Sensory Wine Tasting Intensive

Intimate friendly and one of our most popular offerings the Sensory Wine Tasting Intensive invites you into a deeper experience of aroma flavor and structure. Guided by Advanced Sommelier Lamar Engel, you will explore how individual sensory components relate to specific wines and how flavor balance and texture shape the way wine feels and tastes.

Learn more about why YOU taste the way you taste and how your OWN palate has been shaped over time. Learn what type of taster you are when analyzing wines and what to expect when exploring other flavor combinations with wine and food.

This experience is designed to open up the dialogue of flavor in an exploratory exercise of tannin, acidity, bitterness, sweetness, salt, umami, and more in a way that is approachable and engaging.

No prior wine knowledge is required. Enthusiasts and industry members are welcome.

Curated wine tasting flight of 7 wines
Aroma recognition training with black glass blind study
Guided palate analysis

Multiple food element palate experiment
Review of grape influence

What Is Included in your ticket

• Wines
• Individual sensory food components
• Knowledgeable sommelier led instruction
• Tasting materials and collateral

Wine has a funny way of becoming more exciting the moment you start to recognize what you are tasting and why. This experience gives you the tools to:
✔ Taste with clarity
✔ Speak with confidence
✔ Understand wine on a deeper sensory level
✔ Strengthen memory and recognition skills

Everyone (21 years of age + ) are welcome!

Perfect for:
• Curious wine drinkers
• Hospitality and beverage professionals

• Students of wine
• Anyone ready to sharpen their senses

Who the hell are we anyways?

Founded by Canadian rock ( and punk) musician-turned-sommelier Lamar Engel, The Wine Militia turns wine tasting into an adventure. Forget the snobbery, this is wine done differently: playful, immersive, and made for everyone.

From blind tastings and sommelier games to themed dinners and pop-up parties, every event is designed to spark connection, laughter, and discovery. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, you’ll find something new in every glass.

It’s not just a tasting, it’s an experience.
For the people. By the people. For the love of wine.

Also check out other Food & Drink events in Irvine, Workshops in Irvine.