Note: Due to demand on this class we added a 2nd date. There's also a class on June 2nd found here. 

June 4th, 2025 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at Birch Road Highlands in Denver. 

Learn the 6 major subregions of Burgundy and the four most encountered grape varieties. Taste 6 wines, one from each region, and learn the distinctions among these regions. We'll also go into some detail about the terroir within each region so you can confidently know what's in the bottle of Burgundy on the shelf.

Note: June 2nd sold out but there is a 2nd date for the same class on June 4 from 5:30 to 7:00 here: https://denverwinemerchant.com/products/summer-burgundy-series-class-1-subregions-grapes-june-4

The Summer Burgundy Series Season Pass is 1 ticket per pass to all nine Burgundy classes we are hosting in the summer of 2025. The classes run from June 2 to early September – dates will be updated as they are confirmed. Can't make one or two days? Transfer your pass to a friend for that class – just let me know the lucky recipient. 

Bonus: Season Pass holders will receive 10% off all Burgundy in the shop through the end of September & access to rewatch the classes online. 

Each class will hold a maximum of 12 students, and a la carte tickets will go on sale 14 days before the classes at 5:30pm. All classes will run from 5:30–7:00pm at Birch Road. 

Why take these classes? If you're interested in leveling up your wine knowledge overall and specifically about the world's best and most collectable wine region, these are for you! Not only will you learn a great deal about Burgundy from a master sommelier, but you'll also get to taste expensive, hard-to-find wines. More than just a tasting – with the small classes, there will be plenty to actually enjoy each wine, as each class will use 6 whole bottles. 

The number one mistake I see when people contact us looking to sell their cellar is that they didn't understand Burgundy and avoided it. No other wine has the potential for investment that Burgundy does. By its nature, the quantities are tiny, and the demand is high with no signs of slowing down. 

Burgundy is tricky – to really grasp it, not only do you need to know every major village, but you also need to recognize key vineyard names and the top producers. And that's not even mentioning that vintages are extremely important as well! The biggest mistake people make in collecting Burgundy is buying large, easier-to-find producers, but they need to be seeking out the top growers in each category. We will exclusively be tasting wines from collectable producers throughout this series.

Level 1 classes $60 each:

These are meant to be an intro to the region for those only vaguely familiar, but even seasoned Burgundy drinkers are sure to learn a few things. 

June 2 & June 4, 2025 – Subregions & Grapes: Taste a wine from each of the major 6 subregions, and we'll talk about the differences in the 4 grape varieties you'll come across. Regions: Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, Maconnais, Beaujolais. Grapes: Chardonnay, Aligote, Pinot Noir, Gamay. 

June 30, 2025 – History & Hidden Gems: We'll dive into the lengthy history of the region to understand how we got to where we are today as far as vineyard ownership and the reputation of certain wines. We'll also taste 6 examples of great Burgundy that are often overlooked (think Passetoutgrains & Marsannay Rosé).

Level 2 classes $75 each:

Level 2 is a deeper dive into the Côte d'Or with the goal of being able to recognize the major Villages and have an idea of what to expect from each one. The average bottle price of these tastings will be approximately $100. 

June 13, 2025 – Villages of the Côte de Beaune: We'll travel the Côte de Beaune north to south and talk about each Village. We'll cover the terroir of each village and the personality of the wines while tasting 6 examples. Tasting will include: Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Saint-Aubin, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet. 

July 9, 2025 – Villages of the Côte de Nuits: Journey from north to south the length of the Côte de Nuits, famous for its red wines, and taste 6 reds along the way. We'll taste: Marsannay or Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanee, Nuits-Saint-Georges. 

Level 3 classes $95 each:

Level 3 is an advanced to master sommelier level exploration of Burgundy Terroir. We could easily add another 3 or 4 rounds at this level, but the villages missed this time around will be featured in our next series. The average bottle price will be approximately $150 for this level. I recommend studying each region ahead of time, as there will be a lot of information dropped in these classes. 

July 24, 2025 – Vineyards of Chablis: Become an expert on the differences among Petit, Village, 1er Cru, and Grand Cru Chablis while learning what distinguishes the right bank from the left and being able to recognize many of the most important vineyard names. We'll also touch on top producers and recent vintages while tasting wines from 6 different vineyard sites of all levels. 

Date TBD – Vineyards of Gevrey, Morey & Chambolle: Now that you know the differences among these 3 Côte de Nuits Villages, we'll break down the most famous vineyard sites from Village level to Grand Cru and taste all 3 levels. What's the stylistic difference between Chambertin and Musigny? You'll answer that confidently after this class, all while tasting 6 incredible reds. 

Date TBD – Vineyards of Puligny, Chassagne & Saint-Aubin: Learn the subtle differences in terroir on these famous white wine slopes of the Côte de Beaune. You'll be shocked how different wines from the shallow topsoils of the higher slopes taste from those grown a stone's throw below them. We'll taste 6 whites and you'll be able to name the Grand Crus and the best 1er cru vineyards from these 3 villages. 

Level 4 classes $95 each:

Level 4 will be a producer- and vintage-focused class while also digging into the terroir of single villages. These will be different villages than we cover in level 3 this time around and the average bottle price will be approximately $150. You should leave these classes confidently knowing the best producers from the covered villages. 

Date TBD – Producers & Terroir of Nuits-Saint-Georges: We'll taste wine from 6 different producers of Nuits, most, if not all, will be 1er Cru, and we'll discuss the differences found in this village as you travel from the Vosne border on the north to the Comblanchien border at the south. We'll analyze differences among producers, such as oak usage and destemming vs. whole-cluster. 

Date TBD – Producers & Terroir of Meursault: The grand finale will be a white Burgundy lovers' dream: a tasting of 6 different producers of Meursault focused on both winemaking techniques and the terroir of their vineyard sites. You'll have a newfound appreciation for this largest village of the Côte de Beaune that's too often overlooked these days since it doesn't have Montrachet in the name!