Winter 2026 Sip-by-Sip Series: The “Core Four” Essential Reds (4 workshops beginning 1/29, then 2/12, 2/26, and 3/12)
Thursdays 7:30 – 8:30pm EDT (optional chat rooms following the workshop) on the following dates:
Jan. 29 | Feb. 12 | Feb. 26 | Mar. 12
Where do the flavors in wine come from? When someone says that a wine tastes like raspberry, or has hints of clove, of thyme, or of … pencil shavings (yes), why is that? We’ll begin the series with an Introduction to Wine Tasting workshop, in which you’ll learn about the flavors of wine and the structural components professionals analyze in order to judge a wine’s quality.
From there, during the course of the series you will get to know four of the most essential red-wine grapes used for a large portion of red wines worldwide: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah/Shiraz. (Why start with these? Three of these grapes represent more than 70 percent of all quality wines worldwide — please see the paragraph after the course description if you’d like to learn more!)
For each of these four varietals, we’ll take a look at their characteristic flavors, regions most famous for them, and general wine-food pairing suggestions.
After each workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to talk about the wine you selected, and your impressions of it, in optional sip-and-chat rooms — this is a perfect way to stay in touch with friends and family who live far away, to stay in touch with new parents who have their hands full at home, or to meet other wine enthusiasts from anywhere. (This is optional; it’s also perfectly fine to hop off once the workshop ends.)
The aim of the Sip-by-Sip series is to help you to get more familiar with wine tasting and to provide you with a general overview of wine types and wine regions, so that you will begin to become more comfortable navigating your local wine shop or wine menus at restaurants.
For people instead seeking a more in-depth, detailed look at wine, the Winter 2026 Special Series, A Focus on France (registration open until January 10), is recommended instead!
Registration for this Winter 2026 Sip-by-Sip Series, The “Core Four” Essential Reds will stay open until Friday, January 23.
Why start with these “Core Four,” as we refer to them in Tango Wine Club? … because wine certification programs worldwide begin with these four as foundational for understanding red wine:
“Students most frequently ask what will help them most in learning about wine,” says Kevin Zraly, one of the most famous wine educators in the U.S., whose wine school in the former World Trade Center in NYC graduated over 80,000 students across three decades. “The answer is to understand the major grape varieties and where they grow in the world … start with the three major grapes you need to know to understand red wine: Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. These grapes represent more than 70 percent of all quality wines worldwide.”
Similarly, the esteemed Wine & Sprit Education Trust (WSET) of England, the gold standard for wine certification worldwide, begins with four varietals as foundational for embarking on the study of red wine: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah/Shiraz.