Five Mediterranean Wines

With temperatures teetering between chilly and toasty, spring in Philly is a constant reminder that we live on the East Coast. No one sane love Philly for its climate; nice weather actually makes east coast folks kinda mean, anyways.

That doesn't mean we can't dream of more temperate coasts, ones where the winds are warm and the people friendly. For me, the place I think about is the Mediterranean coast, from Gibraltar to the Tyrrhenian Sea. I dream of the warm breezes and the cool shade of an olive grove. I dream of fresh suppers and glasses of red wine.

If you have similar dreams as mine, I have a collection of great wines for you this week from up and down the Mediterranean coast.

Find these wines near you with our Wine Finder

Chateau Mont Redon 2007 Cotes du Rhone
Good fresh fruit intermixed with dried fruit flavor, pain grille, and a backbone of tannin. A very good wine for its class and style. $12.99

Santa Duc 2007 Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes
A very modern wine that pushes the fruit to its darkest and densest limit. Big and dumb, and that's not a bad thing. $12.99

Norrel Robertson 2007 Manga del Brujo, Calatayud
A soft and yielding style with some benchmarks of the Spanish school of winemaking that puts getting 90 points in the Wine Advocate over all other concerns. Savory and mineral notes in the nose are followed by fleshy and jammy personality that lacks freshness. A delicious and luxorious wine that is worth twice the price it is selling for in Philly. However, it lacks uniqueness. $13.99

Bellum 2006 El Providencia, Yecla
Cigar smoke, cedar, and a beastly whiff are the aromatic introduction to this roundly tannic and full bodied wine. Flavors veer to boysenberry-meets-IHOP and then back to a more classy kirsch. Not a wine for the timid, but great fun. $10.99

Terriccio 2005 Tassinaia
Well balanced, this wine offers up two cores of flavor: the first is an interplay of dried flowers and rich earth; the second a note of delightful cherry and chocolate. An elegant wine that flows and billows on a structure of light but sturdy tannins. $24.99

Torres 2005 Nerola, Barcelona
Could use a few years of age, as this is drinking extremely backward right now. However, within an hour this wine opens up to reveal a balloon of rich fruit over jagged edges of minerality and austere tannins below. Aromas of roasted lamb and coriander and a finish of wet clay and cinnamon on the finish. $13.99

Find these wines near you with our Wine Finder

New Beer Diploma for Fall Semester

This week the Philly Beer School is rolling out the ultimate brewing program for beer enthusiasts, the Foundations of Beer Diploma. The Diploma is a must-have for all amateur brewers. Led by Master Brewer Dean Browne, the program will include classes on brewing, beer styles, beer and food pairing, and the science of fermenting.

Advanced Certification: Classical Italy

Also upcoming in the fall, our Advanced Italian Wine Certification has been announced. It is strongly suggested to register early for this program, as seating is limited.

Friend us on Facebook: facebook.com/wine.school

Connect to us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wineschool

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Enrollment for our Summer Semester at the Wine School has begun. Please register early, as seating is limited.

The Foundation Program
Tuesdays, July 13th to August 31st, 4:30-6:30pm
*Only 5 Seats Remain*

The Global Intermediate
Tuesdays, July 13th to August 31st from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
*Only 6 Seats Remain*

The Core Certification Program
Tuesdays, July 13th to August 31st from 4:30-9:30pm
*Only 3 Seats Remain*

THE FOOD & WINE SALE

Take 4 food & wine classes.
Receive a $111 gift certificate.

The fine print: has to be four different classes or dinners, not multiples of the same class. All four classes must be purchased at the same time.

Wine and Beer Dinners

Four Course Spanish Feast and Wine Class Tuesday, June 22nd at 7:00pmAn evening with Keith Wallace, founder of the Wine School. Enjoy a dinner and wine class featuring two of the great cuisines of the world: the Basque and the Catalan. $55

Decibel Winery

NEW! Winemaker & Chef Dinner Wednesday, July 7th at 7:00pm
A Four Course Italian Dinner with Daniel Brennan, owner of Decibel Winery in New Zealand. Dan is a Wine School Alumnus, one of four who has become a professional winemaker.

Executive Chef Luca Garutti of L'Oca will prepare four of his favorite Italian dishes. $55

A Beer Journey to the Other Side of the World Friday, May 21st at 7:30pm
The beers of Japan, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. $35

The Hophead Class
Friday, July 2nd at 7:30pm
In this class, be prepared to drive straight into the bitter heart of beer. $35

Sommelier Smackdown
Wednesday, June 23rd at 7:30pm
We have a few tickets to this blockbuster event. A rare chance to attend an event that has been talked about throughout the country. $62

The Wines of Italy
Thursday, July 8th at 7:30pm
Our Italian Wine Master is back from his yearly trip to the home country. Make sure to check out his new discoveries. $44

Keith and Tom in Oregon

You Can Be Here

We just got back from a wine tour of Willamette Valley with the Cru Club. After a week of barrel tastings and endless food, a few of use are going to be on water and rice cake diets for at least a week. sigh.

When you become a member of the Cru Club, we give you a $300 gift certificate, and then another one every year you are a member, plus free wine and beer classes, and the occasional free wine trip. All for $25 a month.

Become a member of the club now.

For details on the Cru Club:
www.vinology.com/cru

Cru Registration Form: www.vinology.com/cru/crupackage.pdf

The Wine School of Philadelphia

The Philly Beer School