This class is intended for advanced wine students, industry professionals, and enthusiasts looking to get nerdy.

Step beyond the polished world of textbook wine and into the thrilling gray area where flaws flirt with finesse. In this class, we’ll dive deep into the volatile beauty of wine’s most misunderstood traits—those aromas and textures that ride the fine line between defect and distinction.

Learn how Brettanomyces can weave earthy, animalic notes of leather and spice into a wine’s tapestry, or how just the right amount of volatile acidity can lift a wine’s aromatic intensity with a mouthwatering zing. We’ll embrace oxidation as a tool for richness—imparting savory, nutty depth akin to sherry or roasted nuts—and unpack reduction, with its gunflint, struck match, and smoky intrigue.

Through guided tastings and lively discussion, you’ll learn to identify and even celebrate these “beautiful blemishes,” and discover how, when balanced and intentional, they can elevate a wine from clean to captivating.

Educator: Chelsea Young

120 minutes / $60 / 4 wines

Tasting

• TBD