Medieval Roots, Modern Masterpieces: French White Wines
Medieval Roots, Modern Masterpieces: French White Wines
The Perfect Window into Wine's Medieval Soul
Why are French white wines the ideal lens for understanding medieval viticulture? Because while the world obsesses over Bordeaux reds and Burgundy's Pinot Noir, it's in France's white wines where we find the clearest fingerprints of monastic mastery, aristocratic patronage, and the birth of terroir as we know it.
This isn't just a tasting—it's a journey through châteaux and cloisters, noble courts and monastery cellars, where the foundations of fine wine were laid stone by stone, vine by vine.
What You'll Discover
The Medieval Wine Revolution
The Middle Ages weren't dark for wine—they were its renaissance. While Europe's political landscape fragmented, the Catholic Church united it through wine. Monks needed it for communion, so they perfected it for posterity. In doing so, they created something unexpected: the concept of terroir itself.
French white wines preserve this legacy more clearly than reds because:
White grapes require more precise viticulture (location matters intensely)
Monastic record-keeping was most detailed for white wine vineyards
Royal courts prized white wines for their elegance and refinement
Many of France's greatest white wine regions were monastic creations
Over two illuminating hours, you'll taste five legendary French white wines, each revealing a different chapter in wine's medieval transformation from peasant drink to aristocratic treasure.
Your Experience Includes:
Five World-Class Wines:
Chenin Blanc from Loire Valley (aristocratic heritage)
Chardonnay from Burgundy (monastic precision)
Dry Bordeaux Blanc with Sauvignon Blanc (mineral and crisp)
Sauternes with Sémillon and noble rot (liquid gold)
White Rhône (ancient varieties, complex textures)
White from Jura (the mysterious exception)
Note: We'll taste five of these six wines depending on availability and vintage quality.
Expert Instruction: Led by knowledgeable wine educators who bring history to life through storytelling and technical expertise.
Intimate Setting: The Médoc Room provides the perfect atmosphere for focused tasting and discussion.
Comprehensive Materials: Detailed tasting notes, historical context, maps of French wine regions, and recommended reading.
Perfect For:
Wine enthusiasts seeking deeper historical context
Francophiles and lovers of French culture
History buffs interested in medieval Europe
Anyone who prefers white wine and wants to understand why
Thoughtful gift-givers looking for unique experiences
Those planning to visit French wine regions
Professionals in hospitality or wine industry
Details:
When: Sunday Afternoon, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: The Médoc Room, Meritage Restaurant, Minneapolis
Investment: $85 per person
Includes: Five French white wines, expert instruction, tasting notes & discovery, educational materials
Can be purchased individually or as part of our Wine School series
Hosted in the Médoc Room, the private dining room of Meritage just across the hall, bedecked with historical maps and surrounded by our wine cellar. Seminars are taught by Desta Marée and team, including Alex Seide our Assistant Wine Director and Nick Rancone, our Hospitality Manager, as well as invited professionals.
You are welcome to join us at Meritage, of course, as we offer Brunch from 10am-2pm & dinner service begins in the Oyster Bar at 4pm. All enrolled students are offered 10% off their entree & even beignets or dessert on class days, as a benefit for enrollment.
Off-street parking is free on Sundays, and they are just wrapping up multi-year construction, so parking this time of day is ample outside of events.
PRO TIP: recent students have reported taking ride services like Uber or Lyft to and from class, with positive feedback about the cost being offset by not having to find parking, pay for a lot, or deal with the weather - or drive after class and the wine tastings for that matter.
