Schedule
Ongoing	Sat-Sun, 2pm

Profile

While the girth of Otto's wine list might deflate the confidence of the mid-level wine connoisseur, the tutorials evince Otto's playful and forthright approach to wine. Sommelier Jon Feldman delves into agricultural factors, local history, and cultural attitudes informing each bottle—from its flavor to its design—one moment expounding on the "gun-powdery finish" of the Kerner grape from the Alto-Adige region and the next swirling a glass of wine to release its bouquet and equating the act with scratch-and-sniff. Feldman generally sticks to individual regions for his Saturday classes; in-house wine director Peter Jamros takes on the recurring Intro to Italian Wines on Sundays; all courses draw on the land—what can grow or be raised for food, and its influence on regional cuisine as well as its wine. The lack of pretension in either series should not deter the wine savvy: Hushed first-timers are joined at the informal setting of Otto's standing bar by budding oenophiles and pensive sommeliers—some from Batali's other restaurants—no doubt looking to brush up and sip while someone else does the talking. — Alexandra Vallis

4/3 - ULTIMATE: Super Tuscans
4/4 - Discover Italian Wines
4/10 - Wines of Abruzzo
4/11 - Discover Italian Wines
4/13 - Discover Italian Wines
4/17 - ULTIMATE: Lombardia and Valle d'Aosta
4/18 - Discover Italian Wines Tuesday
4/20 - Italian Sparkling Wine
4/24 - Piemonte Whites
4/25 - 25th Discover Italian Wines
4/27 - Wine and Cheese Pairing