Essential Wines of Spain

Italy produces wine from hundreds of different grape varieties, making its wine varied and engaging, yet perhaps a bit hard to grasp. This tasting concentrates on the wines from Toscana, Italy's third-largest quality wine-producing region. Although many of the wines are Sangiovese-based, the distinctive terroirs and other cultivated varieties offer a diverse tasting opportunity, ranging from some tasty whites to Old World and even international-style reds, topping off with traditional sweet. ICE's resident sommelier, Richard Vayda, will also discuss Tuscan wine history and Italian wine labeling. Regional cheeses will accompany the eight or more wines featured in the tasting.

Come join NYC’s longest running wine course. Over its 45+ year history, thousands of students, food and wine professionals and the wine interested public alike, have participated in this program. This six-session course, crafted by ICE director of wine studies Richard Vayda, uses grape varietals, as well as winemaking regions, as the keys to understanding the full wine spectrum. You will receive a thorough introduction to winemaking, tasting, laws and labeling as you learn about wine components and taste some of the world’s most celebrated wines. In these six sessions, you will sample up to 60 wines! Session 1: Winemaking and Wine-Tasting Basics. Session 2: France: The Wines and Grapes of Burgundy and Bordeaux. Session 3: The Major Wines and Grape Varieties of Italy. Session 4: Spanish and other Warm-Climate Wines. Session 5: Wine Tour of the US West Coast. Session 6: A Tour of Sparkling Wine from Around the World.

Travel the world with hearty and vibrant vegetarian entrees from around the globe! These international standouts will quickly become your go-to recipes for any day of the week. Healthful, flavor-packed and a snap to make, this is a menu you'll love learning together. We'll make all three dishes, from comfort food to Asian specialties to Mexican mains, then sit down to this meal of: sesame-crusted Asian tofu with garlic-fried wild rice; enchiladas suizas with cheese and roasted vegetables; and orecchiette pasta with roasted cauliflower and caramelized onions.

Israel, considered the center of the universe in ancient times, is at the juncture of Europe, Asia and Africa, with its coast on the Mediterranean. Its cuisine reflects the influences of all of the cultures around it, and the refugees who have settled there in modern times. You'll explore modern and traditional Israeli cooking when you make: cheese bourekas (flaky pastry-filled puffs); fried cauliflower with tahini sauce; chicken meatballs in tomato sauce with toasted Israeli couscous; and fattoush (pita salad).