Learn Secrets from Sommelier for Perfect Wine and Food Pairing

From Patti Bond:

Red wine for red meat and Italian food, white wine for fish or chicken?

On Friday, August 28, Certified Sommelier Oliver Carter will give an interactive class on how to select the perfect wine to complement the flavors of any meal. During the class, which will be held at the Westside New Leaf Community Market, Carter will share the basic rules he endorses for pairing a variety of tapas with the right wine selections.

He will serve tastes of a dozen different varietals and a few blends, and help attendees develop an appreciation of the nuances of complementary flavors. Wines will be from major wine regions in France, Spain, Italy and the United States.All wines poured during the event are available at the Westside New Leaf and range in price from $11 to $25 per bottle.

Carter worked with New Leaf’s in-house Nutrition Consultant Madia Jamgochian to create a fresh and healthy menu selection to pair with wines. Dishes include local, organic fresh fruit, New Leaf’s in-house sushi, grass fed beef, organic chicken and veggies and locally made desserts.

“Wine and food pairing is part art, part science,” said Carter, who holds two Sommelier certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers, the premier international examining body for beverage knowledge.

A California native, Carter has been deeply involved in the retail wine industry for over ten years. For the last four years he has served as the Director of Beer, Wine and Spirits for seven New Leaf stores.

Previously, he was the wine buyer for Shopper’s Corner in Santa Cruz for six years. Carter’s deep passion and interest in the world of wine has motivated him to continually expand his knowledge of all aspects of wine. His desire to gain a more intimate knowledge of the terroir of various wines around the world has led him to travel to many of the premier wine regions including Napa and Sonoma in California; Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone Valley and Provence in France; Rioja, Rueda, Navarra and La Mancha in Spain; and Tuscany in Italy.

The cost to attend the class is $40 or $35 each for two. The class will be held August 28 from 6 pm – 8 pm in the Westside New Leaf Community Market’s community classroom at 1101 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz.

Space is limited and preregistration is required to ensure a place. To register, visit: www.newleafwestside.eventbrite.com.