Baconlicious Cooking Class

My First Wine Class Get answers to all of the questions you have been afraid to ask and learn the basics of wine with our Wine 101 workshop. Learn how wine is made, decode wine labels, understand how to taste & talk about wine, plus important grapes and styles, how to buy wine, storage, service and food pairing. The tasting of 6 wines will focus...

Exquisite, sumptuous, and once you understand the steps, easy to prepare, truffle risotto is a dish that is sure to become part of your cooking repertoire.   The meal starts with antipasti, full of memories from Chef Daniel’s childhood in Argentina. We then prepare the main dish, using ingredients discovered by Chef Daniel that are actually...

Are you skilled in the sensory evaluation of wine? The practice of wine tasting requires a formalized methodology that includes understanding perceived wine flavors, aromas, and characteristics of wine. Sommeliers understand and can explain the structure, style, balance and quality of wine, as well identify winemaking flaws. This workshop is a must...

“The Devil made Pinot Noir” – André Tchelistcheff   We skip Blanc, Gris and all other Pinot as we fade to the dark side of Noir. The Pinot Noir grape is grown all over the world, though it is difficult and finicky. Learn its origins, other homes and characteristics. Discover how Pinot Noir wine varies based on climate, soils and...

Explore wines from around the world grape by grape Taste what a different place can make...  Does Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa taste the same as it does from Bordeaux? Why does Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand smell so different from Sancerre? Variances in climate, soils, and production techniques all come together to create unique expressions...

Join us in unraveling the mysteries of the EU labeling scheme and compare it with the rest of the world. We will look for global patterns touring the world in a glass. Take in the highlights of France, Italy, and Spain, plus various New World regions.  The tasting of 5-7 wines will focus on New World vs Old World and examples from various climates...

Do you know the difference between viticulture and enology? Learn the species and varieties of grapes used in winemaking and the difference between clones, crosses, hybrids and grafting. Study the physical structure of the vine, the annual lifecycle and the metabolic processes. Learn about terroir and sustainable farming. Next our studies take us inside...

Travel the world of Syrah... Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is a dark-skinned wine grape variety that can taste dramatically different depending on where it's grown.  In this workshop, we'll explore the power, elegance and versatility of Syrah/Shiraz and its potential to challenge Cab & Pinot as king of CA reds. Learn its origins, other homes...

Learn about the physiology of taste and how to evaluate acidity, tannin, residual sugar (RS) and other structural elements of wine. Start building your wine description vocabulary. Attend this fun session to gain confidence in knowing what kind of wines you like and how to describe them. Or use this as the start of your journey in preparing for entry...

We  start this class by making pizza dough from scratch. While it proofs, we work on the toppings, and then learn to stretch it using time honored techniques, all under the watchful eye of Chef Daniel.  Finally  we bake the pizzas to perfection – in a home oven and using utensils commonly found in every kitchen. For those interested...

Learn to prepare a delicious, authentic Spanish paella and several tapas! During this in person class Chef Daniel will guide you step by step in cooking these staples of Spanish cuisine. He is passionate about teaching fundamentals – and once you learn the basics, the dishes are surprisingly easy to make. We will also create a refreshing salad,...

France is one of the world's major wine-producing nations. In fact, their national Appellation d'Origine Controlee system is the basis for most wine labeling laws around the world and many of their grapes are grown throughout the world.  In this course, you will learn the cool climates, grapes and wine styles of northern France. We'll explore...

"God made Cabernet Sauvignon" - André Tchelistcheff  Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest of the Bordeaux family of grapes are grown all over the world. Learn Cabernet’s origins, other homes and characteristics. Discover how it varies based on climate, soils and traditions in various international regions through a guided tasting of 5-6 wines....

Can you create perfect pairings or are you paralyzed by the rules? Learn basic food pairing theories and see how different styles of wine interact with primary flavor components. Come taste many combinations and discuss the impact on your palate. Learn your preferences and those in the class and improve your confidence with new pairing knowledge! ...

Continue enhancing your French wine knowledge. Journey with us in the classroom as we leave last week's cool climate wines of the north for this week's warm climate wines of the south. Study and taste the French wines that are often imitated but never duplicated. In this course, you will learn the warm climates, grapes and wine styles of southern...

Zinfandel is a California classic and accounts for almost 10% of California grape vine acreage. Learn its origins, other homes and characteristics. Compare it to its genetic relatives from Italy, Croatia & perhaps beyond. Discover how it varies based on climate, soils and traditions in various international regions through a guided tasting of...

Understanding the regions and categories of Italian Wine can be complicated. With extensive wine production in all 20 wine regions, hundreds of indigenous varietals, climates ranging from Alpine to Mediterranean and diverse soil types, Italian wine study can be daunting. It is critical for a CSW to have extensive knowledge to understand, appreciate,...

Cab is often proclaimed as King, but Chard is everywhere... Chardonnay is Pinot’s Burgundian cousin, California’s most widely grown grape and is grown all over the world. Learn its origins, other homes and characteristics. Taste it with and without oak, from cool and warm climates. Discover how it varies based on climate, soils and traditions...

The Greatest Wines of France French wines serve as the foundation for most people trying to understand the wines of the world. After all, the French created the first nationwide appellation system that has since become the model for the European Union. Credential seekers can check out our French Wine Scholar program, but everyone will enjoy Intro...

Sunshine, warm breezes, olive oil, wine and the Mediterranean Sea tie Portugal, Spain, Greece and several other countries together. Learn the similarities and differences of some of the oldest wine regions of the world and some of the trendsetting new wines, as well. We'll explore Cava, Rioja, Priorat, Ribera del Duero, Rias Baixas, Jerez, Vinho Verde,...