Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/489430
Tucked away behind the bustling storefront, through the stocked storeroom, sheltered from the chaos of every day life, is a small oasis for wine-lovers: the Curtis Liquors tasting classroom. High-top tables dot the rectangular room, each table set with four wine glasses and long-legged stools, and a bar with stools along one wall for those who prefer. The intimate setting and low lighting give a cozy, café-style ambience to the space where Joe Godas leads groups of up to fifty guests in wine tastings while teaching them about the history, geography, and categories of the wines they sample. "Our classes are social gatherings as much as they are instructional," Godas explains, "We want to make people appreciate wine. The more you know the more it opens up to you." Rick Curtis, owner of Curtis Liquors, says that the classroom is unlike anything offered anywhere on the south shore. He explains that Curtis Liquors' Tasting Classroom Gives the South Shore a New Look at Wine he designed and built the room specifically for the purpose of bringing people of all levels of experience together into an environment where they can be comfortable and excited to taste and to learn. Classes are currently offered in three-week, four-week, and single-night sessions, each with a different theme and each in plain English with the goal of educating and inspiring wine- drinkers. Guests will sample an average of twelve different wines during the course of each class and each wine is then available for sale at a twenty percent discount to participants. In addition to the tasting, Seth Goodman shares his expertise on appropriate pairings of wine with cheese and guests can try a variety of cheese samples throughout the lesson. Godas kicks off the year in January with a four-week class focused on the history of wine, written by Emily J. Reynolds TOAST OF THE TOWN: "Our classes are social gatherings as much as they are instructional." - Joe Godas S E 2014 38