Slides show, photos, wine, snacks & knowledge - all packaged up with fun & humor. Bring a friend and learn how to talk like a wine snob!
Join Charlie Qian '16 and Naeem Zafar ‘81 for an interactive and immersive wine-tasting session. We will explore a carefully curated list of wines and examine the impact of nature and human intervention on the same grape varietals. The session will involve semi-blind tastings and dynamic discussions, providing a captivating exploration before revealing the wine details. The event will conclude with an additional round of blind tasting, and the winner will receive an award!
Segment One: Experience the joy of analyzing and comparing two sets of wines, which are thematically aligned to enable a horizontal comparison. You'll get to explore various influential factors such as climate, region, and aging. We will compare white wines from cool regions like Chablis in France or Patagonia in Argentina with white wines from warmer regions such as Napa Valley. Similarly, we will taste a younger red wine with one that is 20-30 years old but made with the same grape varietal. Although we cannot disclose the lineup of wines, rest assured that it's a thoughtfully curated selection of remarkable wines. We aim to facilitate interactive discussions among the participants.
Segment Two: Discover the mystery of a bottle crafted by a Brown alumnus. Participate in a blind tasting to determine the varietal, region, and vintage. A prize awaits the closest guess.
Your Sommelier of the Evening:
Charlie Qian
Charlie developed a passion for wine during his final year at Brown. Despite being professionally trained in database infrastructure, he eagerly anticipates his first harvest vintage in 2024. Charlie is a WSET Diploma candidate and is keen to connect with other wine enthusiasts in Silicon Valley.
Naeem Zafar
Naeem is a faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Professor of Practice at Northeastern University. He has previously taught entrepreneurship (ENGIN 1010) at Brown University. With a background in electrical engineering, he has founded seven technology-based businesses. Additionally, Naeem has been studying, tasting, and teaching about wines since 1994.