Wine books are fantastic tutorials if you have the time to hunker down and read them. Vineyard tours are the ultimate crash course in viticulture if you have the dollars to shell out. But for oenophiles who thirst for knowledge but don't have spare time for globetrotting, there are Epicurean Evenings at Aujourd'*** (Four Seasons, 200 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.351.2037), the Four Seasons' posh restaurant overlooking the Public Garden. Epicurean Evenings launched in 2005, and almost every Tuesday since, at 7 p.m., the restaurant's been offering themed dinners during which sommelier Brick Loomis introduces guests seated around communal tables to a host of varietals. Winemakers have been known to make cameo appearances and talk about their vintages. While the night sometimes focuses on a specific theme, like oh-so-sought-after rosés or wines that pair well with barbecue, other sessions highlight a country or a region, like Spain or the wine made in the good old USA. The evenings are a whole lot more laid back than those that might take place in a classroom, and are more social than a textbook. Plus, since they only cost $45 - which includes paired dishes - you'll be able to save for that trip to Bordeaux.
