Vino-Versity® returns to NYC, this time as an educational retail wine shop and a "wine school!"

Just opened on September 24th, 2011 on Manhattan’s upper east side, Vino-Versity® is the answer to everyone’s query: where can I learn about wine??? Firstly, by being a progressive retail store, where “wines are sold within an aesthetic that looks like a Mac computer store which has crashed into a wood & brick winery”, says Shari Schneider, co-founder and GM. “Everything is explained in language meant for wine rookies; we assume that a person has no clue what ‘18 months of barrel aging’ means to wine flavor, or that a Sancerre is always a Sauvignon Blanc. We explain EVERYTHING!” Shari continues, “Our mission is to eradicate mystery and snobbery from wine.”

Secondly, Vino-Versity® will not just put all its efforts into buying “awesome juice” and explaining it. It will be offering a full schedule of daily tastings and educational social events (many for FREE), as well as having a classroom devoted to wine lectures for individuals or groups. Examples of such events and classes include:

►MONDAYS: “Farm Flava™”

FREE tastes of local (Long Island, Hudson Valley, Finger lakes) wine and/or organic & sustainable

wines from around the world.

►TUESDAYS: “Destination:?”

A walk-around tasting of 20-24 wines from one part of the world. Each week is a different theme. Wine-making, agricultural differences, and style of each wine are explained as they are poured.

►WEDNESDAYS: “Grape’s Anatomy™”

A tasting "Flight" of 3-6 wine samples made from one grape or style.

►THURSDAYS: “Wine Sense For The Wine Dense™”

The quintessential wine lecture for rookies…whether an individual “stuck” on Pinot Grigio, or a group of executives who can’t read a wine list at a client dinner, this lecture explains wine from scratch, soup to nuts!

►FRIDAYS: “The SPIRITual Experience”

Vino-Versity® ‘s mission to teach extends to handcrafted artisan liquors, where FREE tastings from different producers as well as mini-martinis showcase the true flavors of brilliant potables.

►SATURDAYS: “Bubbles, Bubbles, Everywhere!”

A sit-down lecture explains the differences between Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, Frizzante, Cremant, and Vintage vs. Non-Vintage.

►EVERY DAY: “ ‘Tis The Season For…”

Four to six seasonal wines will be open each day to walk up and taste FOR FREE! Each proprietor’s selection will be perfect for the time of year, whether it will be wines with BBQ, or wines for Thanksgiving, etc.

Vino-Versity® was founded by the creators of Divine Bar, NYC’s groundbreaking wine & tapas lounge (1996-2010) that was in the Zagat’s Nightlife Top 20 Most Popular for the last ten years. Owners Shari Schneider and Michael Vitanza are transforming Vino-Versity® from its origins as a wine event program held at Divine Bar from 2000-2010, to an entity all its own. Vino-Versity® is fulfilling its name by establishing its very own “campus” for wine education and wine experience! More Info