Case Study - The Zen of Zin

4300 N. Miller Road,Scottsdale AZ 85251

23 November, 2021

Description

This immersion case study will focus on the spectacularly misunderstood red Zinfandel grape. ***Class Fee is $150. Please register to hold your place in the immersion case study program. You will receive an e-mail with final class details inclusive of a payment link one week prior to the program. This immersion case study will focus on the spectacularly misunderstood red Zinfandel grape, and how it expresses itself so very differently everywhere it’s grown. Red Zinfandel, of course, is not just red Zinfandel. It’s renowned and beloved as Primitivo in Italy. It’s also the ancient local grape Crljenak Kastelanski in Croatia, where it has given birth to grapes like Plavac Mali. In this case study, we will follow the Zinfandel strain from its origins in Croatia, through its incarnation to Primitivo in Italy, and we will learn how its journey allowed it to become lost, mislabeled, misunderstood, rediscovered, and ultimately beloved as Zinfandel in California. Through a mixed-case of 12 different wines, we will explore and compare expressions of this Medieval grape in varying styles and degrees of ripeness from Croatia, Puglia, Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, and other regions to decide where Zin shows best. We’re not talking about your parent’s white Zinfandel here. Only the best, most elegant expressions will be considered. Quality Zinfandel should be a staple of any aficionado's collection, and a daily drinker for any lover of red wine. If you like big reds, with big fruit, and big alcohol, there's no reason you wouldn't love big, Red Zin. Any piece of red meat will thank you. This program is hosted by The Somm School in association with Michael La Vardera. Michael has spent the last 22 years in the wine industry has served progressively increasing roles as Sommelier for NYC restaurants, Beverage Director, and ultimately Corporate Beverage Director for multiple-unit, multi-State restaurant groups. He is an accomplished Wine Educator who served nearly a decade as the Director of Wine Education for a national supplier of import brands, where he also evaluated and selected which brands to import in the United States. He has also appeared on Television as host for 2 cable television series on Wine Education, and as “Michael The Sommelier” on Food Network and Bravo TV. Michael comes to The Somm School via New York City. Sommelier of Wine & Spirits Guild [email protected] www.spiritsomm.com