Best of New York 2012 • Fun

• Corkbuzz Wine Studio

  13 E. 13th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 646-873-6071

  Master sommelier Laura Maniec had the notion that her wine bar and workshop would offer classes in the manner of a yoga studio: affordable (as low as $50 a pop), commitment-free (no need to sign up for a multi-class series), and unintimidating (subjects like Bubbles Before Brunch). On Friday afternoons, blind tastings are an even more ­accessible wine-education alternative: $15 buys a flight of reds or whites and a knowledgeable ­barkeep to quiz you on the particulars of taste. But Corkbuzz isn’t only for novices. Once you get initiated, you can dig into more advanced seminars on French Burgundies, ­seasonal pairings, and “the technique of wine enjoyment.”

From the 2012 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine