Expand your understanding of “food as medicine” and the role wine plays in holistic nutrition during a new 1440 Teaching Kitchen workshop instructed by Chef Ryan Fillhardt, Culinary Arts Education faculty and certified wine sommelier. This immersive educational experience introduces foundational wine principles through the lens of wellness and moderation. Participants will explore wine’s history, production, and varietals, while examining its potential health benefits and risks in alignment with 1440’s Food as Medicine philosophy. Chef Ryan emphasizes mindful consumption, pairing wine with nutrient-rich seasonal foods, and the role of polyphenols and antioxidants. Attendees will sample notable wines paired with small bites illustrate key concepts.
This workshop also covers the historical and scientific foundations of wine as medicine, including its cardiovascular, psychosocial, and neuroprotective benefits. Chef Ryan will discuss resveratrol, a powerful polyphenol, and how modern research both supports and questions wine’s health claims. Participants will explore how wellness trends and marketing shape perceptions, with a focus on moderation.
Additionally, this wine fundamentals class gives learners a practical foundation in how food and wine interact. Participants will explore the key elements of a dish — such as its fat content and overall intensity — and how those factors shape pairing decisions. They will examine why high‑acid wines are so versatile at the table, often refreshing the palate and cutting through richness. The class also looks at how tannins behave with food, and students will ideate about foods that are notoriously challenging for wine, such as artichokes, and discuss which styles can still work alongside them. They learn how small adjustments to a recipe — adding acidity, reducing sweetness, or changing cooking methods — can dramatically improve pairing harmony. Interactive discussion invites attendees to propose a classic wine pairing for caviar, foie gras and chocolate to help deepen their knowledge.
Following the workshop, attendees will join other community education guests in Kitchen Table for a sustainable seasonal dinner mindfully prepared by the 1440 Culinary Team, who will share further insights into our Food As Medicine philosophy.
This engaging Teaching Kitchen workshop blends tradition and science to offer a balanced view of wine’s place in a healthy lifestyle, helping you Eat Well and Live Well. As a nonprofit philanthropic campus, proceeds from 1440 Multiversity bookings contribute to serving our community by providing scholarships and volunteer services in support of creating hope for living well. Cheers!
Key Learning Takeaways Include:
- Food As Medicine topics of historical use, modern science, and health-related aspects of wine: resveratrol, antioxidants, and cardiovascular effects
- Wine types and characteristics: red, white, rosé, sparkling
- The fermentation process and natural compounds in wine
- Tasting techniques and sensory evaluation
- Mindful tasting and moderation practices
Curriculum Wines and Small Bites to be Sampled:
Classic Pairing
J. Lassalle 'Cachet d'Or' Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France;
Paired with California Classic Caviar with Blinis
Classic Pairing:
J. Lassalle 'Cachet d'Or' Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France;
2023 Claude Branger Muscadet 'Terroir Les Gras Moutons', Loire, France; and
2023 Domaine Lavantureux Chablis Vaux Carres, Burgundy, France;
Paired with Oysters on the Half Shell
Difficult Pairing
2024 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny, Loire, France;
Paired with Asparagus wrapped with speck, Meredith Dairy Goat Cheese, Dates, Red Bell Pepper Coulis
Classic Pairing & Interesting Pairing
2019 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 'Pichon Comtesse Reserve', Pauillac, France;
Quinta do Tedo Fine Tawny Port, Portugal;
Paired with Valrhona Bittersweet Chocolate
Classic Pairing
2019 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 'Pichon Comtesse Reserve', Pauillac, France;
Quinta do Tedo Fine Tawny Port, Portugal;
Paired with Stilton Blue Cheese
Classic Pairing
2023 Chateau Roumieu-Lacoste, Sauternes, France;
Paired with Duck Liver Pate with Seasonal Fruit Jam
*Please note: Menu may change depending on availability and seasonality of ingredients.
Time: 4:00-7:30 p.m.
Workshop Schedule:
- 4:00-4:30 p.m.: Arrival & Registration
- 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Food as Medicine Wine Fundamentals class with 1440 Culinary Arts Education faculty Chef Ryan Fillhardt
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Dinner at Kitchen Table
- 7:30 p.m.: Event Conclusion & Departures
Price: $120 per person. Includes class and wine tasting as part of curriculum, as well as dinner at Kitchen Table. This is a 21-and-over event.
Kitchen Table Dinner Menu:
- Due to the seasonality of our meals, the menu for this dinner will be announced approximately one week before the workshop.
Event Notes:
- If you have any dietary allergies or restrictions, please email us at info@1440.org so we may do our best to accommodate you.
- The start time of the class is 4:30 p.m., and guests may check into campus up to 30 minutes before the class start to enjoy our Lodge Retail Shop and Bridge of Intentions. Please note that other locations of campus, including the trails and jacuzzi tub, are not available for Community Education Class guests due to other campus programming.
- This is an indoor event, held in in the 1440 Teaching Kitchen.
- 1440 will provide everything required for this class.
- This program may be filmed and/or photographed to support our 1440 nonprofit mission work, marketing and learning pillars.
- Reusable water bottles are welcome -- filtered water stations are available throughout campus.
- Kitchen Table offers ample indoor and outdoor seating, including outdoor covered seating options.
- This is an 21-and-over event.
Cancellation Policy: Participants may request a refund up to 7 days before the event. After this period, all sales are final. All proceeds from Community Learning Events support our 1440 philanthropic and volunteer efforts.
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions for information about our campus policies. Please note that 1440 is a smoke-free, tobacco-free and cannabis-free campus. 1440 follows California law which only allows persons with disabilities to bring trained service dogs and psychiatric service dogs to campus; all other animals are prohibited.
Visit our Events Calendar at 1440.org to explore our other community learning events, designed to engage you in the immersive 1440 experience.
