Wine Education for Everyone
Getting folks excited about wine has been a core value of Bloomsday from our inception. Owner Zach Morris came from the wine education world, opening first Green Engine Coffee Co and then Bloomsday after a stint as the director of education for the National Wine School from 2010-2014. Zach has a diploma from the Court of Masters of Wine and completed his thesis at the University of Pennsylvania on Wine, the Old Testament and Rite & Ritual.
When Zach and chef/partner Kelsey Bush opened Bloomsday in 2019, wine classes were part of the business model of the restaurant. Our programming was robust and popular, but as we pivoted Bloomsday from an all-day cafe to a more traditional restaurant in the wake of the pandemic, wine education was put on the back burner as we concentrated on keeping the lights on.
In 2024 we found ourselves looking for a beverage director after long-time general manager D Stubblefield moved on from Bloomsday. At the same time, Zach had stepped away from the day-to-day at Bloomsday to concentrate on his role as owner/winemaker for Dumpster Juice and Fell to Earth Winery/Vermouthery. Kelsey decided to tap our friend Sande Friedman, then the wine buyer for Di Bruno Bros, to see if she had any advice about our next hire. In her typical fashion, Sande instantly suggested the perfect person: Chris Liu, her friend and former coworker at Di Bruno Bros.
Chris fit our vibe perfectly and got right to work. He started by giving our wine shop a big, necessary glow-up, and then refreshed the restaurant’s bottle list and wines by the glass program. It became clear from the pre-service lineups Chris ran that he was passionate about teaching all things wine– his knowledge, enthusiasm and approachable style made a big impression on our staff. We knew we couldn’t keep him a secret.
Because Chris and Sande had such a good rapport as friends and fellow wine professionals, Bloomsday owner Kelsey thought they would be perfect to develop a slate of wine classes as a team. Aligned in their mission to demystify the sometimes stuffy world of wine, Chris and Sande got to work creating a series of approachable wine classes that were as much fun as they were informative.
We began with a three-week intensive Wine 101 course, where Chris and Sande walked guests through the basics of viniculture, varietals and most importantly, how to taste wine. It was a huge hit! A graduate of the first Wine 101 left us the loveliest review: “It was such a great experience because it was the perfect balance between informative and fun. It never felt intimidating and it was engaging, conversational and easy to follow. The smaller group setting made a huge difference too because it seemed like everyone was comfortable asking questions and sharing thoughts. I think this kind of atmosphere is what made it so memorable along with Chris and Sande's expertise! Love the idea of another continuing series or more one-off classes with different themes.”
Well, don’t threaten us with a good time! We were so delighted by this response that we immediately got to work brainstorming one-off wine classes. We followed up the inaugural Wine 101 class with a Chardonnay & Friends: Maybe You Don’t Actually Hate Chardonnay? class, which was another smash hit. And from there we were off to the races!
Chris and Sande continue to inspire and delight, with a slate of upcoming classes designed to cover all your wine bases. Join us for this month’s Orange Wine & Friends: No, It’s Not Made From Oranges!
Not an orange wine fan? (Why not???) No problem, we’ve got you covered for the rest of the year:
September: Shoulder Season: Great Wines for Transitional Times
Class date: Tuesday, September 22
Fall can feel hectic; we’re here [with wine] to help. We’ll talk and taste through a range of fun wines for right now – savory rosé, chillable reds, textural whites and earthy bubbles. This class is intended as a lighthearted night out as we ease back to cooler temperatures. We'll bring wine and dinner, you make a note for yourself: Don’t forget a layer!
October: Spooky Wines + Spooky Stories
Class date: Tuesday, October 27
What does White Zinfandel have to do with murder? Why do some wine descriptions say “sanguine” or “bloody?” Who would win in a blind tasting showdown, Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger? From funky pairings to creepy labels, let’s have a little Halloween wine fun. Costumes optional; that said, assume that we’ll pour you extra wine if you wear one.
November: A repeat of our Wine 101 For Everyone: Three Week Intensive Course, in case you missed it the first time around!
Class dates: Tuesday, November 3, 10 & 17
Want to learn more about wine without memorizing from a textbook or sweating over the perfect tasting note? Same! As we see it, the best way to learn is to taste different wines and talk about them with people around you. Over three weeks, we're here to help make wine make sense - by tasting, talking, and learning how to trust your own palate. No snobbery. No pressure. Just really good wine and eye-opening conversations.
December: TWO options to take our Sparktacular Sparklers: Bubbles Beyond Champagne class!
Class dates: either Tuesday, December 8 OR Tuesday, December 22
You probably know Prosecco intimately and Champagne from around town, but how about the many bubbles beyond? Could Cava be your new favorite sparkler, or are you a Lambrusco devotee? There’s a whole world of bubbles out there; let’s drink them.
With all of these classes, you’re sure to find a topic that’s just right for you. Don’t sleep on tickets here– they tend to sell out fast and you’re not going to want to miss Chris and Sande’s funny, practical approach to wine. We hope to see you soon!
