Cuvée Ray Wine Lovers Academy to launch at SoDel Fest Sept. 18

The former owner of Wine Spectator Award-winning Cuvée Ray Wine Bar and Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, “Cuvée” Ray Kurz, is moving on to his next wine project as he launches Cuvée Ray Wine Lovers Academy.

“Cuvée Ray Wine Lovers Academy is the culmination of my over 30 years of wine tasting, wine travels and formal wine education. I will be offering sommelier-led fun and informative wine education, events, tastings and wine dinners for casual wine lovers as well as aficionados,” said Kurz. He said his new project focuses on his true passion: Sharing his knowledge and love of wine with others, and connecting wine lovers with wines.

Cuvée Ray Wine Lovers Academy’s inaugural event will be the Breakfast in Paris wine tasting at this year’s Southern Delaware Wine, Food & Music Festival.

The wine tasting will be a VIP ticketed event at 11 a.m, Saturday, Sept. 18, for those attending SoDel Fest, which opens to the general public from 12 to 3:30 p.m., Sept. 18, at Independence Clubhouse near Long Neck.

“SoDel Fest is always so great, I thought it would be a perfect inaugural event for my new venture,” said Kurz. “My restaurant used to participate in SoDel Fest and put on wine tastings there, and it is so wonderful to continue that tradition.”

Cuvée Ray Wine Lovers Academy will offer pre-scheduled wine education tastings and dinners as well as custom curated tastings, events and dinners for individuals and groups at their homes, clubhouses or other locations of choice.

“I am not aware of anything like Cuvée Ray Wine Lovers Academy in the Delmarva area,” said Kurz. “In addition to being a sommelier, I have really focused my formal wine studies on becoming the best wine educator I can be, so I look forward to offering wine lovers of all levels of experience – or no experience – the opportunity to have fun learning and expand their wine horizons.”

In addition to offering his sommelier and wine education services to the general public, Kurz intends to provide wine consulting services to the hospitality industry, assisting with things such as techniques to improve wine sales, wine list upgrades, staff wine training and the like.

For more information about Cuvée Ray Wine Lovers Academy, go to cuveeray.com. For tickets to SoDel Fest and the Breakfast in Paris wine tasting, go to sodelfest.com.