MASTERCLASS: Mountain Wine of Altitude + Sunlight + Terroir {WEST HARTFORD}

An exploration of altitude, sun, slope, soil, and the wines that bring them together.

'I find it comforting to rely on commonalities sometimes when tasting new and unusual things... I might not be familiar with a rare grape from the Alps but if I take a pause to consider what I *do* know about a wine in my glass...what color is it, does it smell and taste good...what sort of farm grew it...and, in the case of this Tasting, what happens when that farm is on the side of a rugged mountain, I feel grounded and more comfortable to take a risk and taste critically.' - Jacob

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Join us around the Farmtable at our West Hartford wine shop for an exploration of Mountain Wine, a tasting built around the remarkable diversity of my friend Jon’s portfolio and the singular wines that emerge from vineyards shaped by altitude, steep slopes, and dramatic swings between day and night.

We’ll travel through Savoie, Alto Adige, and Mount Etna, three very different corners of the wine world that share a remarkable common language. Here, vineyards climb mountainsides and volcanic slopes, where the warmth of the sun is absorbed intensely by steep, often rugged terrain, while elevation and cool nighttime temperatures preserve acidity, freshness, and mineral character. The result can be wines of extraordinary energy: ripe yet lifted, generous yet precise, deeply expressive without feeling heavy.

As we taste, I look forward to exploring beyond the four corners of our tasting grid and grape varieties and appellations to consider what actually happens on a mountain: how elevation affects temperature and ripening; how steep slopes alter exposure and drainage; how volcanic, limestone, and alpine soils influence a vine; and how cool nights can preserve the freshness that gives these wines their unmistakable energy. At their best, mountain wines seem to capture a beautiful contradiction: sunshine and coolness, ripeness and restraint, power and lift.

This is a tasting for anyone fascinated by the way place becomes flavor and for those who love wines that are vibrant, mineral, handmade, and alive.

THE POUR LIST WILL BE A DELICIOUS SURPRISE.  21+ ID IS REQUIRED!