Islands & Volcanoes

Friday, October 03, 2025  |  6:30pm-8:30pm Class location:  Some Good Wine By far, one of my favorite class of the year. We’ll pour 8-9 wines. Some from islands. Some from volcanoes. Some from volcanoes on islands. We’ll talk about why these wines are unique, what sets them apart, and how to track them down. Islands are a special habitat for growing grapes. When the vineyards hug the coast, the grapes soak up the sun by day, and enjoy cool breezes by night, courtesy of the cooling effects of the ocean. The sun allows complex flavors to develop, while the evening chill helps retain acidity, imparting freshness to the wines, and balance. Volcanoes offer the same benefits, but here, it’s the high altitude that sends the thermometer south at night. Volcanoes also contain soils poor in nutrients, but high in mineral content. Such nutrient-deficient soils are actually wine’s best friend, as they force the vines to struggle, to dig, to hunt for what they need. In turn, they produce fewer g