Fire Food and Drink announces a series of winter wine classes

Fire Food and Drink has announced a series of winter wine classes, starting with "Spain vs. Italy" on Jan. 21.

This heavy-weight four-round competition between two of the world's oldest wine growing region kicks off the series. In one corner with more than a 2,000-year heritage dating back to the glory days of Rome, producing more wine than any other country, is the fermentation nation of Italy. And in the other corner, with an equally long wine-making tradition and where the rain falls mainly on the plain, is the country of Spain. Those attending the 6:30 p.m. class will get to taste four wine samples from each country and then discuss what makes each one unique and the factors that contribute to their individual flavors.

"Wines We Love with the Food We Love," is the hot topic for a pre-Valentine's Day food and wine love fest on Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m. The theme is simple. A series of eight much-loved wines are paired with four of Fire's favorite dishes in small-bite portions. This promises to be a fun night of tasting, conversation and fun.

"Taste the Place" on Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m., is a class about geography and how it effects wine. Different soil types and weather patterns influence what eventually ends up in the bottle. However, that just scratches the surface. History and tradition also play a major role in wine making. This class examines how all of that comes together to make wine such a unique experience. In a world of so many homogenized products, wine remains true to its heritage. This class looks at how location makes wine individualized and celebrates its wonderful differences.

All classes are $40 per person, plus tax. Fire is at 13220 Shaker Square. Phone 216-921-3473 or visit www.firefoodanddrink.com to register.