SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | MAY 2019 7
By Claire Mendez, Resident
Wine lovers lined up for a lesson taught
by Greg Pennyroyal, a viticulturist at MSJC.
Participants were given four wines to taste: 2017
White Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017 Chardonnay,
2015 Cabernet Franc, and Angelica Cream Sherry,
all from the Wilson Creek Winery where Greg
works as a winemaker.
Greg taught the group to judge wine by the
color, clarity and sparkle. A laugh broke out in
the room several times as he demonstrated how
to swirl, see, smell and then slurp the wine with
puckered lips as he drew in a breath. This process
he described as opening up the wine for oxygen.
It takes practice not to dribble on your clothes as
you do this. A good reason to drink more wine!
If you couldn't make it to his class he
recommends purchasing the book Wine Folly, The
Master Guide by Madeline Puckette and Justin
Hammack.
A Wine Education
