes buys it, gives it a lot number and new label and resells it. This Pinot was priced at $35 from the parent winery, but Cameron Hughes (which cannot divulge the source) sells it at less than half price. We like deals like that – especially when they are so tasty.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Watermill 2017 Hallowed Stones Cabernet Franc, The Rocks District

Ready to rock your world? Try wines from this small Oregon wine region.

Terroir For Perfect Wines

What’s the most exciting AVA in the US? That’s a difficult question to answer. A number of new ones were approved in 2020, even one called Candy Mountain in Washington State.

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An AVA that is opening eyes and pleasing palates is The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, established in 2015. The Rocks District is located in the Walla Walla Valley AVA, which overlaps the Oregon and Washington border, but is located entirely on the Oregon side.

In 2019 I visited the region and was dazzled by the quality of wine and the unique growing conditions of the land. The Rocks District is a mere 3,767 acres, of which less than 350 are planted. Compare that with the Columbia Valley AVA, which also includes parts of Washington and Oregon, at more than 11 million acres of which roughly 60,000 are under vine.

The quality tops the charts: Four perfect 100-point wines were made using Rocks District grapes -- and the Rocks District is the only Oregon AVA to produce any 100-point wines. How can such a small space so captivate wine lovers?

A Singular Soil

Other AVAs include patchworks of different soil types, but the Rocks District boasts the largest percentage of a single soil type of any AVA. What soil it is! The AVA boundaries are based upon the geographical distribution of the Freewater soil series, which comes from the cobblestone-rich gravels deposited by the Walla Walla River. The cobblestones consist entirely of basalt, a dark-colored, volcanic rock whose origins are the Blue Mountains.

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The soil would seem a very unlikely candidate to farm anything, let alone world-class wine. The fields are filled with softball-size cobblestones that seem to make any planting or tilling a gargantuan task. Therein lies the secret.

The cleared soil between rows of vines absorbs solar radiation and transmits it to the roots and low-hanging fruit to encourage early bud-break and growth. The surface stones help moderate the effects of cool weather by radiating warmth at night. The mineral elements in the weathered basalt? Well, the resulting flavors are sublime.

Finesse In A Glass

Watermill Winery is producing Rock District wines that positively shine. I enjoyed a lovely tasting and tour during my visit. Cabernet Franc is always a favorite with us, so I purchased a bottle that we opened recently.

Andrew Brown is the winemaker for the 2017 Hallowed Stones Cabernet Franc of which 250 cases were produced. It is 100% Cabernet Franc from the Freewater Cobble soil of the Rocks District. It gets 11 months of aging in French oak, (30% new).

In this Cab Franc creation, the vegetal notes are dialed-back in favor of a flowing minerality. There are precise chords of raspberry and blueberry with some savory notes.The ABV is 13.9%, but the wine is approachable and balanced so well we gave it nary a thought.

The wine is truly finesse and grace in a glass. We paired the wine with vegetarian beef stroganoff and it melded wonderfully with the creamy sauce.

Both the 2017 and 2018 vintages are available from Watermill at $40. I’d suggest the 2017 while you can get it. The Hallowed Stone series also features Syrah and Tempranillo. It’s time to rock out!