Grape juice magically transforms into wine in the same way milk becomes cheese and a 1972 Dodge Dart becomes an even older 1972 Dodge Dart. Learn about the tasty transformation with today's Groupon: for $22, you get an introductory wine class at American Wine School (a $45 value).
Over nearly a decade of operation, American Wine School has opened the minds and mouths of more than 10,000 people to all things grapen goodness. The Wine 101 course turns novice drinkers into veritable fonts of grapey knowledge without requiring them to have previous experience or a grape-stomping trampoline. The class begins with a one-hour presentation that details grape varieties used in the wine-making process. Then, students attend a wine tasting, wherein master winesmen show students the wine-tasting process: how to swirl, sniff, and sip professionally. The class, which starts at 6 p.m., is offered on different dates throughout the year at the Beachwood location; dates will be added based on demand.
American Wine School
Grape guru and oenophile Marianne Frantz, who holds a diploma from London's Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and who earned an Advanced Sommelier qualification from the Court of Master Sommeliers, founded American Wine School in 2002. She and her school have gone on to shepherd more than 10,000 sippers through classes, tastings, and grape-lookalike contests. Marianne, along with her knowledgeable staff, impart their vino wisdom in classes that range from the basic Wine 101 to the more extensive WSET certification courses. The school's classes and special events have even spilled into seven different states, teaching tongues across the nation to swirl, sniff, and taste the adult beverages and analyze why drinking wine while doing taxes is a bad idea.