We are pleased to announce that The Savory Grape and Grape Ideas Wine Education will hold "Pair Essentials - Exploring the Art of Matching Food and Wine" class on Monday, Dec. 4th from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Jennifer Pereira, AIWS, of Grape Ideas Wine Education and an instructor at the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University will take the class on an exploration of the many types and styles of wine, and how facets of these wines - such as sweetness, acidity, tannin, body and more - will give clues to their preferred food partners. (For Pereira's full bio please click here.) During the class, you will explore an array of food components, and analyze classical cuisine and your own favorite dishes to understand the types of wine that they need to show their best. Emphasis will be placed upon the upcoming holiday season, and traditional holiday foods. You will discover which wines and foods are more versatile, or more particular, in their pairing capacity. To ensure personal attention, space is limited to 20 seats. As a preferred client of The Savory Grape, we are notifying you first about this exciting class before we publicize it next week to people outside of The Savory Grape circle. The cost is $40 per person, which includes instruction, tasting of 6 wines and instruction handouts. Reservations and payment can be made by calling or visiting The Savory Grape. The private class will be held at Trattoria del Corso Restaurant at 223 Main Street in East Greenwich, so stop in early for dinner or an appetizer and fuel up for the exciting class. Even give it as a gift!

Additionally on December 18th, Delaware's Dogfish Head Brewery Owner and President Sam Calagione, friend and fellow proprietor, will come to Providence for his second book tour and craft beer tasting. The event will be held at Gracie's Restaurant at 194 Washington Street, Providence. Event cost and time are still being confirmed, so stay tuned for more details. For more information on Dogfish Head visit its web site.

It's always our goal to help you discover new, delicious wines. This is difficult often with European wines since their classification systems can be confusing. As we already discussed with France and Italy, wine from many European countries is named for the region in which it is produced, and that region's government regulated wine classification system mandates the type of grapes used. Spain has a long history of producing fine wines, particularly the reds of Rioja, which is the size of Delaware and nestled between mountain ranges in north-central Spain. However, this famous name is just one small northern region among many, some of which produce equally good wines.

"Red Rioja" is the most well-known style of Rioja. Mainly crafted from Tempranillo, red Rioja also may contain Garnacha which has a peppery character; Graciano with its blackberry fruit flavors; and Mazuelo, a tannic red varietal that adds structure. Rioja reds taste mostly of their Tempranillo roots and have a bold, yet bright, fresh flavor to them. It is worth noting that much of Rioja's character will depend on its aging in oak cask and are identified with the labels Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva. Crianzas are two years old, with at least twelve months spent in cask. Reservas are three years old (at least one year in cask), and Gran Reservas are five years old (two in cask, three in bottle). Rioja also may be labeled according to its sub-regions Alta, Alavesa or Baja with each having a distinct climate and soil composition that lead to different wine styles.

Although red Riojas are the most well-known, accounting for 80% of wine production, producers also craft rosés and whites. Rioja Rosé is predominantly crafted from Garnacha and are bright pink. Rioja Blanca (white Rioja) is greenish-yellow and has a light, fine aroma and flavor. These wines are made primarily from Viura but may also contain the nutty Malvasia or full Garnacha Blanca.

Moving just slightly south of Rioja is Ribera del Duero, a region of vineyards situated around the Duero river, which, as it flows west through Portugal, becomes the Douro, home to vineyards that give rise to Port. Despite Rioja's reputation, there are splendid wines to be had in Ribera del Duero, based on a mixture of international (Cabernet Sauvignon) and indigenous (Tempranillo) grapes. Red wines here are also classified by Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. For an alternative to Rioja and Ribera del Duero, just to the Northeast is Navarra, often cited as an up and coming rival.

In Spain's Northwest area of Rías Baixas, great white wine produced from the Albariño varietal can be found. While other white varietals are grown there and are sometimes blended with Albariño, these wines cannot be labeled Albariño, since the wine must contain 100% Albariño to be labeled as such. Indeed, it is the Albariño variety which has truly put Rías Baixas on the world's wine map. This grape variety, despite its low yields, difficulty of cultivation, and delicate, expensive grapes, produces exceptional wines. Rueda is also a region that makes white wine, which is primarily from the Verdejo varietal and often blended with Sauvignon Blanc.

We hope you will share with us some Spanish wines at this weekend's tasting.

This week's Savory Selections feature some of our favorite Spanish wines.

2001 Marques de Riscal Riserva, Rioja - $19.99. We truly love this red wine from Rioja. From the beginning, it reveals a pleasant bouquet on the nose and evolves throughout a few stages. You will taste dark berry fruit flavors that lead into sweet vanilla, from its American oak aging, and then into a slightly spicy and toasty, warm finish. The wine totally, yet pleasantly, consumes the mouth. Consisting of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, this Riserva is made from grapes from vines more than 15 years old. Marques de Riscal is a leading wine producer who dates back as far as 1858.

2004 Vinicola del Priorat Onix- $11.49. This deep, rich fruity red is from Priorato, along Spain's Mediterranean coast, and brought to the U.S. from importer Jorge Ordonez, who has one of the deepest, boutique Spanish wine portfolios and is thought of as one of the most influential personalities. In fact, renowned wine writer Robert Parker said much of Spain's credit must go to Ordonez, who "spends an enormous amount of time ferreting out the finest wines of Spain." Consisting of Carignane and Garnacha, only carefully selected grapes are used to elaborate this wine. The deep ripe fruit flavors provide an initial dry distinction but then allow the wine to end with an almost sweet and spicy flavor. This wine should be decanted for about an hour, after which time the fruit flavors will open up considerably. Another smooth favorite!

2002 Dehesa de Rubiales Alaia - $8.49. This is one of our favorite inexpensive Spanish red wines. The varietal composition of Alaia has varied, but Prieto Picudo has always played a significant role. The 2002 edition is made from 35% Prieto Picudo, 60% Tempranillo, and about 5% Merlot, and was aged several months in new American oak. The geography and nomenclature are confusing, but the winery is located in the town of Villacalviel-San Esteban within the DOC of Tierra de Castilla y León. León is part of the larger region called Castilla y León which is well north of Madrid and includes Ribera del Duero as well as the Rueda subdistrict. Alaia has a deep color, a wonderfully fragrant bouquet, and some toasted notes, but fruit is what really shows. It is perfect for food - steak, rich pasta or Spain's Paella. WS Rating: 87 points.

2004 Cuevas de Castilla Con Class, Rueda - $10.49. Wine has been made in the Rueda region since the 11th century, when monasteries planted vines to supply themselves and the royal court with wine. This white wine is produced from 80% Verdejo, the principal grape varietal of the region, 10% Viura and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, and exudes fine, delicate aromas and flavors of citrus and passion fruits, accompanied by a crisp, yet full texture. This is extremely refreshing, palatable and the perfect accompaniment for goat cheese salad.

2004 Vina Solorca Crianza, Ribera del Duero - $18.49. One of our absolute favorite Ribera del Duero reds, this is rich, mouth coating, full of blackberry fruit and touched by soft nuances of oak. We could go on, but....

2002 Chivite Gran Feudo Crianza, Navarra - $12.99. Gran Feudo Crianza is made from Spain's great indigenous Tempranillo (70%) along with its other native varietal Garnacha (25%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). After fermentation the wine is aged in American and French oak for 12 months, acquiring spice notes, and before release the wine is then aged a year in bottle. Supple and smooth, it is plump with dry herbal notes and dark red fruit. This wine is a graceful expression of a soft, dry red.

Friday, Oct. 20 (5 pm - 8 pm): Spain Specialties

2005 Burgans Albariño: Burgans is made at the famous Bodega Martin Codax by Luciano Almoedo, perhaps the biggest advocate of the Albariño varietal in Spain. Luciano was extremely influential in obtaining worldwide recognition for not only the varietal, but also Rias-Baixas, where he was the founder and first leader of the AOC. Today, the Bodega has grown considerably and is known as one of the most progressive in the zone. Classic Albariño is identified by its almond smell, although it can also have peach, lemon and floral scents. The Burgans Albariño lives up to its heritage with additional hints of apple. The large nose this wine possesses will fool you into thinking it is full body. But it is not heavy and rich. On the contrary, Albariño has bracing acidity, which makes it delightfully refreshing and an excellent companion to many foods, including seafood and fresh cheeses. This is a young wine that should not be aged but enjoyed right away. ($12.49)

2002 Sierra Cantabria Crianza, Rioja: This brilliant Crianza (Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano), brought to the U.S. by renowned importer Jorge Ordonez, is a complex, elegant, deep ruby/purple-tinged offering that presents a lively nose of white chocolate, blackberries, and cherries. Medium-bodied, it has admirable structure, definition, and ripeness, that ends with a silky mouthfeel. From small productions, this wine can be enjoyed now or throughout the next 5-8 years. ($15.99)

Saturday, Oct. 21 (5 pm - 8 pm): California Specialties

2004 Lolonis Vineyards Ladybug Red: For more than 20 years, Lolonis has been producing handcrafted, organically grown wines that epitomize Redwood Valley style: robust and intensely flavored, yet complex and long on the palate. Its wines, including this red blend, have received critical acclaim for its natural growing processes. For example, to keep pests away, beneficial predators (ladybugs) are released in the vineyards. The decision to deploy flights of ladybugs in the vineyards was a pivotal event - one that continues to shape the Lolonis legacy. Ladybug Red is an old vine table wine that is made for immediate consumption. It consists of Zinfandel, Carignane, Merlot and Cabernet with an average vine age of about 40 years old and provides you with a full flavored, full bodied wine. We think you will enjoy it as much as we did, and it's good for you. ($12.99)

2005 Pavilion Sauvignon Blanc: Pavilion is a Napa Valley winery that we have come to like because its wines are of great quality for their prices. The 2005 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc gives you aromas of lime and grapefruit with floral hints and touches of gooseberry and apricot. The palate is light and refreshing with the citrus flavors carrying through to the finish. This is a perfect match with a goat cheese and walnut salad or with spicy Thai cuisine. ($11.49)

email: jessica@thesavorygrape.com

phone: 401.886.9463

web: http://www.thesavorygrape.com