Prefer Cabernet or Pinot Grigio? Sunset Blush or Chillable Red? Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a casual Franzia drinker, this October join the Philomathean Society for their Fall 2018 Wine Class, a five part series on wine tasting. Sharpen your palette and learn to appreciate wine like a pro. Starting October 18, classes will be held Thursday nights 8:30–10:30 in the legendary Philo Halls on the 4th floor of College Hall. Ron Marsillo, a professional sommelier will guide you through five courses on wine tasting, teaching you industry secrets and demonstrating how to evaluate every vintage. Each class will end with a wine tasting and food pairing to accompany.
“We recommend starting with the first class and progressing through the series,” Aashna Jain (W ’21), the Philo member organizing this class series, who also works on DP marketing explains. “However, it’s also possible just to pick and choose whichever classes you can attend.” Class 1 on October 18 begins with an introduction to wine tasting. You’ll learn the basic components of wine and principles of and palate evaluation. The next three classes are divided based on wine type: light, medium and heavy–bodied. Class 2 on October 25 delves into light–bodied wines—think refreshing whites such as Riesling and Vinho Verde. Class 3 on November 8 centers around medium–bodied wines (Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc) and compares New and Old World vintages. Class 4 on November 15 examines heavy–bodied wines (think Merlot and Malbec) and highlights the importance of tannins and oak treatment in maturing flavors. The series wraps up November 29 with champagne, sparkling, and fortified wines.
Tickets cost $35 per class or you can save and buy a bundle of 10 (enough for all five classes for two people) at $30 each. The classes are strictly 21+.
Back by popular demand, the last wine tasting series Philomathean Society hosted was in 2015. “We wanted to share this event with Penn once again,” Aashna elaborated. If you can’t make the wine tasting, Philo hosts a number of free events open to all of Penn including their weekly Friday Tea with professors.
