By admin 
For the novice, wine can be mysterious at best, and intimidating at worst. Trying to get a handle on all the regions and varietals and types can make your head swim.
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That’s why Alma Wine Bar proprietor Melissa Sanchez has launched Alma Wine School, starting this weekend in the downtown space. Taught by importer Simone Popov, who also teaches at the San Francisco Wine School, these biweekly classes are meant to demystify the world of wine.
Before launching Alma Wine Bar, Sanchez initially intended it to be a full-time wine school.
“I just had such a great experience learning about wine and was hoping to share that with others, but the numbers didn’t quite pencil out. So then we became a wine bar first, and we finally are bringing the school to life,” she said.
The inaugural semester comprises eight classes, which can be purchased individually or in bundles. The first five classes are called Wine Foundations, and cover the fundamental aspects of wine: History, viticulture, oenology, regions and more.
The remaining three are called Focus sessions, and do just that — focus on specific topics to dive deeper. The first is centered on sparkling wines. The second looks at the three viticultural regions of Spain: Foggy Galicia, sunny Andalusia and Mediterranean Catalunya. The final class delves into the nuances of blind tasting, and how to identify the characteristics of some of the world’s most popular wines.
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Classes begin Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1:30 p.m. and will run every other weekend. They are $40 apiece and are non-refundable, although they can be transferred to another person. Bundles of five classes can be bought for the price of four, and all eight classes for the price of six. Sanchez hopes to have a second semester in the spring.
“For the second semester, we’ll probably do some foundational classes for the people who couldn’t make it the first time, but we’re also hoping to expand the school with some additional, maybe more advanced offerings and focus sessions, and also additional teachers,” she said.
She has also left the door open to alternative topics such as cheese, sake and anything else people are interested in.
Alma Wine Bar is located at 1200 S St. Ste. B, and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from five to 10 p.m., Saturdays from three to 10 p.m. and Sundays from three to 10 p.m. It is closed Tuesdays.
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