Italy has the most impressive roster of grape varieties on the planet. Its unique geography, tapestry of distinct regional identities, and strong historical winegrowing tradition have given rise to a formidable cast of characters. Local specialties and obscure varieties can be found all over the country, offering near-endless potential for adventurous drinkers, and each one has a story to tell––but many of these grapes are effectively unknown in the greater wine world. Ren will share some of her favorite varieties from all over Italy with a lineup that goes way beyond Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, and she'll even help you pronounce them.
This class will begin at 6:00pm on Tuesday, February 18 and run for approximately 90 minutes. Wines tasted in class will be available for purchase with a discount available to attendees only. Seating is limited.
Meet your instructor
Ren Peir
Ren Peir is a WSET III-certified wine curator and educator with a special interest in building community around wine for queer and trans people of color.
Ren's love of wine developed as a way to bridge the cultural and language gap with her father, and has since developed into a full-blown obsession complete with spreadsheets and graphs. In addition to teaching classes, Ren throws exclusive dinner popups and wine collaboration events all over the city. She loves advocating for wines made from sustainable and mindful farming practices.
2025 is about to be our most exciting year yet at Flatiron Wine School! Instructors Julia Burke, Annie Edgerton, and Ren Peir have all prepared a killer lineup of learning opportunities. Check out all class descriptions below, and bear in mind that classes do sell out.
Grower Champagne-quality sparklers are starting to pop up in unexpected locales. We've seen them appear in places you’ve heard of, like California (Ultramarine). Now we are seeing them in a place you’ve never heard of: Plešivica. That’s just a few miles southwest of Zagreb, in Croatia.
When we got the chance to visit, Patrick Bize of Domaine Simon Bize was still a culty magician in Savigny les Beaune (not yet the widely acknowledged master he became), making wines that transcended the (then) grossly undervalued village. What a chance to learn about the ins and outs of Burgundian farming and winemaking!
