How to learn more about the wines of Burgundy - for free

So you would like to know more about the stunning wines of Burgundy?

The web series The Tasting Tips (Les Astuces Dégust in French) is back!

The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is pursuing its mission to make the world of wine more accessible, with six new episodes in English launching October 8 across social media platforms.

Leading sommelier Maxime Dubois, an official Bourgogne Wine Ambassador, hosts the new season.

Filmed in both French and English, it aims to speak to a curious, connected generation eager to discover Bourgogne wines "in a fresh, engaging way".

The goal is to talk about wine without pretension, naturally, passionately, and with a touch of lightness.

The six episodes are designed to appeal to younger audiences, but hope to offer something for everyone to enjoy and learn along the way.

The series will look at the region’s four signature grape varieties: pinot noir, chardonnay, aligoté, and gamay along with food-and-wine pairings and a guide to making sense of Bourgogne wine labels.

Designed for Instagram and Facebook, The Tasting Tips will also be available on the Bourgogne Wines YouTube channel and LinkedIn account. Later, each episode will be featured on a dedicated page of www.bourgogne-wines.com.

In the meantime, you can revisit the Season 1 on YouTube.

Discover some of the best gourmet experiences in Tasmania

Long-time favourite The Agrarian Kitchen offers some of the best gourmet experiences in Tasmania.

Rodney Dunn and Severine Demanet now offer weekly cooking, gardening and lifestyle classes at their base in New Norfolk - under an hour from Hobart.

A one-acre walled garden has been established on-site allowing cooking class guests to forage for the ingredients that they will use in the class. Full day classes will commence from $440 per person with a maximum 12 guests per class.

These courses include a guided garden tour, hands-on cooking experience and a three-course lunch matched with Tasmanian wine.

The menu is crafted from the best of the garden that day, while the masterclasses are for those looking for specific knowledge -from learning the butchery elements of how to breakdown a carcass, to making your own cheese, bread, charcuterie or pastry.

A whole range of classes and specific skill-based workshops are also available, from grafting fruit trees and propagation, to protected growing and composting.

The Agrarian Kitchen began back in 2008 when Dunn and Demanet opened The Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School and Farm within their home in The Old Schoolhouse in Lachlan.

They later took over the Bronte building in nearby New Norfolk’s Willow Court - the town’s old mental asylum. The Agrarian Kitchen restaurant was born in June 2017, followed by the more casual The Kiosk.

For full details visit https://www.theagrariankitchen.com

How to explore overseas without leaving home

Are you missing the cultural experiences you gain from a trip to Europe, or a tour around Japan?

Meet ClassBento, which has a selection of cultural workshops in Sydney ranging from a Japanese Ikebana flower arranging class to an authentic Italian pasta-making and gnocchi-making class to a Turkish mosaic lamp workshop.

Among classes scheduled for this autumn are chances to visit Japan in Glebe, get a taste of South American cuisine in Lane Cove or sip Turkish tea and assemble a traditional mosaic in Darlinghurst. 

The perfect opportunity to help discover your creativity, learn a new skill and make something amazing, instead of watching another re-run on TV. 

ClassBento connects anyone looking to try new experiences with top Australian artists, makers and foodies with hundreds of experiences to choose from, running day, night and even on weekends. All are held in a Covid-safe environment.

ClassBento donates to Dementia Australia with every booking and some classes can be done online, meaning even those not in Sydney can participate.

To find out more or book a workshop, visit classbento.com.au