Sept. 3, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by Wine Time on Main.

Back-to-school season doesn’t have to be just for kids. If you like wine, there’s a week of learning coming up that needs a place on your calendar.

“We’ve found people love learning more about wine, so participating in National Wine Education Week seemed like a perfect thing to do,” said Bob Novak, owner of Wine Time on Main in downtown Sioux Falls.

The inaugural global Wine Education Week has been designated as Sept. 9-15 by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, or WSET, a global organization that arranges courses and exams in the field of wine and spirits. It’s celebrating its 50-year anniversary and wanted to organize the week to educate a growing worldwide population of wine consumers.

“Here at Wine Time, we regularly sell out our popular Wine 101 events, so we thought this was the perfect week to offer even more education,” Novak said.

Wine Time is offering three unique events Sept. 11-13. Each event is $25 and will start at 6:30 p.m., last about two hours and feature four or five wines.

Here’s a look at what you’ll be learning:

Sept. 11: How to taste like a pro

Love wine but feel a little awkward when it comes to that first sip? Tasting wine is simple and rewarding once you learn a few basic techniques.

Wine specialist Shauna Wallace with Republic National Distributing Co. will guide you through the  process to ensure you’ll gain the full effect from your next tasting experience.

Sept. 12: How to read wine labels

Just like food labels, what’s printed on a wine bottle is there for a reason. From regions to years and even the shape of the bottle, knowing what to look for will help you choose a bottle you’re sure to love.

And once Shauna Wallace leaves you with her expert guidance, you can always purchase a bottle to take home from Wine Time’s massive collection.

Sept. 13: Wines from around the world

While there’s nothing wrong with consistently reaching for your favorite bottle, the world is filled with wines you’ve likely yet to discover.

John Thuringer, a fine-wine consultant with Okoboji Wines, will be your global tour guide for an evening of exploration that likely will leave you with some new go-to winemakers.

Space for all wine education events is limited. To reserve your place today, email [email protected] with the names and phone numbers of those in your party.