The Continuing Education Department at Chattanooga State Community College offers a series of ten wine tasting classes from September through December for wine lovers who wish to increase their knowledge of wine. All classes are held on Tuesdays, 7 – 8:30 p.m., at Create Here located at 55 E. Main Street.

Mindi Lamar is the instructor for each of the classes. Lamar has served on the steering committee of the Best Cellars event associated with Wine Over Water. Additionally, for the past three years, she has chaired the Bella Serta Wine Festival. “Mindi comes highly recommended,” says Patricia Gardner, continuing education coordinator. “She is the hand-picked protégé of our former wine class instructor Brian Leutwiler.

Classes on New World White Wines and New World Red Wines are both scheduled for the month of September. In the New World White Wines class on Tuesday, September 20, participants will sample different white varietal wines such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Riesling and others from North and South America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

On September 27, the New World Red Wines class will taste different red varietal wines like Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and others form the same countries of origin as the white wines.

During the months of October and November, wines from vineyards in countries with a long tradition of wine making will be studied. On October 4, Italian White Wines will focus on the hottest whites from around the Italian peninsula like Tuscany, Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Piedmont, Le Marche, Campania and the island of Sardinia. In the Italian Red Wines class, a great survey of reds from the Italian regions of Tuscany, Piedmont, Abruzzo, Umbria, Apulia, Campania and Sicily will take place on October 11. A study of classic whites from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Alsace and the Rhone Valley will be the focus on October 25 in French White Wines.

On November 1, French Red Wines will sample the best reds that France, the worlds #1 producer of wine, has to offer. Class participants will taste reds from Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, and along the Mediterranean coast from Minervois, St. Chinian, Languedoc, Roussillon and Provence.

The Best of the Best features the best white wine buys, for $12 and under, from around the world. In this class set for November 8, participants will taste the hottest new white wine stars that are easy on the budget. On November 15, participants will taste through a provocative lineup of bargain Red Wines for under $12. These wines will come from just about everywhere red wine is made. The cost is $45 for each of the wine tasting classes held during the months of September, October and November.

On December 6, the level of decadence reaches a dramatic peak with Wine & Chocolate. For the past eight years, this class has been the overwhelming favorite. Sparkling Wines for Celebration and Everyday concludes the ten class series. Whether it’s champagne from France, or sparkling wines from grapes from New Zealand, South Africa or around the world, participants will experience some of the top rated and affordable bubblies available just in time for the holidays. The cost for each class is $50.

Class size is limited and participants must be 21 years of age to enroll in any of the wine tasting classes. Refunds will not be given within 48 hours of the scheduled class a participant is enrolled in. To register call Chattanooga State’s Continuing Education Department at (423) 697-3100. Registration is also available online at www.chattanoogastate.edu/continuinged.