Drinking wine is an activity that sometimes makes people believe they’re funnier, smarter, and two feet taller than they actually are. Bask in the power of belief with today’s Groupon: for $49, you get a wine-lovers package for two from WineTasting.org (a $445 value). The package includes:
- Admission for two to a 90-minute wine class with Mark Phillips (an $80 value)
- Two hand-blown Mark Phillips wineglasses (an $80 value)
- A six-month subscription to The Savvy Host, an online cooking class (a $240 value)
- A three-pack of wine-slushy mixes (an $30 value)
- A hands-free wineglass holder (a $15 value)<p>
PBS television host Mark Phillips, a libation expert and the founder of WineTasting.org, aims to develop the palates of patrons in accessible classes devoid of snobbery. Vine-loving duos head to WineTasting.org’s offices for 90-minute seminars, during which Phillips taps into his wealth of knowledge to educate guests on wine fundamentals, including when it’s appropriate to microwave wine, freeze wine, or molecularly transfigure wine through time and space. He also covers a variety of storing techniques, the advantages of different glass types, and when a wine should breathe.
Attendees depart the class with a stash of elegant wine supplies, including a pair of hand-blown and dishwasher-safe glasses and a wine holder that positions filled glasses at chest-level to free up hands to nab appetizers, scribble notes, or toss precracked nuts at friendly squirrels. A trio of wine-slushy mixes sails into freezers sporting randomly selected flavors, which may include peach bellini and mojito. To heighten culinary learning, a six-month subscription to the online video series The Savvy Host helps at-home chefs survive three-course-dinner prep through recipes, demonstrations, and reminders to turn the stove off.
WineTasting.org
WineTasting.org and its founder, wine expert and PBS television host Mark Phillips, enlighten budding oenophiles on the intricacies of wine tasting through a variety of media, including online classes, events, Phillips' book Swallow This, and his TV show. His sundry lessons teach devotees valuable vino insights, such as how to get wine to the right temperature, the differences between glass types, and when it's OK to drop ice cubes into glasses of white. Phillips approaches each lecture with a comedic, unpretentious attitude, ensuring that patrons can easily bolster their knowledge of the subject without having to bribe wine-bar waiters.