Series 2: Just Reds is all about learning red wine by tasting it head-to-head.
Each class compares two styles, regions, or expressions. We’ll start with one wine from each side not blind to learn what we’re looking for. Then we’ll jump into a blind tasting of six wines — three vs. three — and see if our palates can spot the difference.
Wrong answers are encouraged. That’s how you learn.
1) Pinot Noir US: California vs. Oregon (April 23, 2025)
Discover how climate and soil shape America’s most elegant red.
Taste side-by-side Pinot Noirs from California’s warm, riper ranges and Oregon’s cooler, more delicate vineyards. We’ll explore how terroir influences aromatics, structure, and texture — from lush berry to forest floor nuance.
2) Beaujolais: Villages vs. Cru
Gamay, elevated.
Discover how Beaujolais transforms from bright and easygoing to structured and complex. We’ll compare fresh, fruit-forward Villages wines with Cru bottlings that add depth, minerality, and age-worthy character. Same grape, same region — dramatically different levels of intensity.
3) Burgundy: Côte de Nuits — Power & Precision
The bold heart of Burgundy.
Explore the northern half of Burgundy, where Pinot Noir shows its darker, deeper side. Across Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, and Nuits-Saint-Georges, we’ll compare wines known for structure, spice, and age-worthy intensity. Expect black cherry, earth, and firm tannins built for complexity.
4) Burgundy: Côte de Beaune — Elegance & Finesse
Burgundy at its most graceful.
Head south to Côte de Beaune, where Pinot Noir turns lighter, silkier, and more aromatic. Through Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, and Savigny-lès-Beaune, we’ll taste wines that highlight bright red fruit, florals, and effortless balance. Think elegance, freshness, and pure drinkability.
5) Left Bank vs. Right Bank (Bordeaux)
Classic Bordeaux, two philosophies.
Explore how Cabernet Sauvignon-driven Left Bank estates (think structure and cassis) contrast with Merlot-centric Right Bank styles (plush, ripe, and seductive). A foundational lesson in blending, ageability, and Old World tradition.
Explore how Cabernet Sauvignon-driven Left Bank estates (think structure and cassis) contrast with Merlot-centric Right Bank styles (plush, ripe, and seductive). A foundational lesson in blending, ageability, and Old World tradition.
6) Merlot USA: California vs. Washington
Varietal Merlot shines in the New World.
Taste how Californian warmth brings plush, fruity Merlot vs. Washington State’s cooler elegance with savory edges. We’ll unpack misconceptions and reveal why great Merlot deserves center stage.
Taste how Californian warmth brings plush, fruity Merlot vs. Washington State’s cooler elegance with savory edges. We’ll unpack misconceptions and reveal why great Merlot deserves center stage.
7) New World Cabernet: California, Australia & Chile
Three continents of Cabernet expression.
Compare bold Napa Cabernets with Australia’s fruit-forward reds and Chile’s balanced, volcanic-influenced styles. A global look at power, tannin, and Cabernet’s universal allure.
Compare bold Napa Cabernets with Australia’s fruit-forward reds and Chile’s balanced, volcanic-influenced styles. A global look at power, tannin, and Cabernet’s universal allure.
Napa Cabernet may share a name, but each AVA tells a different story. We’ll compare wines from across the valley — from valley floor to mountain sites — to explore how elevation, soil, and microclimate shape structure, ripeness, and texture. Same grape, same region, completely different personalities.
9) Loire Valley: Chinon vs. Bourgueil
Cabernet Franc — fresh, peppery, and savory.
Taste two Loire classics from Chinon and Bourgueil. We’ll talk freshness, herbal spice, and how leaner bodies can still deliver complexity and food flexibility.
Taste two Loire classics from Chinon and Bourgueil. We’ll talk freshness, herbal spice, and how leaner bodies can still deliver complexity and food flexibility.
10) Argentina (Malbec) vs. Chile (Carménère)
South America’s signature reds collide.
Malbec’s bold plum and violet profile meets Carménère’s savory red fruit and green pepper spice. A perfect contrast between fruit intensity and herbal complexity.
Malbec’s bold plum and violet profile meets Carménère’s savory red fruit and green pepper spice. A perfect contrast between fruit intensity and herbal complexity.
11) Northern Rhône — Syrah in Its Purest Form
Savory, structured, and built on spice.
Discover the birthplace of Syrah, where steep granite hillsides produce wines that are powerful, savory, and intensely aromatic. Through classic appellations of the Northern Rhône, we’ll taste pepper, olive, smoke, and dark fruit wrapped in firm structure and age-worthy depth. This is Syrah at its most focused and expressive.
12) Southern Rhône — Grenache & The Art of the Blend
Warm, generous, and full of character.
Head south where the climate warms and Grenache takes the lead, often supported by Syrah and Mourvèdre. These wines are rounder, juicier, and spice-driven, with ripe red fruit, herbs, and effortless drinkability. A masterclass in how blending creates balance and complexity.
13) Australia: Shiraz vs. Grenache
Australian stars in bold contrast.
From rich, chocolate and blackberry-driven Shiraz to lighter, spicy Grenache, learn how Aussie winemakers express varietal characters with flair and bold fruit.
From rich, chocolate and blackberry-driven Shiraz to lighter, spicy Grenache, learn how Aussie winemakers express varietal characters with flair and bold fruit.
14) Mourvèdre: France vs. Spain
Mourvèdre’s rustic personality takes the stage.
Compare France’s Bandol and other Mourvèdre-driven examples with Spain’s earthy, gamey Mataro/Monastrell expressions. Expect savory herbs, structured tannin, and deep complexity.
Compare France’s Bandol and other Mourvèdre-driven examples with Spain’s earthy, gamey Mataro/Monastrell expressions. Expect savory herbs, structured tannin, and deep complexity.
15) Italy: Brunello di Montalcino vs. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Sangiovese in two compelling lights.
Brunello di Montalcino’s refined power meets Montepulciano’s hearty, rustic soul. A lesson in Italian red diversity and how the same grape family can yield wildly different senses of place.
Brunello di Montalcino’s refined power meets Montepulciano’s hearty, rustic soul. A lesson in Italian red diversity and how the same grape family can yield wildly different senses of place.
16) Nebbiolo: Barolo vs. Barbaresco
Power meets elegance in Piedmont.
Made from the same grape just miles apart, Barolo and Barbaresco offer two distinct expressions of Nebbiolo. We’ll compare Barolo’s bold structure and firm tannins with Barbaresco’s more lifted aromatics and refined texture. Expect roses, tar, cherry, and savory earth in one of Italy’s most iconic head-to-head tastings
17) Spain: Reserva vs. Gran Reserva
Finish with elegance and age.
Dive into Spain’s rigorous aging system. Compare Reserva’s vibrant fruit with Gran Reserva’s aged elegance — tobacco, leather, cedar, and silky textures — a refined conclusion to our red odyssey.
18) The Story of Zin
From the Old World to California legend.
Follow Zinfandel’s journey from its Croatian origins to Italy’s Primitivo and finally to the bold, fruit-driven wines of California. We’ll taste each side-by-side to see how climate and culture transform the same grape into dramatically different styles. One variety, three countries, three completely different personalities.
Cheers,
Alex Morales
Founder, Wine Scholars 🍷
Founder, Wine Scholars 🍷
