Between the Vines: One woman's wine-soaked musings

First round of French Wine Scholar classes completed at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Vancouver last week: first time offered in Canada

I finished up my French Wine Scholar (FWS) classes last week with a classroom exam, followed by a five-course wine-paired dinner at Culinaria.

Offered at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Vancouver, the nine-week French Wine Scholar program was quite an experience. During its course, we tasted eight wines each class; studied French wine, French wine-related history and French-wine laws, region by region; and learned about the dirt, weather, topography, and all other things that go into making terroir.

This was the first time the French Wine Society program was offered in a classroom setting in Canada and I'm thrilled I was able to participate. The start-up details for the next FWS class follow at the end of this post. Scroll down to find out how you can join in.

Mark Shipway, wine instructor and department head, shared that part of his job here at The International Culinary School is to "expand our wine program offering and come up with new ideas and new courses that have both educational value and are appealing to our current and former student body. The French Wine Society’s program perfectly meets the criteria. I am teaching it personally because I’ve travelled to France since I was a kid and I love French wine!" Shipway continued, "France is the most important wine producing nation in the world and I want to try and give students an understanding of that with this course."

At first concerned if the FWS would work well with the established and world-recognized Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) program, Shipway determined early on that they are, indeed, very complementary study streams.

"Firstly, the French Wine Scholar is an advanced program so we need students to be able to taste wine systematically as well as have a basic understanding of Appellation Contrôlée when they start this course. The WSET program provides that foundation and we have stipulated WSET level 2 as a minimum requirement. I thinkthere is a natural progression for a student who has taken WSET level 3 and who wants to continue studying wine but cannot commit to the intensive two-year study of the WSET Diploma program," said Shipway, who commented further, "I also think the FWS is great preparation for those waiting to start the WSET Diploma. As far as focus is concerned, WSET’s is very much about understanding wine from a business andscience perspective, whereas the French Wine Scholar is much more about understanding the history of the French wine regions as well as focussing more on appellation and terroir."

When asked why someone in the hospitality industry and/or a wine enthusiast would want to take this course, Shipway replied, "Whether you're a hospitality industry professional or simply someone who loves wine, you'd want to take this course to learn more about French wine and taste a whole bunch of very cool stuff. Not only that, but to increase your comprehension of wine as a whole. Once you’ve understood Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, then you’ve understood wine. That won’t make sense to a lot of people reading this right now, but it will start to when you’ve taken the course."

I can attest to that.

Next French Wine Scholar program begins Tuesday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. For more information, write to Mark Shipway at [email protected].

A Votre Santé

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.

Vancouver wine culture thrives despite economic downturn

September 9, 2010 [Vancouver, BC]

Do you have a beer budget but Burgundian taste? Well, you're not alone. Nor are you not buying good wine.

Despite economic downturn, wine retailers enjoy growth as the wine culture thrives at shops such as Vancouver’s Marquis Wine Cellars.

Tough times call for tough measures, but in this economy consumers aren't cutting corners on the price and quality of what they drink. Retail figures show that while the sales of beer and coolers are down, B.C. consumers are markedly buying more wine and spirits. Sales statistics released by the BCLDB (June 2009 – June 2010) indicate a 1.6 per cent rise in wine consumption despite a reduction in alcoholic beverage sales in the overall B.C. market.

At Vancouver`s leading private wine store, Marquis Wine Cellars, owner John Clerides reports that in the same time period (June 2009 – June 2010), his store’s sales grew by 12.2 per cent. Also, he reports that overall sales in 2010 have been growing an average of 11 per cent per month.

These figures illustrate that even in tough times, people are investing in wine, and British Columbia’s wine culture is alive and well.

“Our store has been embraced by wine lovers because of the hands-on service and unique selection,” says Clerides. “I think we have been able to weather the economic storm because we are advocates for the customer, not selling agents for the supplier.”

Highlighting this approach is the upcoming visit of international wine critic Allen Meadows. He is a superstar in the wine community for his knowledge on Burgundy. Affectionately called "the Burghound,” Meadows will be in Vancouver to host special tastings focusing on Burgundy with Marquis Wine Cellars. Because of his relationship with Clerides, Meadows has chosen to visit Vancouver’s wine-savvy community.

Clerides visits Burgundy each year and has cultivated strong relationships with many of the vintners of the region. Marquis Wine Cellars has become known as the premier Burgundy wine retailer in Western Canada, offering wines of exceptional quality from the latest stars of the region, long before they are discovered by the mainstream press.

Only a few tickets remain for two of the five tasting events with Meadows. To order tickets, call the store at 604-684-0445.

Burgundy 101 Seminar A sit-down tasting with Allen featuring classic examples of all the major appellations of Burgundy, with a few hidden gems thrown in for good measure. Allen will guide you through each wine as he speaks about the appellation, producer and recent trends and developments affecting Burgundy.

Date: Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Terminal City Club, 837 W. Hastings, Vancouver (business-casual attire, please) 
Cost: $99 per person

Bistro Pastis Lunch Start your Sunday in a leisurely fashion by joining Allen for lunch at John Blakely's Fourth Avenue fixture, Bistro Pastis. This meal will feature the wines from some of the lesser known Burgundy appellations with a sprinkling of more recognizable names included for good measure. As you happily eat and drink away, Allen will discuss each wine and grower, while providing an overview of Burgundy.

Date: Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Bistro Pastis, 2153 W. 4th Ave., Vancouver
Cost: $99 per person (all inclusive)

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To interview John Clerides to discuss the growth of wine in British Columbia, the visit of Allen Meadows, or the unique challenges of being a private wine retailer in B.C., please contact Leeann Froese, Coletta & Associates, [email protected].

Click here to read the BCLDB Quarterly Market Review.

The Burghound visits Vancouver in September and guides us through the wines of Burgundy

I do love the wines of Burgundy. And while I’ve had so very few of them, every single one has left me wanting more.

Tasting the wines of Burgundy can be pretty tricky and intimidating, not to mention expensive. Many of us either don’t have the knowledge to choose wisely or the wallet to afford the wise choices we make. That’s why September promises to be a very good month.

Thanks to John Clerides of Marquis Wine Cellars in Vancouver, Allen Meadows, founder of Burghound.com, the ultimate Burgundy reference, will be visiting and sharing his expertise in September. 

Here are two opportunities to learn about and taste wines of Burgundy with Allen Meadows. But hurry if you’re interested because there are just a few tickets left for each:

Burgundy 101 Seminar
This is a sit-down tasting with Meadows that features classic examples of the major appellations of Burgundy, along with a few surprises. He’ll guide you through each wine and speak about the appellation, producer, and recent trends and developments affecting Burgundy.

Date: Sat., Sept. 18, 2010
Time: 2:00-4:PM
Location: Terminal City Club, 837 W. Hastings, Vancouver
Dress: Business casual
Cost: $99 pp
Tickets: Marquis Wine Cellars, 604-684-0445

Bistro Pastis Lunch
Here’s a great way to start your Sunday: lunch at Bistro Pastis on W. 4th Avenue. The meal features wines from Burgundy appellations that aren’t very well known, as well as some from those with more recognizable names. Meadows will discuss each wine and grower and provide an overview of Burgundy, all while you eat and drink.

Date: Sun., Sept. 19, 2010
Time: 11:AM-2:PM
Location: Bistro Pastis, 2153 W. 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Cost: $99 pp
Tickets: Marquis Wine Cellars, 604-684-0445

Hope to see you!

Salut!

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.