Maxine Borcherding

Wine Classes with Tastings
Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm
In English.

Join Sommelier, Wine Educator and Alliance Board Member Maxine Borcherding for a tour of some more of the delicious wines of France. Each class will offer you the opportunity to purchase the wines for tasting at home during the class, and food pairing suggestions (and recipes) will be provided when you register. All sessions are online.

You'll be tasting and learning about wines from the following region:

July 27 - The glorious wines of Alsace


French by nationality, German by heritage, the wines of Alsace are rich, full bodied, and spectacularly varied: from dry to sweet, from still to sparkling, all benefiting from a long, slow growing season filled with sunlight despite its far northerly location. A highly complex geological history of 13 soil types formed hundreds of millions of years apart form a patchwork of terroirs which produce wines of unique nuance and character. Bottom line: the wines of Alsace are spectacularly good. You won’t want to miss these exceptionally food friendly beauties.

Classes are $155 for a bundle of 4 or $41 for a single session. Wines subject to available stock.

Summer Wine Classes with Tastings
Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm
In English

Join Sommelier, Wine Educator and Alliance Board Member Maxine Borcherding for a tour of some more of the delicious wines of France. Each class will offer you the opportunity to purchase the wines for tasting at home during the class, and food pairing suggestions (and recipes) will be provided when you register. All sessions are online.

Register for a bundle of four

You will be tasting and learning about wines from the following regions:

July 20 - Rosé, Rosé, Rosé
They're not all the same! The Rosés of La Belle France are made throughout the country and are deliciously different in style, variety of grape, and flavor. The aromatic, light and dry rosés of Provence are among the most food friendly wines in the world. The darker and bolder roses of the Rhone can stand up to a steak. From the off-dry roses of the Loire Valley to the stunning sparkling roses of Burgundy and Bordeaux, you won't want to miss this delicious romp through the wonderful wines of summer.


July 27 - The glorious wines of Alsace

French by nationality, German by heritage, the wines of Alsace are rich, full bodied, and spectacularly varied: from dry to sweet, from still to sparkling, all benefiting from a long, slow growing season filled with sunlight despite its far northerly location. A highly complex geological history of 13 soil types formed hundreds of millions of years apart form a patchwork of terroirs which produce wines of unique nuance and character. Bottom line: the wines of Alsace are spectacularly good. You won’t want to miss these exceptionally food friendly beauties.

August 3 - Champagne
Its very name conjures elegance and celebration. But the wines of Champagne were not always as they are today. They were still, barely red, and suffered from an inferiority complex when compared with the more famous Pinot Noirs of Burgundy. It took several monks, the British Navy, English glassmakers, the Royal Society of London, French textile merchants, and a widow to create Champagne as we know it. Join with us to learn its history, how it is made, and taste why it is revered around the world.

August 10 - The Rhône Valley
I’ve often said that if I could only drink wine from one region for the rest of my life, it would be from the Rhône Valley. There is so much variety and it is all marvelous: from the world famous Syrahs and the rich Marsanne and Rousanne based whites from steep granite hillsides of the Massif Central in the north, to the deep galet roulé (rounded river rock) of Châteauneuf de Pape and the sun baked herb scented garrigue of the South, you aren’t going to want to miss this exploration of my favorite wine region.

Classes are $155 for a bundle of 4 or $41 for a single session. Wines subject to available stock.

Wine Classes with Tastings
Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm
In English.

Join Sommelier, Wine Educator and Alliance Board Member Maxine Borcherding for a tour of some more of the delicious wines of France. Each class will offer you the opportunity to purchase the wines for tasting at home during the class, and food pairing suggestions (and recipes) will be provided when you register. All sessions are online.

You'll be tasting and learning about wines from the following region:

August 3 - Champagne


Its very name conjures elegance and celebration. But the wines of Champagne were not always as they are today. They were still, barely red, and suffered from an inferiority complex when compared with the more famous Pinot Noirs of Burgundy. It took several monks, the British Navy, English glassmakers, the Royal Society of London, French textile merchants, and a widow to create Champagne as we know it. Join with us to learn its history, how it is made, and taste why it is revered around the world.

Classes are $155 for a bundle of 4 or $41 for a single session. Wines subject to available stock.

Wine Classes with Tastings
Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm
In English.

Join Sommelier, Wine Educator and Alliance Board Member Maxine Borcherding for a tour of some more of the delicious wines of France. Each class will offer you the opportunity to purchase the wines for tasting at home during the class, and food pairing suggestions (and recipes) will be provided when you register. All sessions are online.

You'll be tasting and learning about wines from the following region:

July 20 - Rosé, Rosé, Rosé

They're not all the same! The Rosés of La Belle France are made throughout the country and are deliciously different in style, variety of grape, and flavor. The aromatic, light and dry rosés of Provence are among the most food friendly wines in the world. The darker and bolder roses of the Rhone can stand up to a steak. From the off-dry roses of the Loire Valley to the stunning sparkling roses of Burgundy and Bordeaux, you won't want to miss this delicious romp through the wonderful wines of summer.


Classes are $155 for a bundle of 4 or $41 for a single session. Wines subject to available stock.

Wine Classes with Tastings
Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm
In English.

Join Sommelier, Wine Educator and Alliance Board Member Maxine Borcherding for a tour of some more of the delicious wines of France. Each class will offer you the opportunity to purchase the wines for tasting at home during the class, and food pairing suggestions (and recipes) will be provided when you register. All sessions are online.

You'll be tasting and learning about wines from the following region:

August 10 - The Rhône Valley
I’ve often said that if I could only drink wine from one region for the rest of my life, it would be from the Rhône Valley. There is so much variety and it is all marvelous: from the world famous Syrahs and the rich Marsanne and Rousanne based whites from steep granite hillsides of the Massif Central in the north, to the deep galet roulé (rounded river rock) of Châteauneuf de Pape and the sun baked herb scented garrigue of the South, you aren’t going to want to miss this exploration of my favorite wine region.

Classes are $155 for a bundle of 4 or $41 for a single session. Wines subject to available stock.

Patrick Piuze "Val de Mer" Brut Non-Dosage: This stunning Blanc de Blanc is 100% Chardonnay from Tonnere just outside of Chablis. This wine is bone dry delicious. Produced by a Champagne native, and his heritage shows.
Louis de Grenelle Platine Crémant de Loire: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.
What does the winemaker say about his wine? “A beautiful canary yellow, slightly straw-colored appearance. Flecked with fine, lingering bubbles. The bouquet is straightforward, dominated by lemon, pear, and linden tree aromas. On the palate, the wine’s structure is highlighted by the rounded flavor of quince, the aromatic liveliness of acacia and the softness of strawberry. An extremely tempting wine.” And it really is.
Prosper Manfaux Crémant de Bourgogne Rose NV: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay. Ken’s Wine Review says, “With notes of strawberries, raspberries, candied lemons, and a nice dollop of mint on the finish make this the rose to beat.” Slurp it ice-cold on the porch, or pair it with darned near everything. Pink bubbles are the bomb.

Domaine Duffour Côtes de Gascogne Blanc: Maxine’s go-to porch wine for summer. How do I love this wine? Let me count the ways! This mouthwatering blend of Colombard, Ugni Blanc, and Gros Manseng is aromatic, bright, citrusy, and full of tart apple and pear flavors. Yet it’s bone dry and really refreshing.
Chapelle Saint Victor Rosé from Provence: Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah produce a rosé with “gobs of strawberries and dried flower notes to go with a light-bodied, racy palate that has amazing freshness. Bright and lively on the nose, with aromas of fresh blood orange and red currant, and a subtle note of candied flowers.” The Wine Buyer gave it 92 points!
Terres Blanche Gamay from the Loire Valley: With a floral nose, lots of juicy red fruit and few tannins, this is a perfect red wine for summer. Go ahead – give it a chill and serve it with just about anything off the grill.

Henri Perrusset Mâcon-Villages: The Chardonnays from the Mâcon are some of my favorite wines from Burgundy. A bit riper, a bit more floral than their much more expensive cousins from farther north, they are usually unoaked. These are no ‘splinter in your teeth’ butter bombs. No. They are mouth-filling and luscious with soft pear and white flowers, with a gorgeous long finish.
La Fage Miraflor Rosé: Sourced mostly from old vines of Mourvèdre with Grenache Gris and Grenache Noir in the Côtes Catalanes. Some of the vines are nearing 80 years of age. It’s crisp and juicy with tons of ripe red strawberry and raspberry fruit. This wine is a joy to sip (and the bottle is gorgeous!)
Massiac Minnervois Rouge: This Syrah and Grenache blend from the Languedoc is a big wine for that big hunk of meat. It’s savory, with notes of wild berries, thyme, and rosemary….and something the French call “sauvage” – untamed, feral. Great with a steak, but for me, I’m going for some really good wild boar sausage. Mmmmm.