One of the great things about being a Swirl Girl is that it gives me the excuse to do all kinds of wine-related things. On Wednesday, I decided to check out one of Total Wine’s consumer education classes called “Romanced by the Rhone Valley.” This was purely for the sake of research, of course.

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The class was taught by one of my favorite local wine professionals, Theodora Snyder. Theo has a long history with wine, first owning a fine dining restaurant in New England, and then working as a manager for City Cellar. She’s now the Wine Manager for Total Wine’s Palm Beach Gardens location. The best thing about Theo is her ability to gracefully temper her vast knowledge with a fun and approachable attitude. And her love of wine is contagious!

I arrived to Total Wine a bit before 6:30 and found my way to the classroom at the back of the store. There was a great spread of grilled vegetables, dried meats, cheese and bread set up in the back. Each student received a packet with regional and wine information, tasting sheets and a discounted price list for any featured wines purchased that evening.

The class was a mix of regulars and newcomers with all levels of wine experience. Theo started with some basic regional information on the Northern and Southern Rhone Valley, and then we got to tasting. Here are some of the highlights:

2008 Chateau L’Ermitage from Costieres-de-Nimes, Rhone ($9.99)

What can I say? I’m a sucker for a dry rosé. This was just a great, light summer drinking wine. It was a blend of 50 percent Grenache, 30 percent Syrah and 20 percent Mouvedre. The wine was a lovely light salmon color with crisp notes of bright cherry, strawberry and raspberry, with a clean, refreshing finish. It’s a great afternoon sipping wine, whether paired with appetizers, seafood, light meats, or just enjoyed alone. And what’s not to like about the price tag?

2007 Clos St. Michel Blanc from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($27.99)

Châteauneuf-du-Pape (literally “new castle of the Pope”) derives its name from a castle built by the clergy during the 1300’s, when they ruled from Avignon. The castle was built in the Sourthern Rhone Valley and served as a summer residence for the Pope. The Avignon popes were great lovers of wine and did much to promote winemaking in this part of France. In the early 20th century, regulations set for this area became the basis for the French Appellation Controllee system (AOC).

Clos St. Michel is made from a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Clairette. I tasted everything from sweet apple and pear, to light oak and minerality. It was a creamy, smooth wine that would be a great alternative to Chardonnay.

2006 Pierre Amadieu Romane Machotte from Gigondas, Rhone ($21.99)

On to the reds! We tried a few light-to-medium-bodied Rhones that were great values for the price, but nothing really excited me until we got to this lovely wine from Gigondas. A blend of 60 percent Grenache, 20 percent Syrah and 20 percent Mouvedre, this wine exhibited beautiful layers of dark fruit, earth, smoke and spice balanced with subtle yet firm tannins and a lingering finish.

A barrel sample of this wine was rated between 90-92 by Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar. “The powerfully scented nose offers a seductive array of dark berry liqueur aromas, along with baking spices and garrigue. Round and sweet but vibrant, displaying fresh blackberry and candied cherry flavors and gentle, harmonious tannins. This has pinot-noir like silkiness of texture and great sex appeal.”

A wine with sex appeal? I’m sold!

2006 Clos St. Michel Cuvée Réservée from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($39.99)

To quote Theo, “Holy Châteauneuf-du-Pape Batman!”

This was a powerful wine with an intense aroma of concentrated fruit, oak and spice. On the palate it was a complex wine with layers of blackberry, cassis, smoke, spice, and oak. It was full-bodied but smooth with a lingering finish. Although this would benefit from aging, it is also a beautiful wine to drink now.

Overall, I thought the class was definitely worth the $25 fee. The wines we tried were available at a discounted price after the class (average 20 – 30 percent off, depending on the wine). With the discount, many participants got back their class fee and then some!

Total Wine holds monthly wine education classes at both the Palm Beach Gardens and Boynton Beach locations. Classes start at 6:30 pm and last approximately two hours. Check out the schedule:

Blind Tasting – July 2 (Boynton)

Pinot Noir from around the world – July 15 (PBG) and 16 (Boynton)

White Wines for summer enjoyment – August 5 (PBG) and 6 (Boynton)

Tantalizing Wines of Tuscany – September 9 (PBG) and 10 (Boynton)

Sensational Sonoma Selections – October 7 (PBG) and 8 (Boynton)

Discover the beautiful wines of Bordeaux – October 28 (PBG) and 29 (Boynton)

Celebrate with Champagne & sparkling wines – November 11 (PBG) and 12 (Boynton)

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