Bridgeview Liquor

Join sommelier Josj Voytek on an exploration of Cabernet France, and how it spawn the classic wines liek Cab Sauv, Merlot, and more! Join Certified Sommelier Josh Voytek on an exploration of the genetic heritage of the Cabernet Franc grape. One of the major grapes of Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Franc is a parent of both Cabernet Sauvignon (the King of Red Grapes) and Merlot, as well as Carmenere (the Lost Bordeaux grape, now planted extensively in Chile). In this class, […]

Taste and learn to make delicious NA cocktail with Evan Christie It is that time of year again, when people make resolutions to better themselves in various ways. One of the more common choices of self improvement is to drink less. While we know moderate drinking can certainly be part of a healthy lifestyle, we want to let people who are choosing to imbibe less know they do not always have to sacrifice flavor. The market for high-quality beverages without […]

Explore wines you might have skipped because of the variety, and learn to never hate a grape with Laura Botten. Do you think Chardonnay is beloved by everyone's mother but no one else? Do you despise the sugary sweet simplicity of Riesling? Are you simply not drinking any *bleeping* Merlot? We all have wine prejudices. Too often, we take a couple prominent examples as representative of whole categories of wine, but most of the great wine grapes have tremendous range. […]

Taste whiskeys aged in fortified wine casks next to those same wines, including port, madeira, and marsala. As whiskeys aged in second-use casks become more popular and common, many whiskey drinkers may find themselves wondering how those casks really affect the final whiskey. What aromas and flavors should you expect each different cask to impart? To help explore these questions further, we plan to delve deep into the most common second-use casks, tasting both the original product and a whiskey […]

Certified Sommelier Justin Blanford will lead you through the blind tasting method to evaluate a range of different spirits. In this class we will challenge ourselves with another blind tasting exercise. We will focus on evaluating each spirits texture, alcohol content, possible base ingredient(s), distillation method, and any specific traits that can give us clues to solve the mystery. The goal here is to develop our palates and build the knowledge and vocabulary to express what our senses are trying […]

Taste wines grown in high elevation vineyards with Anita Bender. Terroir - this French word is for the idea that wine should express a sense of where it was grown. Perhaps the closest English translation is “placefulness.” It encompasses all the characteristics of vineyards - climate, soil, elevation, orientation - each of which can have a surprising impact on the final wine. In our Terroir Focus classes, we want to shine the spotlight on a specific aspect of terroir and […]

Taste and learn to make cocktail with Cocchi AmericanoFor cocktail enthusiasts, there is a common problem: the “What Else Can I Do With This” bottle. Maybe you buy a bottle to make a specific drink but do not know other ways to use it, or maybe you were tempted by the exotic flavor of a new ingredient, but once you acquired it, you are stumped how to use it in a cocktail. It is precisely to address this issue of […]

Taste whiskies aged in dessert wine casks next to the dessert wines that produced those casks.As whiskeys aged in second-use casks become more popular and common, many whiskey drinkers may find themselves wondering how those casks really affect the final whiskey. What aromas and flavors should you expect each different cask to impart? To help explore these questions further, we plan to delve deep into the most common second-use casks, tasting both the original product and a whiskey aged in […]

Taste and learn about agave spirits beyond the most common Tequila and Oaxacan Mezcal.The agave is a type of plant perfectly adapted to arid climates - its spiked leaves keep away predators, and its long life cycle allows it to slowly save up energy and moisture. Yet the human being is an animal perfectly adapted to turning sugars into alcohol (with the help of yeast, of course) - and those living near agave found a perfect, rich, complex, and delicious […]

Learn about how wind affects wine with Anita Bender. Terroir - this French word is for the idea that wine should express a sense of where it was grown. Perhaps the closest English translation is “placefulness.” It encompasses all the characteristics of vineyards - climate, soil, elevation, orientation - each of which can have a surprising impact on the final wine. In our Terroir Focus classes, we want to shine the spotlight on a specific aspect of terroir and see […]

Explore the recipe of the renown cocktail book Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki with Evan Christie Since 2009, Smuggler’s Cove has been one of the premier Tiki Bars in the World. Run by Martin and Rebecca Cate, this San Francisco hot spot embodies the classic tradition of Tiki with a studious exactitude, while also embracing a serious approach to cocktails and rum. In 2016, the Cates made the world of the bar accessible to many […]