wine class

Mulled Wine Class for the Holidays

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5:30 – 6:30 pm | $45
Co-presented with Mountain Roots

Warm yourself this winter season + learn to steep wine with love at our Mulled Wine class offered by Chef Rachel Branham of Mountain Roots Food Project. Chef Rachel will discuss the history of mulling wine, take you on a tour of warming spices and their power, and show you how to take “any old wine” and transform it with warmth + flavor into an extraordinary treat or gift for the holidays. Join us to ‘mull it over’, leave with a bottle of wine + skills to warm yourself from the inside this holiday season.

 

Rachel Branham Bio:

Rachel Branham has lived and loved living in Gunnison since the summer of 2014. She has studied and worked in the food and beverage industry for nearly 20 years, from researching social roles in food systems to serving wine and cheese to creating recipes highlighting local ingredients.  Rachel now works as the Development Director for Mountain Roots Food Project and is so excited to share her love of wine and culinary arts at the Wine + Food Festival and bring two of the most awesomely impactful organizations in the Gunnison Valley together with local food.  Rachel’s interest in and passion for local food started in the desert southwest and remains here in the high desert. Her other interests include mountain biking, gardening, and spending time with her partner and their toddler.

uncorked! monthly Wine Class

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Mondays* | 5:30 – 7 pm | $49 adult | 21+ (ID Required) 

Certified sommelier Malia Brown takes you into the World of Wine in a series of classes designed to empower you to order wine with confidence! Learn how to taste wine, what varietals pair well with different dishes, what wine is “so hot right now”, and short histories of wine. During each class you will taste up to six wines and leave with liquid confidence. 

Malia Brown is a Certified Sommelier from the International Wine & Spirits Guild. Formerly the Beverage Director at Elk Ave Prime and The Wooden Nickel, Malia managed a portfolio of over 450 wines and earned Elk Ave Prime a Wine Spectator 2022 coveted “Best of Award of Excellence.” Malia works as an independent wine consultant for private clients in Crested Butte and delivers enology education classes to hospitality professionals. As a female sommelier, she is passionate about diversifying the industry and demystifying wine. Malia is a world traveler and when she is not in the cellar you can find her adventuring on her dirt bike or playing in the snow.

 

*Tuesday, September 27 | Pinot Passion | Tickets

“From Burgundy, with love,” reads the thin skin of this delicate grape as you trace its trajectory across oceans and through time. Pinot Noir is the most romanticized red wine in the world. No other grape inspires such passion and worship. Notoriously fickle and difficult to grow, pinot noir is one of the most widely cultivated grapes worldwide. In an effort to replicate the perfection of France, the grape has been planted on every continent except Antarctica. Travel the world with your wine glass as Certified sommelier Malia Brown unravels the tale of pinot noir. Taste pinots from California to Burgundy and begin your own love affair with the grape that launched one thousand ships.

 

October 24 | Ancient World Wines | Tickets

What otherwordly wine was Dracula drinking in his castle back in 450? Wine from the Republic of Georgia, naturally. Since its inception in 6000 BC, “the cradle of wine,” as its known produced the very first vintages enjoyed by humans and vamps alike. A history of struggle from the crusades to the iron curtain has kept these original, Ancient World wines elusive, but Georigian wines are now being rediscovered and lauded for their noble grapes, diverse terroirs, and heritage techniques, producing wines as rich and exciting as their histories. Take a taste back through history and explore the exciting complexities of the original wine region.

 

November 14 | Ciao Vino! Intro to Italian Wine | Tickets

Fruit from the boot! Known as the “Land of Wine” Italy is home to more native grapes than France, Greece, and Spain combined, and comprises nearly 25% of the world’s wine producing grapes. Simply put, Italy is the perfect place on earth for growing a diverse range of exquisite and complex varietals — each with its own unique character, taste, and texture. From production, complexity, acreage, and popularity Italy’s wine industry is as massive as it is renowned. Learn the fundamentals of Italian wines in this introductory course that will have you navigating the wine list and ordering your next bottle like a true Italian.

Enjoy six or more wines (order your favorites in class) and leave with liquid confidence!

December 12 | Holiday Bottles to Bring | Tickets

Tis the season for gathering with friends and loved ones! Get the goods on selecting the very best wines to gift your host, or serve your guests. Certified Sommelier Malia Brown will illuminate what pairs best with lamb and other holiday traditions; which bubbles are perfect for New Year’s popping; and what to savor around the fire, preparing you to be the perfect guest & host!

 

 

December 19 | Holiday Bubbles | Tickets

Ready to toast to the holidays? Nothing says “it’s a party” like fine bubbles dancing up the side of a champagne flute! Learn everything you need to know about bubbles — fermentation methods, levels of sweetness, and varieties of sparkling wines from around the world and add some sparkle to your holidays. Even if you just like to learn while you drink, certified sommelier Malia Brown has got you covered! Sign up just yourself, or bring your friends!

 


January 16 | Terroir Noir: Black Culture in Wine | Tickets

Join us in celebrating the Black culture wine movement. Learn about standout individuals in the Black wine renaissance and taste 6 wines from cutting-edge Black vintners turning the industry on its ear. The Black wine scene is bursting with black humor, dark berries, and juicy-sweet results. Check out all the flex in these explorative pubs: Association of African American Vintners, Black Vines, The Hue Society,  Sip Consciously, and Soul of Sonoma.

Order your favorites in class and leave with liquid confidence!

 

February 13 | Love is a Rosé | Tickets

Love may have been invented before rosé, but only just. Rosé is one of the oldest wines made, dating back to 600 BCE. Produced in the same manner as red wine with less contact with the grape’s skins creates the distinctive and delectable light pink shades. Provence, the epicenter of rosés, boasts wines with the complexity of a light red and the crisp notes of a white, making it the perfect wine to enjoy between kisses. Bring your lover and give them rosés for Valentine’s day and let the kisses follow!

 

 

March 13 | France: Let Them Drink Wine | Tickets

The French are known for two things: revolutions and wine. French wine remains king today, the only noble tradition that escaped the guillotine. Each iconic region sets the standard for its particular style and modality: Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Loire, Champagne, the Rhône, Provence…  At the heart of French viticultural is the concept of terroir: the ethos that wine is chiefly a product of the physical environment (the soil, the microclimate) and matching the right grape to the right soil is the essential first step to making fine wine that reflects its origin. Dip your taste buds into a tour of the wines of France and the terroir that creates some of the best of the wine world — come away knowing that you cannot love wine without a tenderness for the mastery of French wines. Order your favorites in class and leave with liquid confidence!

April 3 | Cardbordeaux | Tickets

It’s a boxing match! Why does boxed wine get such a bad wrap? Early boxes were … underwhelming … but technology & quality has caught up to the concept and modern boxes deliver ready-to-drink winners. Perfect for your next adventure, boxed wine is more environmentally friendly and economical. With less oxidation, a box can outlast wine stored in a bottle; offering quality, and value. Taste your way through 6 different wines with certified sommelier and outdoor-adventurer Malia Brown to find what to pack for your next trip to the desert or backyard sipping.

 

 

June 12 | Orange You Glad It’s Summer | Tickets

Summer has arrived and we’re all about skin contact. Orange wines are crafted by leaving the skins with the juice of white wine grapes during fermentation in the same process as red wine, and the extended skin contact creates wines that range from brilliant pale golds to bright oranges. Although made with white wine grapes, orange wine hold some of the tannins and glowing mouthfeel of a red that have created their world-wide appeal. Certified sommelier Malia Brown prepares you for summer with a tour of summer-ready whites contrasted with these tannic orange offerings to tantalize your taste buds and plan your cellars for a summer of sun + skin contact!

uncorked! monthly Wine Class

by Leave a Comment

Mondays* | 5:30 – 7 pm | $49 adult | 21+ (ID Required) 

Certified sommelier Malia Brown takes you into the World of Wine in a series of classes designed to empower you to order wine with confidence! Learn how to taste wine, what varietals pair well with different dishes, what wine is “so hot right now”, and short histories of wine. During each class you will taste up to six wines and leave with liquid confidence. 

Malia Brown is a Certified Sommelier from the International Wine & Spirits Guild. Formerly the Beverage Director at Elk Ave Prime and The Wooden Nickel, Malia managed a portfolio of over 450 wines and earned Elk Ave Prime a Wine Spectator 2022 coveted “Best of Award of Excellence.” Malia works as an independent wine consultant for private clients in Crested Butte and delivers enology education classes to hospitality professionals. As a female sommelier, she is passionate about diversifying the industry and demystifying wine. Malia is a world traveler and when she is not in the cellar you can find her adventuring on her dirt bike or playing in the snow.

 

*Tuesday, September 27 | Pinot Passion | Tickets

“From Burgundy, with love,” reads the thin skin of this delicate grape as you trace its trajectory across oceans and through time. Pinot Noir is the most romanticized red wine in the world. No other grape inspires such passion and worship. Notoriously fickle and difficult to grow, pinot noir is one of the most widely cultivated grapes worldwide. In an effort to replicate the perfection of France, the grape has been planted on every continent except Antarctica. Travel the world with your wine glass as Certified sommelier Malia Brown unravels the tale of pinot noir. Taste pinots from California to Burgundy and begin your own love affair with the grape that launched one thousand ships.

 

October 24 | Ancient World Wines | Tickets

What otherwordly wine was Dracula drinking in his castle back in 450? Wine from the Republic of Georgia, naturally. Since its inception in 6000 BC, “the cradle of wine,” as its known produced the very first vintages enjoyed by humans and vamps alike. A history of struggle from the crusades to the iron curtain has kept these original, Ancient World wines elusive, but Georigian wines are now being rediscovered and lauded for their noble grapes, diverse terroirs, and heritage techniques, producing wines as rich and exciting as their histories. Take a taste back through history and explore the exciting complexities of the original wine region.

 

November 14 | Ciao Vino! Intro to Italian Wine | Tickets

Fruit from the boot! Known as the “Land of Wine” Italy is home to more native grapes than France, Greece, and Spain combined, and comprises nearly 25% of the world’s wine producing grapes. Simply put, Italy is the perfect place on earth for growing a diverse range of exquisite and complex varietals — each with its own unique character, taste, and texture. From production, complexity, acreage, and popularity Italy’s wine industry is as massive as it is renowned. Learn the fundamentals of Italian wines in this introductory course that will have you navigating the wine list and ordering your next bottle like a true Italian.

Enjoy six or more wines (order your favorites in class) and leave with liquid confidence!

December 12 | Holiday Bottles to Bring | Tickets

Tis the season for gathering with friends and loved ones! Get the goods on selecting the very best wines to gift your host, or serve your guests. Certified Sommelier Malia Brown will illuminate what pairs best with lamb and other holiday traditions; which bubbles are perfect for New Year’s popping; and what to savor around the fire, preparing you to be the perfect guest & host!

 

 

December 19 | Holiday Bubbles | Tickets

Ready to toast to the holidays? Nothing says “it’s a party” like fine bubbles dancing up the side of a champagne flute! Learn everything you need to know about bubbles — fermentation methods, levels of sweetness, and varieties of sparkling wines from around the world and add some sparkle to your holidays. Even if you just like to learn while you drink, certified sommelier Malia Brown has got you covered! Sign up just yourself, or bring your friends!

 


January 16 | Terroir Noir: Black Culture in Wine | Tickets

Join us in celebrating the Black culture wine movement. Learn about standout individuals in the Black wine renaissance and taste 6 wines from cutting-edge Black vintners turning the industry on its ear. The Black wine scene is bursting with black humor, dark berries, and juicy-sweet results. Check out all the flex in these explorative pubs: Association of African American Vintners, Black Vines, The Hue Society,  Sip Consciously, and Soul of Sonoma.

Order your favorites in class and leave with liquid confidence!

 

February 13 | Love is a Rosé | Tickets

Love may have been invented before rosé, but only just. Rosé is one of the oldest wines made, dating back to 600 BCE. Produced in the same manner as red wine with less contact with the grape’s skins creates the distinctive and delectable light pink shades. Provence, the epicenter of rosés, boasts wines with the complexity of a light red and the crisp notes of a white, making it the perfect wine to enjoy between kisses. Bring your lover and give them rosés for Valentine’s day and let the kisses follow!

 

 

March 13 | France: Let Them Drink Wine | Tickets

The French are known for two things: revolutions and wine. French wine remains king today, the only noble tradition that escaped the guillotine. Each iconic region sets the standard for its particular style and modality: Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Loire, Champagne, the Rhône, Provence…  At the heart of French viticultural is the concept of terroir: the ethos that wine is chiefly a product of the physical environment (the soil, the microclimate) and matching the right grape to the right soil is the essential first step to making fine wine that reflects its origin. Dip your taste buds into a tour of the wines of France and the terroir that creates some of the best of the wine world — come away knowing that you cannot love wine without a tenderness for the mastery of French wines. Order your favorites in class and leave with liquid confidence!

April 3 | Cardbordeaux | Tickets

It’s a boxing match! Why does boxed wine get such a bad wrap? Early boxes were … underwhelming … but technology & quality has caught up to the concept and modern boxes deliver ready-to-drink winners. Perfect for your next adventure, boxed wine is more environmentally friendly and economical. With less oxidation, a box can outlast wine stored in a bottle; offering quality, and value. Taste your way through 6 different wines with certified sommelier and outdoor-adventurer Malia Brown to find what to pack for your next trip to the desert or backyard sipping.

 

 

June 12 | Orange You Glad It’s Summer | Tickets

Summer has arrived and we’re all about skin contact. Orange wines are crafted by leaving the skins with the juice of white wine grapes during fermentation in the same process as red wine, and the extended skin contact creates wines that range from brilliant pale golds to bright oranges. Although made with white wine grapes, orange wine hold some of the tannins and glowing mouthfeel of a red that have created their world-wide appeal. Certified sommelier Malia Brown prepares you for summer with a tour of summer-ready whites contrasted with these tannic orange offerings to tantalize your taste buds and plan your cellars for a summer of sun + skin contact!