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France 44 Classes

Wines of Australia | January 26th | 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Wines of Australia | January 26th | 6:00-7:30 p.m.

$85.00
$85.00
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Instructors: Troy Seefeldt and Marcus Hanson

Class type: Take Notes! | These are our classic "lecture-styled" classes, where you're given lots of in-depth information by a knowledgeable instructor. Anyone is welcome to attend, but these classes are geared toward folks with more than a passing interest in the subject.

WHAT YOU'LL GET IN THIS CLASS:

  • A deep-dive, instructor-led tasting.
  • A flight of 6 different wines.
  • An individual cheese plate.
  • Special pricing on all featured wines.
  • Some lasting memories!

What if everything you’ve thought about Australian wine barely scratches the surface? For years, sentiment indicated Australia was just a factory for cheap, jammy Shiraz.  In this class, you’ll discover a secret known to connoisseurs worldwide: Australia offers some of the most electric diversity, jaw-dropping value, and profound authenticity on the planet.

This Australia Day, January 26, 2027, our resident globe trotter, Troy, and our market's biggest Ausso-phile, Marcus Hanson, are popping the cork on a masterclass that shatters every single stereotype. Imagine tasting the razor-sharp brilliance of Hunter Valley Semillon, followed by pristine, cool-climate Tasmanian Chardonnay and electric Clare Valley Riesling.  Then, we'll journey through velvety Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir, legendary terra rossa Coonawarra Cabernet, and benchmark, old-vine Barossa Shiraz. Think of it as a full operatic symphony in six pours, with every region singing its own distinctive aria, 

 

IMPORTANT STUFF: 

  • Participants must be 21 years old.
  • Tickets are non-refundable. If you cannot attend a class you have registered for, registration may be transferred to another France 44 class if given a 48+ hour notice.
  • If you have dietary restrictions, please email mc@france44.com or call us as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate all requests! 
  • Parking in our lot is very limited, and the center spots are 30 minutes only. However, parking is available on 44th Street, France Ave, and Drew Ave S. Please refer to THIS MAP for more parking information!
  • France 44 is wheelchair accessible.

 

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Troy Seefeldt

Troy joined our wine team in 2024. He has his CWP and WSET III certification in wine. He left his technology career behind to pursue his passion in wine and wine travel. When Troy’s not selling our guests delicious wines, he’s more than likely traveling through wine country in Europe with his wife and fellow wine lover, Jenn. Troy loves bringing his wine adventures to life through his wine recommendations.

Man in a white shirt and dark vest holding a glass of red wine in front of shelves of wine bottles

Marcus Hanson

Come celebrate Australia Day with Marcus Hanson, Portfolio Director for Small Lot Wine & Spirits.  Marcus came to Minnesota in 1999 to attend St. Olaf College, where he was paired with a roommate from Sydney, Australia who introduced him to the fair dinkum brilliant wines of Oz. In fact it was on a trip to Australia in 2002 that he first truly fell in love with food and wine pairings.  Having traveled down under 5 times, including trips to Hunter Valley and wine regions around Adelaide, Marcus is a true blue Oz-ophile and ambassador for the great wines of Australia.  Over the last 16 years he has carved a unique niche fusing his passion for food, wine and music (mainly opera!) to create unforgettable events and pairings.

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