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Learn About Wine
Categories: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Education Specialty Schools Cooking Schools Beer, Wine & Spirits, Cooking Schools [Edit]
530 Molino StLoft 218
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Neighborhood: Downtown
(310) 451-7600
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11 am - 6 pm
Sat-Sun 3 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
The Art Institute of California -- Los Angeles prepares students for entry-level positions in creative, challenging careers. An impressive faculty of… read more »
51 reviews for Learn About Wine
Review Highlights
"single ladies, the owner/instructor Ian Blackburn is CUTE."
(in 7 reviews)
"...enjoy the Sunday School classes through LearnAboutWine."
(in 13 reviews)
"The TASTE series events are my personal fave, but I think..."
(in 3 reviews)
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51 reviews in English
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Review from Sharon R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012
Learn About Wine is one of Los Angeles' great treasures. Ian and his wonderful staff hold a variety of events from private tasting dinners at restaurants around town, to group dinners at his loft, and fabulous wine tastings at The Grove, The Peninsula, and all over. There's also classes where you can, guess what, LEARN ABOUT WINE and it's broken down so it's straightforward and not snooty.
We have been to a ton of his events over the years, including a day trip to Santa Barbara for wine tasting, to LAW school (Learn About Wine school where you get a ton of knowledge about wines of the world), to private dinners at Josie and other amazing places, Riedel tastings at the loft, and high end potluck dinners at his loft. Every event is very thoughtfully planned down to the smallest detail, and Ian is the consummate host.
You'll meet fun new people, learn lots of great information presented in a friendly manner, and most importantly taste great wines and delicious food.
He also does anything from day trips to weekends in Napa/Sonoma, to international trips where he sets up incredibly special tastings and meals, and plans everything for the (small) group so you just show up, drink, eat, and enjoy. Flawless.
If you aren't on the email list, join now and you'll get special advanced notices about events so you get exclusive pricing and access. There's such a huge variety of events that there is something for everyone. I highly recommend checking out Learn About Wine.
Thanks Ian! -
Review from Chuck S.
Industry, CA
11/21/2011
Then the door opens, and Ian greets us, looking every bit the part as seen as his portrait online. He has a bit of chub in his stomach, but nothing obscene; fitted with a dress shirt, trousers, black loafers. An apron and warm smile brings the look altogether, the spitting image of sommeliers I've seen, when reading Les Gouttes de Dieu graphic novels. Very approachable, firm handshake, and a relaxed confidence makes him very easy to get along with.
Ian has runway type music blasting through the JBL loud speakers, the kind of music you'd hear at Prada epicenter off Rodeo Dr. Walking in, lots visually going on inside the loft. A black wall is adorned with various articles of wine. To the right is a full kitchen, pots hanging over head. Boxes and boxes of Riedel merchandise stacked against another wall. An Asian lady beckons us to sign in and leave an email address. Towards the end, on the left, is where the bulk of the wine is stored. Various high-end bottles on display... Domaine Romanee Conti, Richebourg, Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild... Ian clearly isn't f@#&ing around.
For a moment, I wonder if the loft doubles as a makeshift love-nest... but no signs of any bed. Still, one couldn't help but imagine that after the session is done, Ian and his lady friend doing check-ins may pop open a bottle of bubbly and do the nasty for the rest of the night. What with the flat screen mounted, flashing travel images of wineries around the world, and the couple pics of the two together, I think most would assume they were shacking up.
There's professional grade strobe lights, the film and digital camera resting on a shelf, it makes you wonder what kind of photograph goes on. We're invited to sit down on the long tables, 14 of us slowly trickle inside, total. Ian's such a great host, with dishes of various crackers, shaved parmigiana reggiano, gouda, dried cherries laid out for our consumption. Some girls were going to town on the food. Everyone at the loft appeared to be in their early to mid 30's, a younger professional crowd. Pharmacists, tech company workers, insurance brokers... almost gave me the feeling that they could be too smart, with half of them holding a membership with Mensa.
Of course, as the class starts, Ian makes a brief intro of himself, how he's taught about wine for some time, for the Learning Annex, truthfully joking how his class was listed alongside "How to date a millionaire," and "erotic photography."
"The erotic photography session followed immediately after the wine class," Ian joked. Of course he wasn't serious.... I actually took that erotic photography class before, and the administrator was a woman.
Within 2 hours, we would taste 7 wines, from the lightest to fullest bodied. Nearly. Sauvignon blanc, Borgogne blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and finally zinfandel. And though Ian is probably very capable of imitating a pretentious French accent while enunciating the names, he keeps it low-key, Americanized, and accessible. Not cheap wines either... bargains yes, but not cheap. I'm not a fan of white wines, very few have left an impression. But the Riverbench chardonnay had a very similar character to a white I had while dining in Providence. The quality zinfandel at the end is good enough to be available at such places as Mastro's steakhouse and The Royce at the Langham. More impressive than that... that Beekeeper zinfandel is a wine that Ian personally produced and hand made; in such limited qualities, it can only be viably offered at fine dining.
Perhaps my expectations were a bit high... I was hoping to learn how to develop senses and a palate, but there's so much depth to wine, we were only able to skim basics across 2 hours. For example, scallops can be paired with 4-5 different red and white wines, influenced mainly by how the scallop is prepared. The history of Napa, 2 buck chuck, Malibu wines. The personalities, the politics, and the reasons why high price may express rarity and availability, but not taste. You'll even get a sense of why most wines don't get better with age.
For me, a person who dabbles and read a few wine course books, not all the information was new, but the personal stories were entertaining. Perhaps the most I got out fo the experience was tasting all the wines side-by-side... the Rosenthal Malibu cabernet opened my eyes to possibilities of locally made wine.
If that was the intro course, I could only leave in wonderment of his extensive courses, let alone, the group trips he plans to such celebrated places as Chateau Margaux.
At the least, I can say I enjoyed myself that night. -
Review from Eve B.
Newhall, CA
9/26/2011
Ever Tried the South West Wines of France? Me Neither. Not until http://www.LearnAboutW...
This past Tuesday, I was excited to be included in a small class of wine buyers and writers to hear Fred Dexheimer, Master Sommelier, introduce the South West Wines of France Tasting Seminar on behalf of IVSO, Interprofession des Vins du Sud Ouest. The sit down presentation was held at the http://LearnAboutWine.com Classroom, "loft 218, a trendy office in the new art's district of Los Angeles.
So, of course, I was the first one there. Ian Blackburn, the founder of Learn About Wine, was there to greet his guests and I spent a few minutes taking in my surroundings.
The Setting
The large airy "loft" is beautifully framed with Riedel stemware, wooden wine boxes, framed maps of wine regions and other wine-related fine art. In the largest area, tables were set for at least 40 guests, each with five tasting glasses.
Adjacent to the tables was a large television monitor our speaker would use during his presentation, and further, tables with wine and staff from Church and State restaurant busily prepared cheeses and crusty bread to start, and a lunch that was to come later.
One wall was dedicated to Ian's new built-in cellar. OMG...that was the only distraction.
Ian's events are always classy. And this one was sure to be a hit. I knew exactly what was to happen: We'd be introduced to the region, gain an education, have a guided tasting and then chat over lunch. There was only one surprise...I was being given an opportunity to taste wines I had never had before.
The Tasting
As Fred guided us through the region, I have to admit, I was trying to decipher the aromas and flavors in the wines. (I will give you a synopsis of the lesson in my conclusion.)
(Yelp note: For readers that want to see my tasting notes go to: http://westranchbeacon... As that is where my full column is printed.))
Conclusion
Trying to figure out where the South West wine region of France is? Find Toulouse on a map, then widen your eyes. There are 7 main appellations, many of which you just tasted virtually. Fred said that rivers flow through all of the regions; rivers being important for grape growing areas.
The wines, as I described above, are great food wines. And, as I recall from my Wine and Spirit Education Trust classes, French wines are made to go with food. When we got to the Church and State lunch (pictured above), that included two pork dishes, I swear that the chef used some of the red wines we tasted today in her recipes. The pairing was that good. Like an echo of the wine.
It was almost impossible, though Fred prompted us several times, to name other wines, or regions, similar to what we were tasting. So much so that we were often, pleasantly, stumped.
In conclusion, I look forward to having both the whites and reds again, with food, by the glass or by the bottle, and for very reasonable prices in our finer local stores, wine bars or restaurants soon!
Thanks LearnAboutWine!
Yours, in wine and out,
Eve Bushman -
Review from Lily W.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2012
I really enjoyed the Learn about Wine class with the Goddess of Vino. The class includes tasting of Sauvignon Blanc, French and California Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Carbernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. The Goddess is very passionate and knowledgeable about wine. She gives basic information for beginners and inside info for more advanced wine drinkers.
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Review from Elan M.
Encino, CA
1/24/2012
Really enjoyed attending the class and was impressed by how knowledgable Ian was. The wines we sampled were fantastic and I was amazed by how much I liked the cheeses we sampled as well (I normally do not eat chesse by itself). I definitely plan to go back in the near future for another class.
Comment from Ian B. of Learn About Wine 1/24/2012
So Nice! Thank you Thank you! Cheese - its the other white… More » -
Review from Frances L.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 9/9/2011
UPDATE:
When I received a message in my Yelp inbox this morning from Learn About Wine CEO Ian Blackburn (from his own Yelp account), I was surprised and irritated by some of the things he said to me. Apparently, I was too "tough" on the event with my two star review. Two stars, in Yelp talk, equates "Meh. I've experienced better," even though it was my honest opinion. That's what Yelp is for, right? Real reviews from real people?
Here is part of the message I received from Mr. Blackburn:
" I do not get to screen the wines with more than reading the reviews... and trusting the brand... the Barbaresco you mentioned did have a good score when I bought it ... 91 points in the wine spectator ... it cost almost $40 a bottle (and I buy the wines) ... doesn't mean you need to like it - but it did meet the criteria that I hold important which is to be deemed "good and acceptable." Again, we don't make the wines... and I don't even get to taste them in advance.... but we try to use the tools available to offer selection."
So basically, Learn About Wine didn't TASTE the wines that they served at this event? Interesting....This morning I even considered rounding up to three stars because they donated money to charity. HOWEVER, that was until I got home to find out that Mr. Blackburn had E-MAILED ONE OF MY EMPLOYERS for a website that I write for.
It should be noted that I did NOT attend this event on behalf of any of the publications that I write for, nor did I review the event ON these websites. My "gifted" ticket to this event did NOT come from Learn About Wines, but was a GROUPON that a NON-INDUSTRY AFFILIATED friend gave to me because they knew I loved wine. My apologies for calling it a "seminar," but the name of the company leads people to believe that you'll actually be talking about what you're drinking.
With that said, why would anyone go so far as to send an e-mail to my boss that included:
"I am troubled because we appear to be in the same business - and
typically - it is not professional for someone to work for a
competitor and review another business... I would not mind if she came to our class - and I invited her to do this - but to rate us 2 stars
(which is an "F") is both low and not deserved... and I would like to
talk to an executive at your company so that we can agree this is not
your practice."
I don't work for a competitor, nor do I work for Yelp. There is no conflict of interest whatsoever, and the reason why the review is about LAW is because THEY hosted, organized, and curated the event. I had no grievances with the location or food-- so why would I blame other people? The website he wrote to is exclusively a craft beer blog and no portion of my Yelp review was posted on it...so why e-mail my employer? THAT, in my opinion, is low. Not to mention unprofessional.Listed in: Do Not Enter!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/7/2011
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I feel totally robbed of the hour I invested in a recent tasting event at the… Read more »
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Review from Isabelle B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2012
Over the past 6 years I have been to many Learn About Wine events--too many to count-- and they have never disappointed!! Tasting dinners, classes and wine tasting parties...there is something for everyone whether you are a novice or a conoisseur. My personal favorites are the TASTE events. Ian always finds cool, unique venues to make them extra special. Bottom line, if you enjoy good wine & good food in a beautiful setting, you will love his events!!!
Comment from Ian B. of Learn About Wine 1/24/2012
Just want to Thank you for taking the time to do this. More » -
Review from Chris s.
Torrance, CA
1/25/2012
In 2010 my fiancé and I attended our first Learn About Wine event, a "wine and chocolate" class. We later signed up for the four-week L.A.W. School course. We have since attended several other wine events, both educational and social, hosted by Learn About Wine and have come away from each more knowledgeable and with a deeper passion for wine - thanks in part to Ian Blackburn's contagious enthusiasm. Ian not only KNOWS wine, but is able to SHARE that knowledge and love of wine in an approachable and easily understandable manner. Ian is able to take a complex, and for many, a very intimidating subject and relate it to all levels of wine drinkers. If you want to learn about wine, Learn About Wine is where you should go!
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Review from Rebecca D.
Venice, CA
1/24/2012
I've attended a few classes and tastings hosted by Learn About Wine. The tastings are always great. Excellent wineries! Classes are very informative and well put together. Highly recommend
Comment from Ian B. of Learn About Wine 1/24/2012
So kind of you to take the time to let others know... thank… More » -
Review from Matthew G.
Newport Beach, CA
10/2/2011
My wife and I attended a Learn About Wine Event last night and had the best time. What a treat! Ian, the host, was extremely knowledgable. Yet more importantly for our date, he made the evening fun!
I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun evening and a creative way to learn about wine. -
Review from Emilie A.
Los Angeles, CA
9/12/2011
I have attended 3 events hosted by LearnAboutWine in the past 3 months. I recently acquired a desire to learn more about wine and my search led to LearnAboutWines.
My first event was a Wine Camp at Josie's Restaurant in Santa Monica. You taste about 6-7 wines and Ian guides you along the way. It was very informative and just what I was looking for. The crowd was very diverse - white, black, asians, young and old. I went with a date and had a blast. I would bring a date again to this event.
My second event was an outdoor event at The Grove called "Summer Taste." I went with 2 of my female friends and loved all the selection. I think next time I come back, I would bring more friends with me.
My favorite of all events was a private tour + tasting + picnic at Rosenthal Estate in Malibu. I went with a couple of friends during the heat wave and in spite of the scorching heat, we all had a blast. Food was surprisingly amazing. I expected a hotdog but I had gourmet selection. Would definitely do it again!
Overall, I'm very happy with my experience with LearnAboutWine. I don't think it is the place to meet people but it is definitely a great way to experience wine with friends or significant other. -
Review from Rudolf S.
Los Angeles, CA
11/29/2011
I've been to so many Learn About Wine events, I can't even begin to count them. Ian's events are always an amazing value, informative, and most of all, FUN. Whether at Loft 218 downtown, or any of the many high end venues he sources out, you'll have a great time.
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Review from Morgan L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/2/2011
Learn about Wine is the best of the all worlds - the opportunity to learn about wine, try incredible wine, and interact with one of the most knowledgeable people in the wine world - Ian Blackburn.
We attended a Malibu Wine Tasting event put-on by Ian and are looking forward to taking classes and attending many more events. Ian made us feel right at home and this really is a top-notch organization! -
Review from Zoe A.
Beverly Hills, CA
4/14/2011
First of all... single ladies, the owner/instructor Ian Blackburn is CUTE! You go to take a gander at him and stay for the wine!
If you're not single, even better their events are great date experiences! If you live near LA and want to plan a nice romantic, fun wine weekend without having to go all the way up to Napa, then Learn About Wine is the place for you!
Go to http://LearnAboutWine.com and sign up for an event you would like to attend, then coordinate with your significant other, plan your weekend around it. Check into one of the great downtown LA hotels (I like the JW Marriiot/Ritz Carlton, Wilshire Grand or The Standard) and do the downtown shopping thing in the morning and have a great brunch, then go to your Learn About Wine event where you will not be disappointed. First of all, you will never have a more fun time learning about wine. It's a great date! You get to dress up in fancy clothes, meet great people, and get some really useful knowledge about wine and maybe even start an impressive wine collection of your own.
Learning about wine is about as impressive as learning a new language and not as difficult! You will become a better host/hostess of your own parties and you'll be an asset at fancy-dinners if you are with people who don't know much about wine.
You owe it to yourself to at least learn the basics of wine and what you like. Learn About Wine makes becoming a wine aficionado very fun and easy. The pricing makes it accessible to everyone!
The thing that makes Learn About Wine events truly impressive is the people that the events bring together. I met Max Riedel of the famous Riedel wine glass company at one event because he was the guest speaker. At another event, Dr. Dre and Timbaland were there with their wives. Ian knows the most fascinating people and by the end of the evening, you'll know them too! Depending on the time the class ends, everyone goes out to eat at a nice restaurant together! Too much fun! -
Review from Steve V.
2/16/2011
Came here for the Valentine's day Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese night, which included 10 wines, 5 chocolates, and 5 cheeses. The pours were generous for a tasting and there was even some left over after the event if you wanted to revisit any of them. They were also good about refilling the crackers to have with the cheese.
The space is unique in that it is a loft downtown. Parking was easy but then you had to buzz yourself up as though you were visiting your friend. Once inside, the decor is cozy and there are maps all over to help you get a sense of where some of the wines are from.
The teacher, Ian, is certainly knowledgeable and came around to answer questions one on one afterwards. Part of the class was watching YouTube videos explaining stuff. This class was suitable for the beginner to intermediate wine person. -
Review from Nancy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
11/24/2010
Repost as it was not in the right category:
In June 2007, I attended a Learn About Wine event at H.D. Buttercup, a furniture mart that also hosts various events. This review for a wine event and is not representative of their furniture or the store. It's a huge building with lots of expensive looking furniture for good prices. Located on a huge lot with parking, a renovated building that was formerly the Helms Bakery building. There are wine tasting events here, with the Learn About Wine folks, LACMA, etc. Mac n cheese, sushi, tacos and ice cream served, though they ran out of mac n cheese and sushi when I got there.
There are yesteryear photos and even one of the old bakery trucks complete with drawers to store fresh baked goods. I guess they use to sell them while driving around, like ice cream trucks. No one there to scold you if you sit down on the furniture. There are signs posted on some of the furniture pieces that say "do not sit here." Other than that peeps at the wine tasting sat at the tables and sofas with their wine glasses and tacos. The lines for the food, especially the tacos were fairly long, and also apparently for the sushi.
Crowd is nice looking, peeps walking around the building, or hanging out on the furniture in small groups. People wander around and the space is rather large, I didn't see the whole building. The showroom is filled with furniture. In da house, the sensational sassy lass, Stephy S, and yelpers Jenn L, Pamela R and Joe E. - the dj from Indie 103.1, a really cool guy, just like on the radio.
The Learn About Wine wine glasses are small and they pour just a little bit, so I would have to say for the wine tasting - not all that. The venue nice for furniture buying, not so great for mingling. There during the last 30 or 40 minutes, I missed the dj and house music. You use the same glass over and over, so keep it with you. I had less than a regular glass of wine and had to wait around in lines for 4 little pours, so advertising 100 wines - well, not so much. I did get the half price tickets, so that was cool. I would go there to buy furniture though, nice stuff, at least 4 stars for the furniture mart.Listed in: I need a category
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Review from Carol S.
4/27/2011
A great way to learn about wine! I attended the Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese class and it was fun to sample different wine and complementary food. Ian is extremely knowledgeable and describes all the wine in detail. The location of the classes is a cool downtown loft which is very relaxing and cozy. You should check out a class or two if you're interested in learning more about wine and want to have a great time doing so.
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Review from Annie L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/16/2010
What a fun way to learn about wine! I attended the Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese class, and it was great learning about the different pairings. I'm a wine novice, so I learned a lot. It probably wasn't the best class for someone that has more experience, but I think Mr. Blackburn offers some more advanced courses for those that do.
The location of the classes is a cool downtown loft which is cozy and comfortable. I was exposed to a wide variety of wines, and Mr. Blackburn gave some background information about each of the wines, chocolates, and cheeses. It was fun to learn (but really, it was more fun to eat and drink)!! Hehe!
I'd definitely go again! -
Review from stephy s.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2006 8 photos
Oh how I love to Learn About Wine!
So much so that when searching the internet for wine clubs and cool wine events a few years back, I stumbled across Ian Blackburn's company and immediately signed up for his mailing list and now am an avid fan of his events.
They take place all over town and if you have an interest in wine, I highly recommend going to one. The TASTE series events are my personal fave, but I think you'd be hard pressed not to find something that will spark your curiosity :)
Here is their up to date calendar of events page: http://www.acteva.com/...
As you can see, the classes and events offer a really fun and diverse array of themes and varietals and they are all really fairly priced for the amount of grapey goodness you get, so check out one of these events soon with friends, a date or even by yourself. You are guaranteed to meet people and have a blast!
Salud! -
Review from Aunny D.
Los Angeles, CA
4/2/2007
5 stars.
No doubt about it.
Well deserved.
I attended the Malibu Wine Classic this weekend with some of the lovely ladies of Yelp! It was one of the most well organized events I have ever been to. Wine aside, the weather was perfect, the people were nice, and the impressive list of participating wineries and restaurants was damn near perfect. It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
I have been to other Learn About Wine functions and its true what they say...You really do learn about wine. You learn that some wines are better than others. You learn that different regions produce very different types of wine. You learn that the super secret "reserve pour" is where its at.
These types of events are especially great for meeting new people. I mean come on, 'Wine Tasting' is just code for 'Great environment to meet drunk people of the opposite sex'. Everyone from wine aficionados to rookies can learn a bit more from Learn About Wines. -
Review from Victoria C.
Sherman Oaks, CA
6/5/2007
I recently went to the Wine Camp that they offer. Although it was somewhat informative, it really is a class for people who know NOTHING about wines. I have been drinking wine for 10 years now but I didn't really feel that I "knew something" about wine so I took this class. But I think the class is good for someone who is new to wine. If that is you, I do recommmend this class.
Here is the summary of the class:
Learn the wine basics from A - Z! Taste seven types of wine and acquire the skills to evaluate what you smell and taste. We'll also teach you how wine is made, what pairings bring out the best in food and wine, the do's and don'ts of wine service, how to purchase and store wine, and wine history. Anecdotes, laughs and wine are all served in generous proportions.
Well, we really did not learn anything about wine service or how to purchase wine. Maybe it was briefly mentioned, but too brief for me to remember.
A positive thing is that a person does come around and refill your sample if you finish it. That was nice.
I give them four stars because it is be a good class for a complete beginner of wine who knows nothing. They were extremely friendly, welcoming, and professional so I would love to go to some of their wine tastings.Listed in: Don't Bitch about Being Bored!
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Review from Heather R.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/19/2007
I am a bad wine snob. Bad, bad wine snob!
This is how tasting wine is supposed to go:
1. Approach the booth and get a pour of wine.
2. Eye the glass, noting the color of the core of the wine versus the rim.
3. Swirl it and get a good sniff. Make a mental note of if it's clean and the flavor characteristics.
4. Take a good swig. Determine the acidity and tannins. Again, note the flavor characteristics, the body and the length of the finish.
5. Spit and dump.
It's number 5 where I really start to have a problem - especially if it's a yummy wine. And there is my real problem. What kind of wine snob describes wine as being "yummy?" I guess I am the type who loves my wine and managed to get sloppy drunk from it at Learn About Wine.
Anyway, thanks to a fabulous Yelp Goddess, I was able to indulge myself at Learn About Wine - regardless of what kind of wine snob I am.
With 30+/- boutique type wineries from Napa participating on St. Patrick's Day at the South Coast Plaza, it was difficult to not indulge. It was so easy to move from one booth to another. I was selective, too. Even so, I tasted more than my fair share of Cabs and was stunned to try a couple of "Old World" style wines - complete with that barnyard funk.
Notables of the evening were a $150 Cabernet Sauvignon from Heitz, a Syrah from Kuleto, a Shiraz (Austrialian clone) from Darioush, a classic Cab from Duckhorn, a Pinot Noir from Madonna and a highly tannic Merlot from Peju.
OK - those were the notables. Is it any wonder I went home drunk?
The food was also fun. I didn't try a lot of it, but everything looked very tasty.
It was a fun night that I'll be talking about for awhile. The bad wine snob that I am can't wait for the next one!
~~~~~Edited 6/2007~~~~~~~
So, I went to another Learn About Wine event...a Sake Tasting and Lecture. This one was at Katana and was filmed for AP news. What a fun and educational class! Once again, I was impressed by the caliber of the event. Ian's classes are surprisingly interesting and definitely are a good time!Listed in: Wine and Revelry, Yelp Made Me Do It!
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Review from Jessica J.
Corvallis, OR
12/5/2006
Varietals and appellations and vintages - OH MY!
Everyone who loves drinking wine, raise your glass! And wine there was, tables of it - as far as the eye could see.
I had the delightful experience of attending Learn About Wine's "TASTE" series that featured Argentinean wines. Being a certifiable California-centric wine snob, you'll be hard pressed to get a glass of South American wine in my Reidel. But at the very first table, my breathe was taken away with a stunning cab sauv that rivaled the juice found in Napa's most exclusive of caves. Did I mention that this was table ONE?
We made our way around the beautiful space that is HD Buttercup, where the event was held this particular evening. Home wares that cost nearly double my car payment set a stunning backdrop and offered a very comfy place to sit in between tastes (and if you were to get too drunk there were some lovely bed displays where I considered a quick nap).
The wines were delicious, some savory cheeses were on hand along with dark chocolate to accentuate the many Cab Sauvs, Syrahs, Merlots (yes merlot, dont judge), Chardonnays (even some I liked) and many, many Malbecs. The wine pourers were informative, fun and (if you blinked your pretty lil eyes) weren't shy on the pour - if you know what I'm sayin'.
I went with a very fun group that kept me entertained but I imagine this would be a fun place to meet new people. I am already looking for a sign-up page for the March event on Napa wines. The cost is MINIMAL for the amount of wines you get to taste and even though I couldnt be bothered to dilute all the tasty wines with food - they even feed you with a proper themed meal.
If you like wine & like a lot of it - do yourself a favor & check out a night with Learn About Wine! You'll only be sorry if you don't take some aspirin before going to bed. -
Review from Dawn M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/29/2010
I LOVE this organization!!
And I love the events they have at The Grove!
You take your dog, drink tons of fabulous wine (all varieties and regions) and meet new people!
The dogs make it a lot of fun!
And at July's event, I won "beaucoup" of wine in the silent auction.
Awesome!
It's a super fun event and I can't wait to try some others.
I'd love suggestions!
Only note about the event, I wish there was a little more thought put into the food.
But, it's really not about food...it's ALL about the wine!!
And there's one the first Wednesday of every month at The Grove.
Join their facebook page for more details...
See you there next Wednesday!Listed in: Best Date Night
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Review from Meg M.
Los Angeles, CA
4/7/2007
PERFECT.
That is the ONLY word I could possibly use to describe my experience with Learn About Wine last weekend.
Some friends of mine and I descended upon the Malibu Wine Classic last Saturday afternoon. Not only was the location beautiful, (overlooking the Pacific Ocean from a sandy beach in Malibu always gets extra points) but the top notch wineries and the tasty delights from high end restaurants from the surrounding areas filled the white tents with a plethora of aromas and the cling and clack of wine glasses toasting....Add a few great ladies into the mix - and you have yourself one pretty amazing afternoon.
When we first arrived at the event, it seemed as though the line of tables was never ending as we walked into the tasting area, and we were only happy to rise to the challenge resulting in a few of us getting pretty "toasty" ourselves.
Special thanks to Ian who really knows how to put a classy, informative and fun event on. :-) This is definitely an event I'd love to go to again!Listed in: Top Nosh in Los Angeles
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Review from Toyo K.
Redondo Beach, CA
2/15/2010
I went with my gf for an early vday event this past Saturday.
The place was easy to find using a navi and there wasn't a whole lot of street parking but we got lucky. Just a warning: we saw the parking enforcement nazis (two of them) giving out tickets so becareful where you park
We got there right at 1pm and there was a line entering the loft. A culinary student greeted each one of us and we signed up and a nice lady seated us. They use their best judgement when seating you and try to place you around people your own age which was good service to me because you end up getting a little buzzed and chatting and getting to know people across from you.
There were about 4 long wine table clothed tables lined up and a total of about 50 people in the class which was considered sold out. The loft was spacious and the sun was brightening the room for an excellent day.
we had a total of 10 differnet wines (4 white, 6 red), 5 cheeses, and 5 chocolates along with sun dried cranberries and apricots. The edibles were neatly arranged in an oval shaped plate in front of you, along with 2 empty wine glasses, a bottle of water, and 2 pages of informational material (description of wines/foods, sommelier Ian's bio, etc)
The class was a total of about 2 hours with Ian describing how wine was made, how to drink wine, how to enjoy it, what to look for, etc all the good, educational stuff an eager student like me enjoys.
He also used a powerpoint presentation to describe cheeses and showed a couple interesting youtube clips.
It was a great atmosphere with good people, great wines and great wine+food pairings. I definitely learned a thing or two and was never too fond of white wines but after this class learned to appreciate them better (especially a 2004 German Reisling)
I would recommend this for anyone who wants to learn more about wine, get out of the house and enjoy an event in LA, and/or go on a date.
Ian offers other classes and wine tasting trips (domestic and international) as well. He has one called "Palate Builder" I am interested in taking. -
Review from Fiona C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/29/2008
OK so I actually went to the German Beer Tasting, not wine!
It was hosted by "beer scribe" Tomm Carroll
German Beer Tasting event with beer scribe Tomm Carroll on Sunday (disclaimer: I joined this event for free per Ian's invitation).
Although LearnAboutWine started out holding events at different restaurants, they have now acquired Loft218 and hosted most of their classes there, which logistically probably works a lot better for them.
Loft218 is actually a loft in industrial downtown LA. You have to buzz in to get into the building, but the setup that Ian has created was a wonderful white tablecloth setting that took me somewhat by surprise.
They had also set up a cheese and dried fruits platter that can be paired with the beers we were drinking, including some wonderful dried cherries from France, smoked gouda, and gruyere.
So. Beer. Before this, I didn't know much at all about beer. Sure I drink hefeweizen, and sure I have a few beers that I like. But my knowledge about different beers extend only to the difference between lager and ale. So after tasting these twelve german beers at this event, I came to learn more about beer than I thought there was to know.
And luckily they gave a handout of the beers with description, history, etc, and I took notes! Because after about 3 oz X 12 beers, I was definitely feeling a buzz ...
We tasted 12 unique, interesting beers in total, all of which you can read about on: http://gourmetpigs.blo...
Although the class is not cheap ($50 if you register in advance), I thought that it would be worth it, since it isn't just about drinking the 12 beers and eating cheeses, but also the information you get out of it. Not sure if it is worth $75 though, so please do register in advance.
It was a very informative class where I got to try not only beers I've never had before, but beers I never even knew existed.
We also learned a lot about the histories of German beers and of the different types of beer. We all had a great time (the alcohol helps, I'm sure). We also got a souvenir glass :)
Ian has set up an enjoyable class setting and also a series of great classes! -
Review from Stacey M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/28/2010
oenophile playground
tastings and classes and trips
always satisfy -
Review from Stephani F.
Los Angeles, CA
12/2/2009
I thought this was a lot of fun. I went with my boyfriend and we had a ball. something different and they do educate you. The wines are good and it was worth the price.
Too bad they are not in Hollywood! Traffic was a drag. -
Review from y k.
Alhambra, CA
9/12/2011
Attended and enjoyed tremendously the "Wine Business 101" class last Saturday. The 3-hour seminar was packed with helpful information. Instructor Ian Blackburn was very knowledgeable and personable. It is also nice to have the handout material emailed to each attendee in electronic format with all the hyperlinks. Last year I took a wine trip from Learn About Wines, and it was very nice too.
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Review from Kenneth O.
El Segundo, CA
6/24/2008
You get so-ooooooooooo much for your money at one of their monthly "TASTE" Friday evening events!!!!!!!
Always a great SoCal scene. A great Happy Hour-like crowd for making new friends who share a common curiosity in learning just a little bit more about wine.
Where else can you go and sample 40+ wines all for the same price as two martinis at a club on Sunset?!?!?! Besides, they wrap up by 9:30pm, so you can always roll over to another bar afterwards with your new wino-friends. :)
Even better when my friends and I go as a group. Seems even easier to meet other people that way... -
Review from David K.
Burbank, CA
2/14/2011
Tons of events, opportunities to learn and great people. So good I joined the Vintages club to take advantage of even more ! Thanks Ian. Great Job
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Review from Yi Z.
7/18/2009
I went to Loft 218 for Learn About Wine's Girls Only Truffle Making Class. We watched Clemence Gosset of Gournmandise Desserts make two types of truffles and toffee as well. At the same time, we were served five different wines which were all fantastic.
I arrived about 5 minutes late for the class. As I was seated, we were served brownies, cookies and wine. The problem that I have with the class is that we had to wait for everyone to show up before we started. It was nice to mingle and snack but I don't think it's right to have to wait for everyone whose late. Sure I was late and I think it's ok to wait 5-10 minutes before you start but there's no reason to sit idle for 20+ minutes. Anyway, other than that, the class was fabulous. Clemence is super knowledgeable about baking and we asked her everything from how to make buttermilk to the difference between baking soda & baking powder. I was impressed by her positive attitude (she burnt the sugar on accident, but she didn't make a fuss about it & started over again) and her depth of knowledge. The baked goods she served us while we were eating were delicious and I could tell that she's great at baking.
I love truffles but I didn't realize how messy truffle making really is. Everyone's hands were covered in chocolate and many people got it on their clothes. -
Review from Mary I.
Santa Monica, CA
5/2/2010
Just got back from Wine Camp. I took a class senior year of college, learned some stuff, I'm sure... none of it stuck with me. The way Ian talks about wine will stay with you, and his goal is to get people interested in wine. It was well worth the money, and may have gotten me addicted to this whole series of classes. We tasted some great wines, met some great people, and left happy, even though it was in a scary part of downtown.
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Review from Cynthia S.
Los Angeles, CA
10/26/2008
I went to a Learn About Wine TASTE Sonoma event at the A+D Museum (Architecture and Design Museum) and LACMA. I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it because they had many Pinot Noirs on their list and I don't really like it because it takes like wood to me LOL. I got to taste several others and my favorite was Pinot Gris and all their sparkling wines. I had a great time, I learned a lot more about the different types of wines. The food was good too and the music was awesome since indie 103.1 had a guest DJ that night. I didn't think I would be able to get drunk at a tasting event but my friends and I were pretty wasted by the end of the night. Good times!!!
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Review from jenn l.
Los Angeles, CA
6/25/2007
This event was a pleasant surprise! I was a bit unsure as I waited in line with 200 other people trying to get in. I figured it would be overcrowded and stuffy. But as I got in, it was very spacious! The setting was amazing! Not only were you able to sample amazing wine but you also got to look at gorgeous furniture. The event was very well spread out and the lines for sampling were not that long. There was also an nice array of food sampling, but be warned they are the first tables to run out. This is a great place to take a date or for impressing your friends that are visiting. This is a definite must for the people who get bored with just going to bars!
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Review from Michelle M.
North Hollywood, CA
3/7/2007
Learn About Wine has been on my radar since I went to my first "beginners" wine class with Ian Blackburn a couple of years ago. It was at Josie's Restaurant in Santa Monica, and it was a great way to ... guess what ... learn about wine! I was a total wine dummy back then, though I knew I like to drink it! Now, I actually work at a wine store and still go to Ian's events once in a while. I've been to a couple of those TASTE series events at HD Buttercup that others mentioned, and they were a blast. Tons of wines to taste, good food, good music, great crowd. Everybody is friendly... especially when you get to the third or fourth table.
The classes are great too. I've taken the beginners class twice (Hey, it was YEARS apart, and I needed a refresher), the Passport to Wine international wine class, and been to two TASTE events. All have been fun, educational, and a great way to gain exposure to new, reasonably priced wines. Definitely recommend LearnAboutWine and you sign up for their classes online at http://www.learnaboutw.... They also have an email newsletter with updates about new classes. I really want to try the Wine on the 101 class where they load everybody up on a bus and cruise to all of the wineries on the 101 up to Santa Barbara. That's my kinda field trip! -
Review from michael m.
Los Angeles, CA
11/9/2009
Ian knows so much about wine, I trust my wine decisions with his artful knowledge!
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Review from Christy S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/20/2009
The class i took was a "Girls only cupcake cooking class" This was a good event for a midday fun with the girls. It was informative and creative. It was more of a sit down lecture type of thing, I was disappointed because i was hoping it would be more hands on as in actually mixing batter and baking the cupcakes, but instead we just decorated it. This was my first time at Loft 218 so i didn't know what to expect. But still had a great time, especially for those wine lovers. It was great to be able to add a new wine to my list of favs.
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Review from MARJ U.
West Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2010 8 photos
If you're a beginner then this class is perfect for you. I still find it fun to go wine tasting and get to talk with the person who grows his own grapes.
