Wine Flights

Sommelier’s Blind Flight

One of the three parts of the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced and Master Exams is a blind tasting of 6 wines. Candidates are asked to describe the Sight, Smell, Taste, Initial, and Final Conclusion (with many more parts within each of those categories) within 25 minutes. The wines chosen are all considered “classic” examples that sommeliers should have knowledge of. This is your chance to see how you might do in one of these exams. While we won’t have a panel of Master Sommeliers writing down everything you say and critiquing your calls, you will be able to fill out a card with the age range, grape variety, and country of origin, and if you’re right, the flight’s on us!

Three white and three red wines chosen at random by our team of sommeliers (every flight is different).
30 or Free

Your Mother's A Cahors!

Malbec is one of the most popular red grape varietals in the world and most people associate this wine with Argentina. However, the birthplace of Malbec is Cahors, a small region in France that doesn’t get nearly enough respect (much like your mother.) Get to know the different styles of Malbec in this delicious flight featuring great wines from both regions. Also, call your mother.

Three examples of the Malbec grape, at least one of which will come from the region of Cahors. $16

Rocks, Rocks, Rocks

An often confusing quality in white wines is something referred to as “minerality”. In other words, the reflection of the rocks and sediment found in the various soil types the wines are grown in. It may be the cool blueish sensation of slate or the slightly chalky white sensation of limestone. Minerality is one of the least understood aspects of how a wine’s environment contributes to a wine’s “terroir”, or “sense of place”. These wines are great examples that highlight minerality in wine.

Three wines that exhibit the minerality often associated with rocks. This could be river rocks, granite, slate, or other examples that demonstrate this sense of place. $17

Flowers & Dead Things

Two of the most polarizing and exciting attributes in some wines are unusual flavors beyond fruit — the big floral bouquet of a Gewurztraminer, the savory gaminess of a French Syrah, or the sultry notes of desiccated leaf in a Pinot Noir. Explore these daring flavors and perhaps a new appreciation for a touch of the macabre.

Three wines selected by our sommeliers that showcase the characteristics of flowers & dead things. $18

My Cab Driver Doesn’t Speak English

Did you know that Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely planted red grapes and is grown in nearly every major wine-growing region in the world? Adventurous world travelers know how important it is to know the local language when exploring the globe, and in that spirit, we invite you to explore the many different global expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon and travel with us through the flavors in the glass.

Three Cabernet Sauvignons from regions where English is not the native language. $24

You Down with P.O.C.? (Yeah You Know Me!)

Diversity and representation are sorely lacking in the wine and spirits industry. Because this topic is incredibly important to our team at Vintage ’78, we are excited to offer a flight highlighting amazing wines being produced by people of color that deserve far more attention. We are discovering new wines every day and strive to make a place for new voices in the industry.

Three wines that showcase the talents of winemakers of color. $16

Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If it bubbles, we’re here for it. Learn a bit more about sparkling wines from around the world, the range of wonderful flavors they present, and the different methods by which they are made. Find a new favorite to treat yourself with and know that every day is a cause for celebration.

Three examples of sparkling wines from around the world. $22

Unicorns Are Real!

Unicorns are rare, mysterious, and elusive. Unicorn wines are those unique beauties that are so hard to find in the wild. Perhaps they were a rare vintage and made in limited quantities. The winemaker may have passed on, never to create another bottle. They may have a cult following that makes them nearly impossible to get. Whatever the case, when we capture one, rather than keeping it all to ourselves, we want to share these once in a lifetime wines with you.

Three examples of rare wines you won’t find anywhere else!
MKT

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It is not difficult to imagine that women may have been the first makers of wine in our ancient history. However, as in many other areas of business and commerce, women were made the minority. The good news is that the number of women finding their power and voice in the wine and spirits world has been growing for the last 40 year, but there is still more work todo. We are excited to feature female winemakers and female-owned brands from around the globe in this wine flight.

Three wines made by female winemakers. $22

What the Funk Am I Tasting?

Wine is a weird and wonderful thing. So many flavors and aromas from something as simple as juice from a grape. What’s even more amazing is when those are flavors of petrol, tar, pencil shavings, beeswax, saddle leather, or tobacco that are hallmarks of some of the most revered wines in the world. (We told you it was weird). Explore these “non-fruit” notes and many more in this oddly delicious flight that will have you saying “What the funk is that?!”

Three examples of earthy, funky wines. $18

Ufo Sightings

Yep. You read that right. UFOs. Aliens. Spaceships. The wine world is not immune to our fascination with extraterrestrial life. From wines inspired by outer space, to wines that have actual laws regarding the conduct of interstellar travelers, join us on our mission to explore strange new wines, to seek out new grapes and new winemaking regions, to boldly go where no wine drinker has gone before...

Three wines that have a connection to outer space! $16

A Tour of Pinot Noir

Few grape varietals inspire the level of obsession that Pinot Noir does. This grape is notoriously difficult to grow and one of the most sensitive to climate conditions. It is also a wine that enjoys one of the widest and varied spectrums of style and flavor in all the wine world. This flight highlights beautiful examples of Pinot Noir from around the world. Will you find a new obsession?

Three classic examples of Pinot Noir from around the world. $26

Are You My Mother?

We all have wines we love and wines we love to hate, but did you know that all wine varietals are very closely related? Or that your favorite varietal has similar expressions under different names all over the world? This flight is meant to highlight wine families and their relationships to taste the differences and similarities across a particular group of grapes. Explore the wine family tree.

Three wines from related, yet unique grapes. $18

50 Shades of Gris

Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio, is a grape varietal that can be a bit challenging to tie down. A mutation of Pinot Noir, this grape is named for the bluish-gray hue that it’s known for, although the shades of its fruit range from this to brownish-pink or even black or white. The styles of this popular wine also show great range, with the spicy and sensuous Pinot Gris of Alsace, the bright and lively Pinot Grigio of Italy, and the dominant fruit notes found in American counterparts. These wines will leave your senses tingling and craving more. Oh My!

Three examples of Pinot Gris. $18

Spoil Me (Nobly) Rotten

The term “sweet” when it comes to wine is a rather contentious subject. After all, most wines are considered “dry”, and the perception of sweetness is really just fruit-forward flavors. Our brains do the rest. A truly sweet wine contains leftover sugars and the amount can vary depending on the varietal and the style of wine. But the secret to truly delectable, sweet wines is balance. In this flight we explore some great examples of the sweet life.

Three wines with residual sugar (three 1oz. pours). $24

I Come from The Land Down Under

Of all the winemaking regions in the world, there are none as wild and experimental as the Australians. From crazy wine names to styles of famed varietals that are as unique to them as a fingerprint, Australia produces some of the most exciting wines in the world. Join us as we take a tour of these wines from the infamous Aussie trailblazers.

Three wines from the Southern Hemisphere. $19

Stop! Collaborate, and Listen

Everyone loves a good collab and the wine world is no different. Master winemakers from around the are always looking for a way to expand their knowledge and skills, experiment with new styles and techniques, or make wine year-round. By teaming up with other like-minded producers, winemakers can partner to create amazing, limited-edition wines, new product lines, or entirely new wineries! Our list features some of these amazing collaborations and we are excited to share them with you.

Three examples of wines that are a collaboration between wineries. $22