Winemaker Masterclass! Sonoma Coast Cabernet w/ Pied à Terre

That’s right, classroom fans! Our next class is on the books! Join us for a Winemaker Masterclass featuring the fanatstic Sonoma Coast Cabernets of Pied à Terre! 

ONLY 25 SEATS AVAILABLE! FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!

Join us on Friday, June 9th @ 6PM in the AV-Morristown classroom as we welcome winemaker Richard Luftig of Pied à Terre for an in depth look at the enchanting terroir of Sonoma County and his fantastic line-up of hand-crafted wines -- highlighted by his stunning bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon! “Pied à Terre” (“foot to earth”) embraces the philosophy that “the farmer’s footprint is the best fertilizer” and that thoughtful attention to in the vineyard and the cellar is the most important aspect of quality winemaking. Boasting some of the finest vineyards and microclimates in all of Sonoma County, Richard produces wines with soul, and a sense of place; wonderfully expressing the specific terroir of each plot. It is Richard’s belief that great wine only comes from great grapes, so the farmers he partners with are meticulous and exhaustive. Striving to make wines that are not manipulated – wines that express their place of origin and the vintage. He tastes all his wines, barrel-by-barrel and create hundreds of blends until he finds the right combination. He even believes (as not many others do) that at times certain vintages shouldn’t be created at all. For example, the 2011 and 2020 vintages yielded grapes that didn’t meet the standards set, so Pied à Terre did not produce a single bottle of wine! In this class, Richard will lead you on a deep dive into his philosophy, the Sonoma County, and, of course, a tasting of his delicious wines!

The Tasting Line-Up!

2017 Pied A Terre Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 Pied A Terre Love On Mars Cabernet Sauvignon

2019 Pied A Terre Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

As an avid student of wine, Richard is always looking to learn more about new wine regions or the latest technique in agriculture and viticulture, recognizing and accepting that one’s journey of knowledge in wine is never complete. He teaches classes regularly, including a recent wine series at the French Institute Alliance Française. He always hopes to instill his passion and love of wine in others by emphasizing that wine and food can—and should—always bring people together.

Where: Amanti Vino Morristown (60a South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960

Cost: $55 per person

About the Winemaker

Richard loves the world of restaurants, wine and hospitality. This Brooklyn, New York native started as a busboy at the age of thirteen and hasn’t since stopped working in the business of wine and food. It was when food legend Lidia Bastianich took a chance on Richard, hiring him as Wine Director at her famed New York namesake Felidia Ristorante, that Richard’s knowledge and passion for wine truly took to the stars. Under the watchful and encouraging eyes of Bastianich and Chef Fortunato Nicotra, Richard recalls: “[They] taught me an immeasurable sum about Italian food and wine, which remain my strongest passion today. I developed an appreciation for the art of food and wine pairing.” Felidia won Wine Spectator’s “Grand Award” every year that Richard helmed its program. Richard went on to head service at Jonathan Waxman’s Washington Park as its General Manager and Wine Director. Its cellar, valued at seven million dollars, garnered Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” in the restaurant’s first year before achieving the illustrious “Grand Award” the subsequent year. He went on to serve as Wine Director for The Bowery Group’s Cookshop and its three sister restaurants.