UC Irvine Extension Offers Two Specialty Wine Courses: 'Dessert Wines' and 'International Appellation Tasting'
Students Discover How to Taste the Difference Between Many Wine Varietals
Online, June 25, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The University of California, Irvine Extension has announced two new three-day wine courses which will be offered on the UCI campus. "Dessert Wines: How Sweet is Too Sweet?" will be offered on Mondays, July 12-26, 2010 from 7-10 p.m. Later in the summer, "The International Appellation Tasting" classes will be offered on Mondays, August 16-30, 2010, 7-10 p.m. Part of the Specialized Studies Program in Wine at UC Irvine Extension, each class will provide participants better understand and appreciate different wine varieties. In addition, UC Irvine Extension and The Reserve Wine Bar & Shop will give students a $25 gift card good towards the purchase of wine or dinner at the restaurant and bar.
"These courses will give students valuable background about different wine varietals, from where the grapes are grown to how each different wine is made," explains Edward Manetta, course instructor and owner of The Reserve Wine Bar & Shop in Ladera Ranch, California. "Students will be able to taste these different wines, learning about wine history, food pairings and grape crops from around the world-without having to travel outside of Orange County."
As a Sommelier and owner of The Reserve Wine Bar and Shop, course instructor Manetta has more than 15 years of experience in the wine industry. During his "Dessert Wines: How Sweet is Too Sweet" he will have student sample Port, Sherry, Riesling, Sauternes and Hungarian Tokaji, sharing how winemakers specifically grow the grapes for sweet wine and how each wine is made. Participants will also learn how to pair wine with chocolate or cheese to create truly decadent dessert offerings.
"The International Appellation Tasting" course will explore similar wines from different regions. Using wine flights-enabling the taster to compare and contrast wines of the same variety-students will gain a deeper understanding of terroir. In a typical night, participants may have the opportunity to try Sauvignon Blanc from France, New Zealand and Chile or enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon blends from France, California and Italy.
"The UC Irvine Extension is pleased to offer two more exciting wine courses during our summer session," Kirwan Rockefeller, director of arts, humanities and social sciences at UC Irvine Extension. "Everyone from wine connoisseurs to average consumers can learn the intricacies of specialty wines during these three-day courses."
To learn more about UC Irvine Extension's summer course offerings for the Specialized Studies Program in Wine, please visit www.extension.uci.edu. To register for the new courses, call 949-824-6335 or e-mail UnexArts@uci.edu.
About UC Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies via online curriculum as well as through on campus classes. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu or fan the school at www.facebook.com/UCIExtension.
About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.