SOMMELIER SECRETS • THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO GREAT WINE

Buy Smarter. Pour Better. Drink Like a Sommelier.

What if the secret to better wine wasn’t spending more money, but knowing a few tricks of the trade?

Professional sommeliers know things that most wine drinkers never learn. They recognize clues hidden in the fine print of a label, understand how serving temperature changes flavor, and know when a decanter can transform a bottle. In this lively, hands-on tasting, we’re opening the sommelier’s playbook and sharing the techniques that make great wine experiences possible. You’ll discover how to shop more intelligently, serve wine like a professional, and get more enjoyment from every bottle. No previous wine knowledge required.

01 / SHOP SMARTER

Better Wine. Better Value.

Learn the buying strategies sommeliers use to identify quality, spot value, and avoid expensive mistakes.

02 / SERVE BETTER

Unlock the Bottle

Discover how temperature, oxygen, and proper service can dramatically change the way a wine tastes.

03 / ENJOY MORE

Your Inner Sommelier

Build the confidence to navigate wine lists, pair food and wine, and recognize what makes a bottle special.

Four Secrets Every Wine Lover Should Know

These are the practical techniques that can change how you experience wine. Through guided tastings, comparisons, and insider explanations, we’ll reveal how professionals get the most from every bottle.

SECRET 01 / THE SMART BUYER

Read Between the Labels

The most useful information on a wine label isn’t always the biggest print. Discover how appellations, producer details, and other labeling clues can help you identify promising wines. Learn why two bottles at similar prices can offer very different levels of quality, and how to find remarkable values hiding in plain sight.

SECRET 02 / THE TEMPERATURE TRICK

Same Wine. Different Experience.

Too warm, and a wine can taste heavy and alcoholic. Too cold, and its aromas and flavors may disappear. Discover why serving temperature matters so much, and how a simple adjustment can reveal qualities you never knew were there. It’s one of the easiest ways to improve the wine already in your glass.

SECRET 03 / THE DECANTING DECISION

When to Give Wine Some Air

Can a decanter make a wine taste better? Sometimes the difference is remarkable. Explore how exposure to oxygen can influence aroma, flavor, and texture. Learn when decanting is worthwhile, when it isn’t, and why more air isn’t always better.

SECRET 04 / THE PAIRING ADVANTAGE

Make Wine and Food Work Together

The right food can make an ordinary wine seem extraordinary. The wrong combination can make even an expensive bottle disappoint. Discover how salt, acidity, richness, and flavor interact with wine, and learn practical pairing principles you can put to work at your next dinner.

Tasting demonstrations and wines are selected to illustrate sommelier techniques. Specific grapes, producers, and vintages may vary between classes.

The Difference Is in the Details

A sommelier’s expertise isn’t simply about memorizing hundreds of wines. It’s about understanding how wines are made, bought, stored, served, and enjoyed. Those practical skills can make an enormous difference, whether you’re opening a $15 bottle on a Tuesday or a treasured wine for a special occasion.

THE SOMMELIER’S ADVANTAGE

It’s Not Always the Wine. Sometimes It’s What You Do With It.

The same bottle can deliver very different experiences depending on how it’s served. Once you understand those differences, you have a powerful advantage: the ability to bring out a wine’s best qualities without spending another dollar.

This is an introductory class, and no previous coursework is necessary. Whether you’re new to wine or already have a growing collection, you’ll discover techniques that make you a more confident buyer, a better host, and a more knowledgeable wine lover.

THE INSIDER’S TAKEAWAY

The Best Wine Secret? Knowledge Beats Price.

Imagine walking into a wine shop knowing what to look for, opening a bottle knowing how to serve it, and ordering from a restaurant wine list without second-guessing yourself. That’s what Sommelier Secrets is designed to teach. You’ll leave with practical techniques you can use immediately and a better understanding of how wine professionals think.

About the Wine School of Philadelphia

Founded in 2001 by winemaker and author Keith Wallace, the Wine School of Philadelphia offers public tasting classes and professional wine education in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse neighborhood. The school has earned two Best of Philly awards, including recognition for adult education, and a 2026 Philadelphia Inquirer Philly Favorites Silver award in the Trade School category. Classes take place at 109 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.