Author Talks
Using our former background in teaching, we developed author talks centered around the books we wrote. Each author talk lasts between 90 and 120 minutes and touches on the concepts put forth in one of our books. Many of our author talks also include a wine tasting that further expands a wine concept. Over the years, we have presented author talks to small groups of ten as well as much larger groups including 200 attendees. An author talk is available for each book we have written.
A Wine Lexicon: Increasing Your Knowledge
A word is often more than a definition. This author talk explores some wine words that have unique stories. For example, phylloxera is a grapevine disease caused by small aphids that destroy grapevines. However, a museum in Sadurní d’Anoia in the Penedés region of Catalonia, Spain celebrates the pest, in part because it is believed to be the impetus to the development of cava. What better wines to pair with this story than cavas?
This 90 - 120 minute author talk paints a finer picture of certain wine vocabulary and brings a human dimension to the word. Participants will taste wines that pair with certain wine terms. Guests can purchase an inscribed and signed by the authors copy of the book: A Wine Lexicon: Increasing Your Knowledge (retail $19.95).
Georgia Sakartvelo: the Birthplace of Wine
Many wine enthusiasts have wondered at one time or another, where wine grape cultivation and winemaking began. Much of the research indicates that both winemaking and wine growing began in the land south of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Explore the wonderful story of the birthplace of wine. Learn about the country Georgia and the modern and traditional wines that are made today. Georgian traditional wines are made in qvevri buried underground. Qvevri winemaking is the only winemaking process that is on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The 90-minute presentation explores the birthplace of wine, appellation wines and traditional wines. Participants will sample wines that pair with the presentation. Guests can purchase an inscribed and signed by the authors copy of the book: Georgia, Sakartvelo: the Birthplace of Wine (retail $14.95).
A Wine Tourist's Guide: Visiting Tasting Rooms
Myths and Misconceptions about Wine
Throughout our wine travels, we have heard of many misconceptions and myths about wine as reported by tasting room personnel, winemakers and owners. Rarely, but we have also experienced misconceptions expressed by tasting room personnel. Learn about some of the common misconceptions and myths that people have about wine.
This 90-minute presentation explores some of the wine myths from around the world. Participants will sample wines that pair with the presentation. Guests can purchase an inscribed and signed by the authors copy of the book: A Wine Tourist's Guide: Visiting Tasting Rooms (retail $10.95).
A Wine Journey
Many Roads Lead to Wine Knowledge
There are many ways people can learn about wine. This talk explores the many different avenues that anyone can take to learn about wine, make wine and become wine travelers. Knowledge of wine can come in many places and situations over the span of decades. Wine knowledge is interdisciplinary and the roads leading to that knowledge are different. One can take certificate programs that give some training to become sommeliers and wine stewards. Those types of programs rely heavily on the social sciences. In contrast, enology courses rely heavily on science and math. These are two different pathways both designed to increase one’s knowledge about wine. Several years ago Kathy and I decided that if we were going to write about wine, we should make wine. Making wine is another avenue to wine knowledge. The road to wine knowledge that is most enduring for us is wine travel. One can travel world-wide and visit thousands of wineries and vineyards.
This 90-minute presentation examines what anyone can do to learn about wine while having fun. Participants will sample wines that pair with the presentation. Guests can purchase an inscribed and signed by the authors copy of the book: A Wine Journey (retail $12.95).
Calendar of Author Talks
| Date | Group | Book |
| September 18, 2017 | Oceania Insignia Sommeliers | Georgia, Sakartvelo: the Birthplace of Wine |
| October 7, 2016 | Northern Virginia AWS | Georgia, Sakartvelo: the Birthplace of Wine |
| March 18th, 2016 | Scott's Glen community | Georgia, Sakartvelo: the Birthplace of Wine |
| March 3, 2016 | Welcome to Washington group | Georgia, Sakartvelo: the Birthplace of Wine |
| February 21, 2016 | John Marshall AWS | Georgia, Sakartvelo: the Birthplace of Wine |
Interested in an author talk? Send us an email with the following information.
Your name
Phone
Your email address
The name of your winery, organization, group, etc.
Event location
Approximate number of attendees
Date for event
Message
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