WineMasters Class
(2020)Streaming Episode Guide
Class VIII | Class VII | Class VI | Class V | Class IV | Class III | Class II | Class I | Top 5 Episodes
Class III
Episodes 13 – 18: Provence, Galicia, New Zealand, Veneto, Bordeaux Right Bank, Austrian Red Wines Hosts of these episodes are: • Susie Barrie MW • Andreas Larsson, Best Sommelier of the World 2007Austrian Red Wines
Episode 6
Austria’s red wines could be considered one of Europe’s unknown viticultural gems. At first glance, their names might appear unfamiliar and largely unpronounceable. But grapes such as Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, and Sankt Laurent, are definitely worthy of your attention. Our experiment is another session of do-it-yourself palate training.
Haven't Seen
Bordeaux Right Bank
Episode 5
Bordeaux is the most famous wine region in the world and wines are usually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Bordeaux is split into the Left and Right Bank, today we’ll discuss the latter including the appellations of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, which produce some of the most expensive wines on the planet. In our experiment, we’ll discuss different types of wine glasses.
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Veneto
Episode 4
Veneto has a rich history of winemaking traditions of which one is drying grapes. This method is called appassimento and is used to make Amarone. We’ll explain the process in our experiment. The vineyards around the city of Verona and Lake Garda are home to some of Italy’s top wine-producing regions like Valpolicella, Soave, and Lugana, which produce wines from local varieties.
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New Zealand
Episode 3
Sauvignon Blanc dominates New Zealand's wine industry. Although Sauvignon Blanc is planted all over the country, Marlborough is almost synonymous with New Zealand wine. Another French grape that performs well in many places is Pinot Noir. Depending on their location both grapes can express diverse aromas, which you can learn to understand by perfecting your sniffing skills.
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Galicia
Episode 2
Located in the northwest corner of Spain, the green vineyards of Galicia are dominated by many local white grape varieties, of which the Albariño grape is the best-known. But the area also boasts a wide selection of red grapes that have been increasing in both production and prestige in recent years. In our experiment, we’ll explain how winemakers ‘clarify’ their wines.
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Provence
Episode 1
This southern French region is famous for rosé wine. Most are blends and include grapes like Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvèdre, among others. In our experiment, we’ll explain different methods to create a rosé wine. We’ll also highlight two unique appellations in the Provence; Bandol and Cassis, which produce red and white wine respectively.
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Class II
Episodes 7 – 12: Eastern Loire Valley, Campania, Alsace, Spanish Old Vines, Argentina, Southern Portugal & Madeira. Hosts of these episodes are: • Peter Richards MW • Paz Levinson, Best Sommelier of the Americas 2015Southern Portugal & Madeira
Episode 6
We start this episode on a unique island in the Atlantic Ocean, which gives its name to one of the world's great fortified wines; Madeira. The 4 styles of the quality spectrum get their names from the white wine grape used in them: Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malmsey aka Malvasia, and in this order, they range from dry to sweet. On the mainland, we visit unique appellations near the capital city of Lisbon and then on to a huge rural wine region known as Alentejo, where white and red wine are blends of local and international grape varieties.
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Argentina
Episode 5
Altitude is key in Argentina. Except for the Patagonia region, most vineyards in Argentina are situated at 600 to 2000 meters above sea level and located close to the Andes mountains.
Of course, we will highlight the most famous wine area Mendoza and the Malbec grape, which was brought from France around 1850 and has adapted greatly to the terroirs of this country. In our experiment, we sniff and swirl. We explain why some wines need to breathe.
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Spanish Old Vines
Episode 4
The future of Spanish wine lies in its history. Ambitious winemakers are heading off to the hinterlands in search of old vines. We visit Toro where red wines are made from Tinta de Toro (a local version of Tempranillo) are making fame. Then to Bierzo where between the hills and lush river valleys red wine is made of the Mencia variety. We also visit Jumilla in the south of the country near Valencia, where red wines are made from old Monastrell vines. And last but not least our journey ends at Tenerife, where some of the oldest vines of Spain can be found.
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Alsace
Episode 3
The Alsace area is known for its aromatic, fruity intense, and spicy white wines, primarily from Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat which are the 4 noble grapes varieties.
Alsace wines tend to be dry, but these days wines can be more diverse in styles including some residual sweetness but that is not often indicated on the label, so that can make challenging for us drinkers. We will help you understand the wines more in detail. We will also highlight the Alsace sweet wines; Vendange Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles.
The term vintage will be explained and what is needed to create great wines.
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Campania
Episode 2
The fame of this land was well described by the Romans, they knew the region as Campania Felix, which translates into English as "land of bounty and joy". Its fame as a great wine-producing region faded with the collapse of the Roman Empire. But today, Campania counts some of the highest densities of DOCs and DOCGs (quality wine areas) within Italy. Campania is thriving with re-planted ancient varieties that once grew on these lands some 2,000 years ago and were buried under volcanic ash and pumice in 79 A.D. We will explain the wine term oxidation in our experiment.
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Eastern Loire Valley
Episode 1
This eastern segment of the Loire Valley is the reputed birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc and it is here where you can find the two most famous appellations of the Loire; Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. We will explain one of the fundamental traits in wine; acidity, which we will explain more in detail in our experiment. Besides Sauvignon Blanc we will also speak about Pinot Noir and other appellations like Menetou-Salon, Reuilly and Quincy.
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Class I
Episodes 1 – 6 Austrian Whites, California, Western Loire Valley, Southern Rhône Valley, Tuscany & German Burgunders. Hosts of these episodes are: • Christy Canterbury MW • Andreas Larsson, World's Best Sommelier 2007German Burgunders - Pinot
Episode 6 - 5-06-2020
It is not only in Burgundy where the Pinot family thrives, in Germany the grape varieties are very popular and are called Burgunder here. You will learn about Spätburgunder, Weissburgunder, and Grauburgunder for Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris respectively. The experiment will demonstrate that there is much to tell by just looking at the wine.
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Tuscany
Episode 5 - 4-29-2020
Tuscany is one of the oldest wine regions in Europe and is mostly known for Chianti. This episode will explain to you all about the Sangiovese grape and different wines made from this variety. In the experiment we will focus on tannins, what are tannins and how can you detect them?
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Southern Rhone Valley
Episode 4 - 4-22-2020
From the friendly and easy-drinking Côte du Rhône to the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape, we will be rolling through the terroirs of the Southern Rhône Valley, discussing red and white wines made of a wide variety of grapes. The influence of oak aging will be discussed in our experiment and of course how you can detect these influences in the wine.
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Western Loire Valley
Episode 3 - 4-15-2020
The Loire Valley is most famous for its castles along the longest river of France, but it is also a very diverse wine region. In this episode we focus on the western part of the Valley, discussing the wine regions of Touraine, Anjou-Saumur and Nantais. Sur Lie, a wine term that can be found on the label of Muscadet wines, will be explained in our experiment.
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California
Episode 2 - 4-08-2020
Although California is quite a young wine-growing area comprising most of the European wine regions, it has a lot of history. You will learn about the ups and downs in the region, including the Judgement of Paris which has put California wines on the map. Learn about the bold Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa and Chardonnay from Sonoma and Zinfandel from the Sierra Foothills.
The experiment will explain how wine is made from grapes.
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Austrian Whites
Episode 1 - 4-01-2020
Austria makes some of the greatest dry white wines on the planet, both in terms of value and overall quality. The Danube River going through the north-eastern part of the country provides ideal conditions for the rock star white grape varieties Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. You will learn to train your palate and all about the Austrian wine regulations, one of the strictest wine laws in the world and be surprised about two wine and food pairings.
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