Wine Classes, Tastings & Staff Training in Portland

Learning about wine should feel like a good dinner party, not a final exam. Our classes and tastings bring the same curiosity we put into our magazine stories to your living room, your office or your restaurant floor. We pour, we talk, we ask questions and we help everyone at the table trust their own palate. From relaxed in-home evenings to focused staff training, every session is designed around your group’s experience level and goals, with Oregon wine at the heart of the conversation.

What’s included

Every class is built to order. We choose a theme with you, select the wines, and arrive with everything needed to taste properly. Standard sessions include:

• A tailored curriculum. Choose from our core topics or ask us to build something new.
• Curated wines. Typically five or six wines per class, chosen to tell a clear story and spark comparison.
• Tasting materials. Printed tasting sheets, an aroma guide and a short reading list to take home.
• Glassware and setup. Proper tasting glasses, spit cups and water for in-person sessions.
• A knowledgeable host. One of our writers leads the session, drawing on years of tasting and reporting across Oregon and beyond.

Our core curricula

• Oregon 101. The state’s major regions, grapes and styles, from Willamette Valley Pinot Noir to Southern Oregon’s warmer-climate reds.
• Pinot Noir deep dive. How site, soil, elevation and winemaking choices shape the grape that put Oregon on the map.
• Blind tasting. A playful, structured approach to tasting without labels, building confidence in describing what’s actually in the glass.
• Food and wine pairing. Small bites matched with wines to show why some pairings sing and others fall flat.

How it works

1. Reach out. Tell us the format (in-home, corporate, staff training or virtual), your preferred date and approximate headcount.
2. Choose a focus. We’ll recommend a curriculum based on your group’s experience and interests.
3. Receive your quote. We send a customized proposal covering wines, materials and any food.
4. We prepare. We source the wines, build the tasting materials and, for virtual sessions, coordinate kit shipping or a shopping list.
5. Taste together. We arrive early to set up, lead the class and leave your space as we found it.
6. Follow-up. You’ll receive a recap of the wines poured and suggestions for what to explore next.

Who it’s for

Private hosts looking for a memorable birthday, anniversary or dinner-party centerpiece. Companies wanting a team-building activity, a client appreciation evening or a holiday gathering with more substance than an open bar. Restaurants and bars that need servers to speak confidently about the wine list, recommend pairings and handle bottle service smoothly. And remote teams or far-flung friends who want to share a glass across time zones through a virtual tasting.

Restaurant staff training

For hospitality teams, we offer practical training rooted in your own list: tasting through key wines, building simple language for describing them, pairing with your menu, and polishing the mechanics of service — presenting, opening and pouring. Sessions can be a one-time pre-shift workshop or a recurring series as your list changes.

Sample class agenda

Here is how a two-hour “Pinot Noir deep dive” might run for a private group.

Add-ons & options

• Food pairing bites. A board of local cheeses, charcuterie and seasonal snacks matched to the wines.
• Virtual tasting kits. Pre-portioned or full bottles shipped to participants where permitted, or a shopping list so each guest can buy locally.
• Multi-session series. A four- or six-week course for groups who want to go deeper.
• Custom topics. Sparkling wine, skin-contact whites, wines of a specific country or anything else you’re curious about.
• Take it to the valley. Follow your class with a private wine-country tour to taste at the source.

Good to know

• Pricing. $65 per person is a starting price for a standard in-person class with a minimum group size. Premium wines, food, travel outside the Portland area and staff training are quoted individually.
• Cancellations. See our terms of use for cancellation and rescheduling policies.
• 21+ only. All participants who taste must be 21 or older. We may ask for ID and reserve the right not to serve anyone who appears intoxicated.
• Never drink and drive. Please arrange rides home for guests. Tasting portions are small and spitting is encouraged, but responsible planning is on all of us.
• Venues. We can teach in your home, your office, your restaurant or a rented space; we’ll confirm any venue rules on outside alcohol beforehand.

Curious about what we’re teaching this season? Browse our education hub.

Let’s raise a glass and learn something together. Request a class or tasting and we’ll put together a custom proposal for your group.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private wine class cost?

Classes start from $65 per person for a standard in-person session. Quotes are customized based on format, wines, food and group size.

What topics can we choose?

Popular curricula include Oregon 101, a Pinot Noir deep dive, blind tasting and food and wine pairing. We can also design custom topics for your group.

Do you offer virtual wine tastings?

Yes. We host virtual tastings for remote teams and friends, with shipped kits where permitted or a shopping list so guests can buy wines locally.

Can you train our restaurant staff?

Yes. We offer practical training based on your own wine list, covering tasting, describing wines, menu pairings and the mechanics of wine service.