A Toast to Local Wine-Tasting Events
Here's a toast to wine-tasting events in Rutherford County, which are becoming more popular all the time.
Several restaurants are scheduling wine-tasting get-togethers on a regular basis, including places such as Bonefish Grill, Five Senses and Newk’s Express Café. The Blue Porch Bed & Breakfast also hosts wine-tastings from time to time, and Stones River Liquors partners with a number of local restaurants to offer wine-tasting sessions.
“Wine tasting and a general overall interest in wine has significantly increased over the last 15 years or so,” says Dr. Tony Johnston, a Middle Tennessee State University professor who teaches a college-credit course on wine tasting. “The growth trend in wine interest is being seen across the entire country.”
Johnston says his course for enrolled students at MTSU began in January 2009, and it's designed especially to help wine enthusiasts who get lost whenever they walk into a liquor store, or are confused looking at wine lists in restaurants.
“This is an accredited block-schedule class where I teach students about wine flavors and aromas,” he says. “All students are given their own crystal glass because the glass is quite important in wine tasting. Students must be 21 to take the course, and three wines are tasted each night that the class is held. It’s not really a wine-tasting course; it’s more of a wine-identification course.”
Johnston has a doctorate in enology and viticulture (wine and grape production), and is an owner/winemaker at Monteagle Winery.
“I’ve actually been teaching wine tasting for many years at MTSU through the Continuing Studies Department, but the subject of wines has become so popular that the university decided to begin offering the credit course,” he says. “It's an interesting subject and ideal for today, since several Rutherford County restaurants offer several delicious varieties with their meals.”
