TOUR de FRANCE: Understanding French Wines @ Sanctuary

TOUR de FRANCE: Understanding French Wines @ Sanctuary is a grand tasting event held on May 20, 2026, in Maynard, Massachusetts — an educational wine experience produced by the Boston Wine School, founded in 2000 by wine writer and author Jonathon Alsop. The event is designed to guide attendees through the fundamentals of French wine in an intimate, structured format consistent with the school's signature teaching style, which typically accommodates 12 to 36 participants per session.

The Boston Wine School built its reputation on making wine education accessible without pretense, and TOUR de FRANCE: Understanding French Wines @ Sanctuary follows that same philosophy. Rather than a large multi-winery pour, this event functions as a guided tasting that moves through French wine regions conceptually — covering the grape varieties, appellations, and regional distinctions that define one of the world's most complex wine countries. France's major regions include Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Alsace, and Champagne, each producing wines that have shaped global wine standards. Attendees can expect Alsop's interactive, technically informative approach, which the school describes as "deeply engaging" and grounded in tasting rather than lecture.

Ticket pricing and specific inclusions had not been announced at the time of publication — check bostonwineschool.com or contact the school directly at jonathon@bostonwineschool.com or +1-617-784-7150 for current details. Given the school's typical event format, seating is likely limited, so early registration is advisable. The venue, Sanctuary, is located in Maynard, Massachusetts.

France produces wine across more than a dozen major appellations, and understanding its labeling system — which emphasizes region over grape variety — is often the first challenge for newer wine drinkers. TOUR de FRANCE: Understanding French Wines @ Sanctuary, held by the Boston Wine School in Maynard, Massachusetts, is structured specifically to address that learning curve in a welcoming, snob-free environment.