Sunday Wine School with Jonathan: Pinot Noir Around The World

Ten Pinots, two hours, and the grape that punishes bad sites and rewards great ones. Taste what makes it worth the trouble. Pinot Noir has a reputation for being difficult, and it earns it. The grape ripens early, rots easily, mutates constantly, and turns thin and forgettable anywhere it isn't perfectly suited. Growers keep planting it anyway, because when the site is right, Pinot does something no other red grape can: it disappears and lets the place speak. In this class, Jonathan Ogden pours ten of them and shows you what that actually means in the glass. We'll skip the lecture and taste directly, so you can feel how climate, soil, and a winemaker's restraint shape a wine that hides nothing. Along the way you'll pick up a few things that stick: why Pinot is pale but rarely light, what whole-cluster fermentation and oak do to aroma and texture, how cool sites give you earth and red fruit while warmer ones give you darker fruit and weight, and how to spot the difference between a Pinot that's delicate and one that's simply thin. During this two-hour class, we'll taste ten wines chosen to show the grape at its most expressive, from bright and savory to richer, riper, and more structured. Tuition is $75 per person. Class attendees will have access to preferred pricing on featured bottles following the tasting. Please note: The Vintage on Harrison is not open on Sundays. The space will be open exclusively for this class. Light snacks will be provided; this is a tasting and educational experience rather than a full food service. Expect great wines, clear explanations, and a lineup that shows why people chase this grape. Whether Pinot is already your default pour or you've never understood the fuss, you'll leave knowing what a great one feels like. Relaxed, educational, and built to make a demanding grape make sense.