A Wine Education in Union Square

          My family orders a lot of Chinese food, a meal in which we’re lucky if we use plates.  Of course we drink the obligatory Tsingtao, or milk, if you’re my brother, but that never makes a quick meal into a homey one.  I’ve always wanted to elevate my take-out Chinese from eat-it-out-of-the-container to a real dinner, and knowing which wine to drink is a step in the right direction. That’s why I’m especially excited for the Take-Out Pairings class at Corkbuzz.  ($75)

          From the growing ranks of female Master Sommeliers comes Laura Maniec and Corkbuzz, a recently opened wine bar.  Along with her partner, Frank Vafier, Maniec created a chic, welcoming place for oenophiles and the wine-uneducated alike.  Wine classes feature everything from Wine 101 to a Blind Tasting course to help you instantly tell the difference between a Riesling and a Chenin Blanc.  There’s also a seasonal pairings class to help you pair wine with the winter veggies from the Green Market. The classrooms can take up to 25 guests, and you can register online, or just walk in.

          Corkbuzz also has its own wine bar, with about 35 wines by the glass and more than 200 by the bottle.  Creative dishes are designed to pair with the wines, and range from Korean-style fried oysters in scallion pancake batter, to braised short ribs with root vegetable purée.  The dishes change by season, as do the wines, and the bar is open seven nights a week. 

13 East 13th St. 646 873 6071.  Open Sunday-Wednsday: 5pm-midnight, Thursday-Saturday: 5pm-1am.  Wine classes start January 7.