Sherlock's Purveyor of Fine Wines, Spirits & Beers

Wine Education

Sherlock's Wine Merchant provides Complimentary Wine Events at our Brookhaven and Decatur locations. Wine and Cooking classes are provided in partnership with The Cook's Warehouse. Click here for class schedules. For more information or to sign up for classes, call 404-949-9945.

Complimentary Wine Events

Brookhaven Sherlock’s Wine Merchant

Saturday Wine Events at 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM FREE (more ...)

March
28 - Viva La France

April
4 – Still Cool Enough for Reds
11 - Unusual Varietals
18 – The Lighter Side
25 – Pacific Northwest Wines

May
2 – ABC Day (Anything but Chardonnay)
9 – Wines to Make Mom Happy
16 – Staff Favorites
23 – California Value Wines
30 – There Will be a Test

June
6 – Tuscan Holiday
13 – Aussies and Kiwis
20 – Wines to Make Dad Happy
27 – Spanish Dancer

Decatur Sherlock’s Wine Merchant

Saturday Wine Events at 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM FREE (more ...)

March
28 - Springtime Reds and Whites

April
  4 - Wines of North America
11 - Southern Hempisphere Red and Whites
18 - Staff Selection
25 - $15 or less

May
  2 - Euro Red and White
  9 - Wines for Mothers Day
16 - Staff Selection
23 - Mediterranean Reds and Whites
30 - Spainish Reds and Whites

June
  6 - Dry Roses of the World
13 - Staff Selection
20 - Summertine Reds and Whites
27 - Wines for Griling Out

Wine and Cooking Classes

Wine and cooking classes are provided in partnership with The Cook's Warehouse. To register or for more information, click here or call 404-949-9945.

The Art and Science of Winemaking

3/26/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett $45
Wine geeks unite! This is the class you’ve been asking for. Join wine
educator Don Hackett as he explains and demystifies the practice of
winemaking. From the seasonal life cycle of the vine and grape to the
myriad of tools and processes the winemaker uses in the cellar, this class
takes a scientific look at the art of winemaking. This class is open to
wine lovers of all experience levels, however we recommend taking Wine 101
as a primer. While tasting wine is an integral part of all of Don’s
classes, students should understand that this class will focus on
discussion.

Wine 101

3/31/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett $45
This is the class that will thrust you on the path of becoming a
connoisseur. Join Don as he discusses the fundamentals of wine and wine
tasting. In addition to a brief overview of winemaking and major wine
growing regions, this class will provide you with the basic tools to taste
and evaluate wine with a tasting of selected wines, focusing on identifying
aromas and the major elements. Don’t be afraid, jump on in, we’re here
to help!

Wine Makes the Meal: International Tapas

4/3/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Michael Nix & Rosemary Rutland $65
Grab that passport and get onboard as we travel the globe on a quest for
the finest in International Tapas! Our amuse bouche will get the evening
off to a zesty start as we enjoy Olive Tapenade Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes and
Cucumbers served with Michael’s signature Sparkling Wine opener, of
course! As we jet our way into the first course we will experience what the
crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean have to offer as we indulge
ourselves in a tantalizing bright Sizzling Garlic Shrimp, served with a
fresh baked crusty bread, and as an accompaniment we experience the
freshest of Mussels prepared in concert with a beautiful white wine,
Sundried Tomatoes and Cannellini Beans. Our second course is a symphony of multi-continent beauties! To start, we’ll have a deeply rich Baked Crepe
with Creamy Wild Mushrooms and fine Italian Prosciutto. Next is a bleu
cheese lovers’ delight; fresh homemade Gnocchi (potato dumplings)
smothered in a velvety Roquefort Cream Sauce. Rounding out the course is
Pastela Moruna, a Chicken and Nut Pie that includes a wildly international
cast of spicy characters: think paprika, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne,
tomato, raisins and pine nuts all enclosed in a beautiful and delicate puff
pastry. As we descend toward home the sweet tooth in all of us is in for a
treat. Our final course will feature the Certified Pastry Culinarian
talents of Chef Rosemary as she tempts us with Miniature Sweetened Cream
Filled Éclairs drizzled with a Sweet Ginger Cherry Sauce and a rich
accompaniment of White Chocolate and Coffee Mousse. Wino Alert! Wino Alert! Prepare for a curveball tonight, I hear that Michael’s is up to something
and he’s NOT saying what!!

Wine Makes the Meal: Welcome to the White House

4/24/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Michael Nix & Doris Koplin $85
With an eye toward the future we invite you to spend a very special evening
with us in Decatur. Our menu tonight will be an exact replica of the 2009
Inaugural meal with wine pairings from Duckhorn Vineyards, varying only
slightly off course so as to offer you a decadent surprise with our amuse
bouche and sparkling wine starter. Our first course this evening is an
unparalleled rich and creamy Seafood Stew, consisting of heavy cream,
lobster, scallops, shrimp, black cod, aromatic spices and fresh garden
vegetables topped with the most delicate of puff pastry rounds. Moving to
our entrée course of the evening is an adventure in sheer elegance,
starting with a mouthwatering sliced Breast of Glazed Duck drizzled in
mildly spicy Cherry Chutney served with a velvety rendition of Molasses
Whipped Sweet Potatoes. Add that to a beautiful Herb Roasted Breast of
Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing served with a wonderfully delicious
selection of Winter Vegetables ranging from asparagus and carrots to
brussel sprouts and yellow wax beans. Capping off our salute to the future
we will indulge in a delightful Cinnamon Apple Sponge Cake drizzled with a
gorgeous Caramel Sauce and served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Come
celebrate with Michael and Doris on this extraordinary evening of sumptuous
food and wine.

Wine & Cheese Tour of France

4/29/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett & Jennifer Pounds $50
Join French teacher and cultural expert Jennifer Pounds and wine consultant
Don Hackett as they lead you on a wine and cheese tour of France. From
their many travels in France, Jennifer and Don have developed a love for
the regional wines and cheeses of this beautiful country. In addition to
some of your favorites, Jennifer and Don will present some harder to find
cheeses, as well as explain the cultural importance of the cheese course,
the proper way to present and serve French cheeses, and how to select wines
that will enhance your cheese course. Wine & Cheese doesn’t have to be
stuffy- with Don & Jennifer, it will just be fun and simple!

Wine 101

5/5/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett $45
This is the class that will thrust you on the path of becoming a
connoisseur. Join Don as he discusses the fundamentals of wine and wine
tasting. In addition to a brief overview of winemaking and major wine
growing regions, this class will provide you with the basic tools to taste
and evaluate wine with a tasting of selected wines, focusing on identifying
aromas and the major elements. Don’t be afraid, jump on in, we’re here
to help!

Fish Five Ways and the White Wines That Love Them

5/12/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Gil Kulers $55
Fish is an incredibly diverse protein and can be the starting point for
many flavorful and healthy meals. Fish can marry well with a long list of
wines and can also be a very affordable way to feed your family – you
just need to know what to look for and how to properly prepare it. AJC wine
columnist and CIA trained chef Gil Kulers is in our kitchen tonight to
introduce you to the wonderful world of fish and the white wines that love
them! He’ll show you how to prepare fish in a variety of ways as he
focuses on the techniques for each of these cooking methods: shallow poach,
sauté, deep fried gougenettes, grilled and en pappelote. He’ll grill up
some fresh summer veggies to serve alongside for a nice summer meal. Then he’ll step out of the kitchen and put on his sommelier hat to discuss
several selected wines and explain in very basic terms why he thinks they
pair well with the fish. Navigating the waters of pairing fish and wine is
a breeze with Gil on board!

Wines of Italy Series Class I - Piedmont and Northern Italy

5/14/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett $45
Benvenuti amici (Welcome Friend)! Italy is the home of Bacchus, the Roman
god of wine and fruitfulness, and this is evident in every province in the
country. Join Don Hackett of The Cook’s Warehouse and Sherlock’s Wine
Merchant as he takes you on a casual but thorough tour of the wines of
Italy. Each class will focus on one of the three major regions of Tuscany,
Piedmont and Veneto, as well as other regional wines. Classes will include
discussions of wine making, the history of Italian wine and Italian wine
laws, and food pairing. In Class I you will cover the great wines of the
Piedmont region and the regions of Friuli-Venzia, Trentino-Alto Adige and
Lombardy. Please note that although you may sign up for individual classes
in this series, your knowledge and understanding of Italian wines will be
far greater if you take the entire three-part series. (Class II: 10/29,
Class III: 11/5)

Wine Makes the Meal: A Salute to The Commander’s Palace

5/15/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Michael Nix & Rebecca Lang $75
Come with us as we celebrate the sumptuous culinary traditions of the
historic Commander’s Palace. Built by Emile Commander in 1880, The
Commander’s Palace has been a New Orleans landmark and renowned
restaurant for over a hundred years. As we begin our stroll through the
mystical labyrinth that is the Garden District, we will enjoy an amuse
bouch of savory Cheddar and Shallot Beignets served with handful of the
Commander’s quick Pickled Grapes and a Kir Royale twist on Michael’s
signature sparkling opener. Turning the corner on our first course are a
stunning pair of dishes. We’ll start with the Commander’s Shrimp
Rémoulade, a creamy and spicy classic served on butter lettuce.
Accompanying our Rémoulade will be another Cajun classic: Gumbo Ya Ya, a
highly seasoned beauty with chicken and andouille sausage. Arriving at our
main course we indulge in a Commander’s original, Veal Marcelle. Named
after a longtime employee, this lovely entrée is a Creole version of Veal
Oscar with lump crab and Hollandaise Sauce. Rounding out our entrée course are two side dishes of the highest order. First we have an elegant Herbed Lemon Rice with Crimini Mushrooms served alongside a spectacular dish of Garlic and Onion Braised Brussels Sprouts with Fresh Red Grapes. With elegance and sophistication we head into our dessert course with a
Commander’s favorite. The Poached Pears in Pistachio Sauce was first
served at the Commander’s for a dinner with the Chevaliers du Tastevin
gourmet society and remains a standout even today. Imagine fresh ripe pears
poached in sweet dessert wine, rolled in semi-sweet chocolate shavings and
served on a pillow of a cream-enriched reduction of the pear wine sauce
studded with a tasty helping of pistachio nuts! Will Michael’s wine
selection s live up to The Commander’s standards? Join us and see!
Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!

Wines of Italy Series: Class II Tuscany and Central Italy

5/21/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett $45

Buono notto (Good evening)! Tonight the wines of Tuscany will be featured
along with regions of Umbria, Le Marche and Abruzzo. Tuscany is the home of
the famous dry, dark, red wine, Chianti, and others such as Brunello, Rosso
di Montalcino and the Super Tuscan. Learn how techniques in wine making
vary. Some excellent wines have been produced from these regions and they
are much in demand internationally. Salute! (Class I: 10/22, Class III:
11/5)

Wines of Italy Series: Class III Veneto and Southern Italy

5/28/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett $45
Molto buono vino (very good wine)! In Class III of this series, you will
take a trip to the Veneto region in the North and then travel down South to
the regions of Puglia, Campania and Sicily, where the grape vines grow
among the ancient Greek and Roman ruins. Once you take this three-part
Italian wine series, you might like all of the regions, but with Don's wine
expertise, you will know the appropriate food and wine pairing.
Arrivederci! Ciao! (Class I: 10/22, Class II: 10/29)

Wine Makes the Meal: Beef At It’s Best, When Casual Meets Elegant

5/29/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Michael Nix & Doris Koplin $65
Attention all carnivores! Wine Makes the Meal is headed to the American
Heartland for a salute to all things beef! We start our casual meets
elegant theme with an amuse bouche to end all others…..think Elegant
Slider. We’ll have a ground strip sirloin patty; fire grilled and served
on homemade brioche with Caramelized Vidalia Onion Relish; Chipotle
Mayonnaise and Smoked Gouda Cheese. Next, we herd ourselves around the
first course and its two entries. First, we’ll take an exceptional cut of
filet and deliver it in appetizer form as a peppery and creamy Steak Au
Poiver Crostini and pair it next to a spicy Arugula Salad dressed in a
tantalizing Blood Orange and Porcini Mushroom Vinaigrette. Galloping into
our entrée portion of the evening will show us how to serve a decadently
rich yet budget conscience Beef Bordelaise. Instead of that costly
tenderloin, we’ll introduce the casual by substituting budget conscience
Strip Sirloins served Chateaubriand style, smothered in a rich and creamy
wine based Bordelaise. Providing the perfect “round-up” to our entrée
will be two lil’doggies that aim to please. First is the classic American
Duchess Potatoes flavored with the finest of parmesan along with a
perfectly executed Lemon Butter Haricot Verts Almandine. To end our ride on
the range we’ll experience the magic of Doris Koplin’s Famous New York
Style Cheesecake drizzled with a dreamy Dark Chocolate Truffle Sauce with a
side of Fresh Strawberries. Think it’s going to be a Cabernet night from
start to finish? Reserve your spot now to see if Michael throws us all a
wine driven curve ball!

Abound in Bubbles

6/10/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett $45
Join Wine Consultant Don Hackett for a fun filled evening learning about
the world of sparkling wines. In addition to explaining the rather complex
process of making sparkling wine, Don will present sparkling wines from
around the world, discuss the many styles of sparkling wine and educate you
on how to pair sparkling wine with food. From sweet to dry, white to red,
France to the New World, this class will explore all things bubbly!

Wine Makes the Meal: Sicily and the Sea

6/12/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Michael Nix & Lynne Sawicki $65
A seafood lovers’ delight! As we begin to fish the crystal clear waters
off of the Sicilian coast we will enjoy a refreshing amuse bouche of
Prosciutto and Parmesan Broiled Clams perfectly paired and served with
Michael’s signature sparkling wine opener, of course! Checking the net
for our first course finds us enjoying two lovely dishes. First, we have a
mouthwatering and meaty Portobello Mushroom stuffed with the freshest of
well seasoned King Crabmeat served alongside of a beautiful Caponata Salad (Eggplant, Caper & Tomato). Diving into the entrée finds us with a spicy
Tonno Fresco (Tuna Steak) prepared with a bright and delicious White Wine
Sauce of lemon, capers, shallots and butter. The first side dish pairing
with our entrée is a dish of Creamy Cauliflower and Green Onion alongside
a beautifully rich version Sweet Baby Peas prepared with the finest
Pancetta and Roasted Pine Nuts. As we pull into port we’ll experience an
amazingly bright yet rich dessert in our Orange Ricotta Almond Tart. Join
Michael and Lynne for our Wine Makes the Meal Seafood Extravaganza. Will
our wines be as deep as the sea or is it an evening of all whites? Cast
your line and find out!

Summer Grilled Foods and the Big Red Wines That Love Them

6/17/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Gil Kulers $55
Summer is the perfect time to take your passion for good food and wine
outdoors. Gil Kulers, AJC wine columnist and former chef, is back to show
you how to prepare Flank Steak Provencal-Style, Shrimp, Summer Squash,
Pineapple and Pizza (yes, Pizza!) on the grill. Gil will expound on correct
grilling techniques and common mistakes. He will also explain what is
important when selecting a grill and proper grill maintenance. While the
grill is sizzling, Gil, also a trained sommelier, will serve several big
red wines and discuss what to look for when pairing wine with bold grilled
flavors. After this class you won’t “go down in flames” anymore when
you fire up the grill!

The Great Wines of the World

6/18/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Don Hackett $100
Have you ever wondered why some wines cost so much? Or why some regions have such a lofty reputation? This is the class that Don’s past students have been begging him to do. Tonight, students will taste some of the greatest wines from around the world and learn why they demand the prices they do. Don will also share stories and photos from his travels through
some of these renowned wine regions. Don is pulling out all of the stops
for this and serving only the best of the best. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste some of these top quality wines that might normally be out of your realm. This is a class that is not to be missed!

Wine Makes the Meal: Green Eggs and Wine

6/26/2009 Decatur
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Michael Nix & Doris Koplin $65
Green Egg smokers of the world unite! Join us as we bend the tradition of
Wine Makes the Meal just a little bit as Doris Koplin and her Pit Master
husband Beryl join Michael for a Smoked Picnic extravaganza! Our amuse
bouche will be a cool and refreshing Vichyssoise delicately laced with the
finest of Heirloom Tomatoes and served with Michael’s traditional
sparkling wine opener. How are they going do this with a Green Egg smoker
in that kitchen, you ask? Here’s how…..we’ll swing open our double
glass doors just off the side of the dining area of the kitchen and watch
the class from the traditional kitchen side as well as the patio area! Our
first course is a rich and tasty Smoked Tuna served on bed of Arugula that
has been dressed in a zesty and fresh Ginger Dressing. Next, we have two
wonderful cuts of meat and fish that will be highlighting our entrée
course this evening. First, a Smoked Pork Tenderloin will be served with a
fantastic Fresh Plum Sauce alongside a Smoke-Roasted Salmon and a Creamy Dill Sauce. The side dishes for tonight are just perfect! Imagine a bright and tangy marinated Cabbage Relish along with Doris’ famous Garden
Vegetable Couscous. But don’t put out the fire just yet – the Green Egg
is the perfect vessel for preparing our dessert! Bringing our evening to a
close will be a tasty treat in the form of a Spiced Apple Pizza served with
a yummy Caramel Sauce along with homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream! What’s a ‘Smoker and BBQ’ wine you ask? Join us and see what kind of lovely
juice Michael will have in store for us tonight!