The GOODS from The Waldorf Hotel

Vancouver, BC | The Waldorf and resident sommelier Kurtis Kolt are proud to launch the East Van Wine Academy. The series of courses and parties begins Tuesday, March 22, 2011 and will return the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The East Van Wine Academy is creating a casual and dynamic arena to learn about and enjoy wine, something that can be considered elitist or intimidating.

“Wine is for everyone”, says Kolt, who will host every event, “Most people want to learn about wine but traditional classes can be intimidating, costly or require a large time-commitment. The East Van Wine Academy is an affordable, inclusive and comfortable environment for people to expand their knowledge about wine while enjoying high quality food, music and art.” Learn more about it after the jump…

Each East Van Wine Academy evening has two components:

The Wine Course

Hosted by Kurtis Kolt, the East Van Wine Academy is a series of courses with a different region or country featured each event including Italy, France, Germany, California, Portugal and British Columbia. Each one-hour course covers the history of the selected region, styles of grapes, tasting techniques, food pairing tips and more, all in a relaxed and intimate setting. Guests will receive course material in a uniquely crafted collectible wine zine and tastings during After-School, a party and wine tasting social immediately following the course. East Van Wine Academy courses can be attended as an ongoing series or as stand-alone events

After School Parties

Extending the regional theme of the evening each After-School party will feature ten different wines offered in 3oz pours, encouraging guests to sample a wide variety of wines at accessible price-points. The night will immerse guests in the regional culture of that week with canapés, visuals and vinyl selected by resident DJs. After-School parties are the perfect environment for guests who attend the course to put their new knowledge to use are also a casual, fun atmosphere for those who want to skip school but are still interested in learning more about wine.

About Kurtis Kolt

Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based freelance wine director, judge, consultant and writer who was awarded the Sommelier of the Year Award at the 2010 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. He is certified by London’s Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Has credit in the Winemaking program at UC Davis and has travelled throughout wine regions in North and South America, Europe and Australia. A big proponent of a casual and fun approach to wine, Kurtis’ enthusiasm and experience has resulted in a high demand for appearances, from writing and judging for Wine Access and Vancouver Magazine to leading wine festival seminars and beyond.

Guests can purchase tickets for a one-hour course for $50, which includes tasting vouchers and admission to After-School, or have the option to skip class and attend After-School for $10.

Four-packs of courses will also be for $180.

After-school canapés include vegetarian and vegan options.

Visit the Waldorf Hotel website for more information on the East Van Wine Academy including the Spring and Summer calendar.

Tickets available now on Eventbrite.