11:40-12:20PM
Session 1: Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach®,

"The Art of Tasting: A Blind Tasting of wines from Oregon and Italy"

Join Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach® for a seminar that focuses on training you in the art of "blind" tasting. Blind tastings are when you taste a series of wines without knowing the identity of the wine.

Why taste blind? Wine professionals often use blind tastings as a way to focus solely on the
wine without preconceived notions to cloud their observations. This method is also often used in wine competitions as a way to ensure each wine is given the same chances of winning, regardless of the winery's history or reputation.

Taste a series of six wines from both Oregon and Italy, refining your tasting skills along the way. Then everyone will be given the chance to guess the identity of each wine. When the results are unveiled not only will your tasting skills be improved but you will have had lots of fun in the process!

12:50-1:30 PM
Session 2: Ray O' Mara, Certified Wine Educator

“The Red Wines of Spain
a style for every occasion and every taste,” 

Spain is “red hot” and by now we have all heard that it offers outstanding value and interesting world class wines that include, and go well beyond, Sherry, Rioja, and Cava.

In fact Spain is producing world class wines for all tastes and in all styles. Wines from traditional and unusual grapes in 64 DO’s (quality wine - producing regions), an array of excellent red and whites have made their way to market and countless others await discovery.

This tasting will examine a small sampling of representative reds by “style”. It promises an opportunity to experience the aroma and structure inherent in each, to contrast the differences, consider some possible food pairings and to discover your preferences.  

That may sound like a mouthful, but it only begins to hint at the flavor extravaganza we have in store.

Spain is indeed hot, but the elevation of the vineyards tempers the climate but not the talent that is producing a fantastic selection of quality wines offering variety and value.

2:00-2:40 PM
Session 3: Bill Shepard Wine Editor, Bonjour Paris

"Everything You Always Wanted To Know (but were afraid to ask)
About Stocking A Wine Cellar."

Join wine author Bill Shepard for an enjoyable hour tasting wines, and perhaps finding some new favorites. You may find a wine cellar not only saves you money over the long run, it makes sure that your own favorites are always available, and at the most reasonable price!

Here are some of the topics which will be considered as you sip some samples of fine wines. Have you wondered whether you should start a wine cellar? Can I really do that? Doesn't it cost a fortune? Don't you have to get a dozen bottles at a time? What wines should be included? Should you specialize in a region? Which one? What about different vintages? Is it a collection of premium wines you want, or a handy assortment of favorites for drinking?

We'll conclude with some suggestions for wines to stock your own wine cellar, at three different price levels ($500, $1,000, and $2,500).

Bill Shepard served as Consul General of the United States for Bordeaux and southwestern France from 1983-1985. He has been the Wine Editor for Bonjour Paris, the largest English language website dealing with France, for the past six years, and some 75 of his columns dealing largely with French wines are online. He has personally visited over sixty French wine estates, including every first and second growth in both the Medoc and St. Emilion regions of Bordeaux, and the great estates of Burgundy, Chateauneuf du Pape and Champagne. He has also been published in Wine Spectator Magazine. He is the author of Shepard's Guide to Mastering French Wines. 

Bill is a member of the following French wine societies Commanderie de Bordeaux, Bontemps de Medoc et des Graves, La Jurade de St. Emilion, Chevaliers de Bretvin and Connetablie de Guyenne.  He has lectured on various aspects of French wine throughout the region, including the St. Michaels Food and Wine Weekend, the Anne Arundel County Great Grapes Festival, and at DACOR, the diplomatic club of Washington, DC. He gives a lecture course on French wines at Chesapeake College.

Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach®, combines her extensive knowledge of wine with her experience as a life coach.  She has made it her mission to de-mystify wine one glass at a time!  As The Wine Coach®, Laurie creates unique corporate teambuilding events, private parties and culinary tours.  Past corporate clients include Merrill Lynch, Met Life, DaVita, Kyphon, GXS, Bovis Lend Lease, Clark Construction, Ritz Carlton Residences and more!   

Laurie’s wine career began in 2002 where she studied with the Manhattan chapter of the American Sommelier Association to obtain her certificate in Viticulture and Vinification.  She has taken follow-up training at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley and is a member of the Society of Wine Educators.  Her training as a life coach with Coach U and membership with the International Coaching Federation add credence to her title of “Coach” and give her the skills to provide teambuilding events that deliver.

In the beginning of 2006 she launched The Wine Coach® Tours with her partner and travel expert Pascale Bernasse.  It was an obvious next step for Laurie who spent many years traveling as a software sales executive.  Laurie has combined her passion for food, wine and travel to create tours that showcase the best culinary offerings at any given destination.   

Ray O’Mara is the General Manager at the Aspen Wye River Conference Center which is managed by Marriott.  

A 1977 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York he is a 30 year hospitality veteran who ascended through the ranks of the Food and Beverage discipline prior to his appointment to general manager in 1990.

In 1984, he became a member of the Society of Wine Educators and earned the accreditation of “Certified Wine Educator” in 1986.

A founding member and past president of the Texas Sommelier Society, he has judged in numerous wine competitions including the Dallas International Wine Festival, the Sonoma County Fair and the Virginia Governors Cup.

Ray passed the WSET Intermediate and Advance courses with distinction in 2006 and was invited to travel to Bordeaux by the French CIVB to attend Ecole du vin de Bordeaux where became an Accredited International Bordeaux Tutor.

Most recently, he completed an intensive Spanish wine workshop and exam offered by the The Spanish Wine Academy.

Ray is presently a member of the central Maryland and the Annapolis chapters of Tasters Guild International, and the Eastern Shore Wine Tasters Society.