Drinks 2026 | Feature

Wine Education

A taste of sommelier-led experiences in Reno-Tahoe.

You see it on the big screen and in many TV shows: stars sniff, swirl, and sip theatrically during tastings at beautiful wineries stateside and abroad. While the rolling hills of Napa-Sonoma and rows of vineyards in Tuscany may beckon, you also can enjoy such high-quality quaffing without the travel, maybe even in your own or a friend’s home, thanks to local sommeliers and wine experts hosting educational events and experiences. 

Dani Morris, certified sommelier and founder of Full Glass in Reno, has been immersed in the industry her whole life.

“My dad is French, and as a kid I had a lot of experiences traveling to France, staying in my family members’ homes, and being around wine country,” Morris remembers. “You could say I got the bug at a young age, seeing how food and wine brought people together.”

Morris went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in beverage management from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and started her career in fine dining on the Las Vegas Strip. Over the past 15 years, she’s worked as a wine manager for MGM Grand and, after relocating to Reno, spent several years as a corporate wine and beer educator, training teams across Northern Nevada. In 2020, she founded Full Glass with the intention of bringing her knowledge and passion for wine to dining tables beyond the industry.

“I like to say that I have a wine shop without walls,” Morris explains. “I love to teach people about wine and connect them with wines they love. I’m not tied to any certain brands, so I can introduce and promote the wines that work best for each experience.”

Education at Your Door
Offering in-home and private events, as well as some educational series, Morris caters each experience to fit what the client desires.

“I will partner with private chefs, and we can bring the whole food-and-wine experience to my clients,” Morris says. “I do educational tastings, too, so I do a lot of bachelorette parties, birthday parties, anniversaries, and celebrations of any kind. I also offer a service where I stock people’s cellars with favorite wine finds that are handpicked and ready for your glass.”

During her private events, Morris aims to teach people what’s inside each glass of wine, starting with connecting the wine to the place it’s from and how it was grown.

“You have such a deeper appreciation for wine when you know about where it came from,” she says. “The true heart of each grape is a product of Mother Nature, and where it was grown affects everything about the wine itself.”

Morris also offers entertaining community classes with local partners. Most recently, she partnered with Sparks’ Roundabout Catering for its Winesgiving Dinner, a Thanksgiving-inspired dinner celebrating food, friends, and the wines that bring it all together. She also hosted Baller Bubbles, where participants enjoyed blind tastings of the best prestige cuvée Champagnes.

“There’s nothing like watching people enjoy the world’s most expensive Champagnes — like Cristal, Krug, Dom Pérignon — side-by-side and having the chance to share my knowledge about them all,” Morris says. “This was one of the very first tastings I was able to do in my professional career, and having the opportunity to offer it to my clients 15 years later is a dream come true.”

Toward the end of January, Morris is teaching a class about the wines of France; attendees will meet each week over the course of a month to learn all about the beloved region.

In Store, One Sip at a Time
At Mt. Rose Wine Co. at The Summit in South Reno, education flows as naturally as the pours. Co-owners Amanda Flangas and Anthony Layton-Matthews believe wine should be approachable, not intimidating.

“Wine is tough anyway, especially if you’re a beginner,” Layton-Matthews says. “We try to simplify the process so people feel comfortable. As you become more educated, the conversation changes.”

With two locations (the second is in Midtown Reno, called Midtown Spirits Wine & Bites), the business’ guests can walk in or request online to meet one on one with a sommelier for personalized guidance in exploring three global wine walls.

“You’ll start with a wine you like from the region you prefer,” Layton-Matthews explains. “Then we’ll dive into the terroir and profile together.”

Beyond personalized education experiences, the store’s offerings evolve weekly with new labels, rotating wines by the glass, and seasonal pairings.

“We want people to explore what they’re tasting and keep it fun,” he says. “It’s not about opening a textbook; it’s about opening your palate.”

Wine Suggestions from Those Who Know

Go-to wine to bring as a host gift?
Morris: “Bubbles, but, more specifically, Strasbourg Blanc.”
Layton-Matthews: “La Vignette, a beautiful sauvignon blanc out of France, or Châteauneuf-du-Pape (The House of the Nine Popes).”

Great wine to share at a potluck or casual get-together?
Morris: “The answer is always bubbles, but I would do a Prosecco.”
Layton-Matthews: “Chardonnay is one of the most produced grapes in the world; you can’t go wrong with Rombauer. Novellum (out of France) also has a non-oaked flavor without the buttery notes.”

What do you pour for a cozy Sunday night dinner?
Morris: “I’m thinking short ribs or another rich comfort food, and I’d pair that with a Northern Rhône syrah.”
Layton-Matthews: “I’m a fan of Quest by Austin Hope, a cabernet franc from Paso Robles that’s jammy and delicious.”

What wine do you like to pair with dessert?
Morris: “The answer is none. Wine is a dessert on its own. I recommend Sauternes, specifically Château Rieussec, as a nice dessert option.”
Layton-Matthews: “Château d’Yquem is a classic Sauternes from France. I also like Inniskillin, which is an excellent Canadian ice wine.”

What’s your desert-island wine?
Morris: “White Burgundy.”
Layton-Matthews: “A nice bottle of Faire la Fête from France.”

Is there an underrated bottle or varietal you think people should try right now?
Morris: “Grenache. You can find so many great ones right now.”
Layton-Matthews: “I believe that chenin blanc and Chablis are underrated. There’s a perception that Chablis is a cheap white wine, but it’s beautifully structured, and the same goes for chenin blanc.”

RESOURCES

Full Glass, with sommelier Dani Morris
Fullglassevents.com

Mt. Rose Wine Co.
Mtrosewineco.com

Tahoe Tastings
Wine boat tours on Lake Tahoe
Tahoetastings.com

Tahoe Wine Collective
Tastings and events
Tahoewinecollective.com

Whispering Vine Wine Co.
Tastings and events
Whisperingvinewine.com